Review: Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.
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?
I’m a sucker for a good Denise Hunter book and I’m sure a paper copy of this one is going to find it’s way on to my shelves sooner rather than later. Especially given how late in the night I kept flipping through the Kindle pages. Ms. Hunter doesn’t disappoint.
Madison and Beckett are wonderful – wonderfully flawed and perfectly imperfect. Madison struggles with keeping her emotions at bay – after the death of her twin brother, when her sister takes off, when… well, other stuff I can’t mention here because it’d be all spoiler-y.
Beckett is a wonderful hero [Nancy Kimball needs him on her Fiction Hero Features blog]. He’s not perfect but he’s perfect for Madison. Having been told his whole life that he’s from the wrong side of the tracks and not good enough for someone like Madison, even though there was that one day in high school…
Their path to finding their happily ever after isn’t always easy [hey – it’s a romance – that’s not a spoiler ;)], but find it they do. And I gave a big waffy sigh.
I was also glad to see this is a series [YAY! SERIES!] and can’t wait to see where the next book takes us. With several siblings in Madison’s family [one of whom is already perfectly set up for a book] and Beckett’s sister beckoning, I look forward to seeing what happens to them – and Beckett and Madison in the future :D.
Overall rating: 9 out of 10