Barefoot Season (Blackberry Island, #1)

Feb 19, 2013 Jeanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction

This was a "romance" according to the subject heading, but the romance aspect is one of the smaller parts of the story. Instead, it's a book about family with two girls now grown trying to reconcile their pasts.

Michelle's mother died while she was in the hospital recovering from being shot in the hip in Afghanistan. It was a pretty good excuse not to have to deal with the situation. Now she's home to the Blackberry Island Inn where she grew up. Hoping to return to the familiar place she left 10...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-struggles, contempory-fiction

Michelle Sanderson may appear to be a strong, independent woman, but on the inside, she’s still the wounded girl who fled home years ago. A young army vet, Michelle returns to the quaint Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. Instead, she finds the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wants to see.

Carly Williams and Michelle were once inseparable, until a shocking betrayal destroyed their friendship. And now Carly is implicated in the financia...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, friendship, family, fiction, dysfunctional-family, pstd, war, women-writers, humor, blackberry-island, washington, overdrive, romance, contemporary-romance

It is possible that having OverDrive available will spoil me completely. It looks like there will always be something available to read. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I got out my iPad, looked up my library's OverDrive site and browsed until I found something suitable. I then stayed up much too late reading Mallery's contemporary romance. I didn't have to turn on a light and disturb the household for find something to keep me occupied until I was sleepy.

As with all romances, this was a fairy t...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: at-library, e-book, kindle

I'm a huge Susan Mallery fan and although I enjoyed Blackberry Island it wasn't my favorite. The story wasn't focused mainly on romantic relationships like most of her writing, which is the genre that I most enjoy. What little bit of romance was in this one I did enjoy. The book focuses on Michelle's return from war as an injured vet. She comes home to take care of the Blackberry Inn, to recover from her injuries and try to find her life as a civilian again. All the while she must struggle to wo...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Lara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-in-2012

This is my second book by Mallory, and I like her style. This book is about two women and their relationship after some past drama and a ten-year separation. There is romance, but it is placed at least third in importance. We have a wounded veteran who left home years before having to face emotional actions from her youth as well as manage her PTSD and physical pain. The PTSD definitely affected her behavior, and her expected denial and stubbornness lead to some problem acts on her part.

The oth...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Terry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Looking for a beach read which the cover suggests. Well, you have all heard that you should never judge a book by its cover, and that remains true. I vacillated between a 3 or 4 star rating. Actually three and a half is what I would like to have rated it.
I enjoyed this book....read it quickly...never thought about not finishing it...would try another book by this author even though I am not into the "romance" genre.
The setting is charming and I would love to stay at this inn. The story is abou...more

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May 25, 2012 Big Girl Books added it

Shelves: contemporary, chocolate-chip-cookie, hot-chocolate, lollipop, michelle

Christine’s first review was amazing. I, too, wondered what my first review would be about. I looked through my favorites and contemplated if I should also review a favorite. But after a lot of thinking, I decided to choose a newly released book. I chose Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery. Barefoot Season is Mallery’s most recent contemporary series, and revolves around the residents of Blackberry Island, Washington.

I’m a huge fan of Susan Mallery. She was one of the authors to put contemporary fi...more Christine’s first review was amazing. I, too, wondered what my first review would be about. I looked through my favorites and contemplated if I should also review a favorite. But after a lot of thinking, I decided to choose a newly released book. I chose Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery. Barefoot Season is Mallery’s most recent contemporary series, and revolves around the residents of Blackberry Island, Washington.

I’m a huge fan of Susan Mallery. She was one of the authors to put contemporary fiction on the map, for me. Mallery has a great way of creating characters that are easy to relate to, while turning ordinary day-to-day stories into something memorable and extraordinary. If we are to be friends, you will have to become familiar with Mallery and her stories. I suggest you start with the Marcelli Family series, and make your way through The Buchannans, then over to the Bakery sisters. What are you waiting for? You should be reading!

Blackberry Season is a great introduction to Mallery’s latest series. A recent trend for Mallery is introducing you to a town and slowly allowing you to fall in love with it. Like in her recent series, Fool’s Gold, I instantly fell in love with the quaint town and its adorable characters. It goes the same for Blackberry Island.

Here we meet Michelle, an army vet who has spent the last 10 years in service. But while others view her as a hero who fought protecting her country, she views herself as someone who ran away from the drama at home. She returns to her home, the Blackberry Inn, a legacy given to her by her estranged father. There she finds Carly, one of the reasons she left home. Together, they will have to put their differences aside, including any anger and anguish that they feel, to save themselves and the inn.

For me, I like to feel emotion when reading a story. I’m sure you know what I mean. I want to either feel the type of sadness that causes tears or love so great that my heart hurts from the joy. Why? Because this is what makes an author great. Mallery’s choice of words always bring out the emotions out of me. In the case of Blackberry Island, I was crying by the end of chapter one. From Michelle’s battle with PTSD to Carly’s insecurities of abandonment, I felt like I didn’t know when the tears would stop. But that’s a testament to Mallery’s writing. She evokes something from you, enough so that you will feel these characters are real.

I wish that there was a little more from this book. There was something that I was missing, even though I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe there wasn’t enough sexy times throughout the pages. And we all know how much I love those sexy times. But it’s okay. With all the tears I was crying, I don’t think my heart could have taken any more emotion. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the residents of Blackberry Island. I know I can’t wait to visit again.

Reviewed at Big Girl Books on April 4th, 2012.(less)

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May 14, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, fiction

Very good book. Michelle returned to Blackberry Island with several issues to deal with. First was her recovery from war injuries and dealing with her PTSD. Then she had to take over running the inn. She also had to deal with her former friend Carly, who has been running the inn while Michelle was away. Seeing Michelle as she tried to cope was sometimes very painful. From the outside looking in, you can see that the drinking is making it worse, and the stresses of the inn are not helping either....more

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Apr 29, 2012 Beth Mills rated it 4 of 5 stars

Michelle, an army vet, has come home to Blackberry Island wounded in body and mind,to seek refuge at the inn she has inherited from her mother. There to her dismay she finds Carly, single mother and her former best friend, installed as manager.Years ago an ugly betrayal drove the two women apart; now financial necessity yokes them together. If they cannot learn to work together, the inn will fail. Barefoot Season is darker in tone and subject than Mallery's usual, but no less readable than her l...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars

I chose Barefoot Season because I was in the mood for a feel-good, romantic beach read. (Even though I'm far from a beach.) Barefoot Season did deliver the feel-good ending I craved, but I found myself a little annoyed with the characters at some points along the way.

I loved the setting - Blueberry Island - a quaint little touristy town with a quaint little inn. I wanted to eat at the restaurant -- and was happy they provided some recipes at the end of the book!

The main characters were complex a...more I chose Barefoot Season because I was in the mood for a feel-good, romantic beach read. (Even though I'm far from a beach.) Barefoot Season did deliver the feel-good ending I craved, but I found myself a little annoyed with the characters at some points along the way.

I loved the setting - Blueberry Island - a quaint little touristy town with a quaint little inn. I wanted to eat at the restaurant -- and was happy they provided some recipes at the end of the book!

The main characters were complex and very different. Michelle owns the inn, but hasn't been to the island for ten years. She left the island suddenly after a traumatic event involving her best friend Carly and joined the army. After spending time in Afghanistan and Iraq, and suffering an injury to her hip, she decides to return to run the inn. Her mother had been in charge until three months before, when she succumbed to cancer.

Michelle is in pain, she's skinny, and she has nightmares and other symptoms of PTSD. She's often unpleasant, and drinks too much. She hates Carly (and the reason is slowly revealed throughout The Barefoot Season.)

Carly has worked for Michelle's mom, and helps run the inn. It hasn't always been pleasant, and since Michelle's mother's death, Carly has been running the inn herself. She has a young daughter, Gabby, and her husband left her when Gabby was a baby and took all the money from the sale of her father's house. She's been underpaid and in financial trouble, but lives in the owner's suite at the inn.

I didn't really like either of these characters. They both had many faults, were unpleasant to each other, and held grudges big time. Like from high school. I got tired of hearing how much Michelle's hip hurt, and how poor Carly was because of her ill-conceived marriage. I got tired of hearing how the inn was about to be repossessed, and whose fault all the mismanagement was. One of the side characters was torturing Carly because of a high school incident. I didn't need to have that explained every time. Several themes just seemed very repetitive.

I did enjoy the romances. I like the male characters, and thought the development of these relationships was cute. I loved the dog. I enjoyed the actual descriptions of the decisions and every-day management involving the inn and restaurant. I'm glad that Carly and Michelle both grew and became better people along the way. And, I got my feel-good ending, just the way it should be.

Barefoot Season is an ideal summer read. It put me in the mood to travel and visit some quaint places with that personal touch. I got a little frustrated, but I appreciated that these characters weren't "cookie cutters," even if I didn't like them that much. Barefoot Season is appropriate for teens as well as adults, and is most assuredly a "girl book."(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance

Revewed By~Stacey
Review Copy Provided By~ARC author

Best friends; you love each other, you hate each other. It’s all part of life. In Susan Mallery’s soon-to-be released “Barefoot Season” we meet two former best friends who have so much hostility toward one another that it was hard to like them or imagine why anyone would want to be friends with them in the first place!

I have to admit, I am a die-hard Susan Mallery romance fan. I’ve read them all – twice! As with last year’s Best of Friends, Sus...more Revewed By~Stacey
Review Copy Provided By~ARC author

Best friends; you love each other, you hate each other. It’s all part of life. In Susan Mallery’s soon-to-be released “Barefoot Season” we meet two former best friends who have so much hostility toward one another that it was hard to like them or imagine why anyone would want to be friends with them in the first place!

I have to admit, I am a die-hard Susan Mallery romance fan. I’ve read them all – twice! As with last year’s Best of Friends, Susan takes us through the story that does have romantic elements but the main plot deals with the difficult relationships between family and friends. In previous books, she presents realistic struggles between friends, family and lovers and Barefoot Season is no exception. The animosity between Michelle and Carly is palpable on every page and at times I wished that they would just scream it out and move on.

Everything in its own time.

Not only is Michelle recovery from the horrors of war and an injury, she returns home after her mother’s death to find her beloved inn in financial ruins. Add to that the fact that Carly is running the inn and the two are forced to work together.

Carly’s a single mom struggling with a lifetime of lies and just wanting a chance at a normal life but with Michelle back in town, she finds it difficult to look at the future when the past is still hanging over her head. Along the way other relationships form and, as she does so well, we get that taste of romance that Susan Mallery writes so well. If I had one complaint it was that I would have liked to see a little bit more of the development of these relationships; I think it could have been interesting to watch the romantic relationships evolve and how those relationships come to help Carly and Michelle with their own friendship.

All in all, Barefoot Season is a wonderful read. Once I started, I could not put it down. While not your typical romance, there’s still enough for even the most devout fan. For those of you looking for a good book to use with your book club, Susan has even included questions for discussion at the end. Being that we all have had best friends, this story has a lot to offer to a group discussion setting.

I love an author who is in tune with her readers!
(less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Susan Mallery is famous for her contemporary romances that are usually fun and light reads, but she also writes more dramatic stories that go well with the term women’s fiction. Barefoot Season is one of those more serious books.

Michelle Sanderson has returned to her childhood home in Blackberry Island after being severely injured in Iraq. She does it for necessity because years ago she fled home to never come back. After her father left, her relatio...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Susan Mallery is famous for her contemporary romances that are usually fun and light reads, but she also writes more dramatic stories that go well with the term women’s fiction. Barefoot Season is one of those more serious books.

Michelle Sanderson has returned to her childhood home in Blackberry Island after being severely injured in Iraq. She does it for necessity because years ago she fled home to never come back. After her father left, her relationship with her difficult mother became almost unbearable, and she had a falling out with her best friend, Carly. But now she’s back battling PTSD and alcoholism and all she wants is peace to recover from her wounds.

Carly Williams is a single mother struggling to make ends meet while trying to save the inn where she works from financial disaster. She also had a difficult childhood that got worse when her mother left her and she was forced to live with her abusive father. Getting married was the solution to her lonely life but when she caught her fiancé in bed with her best friend, Michelle, all came crashing down. Worse, she decided to get married anyway because she was pregnant, but the guy took all her money and left her alone with the baby. Michelle’s mother took her in and gave her a place to work and live at her inn with a promise that one day she would become part owner.

Now, the mother is dead, the inn is near bankruptcy and worse of all, Michelle is back and angry at everything and everyone, especially Carly. But now the bank is forcing them to work together in order to save the inn (the good old fashion gimmicky plot device) and while they are at it they will have to face the past and the present in order to have a future.

Because I know you are wondering I’ll tell you that yes, both ladies have romantic interests so there’s a bit of romance in the book as well as a happily ever after. However, the story is all about friendship, forgiveness and healing.

I had a hard time liking Michelle. I was able to sympathize with the fact that she had a traumatic experience during war that left her physically and emotionally wounded, and because it was so recent there was no way for her to act normal and adjusted. But she was so hard to like! So much misplaced anger and resentment got old pretty fast. Her relationship with Carly was very complicated and she wasn’t the villain there, neither of them was. But her inability to accept her own responsibility and her unwillingness to consider and respect Carly’s side of the story made her more villain than heroine. As I said, she wasn’t in the right frame of mind, and by the end of the book she became somewhat likeable -or less annoying-, but it was a difficult road for her, and for me as a reader. Kudos to Ms. Mallery for not making it easy to her heroine and for not allowing her to cut corners, no magical cure for her PTSD and she ends as a work in process, so it was real and believable. But most of the time I couldn’t stand how self-centered and egotistical she was. I understand that when you are in so much pain it’s difficult to think about everyone else’s feelings, but it was hard for me to spend half the book in her head and the whole story in her company.

Carly, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. This character had the most potential to be annoying but compared to Michelle she was a breath of fresh air. The main difference between her and Michelle was the daughter, Carly couldn’t be egotistical because she had a huge responsibility. I really liked her, she was kind and tenacious, not perfect, but mature and yes, a little bit of a martyr. There’s a fine line between stoically enduring and being a pitiful victim and she definitely kept crossing it back and forth. But overall she was a likeable character with her own set of terrible circumstances and healing to do. It was interesting to see how different yet alike Michelle and Carly were, and how two different people can react so different to pain and abandonment.

The secondary characters are exactly that, secondary. Both love interest were charming, likeable and what the heroines needed, especially in Michelle’s case. She gets paired up with a former soldier who knows what she’s going through and can see beyond her prickly personality. Theirs is a slow building romance that takes the whole book to materialize, which made me happy because she wasn’t ready for romance, and also because it means that the romance wasn’t what healed her. The story has two villains but both are cartoonish and over the top. One of them was slightly more layered than the other, but in the end need for conflict and exaggerated evil got in the way of character development.

The book was far from perfect but I did enjoy it. It’s an emotional story that makes the reader feel a whole set of emotions. It’s an engaging book with a complex main character and an interesting take on friendship. As I said before, the book is about healing, forgiving and moving on. If you like women’s fiction with a touch of romance and a happily ever after, you will enjoy it.

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.(less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Jac (For Love and Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s no secret that Susan Mallery is one of my “Go-To” authors – if I need an escape, I know I can count on her and Barefoot Season was no exception! (Although a fair warning to all of Susan’s fans – this is a contemporary read, NOT a romance! There are romantic elements, but the story is really about Carly and Michelle and their friendship.)
It took me just a few paragraphs to get into this book, the opening scene has Michelle purchasing a truck and sharing that she’s fresh back from Iraq – or a...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Glenajo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, romance, contemporary-womens

Mallery’s Best Yet, by Far

Michelle Sanderson returns to her post army service life of running her family owned inn. The Inn is now hers only, but there are a massive number of problems. The problems include a bullet wound that caused a partial hip replacement, the recent death of her mother, and the current manager of the inn, Carly Williams. Carly and her daughter now live in the owner's suite at the Inn where Michelle grew up, and where Carly discovered Michelle in bed with her fiancé two days...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Dorine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Two former best friends, one a single mom and the other a war veteran, are thrown together after ten years apart, hoping to save the small inn they both love. Tourists, residents, newcomers, all play a part in BAREFOOT SEASON on a charming island on the upper west coast — rain or shine.

A wounded war vet, Michelle Sanderson, returns to her beloved home at Blackberry Island Inn. She expects it to be the same, needs it to be the same, as it was when she left three deployments ago. Of course, it’s...more

Two former best friends, one a single mom and the other a war veteran, are thrown together after ten years apart, hoping to save the small inn they both love. Tourists, residents, newcomers, all play a part in BAREFOOT SEASON on a charming island on the upper west coast — rain or shine.

A wounded war vet, Michelle Sanderson, returns to her beloved home at Blackberry Island Inn. She expects it to be the same, needs it to be the same, as it was when she left three deployments ago. Of course, it’s not. Her mother had changed it with the help of her once best friend, Carly Williams — the woman her mother thought of as her true daughter instead of Michelle. Now that Michelle’s mother has passed away, Michelle can blame Carly for everything since she’s alive and a viable target.

Michelle and Carly have an unpleasant history, which is part of the reason that Michelle ran off to join the army in the first place. Ten years later, she has to face her former best friend who helped her mother with the inn that Michelle inherited. Financial problems as a result of her mother’s choices, and her banker’s insistence that Michelle retain Carly to assist her, forces the two women to work together whether they like it or not, or lose the inn. Carly has put in too many years and was promised too much for her future at the inn to give up now. Michelle has to admit she needs Carly. She is her only choice even if Michelle doesn’t like it.

Michelle has issues as a result of her time in Afghanistan — both physical and emotional. She hates Carly with a passion that only she can understand. Truthfully, she seems to hate and distrust almost everyone. Can she work through everything, or does she even want to? Carly has a daughter, which is the only good thing that came out of her marriage to the man who cheated on her before they even took their vows. She needs her job at the inn in order to continue to provide the only home her daughter has known. She respects what Michelle did for her country, but can she learn to respect Michelle? She loves her job at the inn enough to try.

Michelle is definitely an intriguing character. Delving into what has created such a hard façade kept me turning the pages. Carly seems weak or beaten down by the treatment received within her lifetime, but it’s evident that everyone depends on her, which means she must be strong even though she doesn’t seem to believe it. Carly focused on her job and succeeded after her personal life went downhill. Even Michelle realizes she has no choice but to depend on Carly’s experience at the inn. It’s entertaining to watch Carly blossom and to not take Michelle’s attitude without fighting back. They behave just like smart-mouthed best friends should, which makes them relatable if you have one just like them, or are one yourself.

Can they work together to hold onto the Blackberry Island Inn without losing a part of themselves in the process?

BAREFOOT SEASON is the first book in Susan Mallery’s new BLACKBERRY ISLAND series, and I can’t wait to find out whose story is next. The Blackberry Island residents are fun to get to know, and the guests of the inn keep the staff creatively busy. With such a varied cast of characters, there has to be so much more we’ll find out as the series continues. This isn’t just a feel good place where everyone’s attitude matches the daisies that adorn the walls, gardens, dishes, souvenirs, etc… The daisies might perk up a bad day, but there are plenty of problems to be resolved before the daisies are fully appreciated. Not that Michelle will ever like them, but she doesn’t tolerate much at first, which leads to some heartrending as well as very funny moments.

BAREFOOT SEASON by Susan Mallery is women’s fiction at its best — filled with engrossing characters you’ll need to love, love to hate and root for wholeheartedly until the very end. There are elements of romance in this novel, but it’s not the main focus of the story. That said, the book isn’t without some delicious men, and they’re fully capable of taking care of their women from head to toe when needed. BAREFOOT SEASON is about strong women, forgiveness and second chances. I really enjoyed this novel because it wasn’t all happiness and light. There are some school-of-hard-knocks struggles to get through before either woman gets a happy ending, which makes their journey uplifting as well as dramatically appealing. Their friendship is realistic and oftentimes hilariously so, before and after a poignant moment. And the best part? The ending is just as it should be; contented and hopeful. Isn’t that what we all want?

Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies.(less)

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Mar 01, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

You just never know when it's time to confront your past. Let go of the pain, make amends with those you once loved. In Barefoot Season, Ms. Mallery sets the stage for two women, once friends, until betrayal tore them apart.

Carly and Michelle were like sisters at one point. Who would have thought they envied each other, never once sharing those feelings with one another? Michelle, bitter and angry, has come back from serving in the mi...more Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

You just never know when it's time to confront your past. Let go of the pain, make amends with those you once loved. In Barefoot Season, Ms. Mallery sets the stage for two women, once friends, until betrayal tore them apart.

Carly and Michelle were like sisters at one point. Who would have thought they envied each other, never once sharing those feelings with one another? Michelle, bitter and angry, has come back from serving in the military. Though she isn't very likable at first, it's understandable why she acts the way she does. As the story progresses, Michelle is redeemed into a character I cared about. I'd hoped things would work out for her in the beginning, despite her attitude. She's got a lot to own up to, and people to deal with she'd left behind all those years ago. It's never easy.

Then there's Carly, the other heroine. She works hard to be the best mother she can be for her daughter. She doesn't allow her past to overcome her, though there are people on Blackberry Island who don't ever want to let her forgot who she once was. The fears within her about her Michelle's homecoming turn into surprise. Carly and Michelle are pushed into working together to save something they both care about - the inn.

It looks almost as if history may repeat itself again when Carly shows feelings for Sam, and he takes a liking to Carly and her daughter. For Michelle, her love interest is less subtle, but it does show promise with Jared. Though Both Sam and Jared play a role in this book, their relationship with the woman doesn't take a leading role in the story. I was particularly interested in how the story would play out with Sam, as he knows both Carly and Michelle. I would have loved to learn more about Jared, but his character wasn't as up front and center as some of the others.

Ms. Mallery creates another delightful story with emotion and depth readers are bound to fall in love with. When picking up a book by this author, we know one thing- we're in for a wonderful heartwarming ride. Barefoot Season is no different. The bonds of friendship and family are tested within the pages of this novel. Let's not forget about falling in love. Both Michelle and Carly have a chance for happiness.

This book aims to please. It's one that belongs on the keeper shelf, to be read over and over again. Michelle and Carly, plus all the other characters in this book found their way into my heart and mind, even when the book was finished. If you're a fan of contemporary women's fiction with strong romance elements, then I strongly suggest Barefoot Season.(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, susan-mallery, net-galley

If you've ever read a book by Susan Mallery before I think this book will be a little bit surprising but also a great for you. This one diverged slightly from the typical book about a romantic relationship. It explored the intricacies of a friendship between two people who have a complex and hurtful past together. The two main characters Michelle and Carly were once really great friends and life's situations and mistakes drove them apart. Then when the two end up forced to work together, they ha...more If you've ever read a book by Susan Mallery before I think this book will be a little bit surprising but also a great for you. This one diverged slightly from the typical book about a romantic relationship. It explored the intricacies of a friendship between two people who have a complex and hurtful past together. The two main characters Michelle and Carly were once really great friends and life's situations and mistakes drove them apart. Then when the two end up forced to work together, they have to confront the past and see if their friendship is something beyond hope or worth saving.

One of the main characters, Michelle, is returning home after being injured while serving in the military. She's got a whole host of problems and thinks that the best thing for her is to go back to a place where nothing changes and that's Blackberry Island. Her family ran an inn which passed to Michelle when her mother died, but little does she know that her old friend Carly has been managing the place in her stead. Michelle is upset with all the changes that have taken place but due to her mother miss-managing money is forced into keeping Carly on and working with her to help save the inn from foreclosure.

Michelle and Carly had a really complex relationship and I wondered from the start if this was going to be a book with a happy ending. It seemed impossible to me and this is what kept me interested in reading. I just couldn't see how these two damaged people could end up reconciling. From the beginning I disliked Carly, she seemed flighty and entitled. As the plot developed I felt like I began to really see Carly for who she was and it made me want to see her have her own happy ending. Michelle was so broken that I had no hope for her. It seemed like things were just going in a downward spiral and nothing would be able to bring her back. I enjoyed watching the two women battling it out and fighting their desire to like eachother when they were so set on the opposite.

The side plots involving Sam and Jared were also great. While I liked that the main plot focused primarily on Michelle and Carly's friendship, I did enjoy seeing their romantic relationships developed. It was also sweet to see Carly's relationship with her daughter Gabby. I particularly loved their time in swim class! I could see my own mother doing what Carly did for Gabby.

All in all, great book!

This book was provided to me by netgalley. Thanks to Harlequin books!(less)

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Feb 11, 2012 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-character, contemporary, romance, 2012

Michelle Sanderson is returning to Blackberry Island after years at war. She has a hip injury from being shot and PTSD but she wants to go take over the inn left to her by her father.
But the place she left isn't what she remembers. For one, her ex-BFF, Carly Williams, is now the inn's manager. Why is she ex? Well, it seems that Carly found her fiance and Michelle (our heroine?) in bed together. A pregnant Carly married the man anyway and he promptly ran off with all her money. But Michelle's mot...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-ebooks

As a true Mallery fan I pick up the newest book the day it comes out and it is usually done before I can let myself sleep, I know she is a great writer of romance, but this is not a romance and I was prepared to be disappointed........wow! Did Mallery prove me wrong once again as she proves that she can write so much more than romance and not let her readers down. This is a truly moving and poignant novel that will make new Mallery fans out of many new readers. Both Michelle and Carly are superb...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Temara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Barefoot Season
A Blackberry Island Novel
Author: Susan Mallery
Reading Level: Adult
Release: Date: March 27th
Review Source: NetGalley

Description from Goodreads:
Michelle Sanderson may appear to be a strong, independent woman, but on the inside, she’s still the wounded girl who fled home years ago. A young army vet, Michelle returns to the quaint Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. Instead, she finds the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wan...more

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May 23, 2012 Corey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, read-in-2012

I can't recall how or why I picked up this novel or even why I decided to read it when I did but I am glad that it happened. This isn't a novel that is going to leave a long lasting impression, nor is it going to be one that shocks you at every turn. The "twists" you usually see coming and the romance is a side story. The bones of this novel surrounds two friends who had a falling out and are forced to work together to save the Inn from being repossessed. At the beginning, you may side with Carl...more

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May 17, 2012 Heather Bokon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I like Susan Mallery's romance novels a lot. But I love her women's fiction. This was another winner; and I can't wait to read more of Blackberry Island.

Michelle is returning from ten years in the military, most recently in Afghanistan, trying to heal from an injury. She has PTSD, a chip on her shoulder going back to some events in high school, and when she gets home to Blackberry Island, she finds that her inn, the one her father left for her, has been run into financial ruin by her recently de...more I like Susan Mallery's romance novels a lot. But I love her women's fiction. This was another winner; and I can't wait to read more of Blackberry Island.

Michelle is returning from ten years in the military, most recently in Afghanistan, trying to heal from an injury. She has PTSD, a chip on her shoulder going back to some events in high school, and when she gets home to Blackberry Island, she finds that her inn, the one her father left for her, has been run into financial ruin by her recently deceased mother. Her best friend/stepsister/arch-nemesis Carly is still there, running the inn the best she can, having recently found out that the promises Michelle's mother made to her about earning into ownership of the inn were lies and that her own financial situation is even more precarious than she thought.

These two were best friends for their entire lives, until a series of events caused them to end their friendship. This story is about them finding their way back to each other.

There's a little romance for each of them, nothing heavy, and it's definitely not the focus of the book. I don't have any personal experience with PTSD, so I can't say anything about the accuracy of Mallery's portrayal of Michelle, but to someone with no personal experience, it rang true. Her anger with Carly and her own mother seemed real to me; the conflict that resulted in Michell and Carly's friendship was doled out slowly over the course of the book, but it also seemed real. I could absolutely see how the events would change feelings between even the best of friends.

The side characters were well done. Ellen was a little hard to swallow; her grudge against Carly stemmed back to high school, but unlike Michelle's, Ellen's seemed a little ridiculous. Move on, already. But I certainly know people who peaked in high school, and Ellen strikes me as the type. Gabby, Carly's daughter, wasn't too big a character, which was nice. I prefer kids to be more relegated to the sidelines in romance/women's fiction, unless there's some huge reason for them to be more involved.

There were a few subplots; I don't want to give anything away. One of them made my heart break for Michelle, the other made me mad. But they both helped bring Michelle and Carly closer together.

Oh, the dog! I'm such a sucker for dogs. If you put a dog in the story, it's probably going to improve my opinion, regardless of anything else. And this was such a sweet little guy.

Also, I'd really like to visit Blackberry Island. And possibly meet Mango. Who sounds delicious.
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Mar 21, 2012 Liza rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m a big fan of Susan Mallery’s books, and was excited to get a chance to read Barefoot Season early. I have to say, I liked Carly much more than Michelle at the beginning of the book. However, as I read more and more about each of their lives, I came to respect and like them both. Both Michelle and Carly have been put through so much in their lives.

I’ve come to expect lots of emotion when reading books from Susan Mallery, and she totally delivers with Barefoot Season. The initial turbulence be...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

For those of you that are fans of Susan Mallery’s and have become obsessed with her Fool’s Gold series (like myself) the first thing you realize is this is not the “Land of Happy Endings”. But Blackberry Island will have you wanting to visit all the same.

Michelle left her home 10 years ago after her life fell apart and she lost everyone she cared about including and probably most importantly her best friend Carly. Now Michelle returns from serving her cou...more Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

For those of you that are fans of Susan Mallery’s and have become obsessed with her Fool’s Gold series (like myself) the first thing you realize is this is not the “Land of Happy Endings”. But Blackberry Island will have you wanting to visit all the same.

Michelle left her home 10 years ago after her life fell apart and she lost everyone she cared about including and probably most importantly her best friend Carly. Now Michelle returns from serving her country batter and bruised in more ways then one. She was shot in the hip and what she wants is a little bit of R&R (rest and recovery) at home on Blackberry Island. She needs a place to heal both physically and emotionally. However as the saying goes “you can never go home again”. When she returns to the Inn that was given to her by her father and was in trust until her mother died a few months ago she finds that everything has been changed and none of it for the good. And the worst part is that Carly has had a hand in all of it.

Carly has been running the inn under the assumption that she would grow into becoming a partner but when Michelle’s mother passes she learns the 10 years she has spent working her tail off was for nothing. Her biggest fear is losing her job and being homeless with her 9 year old daughter. She would do anything for her daughter. Even work beside Michelle, the woman who betrayed her so many years ago.

This book is not about romance but about relationships. The relationship between friends, parents and men and how having them and losing them define who we are. Usually when reading a romance you read both the man and woman point of view but this is about Michelle and Carly. This is their story and while romance is on the horizon it is not the focus of this novel. It is about lifelong friendships and how the decisions we make effect us for the rest of our lives. The book is also a look into the healing of a returning soldier but this time that soldier is a female which is different then so many novels out now. This is an incredible book told about women by a woman and meant to be read by every woman. We have all had that friendship we thought would last a lifetime. But for Carly and Michelle it didn’t.. or did it? Do not miss this book and while you are picking up this book pick up Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series... You will not be disappointed!(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Janet C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: light-reading

This is my first book by Susan Mallery. After several people reccommended her books....I decided to dive in. This was good...I finished it in 2 days. I will be reading others by Malley. My rating is a 3 1/2.

Synopsis, Michelle a returning veteran with physical and emotional healing to do, comes home to Blackberry Island to claim her inheritance. Instead she finds the owners suite occupied by the last person she wants to see...Carly Williams and her young daughter.

As it turns out Carly and her w...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, netgalley

I have to say, Barefoot Season is my favorite Susan Mallery book to date. It had a much more serious feel to it than most of her contemporary romances, and a lot more substance. It dealt with some pretty heavy issues--friendship and family, betrayal and forgiveness, denial and healing.

I really liked both Michelle and Carly—which at times seemed like it would be impossible, since each woman seemed to have such opposite views of nearly everything! Mallery really helps you see every issue from both...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Jane Litte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Challenging and interesting story that was more about the friendship of two women than a romance. Michelle, the wounded & PTSD suffering war veteran, returned home to heal only to be confronted with a failing family inn and the tattered remains of a childhood friendship which she helped break by sleeping with her best friend's fiance only two days before the wedding.

Carly stole her best friend, Michelle's, boyfriend, got pregnant and then proceeded to replace Michelle as the "true daughter"...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Deb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Susan Mallery makes a literary departure from pieces that focus on the romantic relationships between characters, Barefoot Season is a well-written, multi-faceted novel that examines the complex realities of life and relationships.

The novel introduces the life stories of Carly and Michelle who share a complex relationship as former friends, co-workers, and step-sisters. The road back to rebuilding their trust and friendship is a rocky one requiring them to work out personal and interpersonal iss...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cocktails and Books by: Joelle

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenges, author-provided, contemporary-romance, netgalley

This is the third woman's fiction book I've read by Susan Mallery and it's another book that proves that Susan Mallery has the ability to capture those little nuances in women's relationship with each other.

Michelle Sanderson and Carly Williams were best friends from elementary school through high school. But through no fault of their own, they were pitted against each other through the acts of their parents. Then when they were working towards re-establishing their relationship a man and jealou...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-susanmallery

Ok, I confess. I was wrong. Totally wrong. I was skeptical of liking this book as I was in a romance genre kick recently and KNEW that I wouldn't like this book since it wasn't strictly a romance. It's a story with a teensy bit of romance thrown in.

However, I was proven wrong, convinced to try it by several reviewers. I figured I'd give it about a quarter of the way into the book before I gave up. Once I hit that, I figured a third before giving up. Ended up finishing this near 400 page book in...more

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Barefoot Season (Blackberry Island #1)

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