Meet the Barefoot Brides — three destination wedding planners who are experts at arranging dreamy “I do’s” but haven’t found their own happily ever after… yet. All that’s about to change in Barefoot Bay, a beloved tropical setting for heartbreak and happiness from New York Times bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire.
Willow Ambrose has fought a battle with the scale for much of her life, but … 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 the past threatens to tear them apart. Nick and Willow learn the hard way that they can’t change history, but does that mean they won’t have a future?
more
Your hatred of fat people is showing.
This is a trope I can not stand. It has so much negativity that I want us to leave it in the late 1900’s. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s the makeover trope was very popular. But I want you to hear me so I’ll shout it for the back. You. Do. Not. Need. To. Change. Yourself. For. A. Man. I hear the excuse but she didn’t change herself for him. After being rejected by him and her mother, she decides to revamp herself. She doesn’t do it to rub their noses in how hot she is; she does it to become another person–because she hates herself. Can you not see how toxic this trope is? I’m fat so I must be single, unloveable, and hate myself. And the only way to remedy all those things is to lose weight. Every single book.
I read one book in a sea of curvy girl books where the curvy girl knows she’s awesome and loves herself. Some books have the men show the curvy girl how great they are. Most have them diet or get a makeover after losing a few pounds. This one went to the extreme of having her weight loss become her entire personality.
And Kiss can kiss my large round lethargic butt. Over and over again we are reminded that her looks matter to him more than anything else. There is an attempt at showing he sees how awesome she is fat or thin, but it’s after at least five times where he comments on her perfect body. And the truth is he’s hot now but give him thirty years and he’ll have saggy man-boobs.
Hot won’t last you thirty years but being someone who stand up for their partner will–oh wait. How about talking to your partner before you make any major decisions about your relationship–oh bummer 0 for 2. Treating your partner like an adult and taking their wants into account–nada. Well Kiss, looks like you suck at being a book boyfriend almost as much as do singing. At least, you are a fully fleshed out character with a working knowledge of your job, hobbies, and ownership of your life unlike your love interest.
5
Worst book I’ve read in a long time. No formerly fat person would ever have fallen prey to Nick, the world’s biggest jackass who seems to think being sexually aggressive will woo her back. He may be one of the most egomaniacal jerks pit to paper in a while. And for goodness sakes, why couldn’t he just put on some clothes. Willow deserved so much better and not to be written as such a cliche.
I admit I didn’t finish this book. The heroine lost my respect at the beginning, when she appeared to toss aside several key life choices for no good reason, and was easily charmed by a man who’d hurt her badly in her past. Part of her life id dedicated to having lost over 100 pounds and keeping it off, and having been there and done that, her capitulation to bad food didn’t take much thought. I know that’s not how it would work, and I know I would not have consorted with any man who, while trying to regain my trust, urged me to give up my successful food plan when he’d also been the one to hurt me badly when I was heavy. There was also too much sexual lusting and drooling in general. Not Ms St. Claire’s style, from other works of hers I’ve read. I may go back and finish it someday, but not right now.
Another sweet addition to the series of couples who are connected to this beach and the folks who have come to live and work there.
This book had fewer redundancies than many contemporary romances. The characters were delightful and their issues realistic. The feelings felt real, not rushed. I’d really like to walk the beach at Barefoot Bay!
I’ve always been a fan of Roxanne St. Clair but this book took me to adoration!
This book is awesome, it grabs you from the first word and doesn’t let go until the last. What a sweet, heartfelt romance that is written supremely, contains loveable characters and a plot that just keeps you turning those pages.
The hot, alpha male who just happens to be a Navy SEAL and a fiercely independent woman who is a Bridal Consultant is what begins this trilogy and I can’t wait to read the others to find out how there HEA takes place.