What do you think?
Rate this book
Barefoot Bay Brides Trilogy #1
Barefoot in White
Destination wedding consultant Willow Ambrose has fought a battle with the scale for much of her life, but she has finally won the war. By putting her past behind her and cutting off all contact with anyone who knew her before and, of course, controlling everything she can, Willow has carved out a new body and a new life. But when she comes face to face with someone who left an indelible mark on her heart years before, all that threatens to crumble.
Navy SEAL Nick Hershey is on medical leave, doing a friend a favor as a stand in “man of honor” at a beach wedding. He might not be that interested in the nuptials, but the wedding planner catches his eye the minute they meet. When he realizes Willow is really a girl he knew in college—and a girl he unintentionally hurt to the core—he knows he has some making up to do.
Willow has learned how to beat every temptation...but Nick’s sweet-as-candy kisses just might be the one thing she can’t resist. But the closer they get, the more the past threatens to tear them apart. Can they finally let go of a painful past in order to find a forever future?
Navy SEAL Nick Hershey is on medical leave, doing a friend a favor as a stand in “man of honor” at a beach wedding. He might not be that interested in the nuptials, but the wedding planner catches his eye the minute they meet. When he realizes Willow is really a girl he knew in college—and a girl he unintentionally hurt to the core—he knows he has some making up to do.
Willow has learned how to beat every temptation...but Nick’s sweet-as-candy kisses just might be the one thing she can’t resist. But the closer they get, the more the past threatens to tear them apart. Can they finally let go of a painful past in order to find a forever future?
338 pages, ebook
First published May 3, 2014
588 people are currently reading
1824 people want to read
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
265 books1,832 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
June 8, 2015
Is it because my standards are too high? is it because I expect to feel a certain way when reading a book? or is it that I'm having the worst reading streak in...ever...minus the last book I read that thankfully was fantastic?
This was not good. The premise sounded promising and the only reason I read this was because it was a freebie. Thank God for small favors. The chemistry between the hero and heroine was non-existent. Their supposed falling in love came out of nowhere and the the heroine was a study in contradictions.
I wish I could say it just wasn't for me, but I don't care right now. things got uber cheesy at the end and completely unrealistic. Had I not been stuck in this epic book slump after reading one of the best books I've EVER read in my life, I still would have been unimpressed with this book and the time I took reading it. I managed to finish and there were some borderline interesting moments so I'm going with a 'meh' 2 stars.
This was not good. The premise sounded promising and the only reason I read this was because it was a freebie. Thank God for small favors. The chemistry between the hero and heroine was non-existent. Their supposed falling in love came out of nowhere and the the heroine was a study in contradictions.
I wish I could say it just wasn't for me, but I don't care right now. things got uber cheesy at the end and completely unrealistic. Had I not been stuck in this epic book slump after reading one of the best books I've EVER read in my life, I still would have been unimpressed with this book and the time I took reading it. I managed to finish and there were some borderline interesting moments so I'm going with a 'meh' 2 stars.
February 12, 2015
See the complete series review on The Book Nympho
Willow Ambrose is the daughter of a rock & roll legend and a supermodel. She's estranged from her parents but her issues are with her mother. Willow lost a LOT of weight and no one but her business partners know her true identity. When Nick Hershey, her only true love from 12 years ago, shows up as part of a wedding party, Willow must face her past in ways she's never done before.
This story had heartbreaking moments and is one of incredible substance. LOVED it and Chapter 19 has one of the most erotic seduction scenes I have ever read...without consummation of the deed. It's a great romance and exploration of some really tough issues (weight, mother/daughter conflicts). I'm already addicted to the series and on to the next book!
Willow Ambrose is the daughter of a rock & roll legend and a supermodel. She's estranged from her parents but her issues are with her mother. Willow lost a LOT of weight and no one but her business partners know her true identity. When Nick Hershey, her only true love from 12 years ago, shows up as part of a wedding party, Willow must face her past in ways she's never done before.
This story had heartbreaking moments and is one of incredible substance. LOVED it and Chapter 19 has one of the most erotic seduction scenes I have ever read...without consummation of the deed. It's a great romance and exploration of some really tough issues (weight, mother/daughter conflicts). I'm already addicted to the series and on to the next book!
August 11, 2017
"When I'm finished, you will see yourself as the beautiful, sexy, sensual, desirable, and smokin'-hot woman that I see every time I look at you."
Something cracked inside---some ice around her heart, maybe? Or maybe it was the wall of protection she'd erected for so long she couldn't remember life without it. Or perhaps it was her willpower to say no to anything. She didn't know, but all Willow could do was hope she didn't shed a tear while Nick Hershey gave her a gift she'd feared she'd never get or deserve.
Adoration.
This story moved along at a pretty quick clip while dealing with some pretty heavy issues. The heroine has big mommy issues, her mother was a model and apparently brow beat her and tried to control her, forcing her daughter into her image. This severely backfired and made the heroine turn to food for comfort. Hero is on medical leave after losing hearing in one of his ears and is dealing with guilt stemming from someone he cared about dying because of a decision he made.
The heroine is definitely the strongest of the characters with her more front and center and her thoughts and feelings flushed out more. There is a lifetime movie mechanism that throws a wrench at our couple just when they might get things figured out that eventually flows into a super rushed bow tie ending; our mother daughter reunion is solved far too quickly for the 80% of the book where the heroine goes over and over how her mother emotionally messed her up. Our hero is a little wooden with a basic military man guilt storyline and I didn't feel we delved into him as well.
The romance was rushed and it felt like our couple never got to really move and shake around with their bonding as the quick pace I mentioned along with heroine's emotional issues took over. There was a lot of stuttered stop and go between them.
The epilogue was cheesy ridiculousness and had me rolling my eyes. I got this as a freebie and its better than most. If the author delved deeper and flushed things out more while having our leads have more interactions outside the hero's villa and pool, this would have been better. I would give another in the series a try.
Something cracked inside---some ice around her heart, maybe? Or maybe it was the wall of protection she'd erected for so long she couldn't remember life without it. Or perhaps it was her willpower to say no to anything. She didn't know, but all Willow could do was hope she didn't shed a tear while Nick Hershey gave her a gift she'd feared she'd never get or deserve.
Adoration.
This story moved along at a pretty quick clip while dealing with some pretty heavy issues. The heroine has big mommy issues, her mother was a model and apparently brow beat her and tried to control her, forcing her daughter into her image. This severely backfired and made the heroine turn to food for comfort. Hero is on medical leave after losing hearing in one of his ears and is dealing with guilt stemming from someone he cared about dying because of a decision he made.
The heroine is definitely the strongest of the characters with her more front and center and her thoughts and feelings flushed out more. There is a lifetime movie mechanism that throws a wrench at our couple just when they might get things figured out that eventually flows into a super rushed bow tie ending; our mother daughter reunion is solved far too quickly for the 80% of the book where the heroine goes over and over how her mother emotionally messed her up. Our hero is a little wooden with a basic military man guilt storyline and I didn't feel we delved into him as well.
The romance was rushed and it felt like our couple never got to really move and shake around with their bonding as the quick pace I mentioned along with heroine's emotional issues took over. There was a lot of stuttered stop and go between them.
The epilogue was cheesy ridiculousness and had me rolling my eyes. I got this as a freebie and its better than most. If the author delved deeper and flushed things out more while having our leads have more interactions outside the hero's villa and pool, this would have been better. I would give another in the series a try.
August 3, 2016
I LOVED this story! The heroine, Willow Ambrose is trying to overcome the first 23 years of her life. Her parents are the infamous Donny Zatarain, greatest rock-in-roll star and Ona Zatarain, the fashion designer who used to be a supermodel. Willow was never good enough for her mother and turned to eating to cope. In her first year of college, she met Nick Hershey who lived in her dorm. One night she asks him to take her virginity and he turns her down. After a few more years of eating to cope, Willow realizes she must take control of her life and in order to do that, she must get away from her mother. Over the next three years, Willow goes into a Wedding Planning business with friends Gussie and Ari and loses over 120 pounds. Willow talks to her dad on occasion, but never her mother. She thinks her life is complete, until Nick Hershey walks back into her life again.
The hero, Nick Hershey is just as sweet and delicious sounding as his name implies! Nick is a Navy SEAL who is home from Iraq on leave. He was involved in an explosion that left him deaf in one ear. While on leave, Nick's best friend asks him to help his sister, Misty with planning her wedding and asks if he will be her stand-in Best Man for him. Nick agrees and goes to Barefoot Bay to meet Misty. While there he meets Willow and feels like he knows her from somewhere but he can't place it. He finally finds out she is Willie Zatarain from his college days.
As Nick and Willow spend more time together, they start having feelings for each other. Nick is trying to deal with the possibility that he may not be able to be an active Navy SEAL anymore while Willow is trying to deal with keeping her life under control. Nick is trying to write a story to bide his time while waiting for his hearing results and Willow turns out to be his muse. Their story is sweet and compassionate. I was completely drawn into their story. This story made me laugh, swoon and even cry. Another winner from Roxanne St. Claire!
The hero, Nick Hershey is just as sweet and delicious sounding as his name implies! Nick is a Navy SEAL who is home from Iraq on leave. He was involved in an explosion that left him deaf in one ear. While on leave, Nick's best friend asks him to help his sister, Misty with planning her wedding and asks if he will be her stand-in Best Man for him. Nick agrees and goes to Barefoot Bay to meet Misty. While there he meets Willow and feels like he knows her from somewhere but he can't place it. He finally finds out she is Willie Zatarain from his college days.
As Nick and Willow spend more time together, they start having feelings for each other. Nick is trying to deal with the possibility that he may not be able to be an active Navy SEAL anymore while Willow is trying to deal with keeping her life under control. Nick is trying to write a story to bide his time while waiting for his hearing results and Willow turns out to be his muse. Their story is sweet and compassionate. I was completely drawn into their story. This story made me laugh, swoon and even cry. Another winner from Roxanne St. Claire!
May 4, 2014
Barefoot in White
by Roxanne St. Claire
Nick Hershey - A Smoking Hot Navy SEAL - Nick lives up to all of his chocolatey delicious name :) with a heart of gold surrounded by everything you'd want in your leading man... and Willow Ambrose - A Beautiful Destination Wedding Planner doing her very best to take control of her new life that she's built for herself with her own successful business "Barefoot Brides" shared with her two best friends, Ari & Gussie. They share an office set in the gorgeous Barefoot Bay's Casa Blanca Resort! She's the daughter of a Supermodel Mother turned Fashion Designer & Rock-god Legend Father who secretly loves to golf (lol)..... It will be difficult to write the review without giving up the plot... But I promise not to ;D
Willow was formerly a very overweight college teen at UCLA lusting after and friends with the very handsome Nick who turned down the slightly drunken Willow's offer one night to relieve her of her virginity leaving her heartbroken and devastated.... Now some ten years later our lovely Willow has lost the pounds and is more physically appealing by Willow's standards....recreating herself in an effort to overcome her painful past.
Nick's on medical leave from the military for loss of hearing in one ear waiting for his hearing to hopefully improve and struggling to write a fictional novel at the same time. In writing the novel he's attempting to rewrite history changing tragic events that have caused him tremendous guilt about decisions he made in the past. He's also doing a favor for his best friend by standing in for him at his sister's wedding as her MOH "man of honor".
When Willow unexpectedly runs into one very naked Nick in one of the villas at Casa Blanca expecting a MOH "maid of honor", she is shocked but instantly recognizes him, but he doesn't immediately recognize the new stunning Willow.
However, when the bride shows up, the jig is up... As she knows exactly who Willow is! Nick and Willow are able to move past the awkwardness and develop a heated relationship where you really can't wait for them to rewrite their own little bit of history ;D
As their their relationship develops, they share their darkest secrets with each other, and push each other to overcome that which holds the most pain kept buried deep inside. All the while.... a subplot is brewing and working in the background that may derail their plans and their relationship! Something St. Claire is a true genius at creating and takes readers on such thrill rides it makes every book I read of hers almost better than the last! You just can't wait to see how she'll bring it all together for the climactic ending....a lovely epilogue....and then you're left with a snippet of the next book, Barefoot In Lace, holding your breath while desperately wondering how long until it will be released!! The next in the series features Gussie, one of Willow's best friends and one of the other two wedding planners in the Barefoot Brides trilogy! "Barefoot in White" is due out on May 12th! I was honored to receive an advanced readers copy for an honest review.
Brilliant Roxanne!
by Roxanne St. Claire
Nick Hershey - A Smoking Hot Navy SEAL - Nick lives up to all of his chocolatey delicious name :) with a heart of gold surrounded by everything you'd want in your leading man... and Willow Ambrose - A Beautiful Destination Wedding Planner doing her very best to take control of her new life that she's built for herself with her own successful business "Barefoot Brides" shared with her two best friends, Ari & Gussie. They share an office set in the gorgeous Barefoot Bay's Casa Blanca Resort! She's the daughter of a Supermodel Mother turned Fashion Designer & Rock-god Legend Father who secretly loves to golf (lol)..... It will be difficult to write the review without giving up the plot... But I promise not to ;D
Willow was formerly a very overweight college teen at UCLA lusting after and friends with the very handsome Nick who turned down the slightly drunken Willow's offer one night to relieve her of her virginity leaving her heartbroken and devastated.... Now some ten years later our lovely Willow has lost the pounds and is more physically appealing by Willow's standards....recreating herself in an effort to overcome her painful past.
Nick's on medical leave from the military for loss of hearing in one ear waiting for his hearing to hopefully improve and struggling to write a fictional novel at the same time. In writing the novel he's attempting to rewrite history changing tragic events that have caused him tremendous guilt about decisions he made in the past. He's also doing a favor for his best friend by standing in for him at his sister's wedding as her MOH "man of honor".
When Willow unexpectedly runs into one very naked Nick in one of the villas at Casa Blanca expecting a MOH "maid of honor", she is shocked but instantly recognizes him, but he doesn't immediately recognize the new stunning Willow.
However, when the bride shows up, the jig is up... As she knows exactly who Willow is! Nick and Willow are able to move past the awkwardness and develop a heated relationship where you really can't wait for them to rewrite their own little bit of history ;D
As their their relationship develops, they share their darkest secrets with each other, and push each other to overcome that which holds the most pain kept buried deep inside. All the while.... a subplot is brewing and working in the background that may derail their plans and their relationship! Something St. Claire is a true genius at creating and takes readers on such thrill rides it makes every book I read of hers almost better than the last! You just can't wait to see how she'll bring it all together for the climactic ending....a lovely epilogue....and then you're left with a snippet of the next book, Barefoot In Lace, holding your breath while desperately wondering how long until it will be released!! The next in the series features Gussie, one of Willow's best friends and one of the other two wedding planners in the Barefoot Brides trilogy! "Barefoot in White" is due out on May 12th! I was honored to receive an advanced readers copy for an honest review.
Brilliant Roxanne!
June 14, 2015
Argh, I can't describe how much this book made me angry. I don't know why I even bought it (although since it was free, 'bought' is a relative term) because I also hated Secrets on the Sand.
Willow is the daughter of a world famous musician and a model. Her mother has manipulated her for her entire life and the only way she could gain exert control was through eating. She finally realised that over-eating was self-destructive and through determination and will-power lost something like 160 pounds in weight. She has also refused to see her mother and rarely speaks to her. Neither her father nor her mother are aware that she has lost all that weight.
Willow and her two friends have set up a destination wedding planning service (so long, it seems, as you book your destination wedding at the hotel in Barefoot Bay!) but things start to go wrong when a model asks them to arrange her wedding. She and her Man of Honour come down to the hotel to check out the facilities and agree details. The Man of Honour, Nick Hershey, is a Navy SEAL with a hearing problem which may force him to cease active duty. He also has a boat-load (pun intended) of issues which he is trying to deal with through writing a semi-autobiographical novel.
Despite being a Diva of epic proportions, the bride-to-be, Misty, is curiously uninterested in the details of the wedding and leaves it up to Willow and Nick to arrange while she goes off partying with friends. Unfortunately, Misty is also friends with Willow's mother Ona and recognises her from pictures. This is interesting because Nick knew Willow at college, quite well, and he didn't recognise her when they met.
Anyway, on to why I disliked this book:
1. Ona's woo-woo
2. Ona generally
3. Nick's decisions about what is best for Willow which are really just a pathetic excuse to do what he wants
Hopefully lesson learned, whilst I like her other books these Barefoot Bay are saccharine sweet and not for me.
Willow is the daughter of a world famous musician and a model. Her mother has manipulated her for her entire life and the only way she could gain exert control was through eating. She finally realised that over-eating was self-destructive and through determination and will-power lost something like 160 pounds in weight. She has also refused to see her mother and rarely speaks to her. Neither her father nor her mother are aware that she has lost all that weight.
Willow and her two friends have set up a destination wedding planning service (so long, it seems, as you book your destination wedding at the hotel in Barefoot Bay!) but things start to go wrong when a model asks them to arrange her wedding. She and her Man of Honour come down to the hotel to check out the facilities and agree details. The Man of Honour, Nick Hershey, is a Navy SEAL with a hearing problem which may force him to cease active duty. He also has a boat-load (pun intended) of issues which he is trying to deal with through writing a semi-autobiographical novel.
Despite being a Diva of epic proportions, the bride-to-be, Misty, is curiously uninterested in the details of the wedding and leaves it up to Willow and Nick to arrange while she goes off partying with friends. Unfortunately, Misty is also friends with Willow's mother Ona and recognises her from pictures. This is interesting because Nick knew Willow at college, quite well, and he didn't recognise her when they met.
Anyway, on to why I disliked this book:
1. Ona's woo-woo
2. Ona generally
3. Nick's decisions about what is best for Willow which are really just a pathetic excuse to do what he wants
Hopefully lesson learned, whilst I like her other books these Barefoot Bay are saccharine sweet and not for me.
February 8, 2016
When I read the synopsis I was really discouraged by the fact it was a military romance. They're my least favorite; what I've read of that genre was emotionally exhausting. However, this one was really good, even funny.
The main character Willow is a wedding planner and she's in Barefoot Bay to plan Misty's wedding . She is kind of hiding from her old life when she was overweight and was the source of her mom's constant disapproval. The last person she expect to meet there is Lt. Nick Hershey. The man who was her first crush and why she couldn't be with anyone else.
Beside the cheesy synopsis, the narration was nice and the characters were enjoyable. At first I didn't know if they were right for each other. But I was happy that as the story goes characters stayed consistent and how the romance was developed very slowly. At the same time, aware of the history between the two MCs, Nick and Willow. Not that these characters didn't have baggage, they hella do but the way it was dealt with .
Willow's history with her parents was heartbreaking but it ended on a very good note. I can definitely relate to a controlling parent. I loved this quote by Willow's father:
Also, loved these quotes as well
The main character Willow is a wedding planner and she's in Barefoot Bay to plan Misty's wedding . She is kind of hiding from her old life when she was overweight and was the source of her mom's constant disapproval. The last person she expect to meet there is Lt. Nick Hershey. The man who was her first crush and why she couldn't be with anyone else.
Beside the cheesy synopsis, the narration was nice and the characters were enjoyable. At first I didn't know if they were right for each other. But I was happy that as the story goes characters stayed consistent and how the romance was developed very slowly. At the same time, aware of the history between the two MCs, Nick and Willow. Not that these characters didn't have baggage, they hella do but the way it was dealt with .
Willow's history with her parents was heartbreaking but it ended on a very good note. I can definitely relate to a controlling parent. I loved this quote by Willow's father:
"Once a year, take her somewhere she's never been. Once a month, do something new that melts her in the sack. Once a week, stop everything and just listen to her. Once a day, catch her doing one thing you love. And every minute of every day, be grateful that you got her."
Also, loved these quotes as well
"Deep, dark secrets always hurt to share. That's why we keep them in the deep dark."
"sometimes a decision changes the course of your life, but you can't spend the rest of it wallowing in regret."
August 10, 2014
3.5 stars. a really great read, with a lot of heartache and laughs... very deep though and i'd have loved a bit more love and laughter for the couple as they worked through their issues.
May 1, 2014
Willow Ambrose is a Bridal Wedding Planner extradornair at Barefoot Bay with her two business associates and very good friends Gussie and Ari..They're such a riot..You'll laugh a lot with these two..constantly betting on Willow. Nick Hersey is Hot Sexy Navy SEAL on medical leave..
When the bride is coming in for some time with her MOH(maid of honor) she has to get the villa
all set up. When Willow approaches to deliver the basket of goodies for Misty Trew aka bridezilla she walks in hearing this god awful signing. Ok! What she see's well is one Nick Hersey and OH! boy she can't stop staring. He does not see her. When he does she her he's shocked as she is. They finally get some sense of what is going on. He states he is the man of honor..no maid of honor just him.
He's in Barefoot Bay as a stand in for his buddy who saved his life. He can't be at his sisters wedding so Nick agrees to be there for him. The moment Misty meets Willow things change, and it becomes at little awkward but Willow takes things in stride not letting anything take away from doing what needs to be done with the wedding. When Nick finds out he knew there was something familiar about Willow, and wants to get to know her better.
When Misty leaves to go back home she sticks Nick with instructions exactly what is to be done. The note is filled with things he has no clue what they mean. LOL!!! Now Willow and Nick are spending time together and there is a pull between them. A little attraction well maybe more. You don't want to miss it. It's very heartwarming, and one which will grab your heart. I found something very special in this book and I hope you do to.
It's a truly emotional, funny, sexy, book which in my heart I found to be epic. It was a push and pull. Don't give up.
We prepared to be wowed. It's only the beginning of the Barefoot Brides.
Roxanne St. Claire moved me with Barefoot in White, and it was in my book top notch stunningly beautiful in every sense of the word.
I suggest you pick this up on May 12th. I look forward for more..
When the bride is coming in for some time with her MOH(maid of honor) she has to get the villa
all set up. When Willow approaches to deliver the basket of goodies for Misty Trew aka bridezilla she walks in hearing this god awful signing. Ok! What she see's well is one Nick Hersey and OH! boy she can't stop staring. He does not see her. When he does she her he's shocked as she is. They finally get some sense of what is going on. He states he is the man of honor..no maid of honor just him.
He's in Barefoot Bay as a stand in for his buddy who saved his life. He can't be at his sisters wedding so Nick agrees to be there for him. The moment Misty meets Willow things change, and it becomes at little awkward but Willow takes things in stride not letting anything take away from doing what needs to be done with the wedding. When Nick finds out he knew there was something familiar about Willow, and wants to get to know her better.
When Misty leaves to go back home she sticks Nick with instructions exactly what is to be done. The note is filled with things he has no clue what they mean. LOL!!! Now Willow and Nick are spending time together and there is a pull between them. A little attraction well maybe more. You don't want to miss it. It's very heartwarming, and one which will grab your heart. I found something very special in this book and I hope you do to.
It's a truly emotional, funny, sexy, book which in my heart I found to be epic. It was a push and pull. Don't give up.
We prepared to be wowed. It's only the beginning of the Barefoot Brides.
Roxanne St. Claire moved me with Barefoot in White, and it was in my book top notch stunningly beautiful in every sense of the word.
I suggest you pick this up on May 12th. I look forward for more..
May 4, 2014
Just when I think Roxanne St. Clair’s books can’t get any better, she proves me wrong. This book has so much going on with every character and is so chock full of emotions, it’s impossible to put it down.
Willow Ambrose, daughter of a famous rock star father and fashion designer mother was always overweight. Food became her friend thanks to her overbearing, manipulative mother who made her feel she was never good enough or thin enough to be worthy of her love.
Navy SEAL Lt. Nicholas Hershey is on medical leave and recruited by his best friend and teammate, Jason Trew, to stand in for him in his sister’s wedding as her Man of Honor since Jason is deployed and can’t make it home. Nick would much rather be with his team, but instead he finds himself at the Casa Blanca Resort in Barefoot Bay, Florida, where the destination wedding will take place.
Three years ago, Willow decided to take control of her life, lose weight and break free from her mother, sure that she would find the happiness that she missed. Along with her two friends, they formed Barefoot Brides, a wedding planner business based at the Casa Blanca. On her way to deliver a gift basket to one of the villas, not expecting anyone to be there yet, she goes inside and encounters Lt. Hershey, wearing nothing but his headset and dancing and singing to his favorite band -- her dad’s. Adding to the surprise, she is shocked to find that she recognizes him as the guy in college she threw herself at to be her “first”. But when he turned her down flat, she was sure it was because she was fat.
Roxanne St. Clair takes you on an emotional journey of opening old wounds, the pain of forgiving those responsible, new love and new beginnings and the teary-eyed happily ever-after. I recommend this book to anyone who has fought their own personal demons and come out on top.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Willow Ambrose, daughter of a famous rock star father and fashion designer mother was always overweight. Food became her friend thanks to her overbearing, manipulative mother who made her feel she was never good enough or thin enough to be worthy of her love.
Navy SEAL Lt. Nicholas Hershey is on medical leave and recruited by his best friend and teammate, Jason Trew, to stand in for him in his sister’s wedding as her Man of Honor since Jason is deployed and can’t make it home. Nick would much rather be with his team, but instead he finds himself at the Casa Blanca Resort in Barefoot Bay, Florida, where the destination wedding will take place.
Three years ago, Willow decided to take control of her life, lose weight and break free from her mother, sure that she would find the happiness that she missed. Along with her two friends, they formed Barefoot Brides, a wedding planner business based at the Casa Blanca. On her way to deliver a gift basket to one of the villas, not expecting anyone to be there yet, she goes inside and encounters Lt. Hershey, wearing nothing but his headset and dancing and singing to his favorite band -- her dad’s. Adding to the surprise, she is shocked to find that she recognizes him as the guy in college she threw herself at to be her “first”. But when he turned her down flat, she was sure it was because she was fat.
Roxanne St. Clair takes you on an emotional journey of opening old wounds, the pain of forgiving those responsible, new love and new beginnings and the teary-eyed happily ever-after. I recommend this book to anyone who has fought their own personal demons and come out on top.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2014
This story is about Willow Ambrose, who goes into a wedding planning business with her friends Gussie and Ari. They decide to offer their wedding planning business to Casa Blanca Resort as their very own destination wedding planners. One thing that Willow has been dealing with is her weight and also being the daughter of a rock star and a fashion designer, she has always felt that she doesn't fit in anywhere, because she is less than prefect. By being the daughter of such high power parents in their eyes she was a failure or should I say her mother.
Just as Willow, thinks her life is complete, she sees someone from her past, and his name is Nick Hershey. Nick Hershey is a Navy SEAL who is home from Iraq on medical leave. He was involved in an explosion that left him deaf in one ear. While on leave, Nick's best friend asks him to help his sister, Misty with planning her wedding and asks if he would be willing to also be his stand-in as the best man for him. Nick agrees to help out his friend so he goes to Barefoot Bay to meet Misty. While there he meets Willow and feels like he knows her from somewhere but he can’t figure out where he knows her from. You will have to get the book to find out what happen!
If you have read any books by Roxanne St Claire, you will love this one. I love how she is able to weave a story with character that you want to get to know. She will have you laughing and cry, and getting upset with some of the character in this story. I would suggest that this is a must read book. This is the first in the series, and I can’t wait until the next one comes out!
Just as Willow, thinks her life is complete, she sees someone from her past, and his name is Nick Hershey. Nick Hershey is a Navy SEAL who is home from Iraq on medical leave. He was involved in an explosion that left him deaf in one ear. While on leave, Nick's best friend asks him to help his sister, Misty with planning her wedding and asks if he would be willing to also be his stand-in as the best man for him. Nick agrees to help out his friend so he goes to Barefoot Bay to meet Misty. While there he meets Willow and feels like he knows her from somewhere but he can’t figure out where he knows her from. You will have to get the book to find out what happen!
If you have read any books by Roxanne St Claire, you will love this one. I love how she is able to weave a story with character that you want to get to know. She will have you laughing and cry, and getting upset with some of the character in this story. I would suggest that this is a must read book. This is the first in the series, and I can’t wait until the next one comes out!
April 28, 2014
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls
O.K, I openly admit that I am a dark urban fantasy/horror girl at heart even though I do read a lot of PNR, some RS and a handful of Contemps. This book though, was SO good, and just squeal inducing happy. :)
Willow is a transformed woman fighting to leave behind her past and the things that bogged her down. She's a successful wedding planner at the Casa Blanca resort and has been living a good life running from her past and the hurt of her family. When an old flame comes back into her life unexpectedly, Willow is forced to reevaluate things.
Nick is a Navy SEAL on medical leave doing favor for a friend and trying to write a book. When he ends up being reunited with a girl he knew back in college and she unexpectedly becomes his muse, he's forced to reevaluate things in HIS life, as well.
Being the unexpected voice of reason for one another on matters of the heart, Nick and Willow forge a lasting bond. It's not the easy one of a lot of contemporary romances, they have plenty of arguments, disagreements, misunderstandings, etc, but the journey they take to their HEA is wonderfully entertaining.
Barefoot in White was emotional, exciting, engaging, sexy, and sweet all rolled into one and I highly recommend it.
--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls
O.K, I openly admit that I am a dark urban fantasy/horror girl at heart even though I do read a lot of PNR, some RS and a handful of Contemps. This book though, was SO good, and just squeal inducing happy. :)
Willow is a transformed woman fighting to leave behind her past and the things that bogged her down. She's a successful wedding planner at the Casa Blanca resort and has been living a good life running from her past and the hurt of her family. When an old flame comes back into her life unexpectedly, Willow is forced to reevaluate things.
Nick is a Navy SEAL on medical leave doing favor for a friend and trying to write a book. When he ends up being reunited with a girl he knew back in college and she unexpectedly becomes his muse, he's forced to reevaluate things in HIS life, as well.
Being the unexpected voice of reason for one another on matters of the heart, Nick and Willow forge a lasting bond. It's not the easy one of a lot of contemporary romances, they have plenty of arguments, disagreements, misunderstandings, etc, but the journey they take to their HEA is wonderfully entertaining.
Barefoot in White was emotional, exciting, engaging, sexy, and sweet all rolled into one and I highly recommend it.
November 12, 2019
did not finish
February 8, 2016
This one pissed me off.
It didn't just make me angry, it actually made me want to throw my unfortunate e-reader at the wall. Luckily for it, I love it dearly and so refrained. But the anger remains.
A warning to those of you who liked the book: don't read this review, please. It's my own opinion, but it will probably clash with yours.
The things that worked in favour of this story:
1. It had a Navy SEAL (I always enjoy reading about them)
2. It had a lovely setting
3. It had a good romance plot ... until a certain degree.
That's about it, however.
The crux of the matter is this: Willow has been bullied her entire life by her mother, Ona, who is a world-class fashion designer, because she was never skinny enough for her. So as a result, she cut all ties and built her own life, and lost a lot of weight to win that one battle. At the point in the story when we meet her, she is planning a wedding and runs into an old schoolmate of hers from university, Nick, who had rejected her offer/plea to be her first lover at the time. As the story progresses, we learn he's writing about his experience in Afghanistan, and that he and Willow are definitely going to be sleeping together soon.
So far, so good, and I liked the story up until this point. The chemistry was good, the characters made sense, the setting was beautiful.
But, then came that other subplot.
Ona had a medically curious experience of flatlining and then coming back to life, and in the process, she realized - or just decided, really - that she needs to make amends with her daughter. But of course, unlike any SANE mother, she has to manipulate and bully everyone in the scheme so that Willow won't know that a wedding she's planning is actually for her parents, doing precisely what her daughter has always hated, and her husband is such a doormat he can't even get enough guts to tell her she's a moron. And I was even fine with her experience of a white light and whatnot; what bugged me was how she went about fixing things, when she ACKNOWLEDGED, herself, that it was what Willow didn't like.
The worst part came when they managed to manipulate idiot Nick (yes, idiot) into agreeing not to tell Willow, because, newsflash men around the world: if you want to get into a woman's pants, the surest way is to keep a monumental secret and manipulation plan from her so she can learn about it later.
Yeah, right.
And then, the cherry on top of the cake: everything would have been fine. I would have liked it a whole lot. But then, one conversation between mother and daughter - after, I will admit, Willow just being an ass and not letting Nick to tell her anything - BAM! Happily ever after. It literally went like this:
Willow: OH MY GOD I HATE YOU YOU WERE SUCH A BULLY WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?
Ona: NO CAN DO SISTA SEE I HAD THIS TALK WITH ALMIGHTY AND HE SAYS I HAVE TO CLEAN UP MY ACT
Willow: OH MY GOD WHO CARES ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF MENTAL ABUSE, KISSES AND HUGS!
She even gets proposed to by Nick eventually, and she says yes, duh, so they can finally have sex.
My word, there was SO much wrong with the last third of the book, I can't even. It went flat-out into unrealistic territory. One, Ona was just an idiot, and didn't change her personality one bit, just decided she was getting old and wanted in on the grandbabies fest Willow and Nick were about to have. Two, Willow turned out to be a spineless, mindless creature who got lobotomized on the spot by all the woo-woo talk. Three, the guys in the book turned out to be class-A douchebags.
Me, if MY mother had pretty much screwed me over for all my life? Or half of it? Yeah, I would have slammed her a new one for another manipulation scheme. An actual apology later would have gotten her a 'yeah, fine, I'll think about it', but then she'd have to WORK to get back into my good graces. Sorry, harsh reality, but you can't slam someone's body image and their own self-worth for twenty-six years and then just expect them to forget the past. Doesn't happen. People hold grudges. Badly. And I won't even get into the fact that Nick should NEVER have allowed the idiots of parents to tell him what was best for him. He knew what he should have done - and didn't do it. Strike out, mate.
Grrrrr.
It didn't just make me angry, it actually made me want to throw my unfortunate e-reader at the wall. Luckily for it, I love it dearly and so refrained. But the anger remains.
A warning to those of you who liked the book: don't read this review, please. It's my own opinion, but it will probably clash with yours.
The things that worked in favour of this story:
1. It had a Navy SEAL (I always enjoy reading about them)
2. It had a lovely setting
3. It had a good romance plot ... until a certain degree.
That's about it, however.
The crux of the matter is this: Willow has been bullied her entire life by her mother, Ona, who is a world-class fashion designer, because she was never skinny enough for her. So as a result, she cut all ties and built her own life, and lost a lot of weight to win that one battle. At the point in the story when we meet her, she is planning a wedding and runs into an old schoolmate of hers from university, Nick, who had rejected her offer/plea to be her first lover at the time. As the story progresses, we learn he's writing about his experience in Afghanistan, and that he and Willow are definitely going to be sleeping together soon.
So far, so good, and I liked the story up until this point. The chemistry was good, the characters made sense, the setting was beautiful.
But, then came that other subplot.
Ona had a medically curious experience of flatlining and then coming back to life, and in the process, she realized - or just decided, really - that she needs to make amends with her daughter. But of course, unlike any SANE mother, she has to manipulate and bully everyone in the scheme so that Willow won't know that a wedding she's planning is actually for her parents, doing precisely what her daughter has always hated, and her husband is such a doormat he can't even get enough guts to tell her she's a moron. And I was even fine with her experience of a white light and whatnot; what bugged me was how she went about fixing things, when she ACKNOWLEDGED, herself, that it was what Willow didn't like.
The worst part came when they managed to manipulate idiot Nick (yes, idiot) into agreeing not to tell Willow, because, newsflash men around the world: if you want to get into a woman's pants, the surest way is to keep a monumental secret and manipulation plan from her so she can learn about it later.
Yeah, right.
And then, the cherry on top of the cake: everything would have been fine. I would have liked it a whole lot. But then, one conversation between mother and daughter - after, I will admit, Willow just being an ass and not letting Nick to tell her anything - BAM! Happily ever after. It literally went like this:
Willow: OH MY GOD I HATE YOU YOU WERE SUCH A BULLY WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?
Ona: NO CAN DO SISTA SEE I HAD THIS TALK WITH ALMIGHTY AND HE SAYS I HAVE TO CLEAN UP MY ACT
Willow: OH MY GOD WHO CARES ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF MENTAL ABUSE, KISSES AND HUGS!
She even gets proposed to by Nick eventually, and she says yes, duh, so they can finally have sex.
My word, there was SO much wrong with the last third of the book, I can't even. It went flat-out into unrealistic territory. One, Ona was just an idiot, and didn't change her personality one bit, just decided she was getting old and wanted in on the grandbabies fest Willow and Nick were about to have. Two, Willow turned out to be a spineless, mindless creature who got lobotomized on the spot by all the woo-woo talk. Three, the guys in the book turned out to be class-A douchebags.
Me, if MY mother had pretty much screwed me over for all my life? Or half of it? Yeah, I would have slammed her a new one for another manipulation scheme. An actual apology later would have gotten her a 'yeah, fine, I'll think about it', but then she'd have to WORK to get back into my good graces. Sorry, harsh reality, but you can't slam someone's body image and their own self-worth for twenty-six years and then just expect them to forget the past. Doesn't happen. People hold grudges. Badly. And I won't even get into the fact that Nick should NEVER have allowed the idiots of parents to tell him what was best for him. He knew what he should have done - and didn't do it. Strike out, mate.
Grrrrr.
April 14, 2016
When I picked up this book, I thought it was going to be a cute little romance. I don't read books with graphic sex scenes, but I did manage to get through this entire book.
The romance was done really well. Nick was so swoon worthy, and it was lovely seeing how he helped Willow come out of her shell. I also liked that this was the second time they'd met - he'd rejected her years ago when she wanted to lose her virginity to him. Since then, she'd never really had a serious relationship, because she was so hurt by the rejection. Unrealistic maybe, but very sweet. It made the relationship even better. Yes, I would have preferred the book without the sex scenes, but that's just my personal taste. I think that was done well, if that's the sort of book you're looking to read. The system they had with the writing (a step further every five chapters) was clever, and it meant we were really invested in how Nick's writing was going. The love was predictable, the ending was exaggerated but sort of necessary, and it was exactly what you look for in these sorts of books.
The characters, not so great... Willow wasn't anything other than someone who had weight problems. Yes, she also had problems with her mother, but that was mostly because of her weight. She lost a lot, and was now super healthy and thin. Yet she still went on and on about it... I wish she had something else about her that made her a character, like Nick did with his writing. She was pretty good at her job, but that wasn't enough for me. Nick was a lot better. Like I said, he had his writing, and he really brought out the best in Willow. He was a soldier, and was pretty messed up from something that had happened on the field, which I thought gave him a lot more depth. Honestly, I thought he was way too good for Willow, but I also can't imagine him with anyone else... And let's not even talk about the rest of the cast. A mother who had gone through the most ridiculous change, girls who only ever pestered Willow about Nick, a girl with high ambitions and no consideration for anyone who got in her way... They were all there to advance the plot, but they were usually just there to make me mad. They really let down what could have been a good romance.
Despite being a romance, there were still some other things going on that made the book a bit different. I can't go into it too much, because a lot of it isn't revealed until later in the book. Let's just say the ambition seeking girl (who I can't even name), and the mother are way closer than you'd expect them to be... And it does wrap up really nicely in the end, making me almost glad for all the not-so-great stuff we were being bombarded with during the book.
Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good romance. Not something I'd usually pick up, but I'm not regretting I did. I'd recommend it if you're looking to just not think, and aren't feeling too critical. It was a perfect holiday read for me
The romance was done really well. Nick was so swoon worthy, and it was lovely seeing how he helped Willow come out of her shell. I also liked that this was the second time they'd met - he'd rejected her years ago when she wanted to lose her virginity to him. Since then, she'd never really had a serious relationship, because she was so hurt by the rejection. Unrealistic maybe, but very sweet. It made the relationship even better. Yes, I would have preferred the book without the sex scenes, but that's just my personal taste. I think that was done well, if that's the sort of book you're looking to read. The system they had with the writing (a step further every five chapters) was clever, and it meant we were really invested in how Nick's writing was going. The love was predictable, the ending was exaggerated but sort of necessary, and it was exactly what you look for in these sorts of books.
The characters, not so great... Willow wasn't anything other than someone who had weight problems. Yes, she also had problems with her mother, but that was mostly because of her weight. She lost a lot, and was now super healthy and thin. Yet she still went on and on about it... I wish she had something else about her that made her a character, like Nick did with his writing. She was pretty good at her job, but that wasn't enough for me. Nick was a lot better. Like I said, he had his writing, and he really brought out the best in Willow. He was a soldier, and was pretty messed up from something that had happened on the field, which I thought gave him a lot more depth. Honestly, I thought he was way too good for Willow, but I also can't imagine him with anyone else... And let's not even talk about the rest of the cast. A mother who had gone through the most ridiculous change, girls who only ever pestered Willow about Nick, a girl with high ambitions and no consideration for anyone who got in her way... They were all there to advance the plot, but they were usually just there to make me mad. They really let down what could have been a good romance.
Despite being a romance, there were still some other things going on that made the book a bit different. I can't go into it too much, because a lot of it isn't revealed until later in the book. Let's just say the ambition seeking girl (who I can't even name), and the mother are way closer than you'd expect them to be... And it does wrap up really nicely in the end, making me almost glad for all the not-so-great stuff we were being bombarded with during the book.
Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good romance. Not something I'd usually pick up, but I'm not regretting I did. I'd recommend it if you're looking to just not think, and aren't feeling too critical. It was a perfect holiday read for me
May 22, 2014
Barefoot in White is the first in a new trilogy by Roxanne St. Claire. This book has us returning once again to Mimosa Key, FL and the Casa Blanca Resort. After reading the original Barefoot Bay series, and the Barefoot Billionaires trilogy of novellas, I was extremely excited about the release of this new trilogy. Roxanne has once again created real and relatable characters that grab your attention and keep you turning page after page.
Willow Ambrose, one of the three wedding coordinators at Casa Blanca, takes pride in creating the perfect destination wedding. Willow also takes pride in the 120 pounds she lost, and is determined to keep to her strict diet and routing that doesn’t involve anyone from her past. This especially includes her manipulating and demeaning super-model turned designer mother.
Nick Hershey, a Navy Seal on medical leave, finds himself at Casa Blanca because he agreed to fill in as Man of Honor at the wedding of his best friend’s little sister. Nick finds himself immediately attracted to Willow and at first he does not realize they were friends in college. When Nick discovers Willow is a friend from the past, he is even more determined to keep seeing her. As a means to pass the time while waiting for his impending medical test results, Nick finds himself writing a story that not only helps him face his past, but brings him closer together with Willow as she critiques his work.
Both needing to face their issues with events in the past, Nick and Willow grow close and together they not only talk about their issues, but face them bravely in order to overcome them. Nick and Willow are perfect for each other and their chemistry is magnetic, captivating the reader. Even with a secret between them that could destroy the delicate balance of their relationship, the conflict and eventual resolution leaves the reader with a satisfied and fulfilled feeling.
In a cleaver turn of events, Roxanne completes this story with the humor, heart, and satisfaction that her readers have come to expect.
Returning to Barefoot Bay in this story makes me wish Barefoot Bay was real, and that I could vacation at the Casa Blanca Resort and mingle among the characters Roxanne has created among the beautifully written pages of her novels. Roxanne is among the top of my favorite authors and any book she writes is an auto-buy for me. I have most of her books not only on my nook, but also in paperback. You can’t go wrong with Barefoot in White, or with any of the other novels or novellas centered in Barefoot Bay.
Willow Ambrose, one of the three wedding coordinators at Casa Blanca, takes pride in creating the perfect destination wedding. Willow also takes pride in the 120 pounds she lost, and is determined to keep to her strict diet and routing that doesn’t involve anyone from her past. This especially includes her manipulating and demeaning super-model turned designer mother.
Nick Hershey, a Navy Seal on medical leave, finds himself at Casa Blanca because he agreed to fill in as Man of Honor at the wedding of his best friend’s little sister. Nick finds himself immediately attracted to Willow and at first he does not realize they were friends in college. When Nick discovers Willow is a friend from the past, he is even more determined to keep seeing her. As a means to pass the time while waiting for his impending medical test results, Nick finds himself writing a story that not only helps him face his past, but brings him closer together with Willow as she critiques his work.
Both needing to face their issues with events in the past, Nick and Willow grow close and together they not only talk about their issues, but face them bravely in order to overcome them. Nick and Willow are perfect for each other and their chemistry is magnetic, captivating the reader. Even with a secret between them that could destroy the delicate balance of their relationship, the conflict and eventual resolution leaves the reader with a satisfied and fulfilled feeling.
In a cleaver turn of events, Roxanne completes this story with the humor, heart, and satisfaction that her readers have come to expect.
Returning to Barefoot Bay in this story makes me wish Barefoot Bay was real, and that I could vacation at the Casa Blanca Resort and mingle among the characters Roxanne has created among the beautifully written pages of her novels. Roxanne is among the top of my favorite authors and any book she writes is an auto-buy for me. I have most of her books not only on my nook, but also in paperback. You can’t go wrong with Barefoot in White, or with any of the other novels or novellas centered in Barefoot Bay.
September 1, 2016
Barefoot in White (Barefoot Bay Brides) (Volume 1)
I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Barefoot Bay book from one of my very favorite authors Roxanne St Claire. The story is a perfect blend of all the elements I love in a contemporary romance and what Roxanne does so well.
Sexy, quick, humorous dialog, great characters, and a beautiful setting combine to create a wonderful story. The author has developed quite a community in Barefoot Bay. Now there are three destination wedding planners who will each have a story to be told. The first up is Willow Ambrose. Her two wedding planning partners continuously bet on her relationship--wagering old-time favorite candy. (Very clever!)
This wouldn't be a classic St. Claire book without a very sexy hero!!! And this is no exception and Nick Hershey doesn't disappoint. (Yes, Hershey-- and yes there is a candy joke to be made here!) He is a NAVY SEAL with a penchant for nudity--need I say more??
If you like fun, clever, contemporary romances I know you will enjoy this one.
From Amazon:
Here Come the (Barefoot Bay) Brides! They’re experts at planning dreamy “I do’s” but haven’t found their own happily ever after...yet. Destination wedding consultant Willow Ambrose has fought a battle with the scale for much of her life, but she has finally won the war. She hasn’t just cut calories -- she’s cut all ties to her past, too, and
successfully carved out a new body and a new life. But when she comes face to face with someone who left an indelible mark on her heart years before, all that threatens to crumble.
Navy SEAL Nick Hershey is on medical leave, doing a friend a favor as a stand in “man of honor” at a beach wedding. He might not be that interested in the nuptials, but the wedding planner catches his eye the minute they meet. When he realizes Willow is a girl he knew in college -- and a girl he unintentionally hurt to the core -- he knows he has some making up to do. Willow has learned how to beat every temptation...but Nick’s sweet as candy kisses just might be the one thing she can’t resist. However, the closer they get, the more their history threatens to tear them apart. Nick and Willow learn the hard way that they can’t change the past, but does that mean they won’t have a future?
May 8, 2014
This is a brand new trilogy and a spin off of sorts from the Barefoot bay series. Same location so you will see some of the characters from the Barefoot bay series. This trilogy is about a set of three friends who came together as individual wedding planners to create Barefoot Bay Brides Wedding planners. Each has their own niche on the team. Barefoot in White tells Willow's story. Willow has worked hard to get where she is. She was a overweight child and put up with a mother who constantly put her down and a dad who turned the other way instead of defending her and a guy she adored turned her down when she threw herself at him in college. Now she's shed all the extra weight, changed her life, found great friends, in a successful business and has cut her parents out of her life as much as she can. It starts to go awry when that hot guy from college who turned her down for sex walks back into her life. Oh boy she is sex on a stick and a Navy seal too! Nick is doing a favor for a friend when he comes to Barefoot Bay as a stand in maid of honor but he's also recouping from a hearing injury in Iraq and trying to write a book based loosely on it. When Nick figures out who Willow is though everything starts to change for them both. Each has some healing to do but there is someone still in the back ground trying to pull strings and some things Willow doesn't know. It all comes crashing down when someone let's the cat out the bag early. I really enjoyed this first book in the trilogy. You feel for both Nick and Willow as they struggle to come to grips with their pasts and possible futures and you want to root for them both. The secondary characters are interesting and you really want to smack a few people around a time or two which just shows you how well the characters are fleshed out. Of course this is a romance so there is plenty of funny parts to make you laugh like Naked Nick. You'll have to read the book to find out what that's about. I'm not telling, but it's good!
May 6, 2014
In many ways this book combines the best of both worlds. The hero, Nick Hershey, is an active duty Navy SEAL on leave due to hearing loss. Willow is the daughter of a rock god and well-known designer. They both are trying to rewrite the past: Nick to excise the demons of Iraq; Willow to erase the younger, overweight, version of herself. Both are only successful when they face the past instead of trying to make it go away. Nick and Willow both help the other through this process, bringing them together as they go.
There are some interesting threads that begin in this book that I’m interested to see more of. Gussie is known for her outlandish wigs and makeup; Willow’s father correctly surmises she’s hiding something. It will be interesting to see her story play out. Ari and Gussie have a penchant for betting hard to find candies on just about everything. The source and reason for this obsession is a great story, I’m sure. There is also a pact between the three women related to never getting married. Clearly the pact is going to fail, but there seem to be more to it than just the endless trials that wedding planners are subject to by Bridezilla brides. I really want to know how Nick and Willow’s wedding plays out in light of the pact.
My only disappointment was that there is no set up of the next story. I’ve gotten used to authors kicking off the next book at the end of the previous. St. Claire opts not to go this route. There is a teaser of the next book at the end, but it is not woven into the existing story. A minor quibble, I’m sure.
With minor visits from returning Barefoot Bay favorites, as well as a strong female centered group of friends the Barefoot Brides do not disappoint. If you are new to Barefoot Bay, this is a great place to begin. If you are a frequent visitor, pull up a chair and favorite beverage and be prepared to want to stay forever.
There are some interesting threads that begin in this book that I’m interested to see more of. Gussie is known for her outlandish wigs and makeup; Willow’s father correctly surmises she’s hiding something. It will be interesting to see her story play out. Ari and Gussie have a penchant for betting hard to find candies on just about everything. The source and reason for this obsession is a great story, I’m sure. There is also a pact between the three women related to never getting married. Clearly the pact is going to fail, but there seem to be more to it than just the endless trials that wedding planners are subject to by Bridezilla brides. I really want to know how Nick and Willow’s wedding plays out in light of the pact.
My only disappointment was that there is no set up of the next story. I’ve gotten used to authors kicking off the next book at the end of the previous. St. Claire opts not to go this route. There is a teaser of the next book at the end, but it is not woven into the existing story. A minor quibble, I’m sure.
With minor visits from returning Barefoot Bay favorites, as well as a strong female centered group of friends the Barefoot Brides do not disappoint. If you are new to Barefoot Bay, this is a great place to begin. If you are a frequent visitor, pull up a chair and favorite beverage and be prepared to want to stay forever.
January 24, 2021
I'm at chapter 10 and just can't do it anymore. If anyone is going to write about somone who is formerly fat she might want to have a conversation with someone who was. This was unbelievably offensive. The only way Willow would have gone out with Nick would have been to have revenge sex or some type of retribution. She certainly wouldn't have risked her business for a despicable egomaniac like Nick or anyone.
He couldn’t even remember to pick her up for his apology date and then expected her to just say yes to whatever crumbs he tossed her way?? And all the naked time thinking she'd just throw herself at him again?? Nauseating and over the top stupid. He is constantly skirting the edge of sexual harassment. And her mother, she didn't deserve the name mother. What a nightmare. It really made me angry that she kept wussing out and giving in to him. His character didn't deserve to have the honor of being called a Navy Seal. Its been a while since I've HATED a book this much, but hate it I did. I'd downloaded the whole series, but already deleted. The first one was bad enough. I wasn't wasting my time on this truly offensive series. I've listened to many titles by this author. I'm now done.
He couldn’t even remember to pick her up for his apology date and then expected her to just say yes to whatever crumbs he tossed her way?? And all the naked time thinking she'd just throw herself at him again?? Nauseating and over the top stupid. He is constantly skirting the edge of sexual harassment. And her mother, she didn't deserve the name mother. What a nightmare. It really made me angry that she kept wussing out and giving in to him. His character didn't deserve to have the honor of being called a Navy Seal. Its been a while since I've HATED a book this much, but hate it I did. I'd downloaded the whole series, but already deleted. The first one was bad enough. I wasn't wasting my time on this truly offensive series. I've listened to many titles by this author. I'm now done.
May 1, 2014
Willow Ambrose has just moved to Barefoot Bay with her two best friends, Gussie and Ari. Together they have decided to work at Casa Blanca as the resorts very own destination wedding planners. Willow has been fighting a battle with herself most of her life. Between battling her weight and being the daughter of a rock star and a fashion designer, she has always felt les then prefect.
Nick Hershey is a Navy SEAL who while on medical leave has come to Casa Blanca as a favor to his friend Jason. Jason's twin sister, Misty, is looking into getting married at the resort. Nick is also trying to write a book as his way of trying to rewrite his own past while he was at war. He also knows Willow from college, so he knows all about the past she tries so hard to hide.
Barefoot In White is a book that will keep you hooked from the start. Both Nick and Willow have things in their past they would love to be able to change or just completely erase. They both must find their own way of healing and even forgiving what happened in the past. As much as they would like to, there's no changing events that have already taken place.
Nick Hershey is a Navy SEAL who while on medical leave has come to Casa Blanca as a favor to his friend Jason. Jason's twin sister, Misty, is looking into getting married at the resort. Nick is also trying to write a book as his way of trying to rewrite his own past while he was at war. He also knows Willow from college, so he knows all about the past she tries so hard to hide.
Barefoot In White is a book that will keep you hooked from the start. Both Nick and Willow have things in their past they would love to be able to change or just completely erase. They both must find their own way of healing and even forgiving what happened in the past. As much as they would like to, there's no changing events that have already taken place.
September 28, 2014
Barefoot in White by Roxanne St Claire
Baggage. Of the emotional type. There's a lot of it in this story. Former fat girl hiding from a manipulative mother. Overbearing mother with regret for past deeds. War zone decisions with disastrous results. Childhood lessons deeply ingrained.
But oh, it's good!
I was crying on the CTA bus in public because I could feel the pain on both sides of mother and daughter.
A great romance with a lot of depth. Definitely worth a read.
Nick Hersey is a Navy SEAL on medical leave in Barefoot Bay to help a teammates sister. Willow Ambrose aka Zatarain is a bridal consultant. She knows Nick from college but he doesn't recognize her because of her weight loss. Now there is attraction between the two.
“I like kissing you, Willow,” he whispered.
“For research.”
“You fell for that?” He chuckled and leaned in for another kiss. “Not for research, for
real.” He kissed her again, opening his lips to tease her teeth with his tongue, sending a thousand fluttering butterflies roaring through her stomach.
“I guess I’m afraid that if I help him face his past, he’s going to make me face my own.”
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Baggage. Of the emotional type. There's a lot of it in this story. Former fat girl hiding from a manipulative mother. Overbearing mother with regret for past deeds. War zone decisions with disastrous results. Childhood lessons deeply ingrained.
But oh, it's good!
I was crying on the CTA bus in public because I could feel the pain on both sides of mother and daughter.
A great romance with a lot of depth. Definitely worth a read.
Nick Hersey is a Navy SEAL on medical leave in Barefoot Bay to help a teammates sister. Willow Ambrose aka Zatarain is a bridal consultant. She knows Nick from college but he doesn't recognize her because of her weight loss. Now there is attraction between the two.
“I like kissing you, Willow,” he whispered.
“For research.”
“You fell for that?” He chuckled and leaned in for another kiss. “Not for research, for
real.” He kissed her again, opening his lips to tease her teeth with his tongue, sending a thousand fluttering butterflies roaring through her stomach.
“I guess I’m afraid that if I help him face his past, he’s going to make me face my own.”
I received a copy of this book from the author.
June 12, 2015
3.5 unexpected stars (and that's why I'm rounding to 4). This one was surprisingly more than I expected. I decided to read wedding/bridal themed books this June just because. I realized that most of what I would be reading would be pure fluff. This one wasn't. Well, mostly, but there are some pretty tough issues that both Nick and Willow are dealing with and have repressed/ignored for most of their adult lives. It was fun to see how they helped each other work through them.
Nick is a Navy SEAL on medical leave who has been commandeered to stand in for his best friend, Jason, at his sister's wedding. Willow is one of the owners of Barefoot Bay Bridal services, a destination wedding planning service. It's also where Nick and Willow meet. For the second time. Willow immediately knows who Nick is; it takes Nick a while before he realizes who Willow is. After some groveling, Nick is able to get Willow to agree to an arrangement that will be beneficial to both of them.
Barefoot in White is a quick and entertaining story with engaging characters, dialog, and lots of fun. I'm glad I took a chance on it.
Nick is a Navy SEAL on medical leave who has been commandeered to stand in for his best friend, Jason, at his sister's wedding. Willow is one of the owners of Barefoot Bay Bridal services, a destination wedding planning service. It's also where Nick and Willow meet. For the second time. Willow immediately knows who Nick is; it takes Nick a while before he realizes who Willow is. After some groveling, Nick is able to get Willow to agree to an arrangement that will be beneficial to both of them.
Barefoot in White is a quick and entertaining story with engaging characters, dialog, and lots of fun. I'm glad I took a chance on it.
May 9, 2014
Willow Ambrose is part owner of a company with two friends called Barefoot Brides. They set up all the detail for destination weddings in Barefoot Bay. Willow has battled issues with her weight and her mother for most of her life. When Misty shows up to discuss details of her wedding, she has her maid-of-honor, or should we say man-of honor with her, Navy Seal Nick Hershey. Willow remembers him from college but Nick doesn't, at first. When Misty leaves, and puts Nick in charge of wedding details, Willow and Nick spend a lot of time together. Willow is still attracted to Nick and he also feels an attraction. There are issues on both their lives that each needs to resolve. This is a true romance that is a very enjoyable read!! I am looking forward to the stories of Willows partners. Also if you haven't read the Barefoot Bay or Barefoot Billionaires books be sure and check them out.
April 22, 2019
Before I start this review I have to respond to a couple of earlier reviewers who criticized the book for it’s “cheesy ending.” Have you ladies never read a contemporary romance book before? They’re all about cheesy, over the top happily ever after endings. You know going in that at the end the main characters are going to have a fairy tale happily ever after ending. The really good modern romance authors are the ones that can get you so invested in the story that you can temporarily lock that knowledge away somewhere in the back of your mind while you take the journey to that happily ever after holding your breath as the characters traverse all the land mines they must negotiate to get to that happily ever after. The big happily ever after is the payoff for not only the characters but the readers. These books are intended to be a feel good fantasy escape from reality for readers. Now my personal preference is for authors who don’t invest the story with too many eye roll worthy, that could never happen in real life events. But even with the best of authors you have to remember these stories are fantasy’s and try not to be to cynical or judgmental with some of the less believable story lines that are bound to appear in these books.
I actually read the Barefoot Brides series out of order. I mistakenly downloaded Gussie and Mark’s story Barefoot in Lace thinking it was the first book in the series. By the time I realized my mistake I was already too hooked on the story to stop reading. That book naturally flowed into Ariel and Luke’s story, Barefoot in Pearls, so I read that next. Then finally I got around to reading Barefoot in White, Willow and Nick’s story having already witnessed their wedding in the third book. But as I said at the top, we all know they’re going to end up together so having witnessed their wedding in Ari’s book didn’t really take anything away from enjoying Willow’s story. Was the story of how Willow’s mom transformed from super bitch mom to a compassionate woman begging for forgiveness and reconciliation over the top? Sure. Was the final chapter with Nick’s big romantic gesture, over the top? Again, yes it was. Was the epilogue where Willow finally is deflowered on a bed of rose petals cheesy and as saccharine sweet as it was steamy? Yes again. But that’s why we read this genre. So if it’s too over the top, too sweet and cheesy for you, I really suggest you avoid the genre.
I enjoyed the Nick character. A Navy Seal home on medical leave for hearing loss after an IED almost killed him. He had some serious guilt issues over the death of Charlotte, a female journalist imbedded in his unit in Afghanistan. According to the story he liked Charlotte but wasn’t in love with her. I don’t know? It sure sounded like he loved her to me. Nick also had issues with marriage because his parent’s marriage was so dysfunctional. But Nick’s issues as serious as they were, were minor compared to our heroine Willow’s. I guess my only issue with Nick is, although he liked Willow when they shared a dorm at UCLA he never considered her as a potential sexual partner, but lusted mightily after the new svelte version of Willow he met 11 years later. So how will he feel about her if God forbid she puts on a few pounds after having a baby or two or moves into middle age?
Willow, one of the 3 partners and BFFs in the Barefoot Brides bridal consulting business based out of the Casa Blanca Resort on Barefoot Bay has some seriously unresolved mommy issues. Apparently Mommy, Ono, a former world famous model, now a world famous fashion designer, was a control freak and master manipulator who made Willow’s childhood hell when she wasn’t the daughter she wanted her to be. As a form of rebellion against her mother as well as a multitude of other reasons why people over eat and use food for solace and comfort Willow in her teen years balloons up to 265 lbs. by the time she starts college and meets Nick. She continues to struggle with overeating until at 26 she finally breaks ties with her mother. After that she changes her lifestyle, religiously monitoring her calorie intake, working out vigorously until over a couple of years she’s lost 140 lbs. and attains a figure even her mother would approve of. Willow’s dad Donny is a famous rock star. Personally I thought St. Clair was far too kind and easy on the father whom she portrays as caring and almost doting. Apparently even though he didn’t like the way Ono treated their daughter he tolerated it because as we’re told, “he was just so in love with his wife that he always ended up taking her side.” I’m sorry but a parent’s first responsibility is to protect their child even against the other parent if necessary. Donny’s failure to put an end to his wife’s emotional and verbal abuse of Willow made him complicit in that abuse not an innocent bystander deserving of Willow’s affection. The author either has first hand experience or did a lot of research on the subject of people who struggle with over eating disorders as she gives Willow all the classic reasons and of course the self-loathing and inability to see herself differently even after she’s reached a healthy weight.
One big thing I didn’t agree with in this story was the idea that Willow needed to reconcile with her mother if she was ever really going to be able to feel whole, love herself and be able to love someone else. That fact that her mother did change and they reconciled was wonderful but I think cutting a toxic parent out of your life is a form of self-love as well as self-preservation and shouldn’t prevent you from loving people who truly care about you. Because of that message and the author’s failure to call Willow’s dad to task for his failure to protect her I can only give what is otherwise a nice romance and a fairly good look at the struggles of overcoming obesity 3 stars.
I actually read the Barefoot Brides series out of order. I mistakenly downloaded Gussie and Mark’s story Barefoot in Lace thinking it was the first book in the series. By the time I realized my mistake I was already too hooked on the story to stop reading. That book naturally flowed into Ariel and Luke’s story, Barefoot in Pearls, so I read that next. Then finally I got around to reading Barefoot in White, Willow and Nick’s story having already witnessed their wedding in the third book. But as I said at the top, we all know they’re going to end up together so having witnessed their wedding in Ari’s book didn’t really take anything away from enjoying Willow’s story. Was the story of how Willow’s mom transformed from super bitch mom to a compassionate woman begging for forgiveness and reconciliation over the top? Sure. Was the final chapter with Nick’s big romantic gesture, over the top? Again, yes it was. Was the epilogue where Willow finally is deflowered on a bed of rose petals cheesy and as saccharine sweet as it was steamy? Yes again. But that’s why we read this genre. So if it’s too over the top, too sweet and cheesy for you, I really suggest you avoid the genre.
I enjoyed the Nick character. A Navy Seal home on medical leave for hearing loss after an IED almost killed him. He had some serious guilt issues over the death of Charlotte, a female journalist imbedded in his unit in Afghanistan. According to the story he liked Charlotte but wasn’t in love with her. I don’t know? It sure sounded like he loved her to me. Nick also had issues with marriage because his parent’s marriage was so dysfunctional. But Nick’s issues as serious as they were, were minor compared to our heroine Willow’s. I guess my only issue with Nick is, although he liked Willow when they shared a dorm at UCLA he never considered her as a potential sexual partner, but lusted mightily after the new svelte version of Willow he met 11 years later. So how will he feel about her if God forbid she puts on a few pounds after having a baby or two or moves into middle age?
Willow, one of the 3 partners and BFFs in the Barefoot Brides bridal consulting business based out of the Casa Blanca Resort on Barefoot Bay has some seriously unresolved mommy issues. Apparently Mommy, Ono, a former world famous model, now a world famous fashion designer, was a control freak and master manipulator who made Willow’s childhood hell when she wasn’t the daughter she wanted her to be. As a form of rebellion against her mother as well as a multitude of other reasons why people over eat and use food for solace and comfort Willow in her teen years balloons up to 265 lbs. by the time she starts college and meets Nick. She continues to struggle with overeating until at 26 she finally breaks ties with her mother. After that she changes her lifestyle, religiously monitoring her calorie intake, working out vigorously until over a couple of years she’s lost 140 lbs. and attains a figure even her mother would approve of. Willow’s dad Donny is a famous rock star. Personally I thought St. Clair was far too kind and easy on the father whom she portrays as caring and almost doting. Apparently even though he didn’t like the way Ono treated their daughter he tolerated it because as we’re told, “he was just so in love with his wife that he always ended up taking her side.” I’m sorry but a parent’s first responsibility is to protect their child even against the other parent if necessary. Donny’s failure to put an end to his wife’s emotional and verbal abuse of Willow made him complicit in that abuse not an innocent bystander deserving of Willow’s affection. The author either has first hand experience or did a lot of research on the subject of people who struggle with over eating disorders as she gives Willow all the classic reasons and of course the self-loathing and inability to see herself differently even after she’s reached a healthy weight.
One big thing I didn’t agree with in this story was the idea that Willow needed to reconcile with her mother if she was ever really going to be able to feel whole, love herself and be able to love someone else. That fact that her mother did change and they reconciled was wonderful but I think cutting a toxic parent out of your life is a form of self-love as well as self-preservation and shouldn’t prevent you from loving people who truly care about you. Because of that message and the author’s failure to call Willow’s dad to task for his failure to protect her I can only give what is otherwise a nice romance and a fairly good look at the struggles of overcoming obesity 3 stars.
December 21, 2015
Emotion packed!! I LOVED this book! The heroine, Willow Ambrose has cut off any reminder of the first 23 years of her life. She's lost weight, changed her name and moved on with her life, or so she thinks. She counts the last time she saw her famous parents by how many pounds ago. Enter HOTTIE Navy Seal Nick Hershey, someone who rejected her in college and sparks fly! I felt really bad about what Nick was doing FOR her because it just felt sneaky to me! But in the end I could see that Willow really needed that to happen.. sorry no spoilers from me! Roxanne St. Claire writes a wonderful, heart--wrenching novel about 2nd chances! It is a MUST READ!
March 8, 2015
3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed both Willow and Nick. My issues with this book are two. First, Willow patched things up with her mom too quickly and easily to be believable and second, the epilogue was too purple for my taste. I know some people love that kind of thing. I don't.
July 21, 2015
Willow is a wedding planner with lots of baggage. Even though she has great friends and a growing business, she still at times feels like she's not good enough. She meets Nick, a former Navy SEAL, on medical leave. The two of them have a history and both of them have baggage that they need to deal with.
I enjoyed this book. I often found my self saying that I would read one more chapter and then end up reading three more. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this book. I often found my self saying that I would read one more chapter and then end up reading three more. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 16, 2014
I loved this book because the heroine had REAL issues. Willow was a character that I think women can identify with, even if they aren't struggling with the save issues. I can see how/ why she became the person she became, and I think St. Claire did a good job bringing Willow to her HEA. I can't wait for the next in the series!
May 1, 2014
I loved this book. It was the first in the Barefoot Bride Trilogy. It is the story of Nick a Navy Seal and Willow a wedding consultant. It is the story of of they both overcome their pasts. It was a great romance story and I couldn't stop reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews