New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown returns with a heartbreakingly hilarious novel about three women who had nothing in common, except their husband.Leaving one widow behind is unfortunate. Leaving three widows behind is just plain despicable. Oil heiress Kate Steele knew her not-so-dearly departed husband was a con man, but she’s shocked that Conrad racked up two more wives without … racked up two more wives without divorcing her first. The only remnant of their miserable marriage she plans to keep is their lakeside cabin in Bootleg, Texas. Unfortunately, she’s not the only woman with that idea.
Fiery, strong-willed Jamie wishes Conrad were still alive—so she could kill the scoundrel herself. But for their daughter’s sake, she needs that property. As does Amanda—twenty-eight, pregnant, and still weeping over the loss of her true love. On a broiling July day, all three arrive in Bootleg…with a dogged detective right behind who’s convinced that at least one of them conspired to commit murder. One momentous summer filled with revelations, quirky neighbors, and barefoot evenings on the porch offers three women the chance to make the journey from enemies to friends, and claim a bright, new beginning.
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The Barefoot Summer by Carolyn Brown will make you feel that anything is possible, if you will only be patient and find forgiveness! When Kate Steele has to sit through her “sorry excuse for a husbands” funeral, after he was murdered, she believes the end is in sight , but little does she know it is only beginning. Not only was Conrad Steele married to her, he was also married to Jamie, the mother of his daughter and young and very pregnant Amanda. Determined to get away from it all, Kate decides to take a leave from her job of running the family oil business, and go to the cabin that Conrad took her to for their honeymoon. The other two wives have the same plan so they all end up together in the small town of Bootleg, Texas. With each lady hating each other, it will take a big miracle to ease the tension and bring some peace to each of their hearts. When Detective Waylon Kramer, who is investigating Conrad’s murder, comes in contact with the three wives, he is almost certain that one or all three are guilty of committing the murder. But will he learn the truth before he retires? Will his heart betray him? Will the truth behind Conrad Steele’s life and murder finally bring closure to these innocent victims? Will a family be forged from these three very different ladies? Author Carolyn Brown brings so many feelings to her wonderful novels! It felt as if I were magically placed within the pages of this emotionally charged novel! I cannot get enough of this brilliant author’s work!
A con man is murdered and the police investigation digs up not one, but three widows. All are shocked and all are down-right determined to spend the summer at his lake-side cabin for the summer. It was a fun premise, a favorite author, and a narrator I already love so I kicked off my sandals and joined the gals at the lake.
Kate Steele has had a marriage in name only for many years now to Conrad and an acrimonious one at that when he found out he could trick her into marriage, but not out of her oil company inheritance. But, even she was shocked when he was shot and she becomes the number one suspect followed by two more wives who thought they were Conrad’s one and only. Her workaholic no-nonsense mother wears a sour ‘I-told-you-so’ expression and tells her to get out of Dallas until the dust settles and then she needs to come back prepared to take over the business when her mother retires. Kate is unsettled about all that gets revealed, but also about Waylon the nearly retired detective on the case who is a full time cowboy and getting away gets her to thinking hard about other paths and new desires.
Elementary school teacher, Jamie always wondered about Conrad’s need to be away so much, but never in a million years did she think he was a cheater and she’d end up a fake wife. She holds her anger to herself because her adorable daughter Gracie should be allowed to grieve her daddy. She doesn’t know about the other two wives, but she’s taking her child to the lake-side cabin for a summer of fun before reality has to set in. If she has to share with the other two, so be it.
Amanda is caring the man’s baby and thought she had found the love of her life. Her anger is directed at those other two lying hussies who aren’t Conrad’s wives. There are divorce papers, surely. She needs to look to her child’s future and she intends to spend the days before the birth at the cabin where she had her honeymoon with Conrad. Those other two might insist on being there and they don’t even more his passing, but she was his true wife, right?
The Barefoot Summer is about three very different women from different walks of life. They are hostile, resentful, and even suspicious at first. But, slowly, they find common ground as they share their lives and experiences and start to compare notes about the man who tricked and used them all. Gracie is the sweet distraction and becomes their shared focal interest. She pulls them out of their wallowing and they all make an effort for her sake.
As with any book by this author, there are friendly neighbors, small town happenings, ranch life, country living, and relationships and family. At first, romance wasn’t a strong element, but two of the women have love interests. I got a kick out of feisty Kate and phlegmatic Waylon’s romance. He really does suspect her as the killer even while he gets a kick out of her snippy airs toward him. She relaxes and softens out in the country and it is Kate who got the lion’s share of the story narrative.
It was fun having Kate, Jamie, and Amanda interacting and all sharing the cabin. Just as Kate changes when she gets a chance to see a different life possibility, the same happens for the other two as well. Conrad was despicable, but he did give them that and the chance to know each other.
It’s a gently-paced story with no big drama moments or much tension, but it was engaging and heartwarming.
Donna Postel is a narrator I came to appreciate when she did another Carolyn Brown book. She has a husky yet versatile voice that gets a slight drawl and good distinction of character voices. There is a sparkle to her work, if I might call it that. I relaxed and enjoyed the story as a result and definitely want to listen to more of her work.
All in all, The Barefoot Summer was a great escape listen and encapsulated the summer season and the Texas country setting by the lake. I can definitely recommend it to those who enjoy women’s fic crossed over with contemporary romance.
This is a story of three women who found out they were married to the same man. These women befriend each other and over time they dealt with this difficult situation. Easy read
Always love Carolyn browns books.
I dont know how many wifes would be willing to work together after finding out their dead husband was still married to all three of them. I think adding a child to the mix makes it seem more possible.
Wonderful book…highly recommend. Love all of her books I’ve read.
Great book. Easy summer reading.
Very predictable characters
Book was not very interesting. I try to finish any book I start so I pushed on hoping it would get better. Unfortunately it did not.
I really enjoyed reading this book
The premise is original. Then to make it into an uplifting book is noteworthy. I think the author developed the characters nicely. My favorite character was the little girl. Out of the mouths of babes applies here. The ending was not predictable.
This book was a joy to read. It wasn’t the usual sappy summer rea but a somewhat realistic combination of characters and just enough romance to make an old romantic feel good.
Good read
Tho it’s pretty clear from the beginning where this is going, I truly enjoyed watching the relationships develop.
Girl power at its best
Sandra Brown, great reading as always!!!
A good book. A little far-fetched for my liking (3 strangers staying at one lake house), but a good story line. There is always one wealthy character that is beyond generous – have yet to see that in real life.