They say you can never go home again. . .
When “Life Coach to the Stars” Jocelyn Bloom is embroiled in scandal, the only place she can hide is the one place she wishes she could forget. She left Barefoot Bay-and the boy next door who knew all her secrets-years ago. Now nothing about the tiny island off the coast of Florida is quite how she remembers it, especially Will Palmer. He’s even more gorgeous and tempting...and still capable of turning her inside out.
But what if someone is waiting for you?
To Will Palmer, Guy Bloom is more than the elderly, senile neighbor he looks after-he’s the last connection to Jocelyn, the woman Will loved and lost. But the reunion with Jocelyn doesn’t go smoothly. Shocked by the change in her father’s personality, Jocelyn struggles to reconcile her dark childhood with the sweet, confused man who has grown close to Will. Jocelyn has guided countless clients to happiness-but can she escape the rainy days of her past for a new sunny future with Will?
READ YOUR WRITES REVIEW
Barefoot in the Rain is the first full length novel by Roxanne St. Claire, I have read. In the past, I’ve read two of her novellas. They were sweet, touching, and a little hot. I was expecting the same thing with this book. That wasn’t exactly what I got. Barefoot in the Rain is part of The Barefoot Bay Series, it is the second of four books. I didn’t read the first book, Barefoot in the Sand, and I don’t feel it’s actually necessary for you to have to read that book, to read, understand, and fall in love with Barefoot in the Rain.
I have to say this upfront. This isn’t going to be a review where I tell you what happened with the book. I don’t want to spoil ANYTHING. What I will tell you is that this is a book you HAVE to read. Have you ever had one of those books where the scene was so intense, you actually forgot to breathe? Barefoot in the Rain is one of those books. The Prologue alone will have your heart racing. It’s emotional, heartwarming, and heart-wrenching, and at times frustrating.
I don’t know about you, but there are some romance novels where I wish I was the heroine. This isn’t one of those books. There are times as readers we just want to scream at the characters to get their acts together, this isn’t a book you can do that with. This book really touched me. Having my own personal experiences with the subject matter, it really played with my emotions. I found myself questioning my humanity, because I didn’t know who I was supposed to feel for.
The three main characters in the book are: Jocelyn Bloom, Will Palmer, and Jocelyn’s father, Guy. Barefoot in the Rain deals with domestic abuse and Alzheimer’s disease.
In the summer of 1997, Jocelyn and Will were both preparing for the beginning of the rest of their lives. Each were going to go to college and experience life outside of Barefoot Bay, thinking, hoping, and dreaming that their lives would become one, until one horrible, life changing night.
Fast forward fifteen years and everything has changed. Will’s big dream of playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers hasn’t come true and he’s back in Barefoot Bay, living in his old house, next door to the Bloom household. Jocelyn is a Life Coach to the rich and famous in Los Angeles. In order to seek refuge from a national scandal she’s a part of, she escapes back to Barefoot Bay for what is supposed to be some peace, quiet, and tranquility. She runs into Will and he shatters all of that.
Some of the questions asked in the book were, “What are you willing to sacrifice?” and “What are you prepared to die for?" For Jocelyn, it’s the same answer to both questions.
Jocelyn Bloom is an abuse survivor. Guy Bloom is her father who is supposed to love her, protect her, and keep her safe. Instead, Guy was her bully, tormentor, and abuser. Guy took away everything that Jocelyn loved and held dear. Now, Guy has Dementia and Will of all people is taking care of him.
Barefoot in the Rain is a wonderfully, fantastic story of love, loss, second chances, healing, and forgiving. This book will truly take you on a emotional roller coaster. Having a box of tissue handy is highly recommended. If you weren’t a fan of Roxanne St. Claire before reading this book, you definitely will be. Roxanne gave real insight to the life of an abuse survivor as well as to the life of a person with Alzheimer’s and those family members who are willing to give up everything to take care of that person out of love.
Rating: 5
Source: NetGalley
Roxanne St. Claire is the author of over thirty books ranging from Young Adult, to Contemporary Romance, to Romantic Suspense. To find out more about Roxanne and all her books, please visit her website.
Barefoot in the Rain can be purchased from Amazon.
I've been a fan of Rocki and her books for several years -- ever since I found a book from her Bullet Catchers series at a half-price bookstore. I've read every one of them and some I've read twice. I had the pleasure of meeting her shortly before the release of Barefoot in the Sand and I'm anxiously awaiting the release of this book in a couple days. She is definitely a "must read" author...you will become an instant fan.
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