Any chemistry teacher will tell you opposites attract. Unfortunately, I teach English. I spend my days a buttoned up high school teacher and spend my nights with my book boyfriends, not daring to think I could procure one in real life. It’s precise, it’s controlled….it’s boring as hell. The tide shifts and I find myself with a hippie lifeguard who provokes me as much as he turns me on, a Senior … lifeguard who provokes me as much as he turns me on, a Senior class in upheaval, a crazy Beach Squad that wants to befriend me, a wild twin sister back in my business, and a public challenge to expose my long-held secret for the greater good.
Do I deduce this chaos is all serendipitous, meant to thrust me into my true place in the world? Ultimately, I have to decide if I can kick off my shoes, dig my toes in the sand, and trust in love again.
Barefoot Chaos is the third book in a series of small town romance novels with a splash of humor. If you like strong, sassy heroines, witty banter, and happily ever afters set at the beach, then you’ll love Marika Ray’s Beach Squad series.
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I loved this. My first Marika Ray book, but def not my last. Full of humor and heart. I LOVED the opposites attract storyline and Kai is book boyfriend material for sure.
Great summer beach read!
4.25 – Chaotically Swoony, Sweet and Delightfully Entertaining
This book made me smile throughout the entire time. Just like Sweet Dreams and Beach B!tch, Barefoot Chaos was funny, swoony, and a wonderfully entertaining read.
The storyline was not as dramatic or emotionally intense as the first two books, but there was a bit of mystery and the concept of Care Dare kept the plot interesting. I enjoyed catching up with the beach squad again and seeing how much they had gotten closer together. I think it’s absolutely great that the author continually shows women supporting and empowering each other. That’s definitely one of the reasons why I’m so fond of this series. And the adorable couples, sweet romance, humor, swoony scenes, and awesome lovable characters certainly make this book addictingly fun.
Hessa and Kai are so adorable together and I really loved their chemistry! Hessa was someone I could picture myself being friends with. I liked her from the start and adored all her quirks. She’s also smart, beautiful, talented and very caring. Kai was ridiculously charming and swooned his way into my heart. He was honest, patient, supportive and did everything to make Hessa feel comfortable and confident. I surely enjoyed getting to know them as individuals and as a couple. They had this cutesy but also sexy relationship that made me feel warm and fuzzy and tingly all at the same time.
Barefoot Chaos by Marika Ray is a pleasantly fun read that will make you laugh, aww, and smile. It’s lighthearted, funny, romantic, and satisfyingly entertaining until the end. I’m definitely crossing my fingers for more books in the Beach Squad series.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While I wouldn’t necessarily call this a RomCom, it is an amusing and engaging read and even has a bit of suspense to keep the pages turning. In the beginning, Kai and Hessa don’t appear to have much in common, other than terrific chemistry, but even when I got a little frustrated with their push and pull, I still found myself rooting for them. It’s impossible not to fall a bit in love with the sexy, laid-back Kai and Hessa’s serious teacher side is the perfect contrast to make for an interesting love story. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but this one works well as a standalone. The thing I liked most about Barefoot Chaos was all the terrific characters. Even the secondary characters were interesting – so much so that I will be checking out those earlier books to get to know them better.
I’m quickly becoming addicted to this series. Barefoot Chaos has been my favorite addition yet! Outrageously funny, incredibly sweet, and deliciously hot every bit of this book is a joy to read. Marika Ray perfectly balances fantastic humor with sweet romance in a way that completely captivates. I devoured this book in a matter of hours!
Kat and Hessa are the perfect opposites attract. Kat with his laid back island vibe and Hessa with her proper English teacher style may seem like they clash, but they are truly the perfect pair. I loved Hessa’s personality! Bouncing from flat out saying what she’s thinking without hesitation to being shy and proper she was the perfect new member for the beach squad. Kai was more than insanely hot, he was also a total sweetheart. Perfect book boyfriend material here! I can’t wait for more in this series!
Hessa loves her job as a high school English teacher and she enjoys working with the seniors, getting them ready for their journey into the real world. She spends her evenings grading papers and when she is done, she relaxes with a sexy romance novel featuring a different book boyfriend every night. A girl can dream, right? Hessa is tired of meeting boring guys and sometimes she feels like giving up on dating because it is just too much work. One of her favorite places to go is Chocolate Dreams, where they have the most delicious hot chocolate and on this night, the most delicious group of lifeguards she had ever seen. Hessa thought they were all outrageously sexy, but one in particular, caught her eye. He had the most beautiful greenish-brown eyes that sparkled when he smiled, and when he paid for her hot chocolate, all she could do was smile as he walked out the door. She thought about him all the way home and hoped that their paths would cross again.
Kai runs on the beach every day after his lifeguard shift is over. He meditates after his workout where he reflects upon his day, his life, and how thankful he is for having a job that he loves. He feels at peace on the beach and in the ocean, and he wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. The only thing missing in his life is the right woman to love and cherish. Kai would like to meet someone who loves the outdoors, wants a family and who would be agreeable to traveling up the coast in his vintage VW bus. He spends a lot of time with his lifeguard brothers and every Wednesday they go to Chocolate Dreams for hot chocolate. It is always busy, and as usual they were blocking the counter when he noticed a cute blonde trying to place her order. As she reached for her wallet, he quickly whipped out his credit card and paid for her drink. She stared up at him wistfully, without uttering a word. Maybe he made her nervous but something about her intrigued him and he knew he needed to see her again.
What happens when Hessa and Kai meet again? What will she think of his philosophy on life, and will he be able to help her when she needs him the most?
I love the Beach Squad series and the latest book “Barefoot Chaos”, is a love story about being happy with who you are and finding your soulmate who will always be by your side. I love going to the beach and Marika accurately and vividly describes how special and reaffirming it feels to listen to the waves while you walk along the sand. I hope everyone will read her new book and the rest of the series and I know you will enjoy the books as much as I do.
The ladies of snark are back in the third installment of The Beach Squad.
This time around we meet Hessa, a high school English and Literature teacher, and Kai, the laid back Hawaiian transplant lifeguard, that keeps rescuing people who have been dared to complete unsafe acts. As the story progresses the readers are drawn into the mystery of who is causing people to complete dares that are far from safe, getting a chuckle or five from the snarky Beach Squad, rooting for Hessa and Kai to get their HEA and loving the different relationships that form between the squad, Hessa and Hessa’s estranged sister.
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book that I received for free.
Loved this story. Hessa, a high school teacher, runs the Care Dare as the senior project. Kai, born and raised in Hawaii, is a lifeguard. Kai rescues 2 people who mentioned doing their dare. Hessa’s account is hacked and she is publicly dared. These dares have nothing to do with the school’s Care Dare program. Things are escalating and the police become involved. Meanwhile Hessa needs to decide if furthering a relationship with Kai is really what she wants. The Beach Squad must get involved.