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| Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter |
Welcome to the Barefoot Summer book tour! From the get-go, I have to admit, Denise Hunter is one of my favorite authors. I was thrilled to read this first book in the Chapel Springs series. See the end of the post for information about a contest!
Let’s begin with the
summary:
In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.
To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.
Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.
Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.
But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?
And now, my review:
Madison has a fear of water, yet she’s compelled to learn to
sail so she can win the annual regatta and somehow make up for the loss of her
brother. Enter Beckett—sailor and expert swimmer. Well, strong enough to teach
her, anyway. The perfect balance of (her) need and (his) skills to draw these two
together for a summer of truly getting to know each other.
This story’s setting let us spend lots of time on the water, which I loved. That, and learning more about sailing.
This story’s setting let us spend lots of time on the water, which I loved. That, and learning more about sailing.
And we had some relatable
issues—regret, toxic shame, risk, fears. I’ve seen a bit of Denise’s treatment
of toxic shame before (in Surrender Bay),
and I loved that she dealt with it here. Poor Beckett really believes he isn’t
worth much and doesn’t deserve Maddie’s love. The author also tackled tough issues
like alcoholism, nightmares, and death, without skirting around them. This made the story more realistic and helped highlight her redemptive message.
Each character had to grow up and stand up for the right
thing—to find their inner heroism. They had to face their fears and scrounge up
courage, sometimes doing something afraid, rather than not doing it at all. I
liked the hero’s nobility, how he protected Maddy’s sister’s feelings. And I liked
Maddy’s courage and heroism in facing down her fears.
I was surprised by the path of
this story, expecting certain events to happen in different places, but the
story didn’t suffer for the placement. And by ordering things as she did, the
author was able to tie up more loose ends.
As always, Denise is an expert
when it comes to romance. Genre readers will eat this romance up. Her prose and
characterization shine, making for an even more enjoyable experience.
Highly recommended! I’m watching
anxiously for book two in this series: Dancing
with Fireflies, due out in April, 2014.
~~~~~ CONTEST INFO!~~~~
Summer: it’s all about sunny skies, star-gazing, swimming, spending time with loved ones, and living as if a small part of the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders.
Get ready for some serious summer fun with Denise’s 12-Day Summer Sun giveaway. From June 10-21, keep your computer near as you head to the lake or your friend’s barbecue because Denise will be giving away a summer essential each day!
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