A review by jonetta
Barefoot with a Stranger by Roxanne St. Claire
4.0
Francesca (Chessie) Rossi is on her way from Boston to see brother Gabe in Barefoot Bay after discovering he may have a child by his deceased former lover and colleague, Isadora Winter. She's grounded in Atlanta due to weather and has a chance encounter with Malcolm (Mal) Harris that turns into a one-night stand. He doesn't know she's Gabe's sister, she doesn't know he's Gabe's closest friend and neither realizes their headed to the same destination. Great start to an interesting relationship.
I loved that there were so many layers to this story...Gabe's relationships with Mal and Chessie, Mal's past that figures strategically in this story and Chessie's discovery of her identity outside of the Rossi family. Not to mention the smoldering romance between Mal and Chessie where, despite their bizarre start, they proceed down a pretty good path. I really liked that there weren't any tedious and protracted misunderstandings. Their relationship developed honestly, realistically and with maturity.
Much of this story takes place in Cuba and I got quite the education about the current environment, both political and otherwise, and the realities faced by its people. This was an unexpected and welcomed aspect of the story, especially as it was in the context of changing US political policy towards the country. Very well done.
Loved the story, the characters and the setting. The underlying mystery regarding Gabe's maybe son and Mal's past just made an interesting book even better. And, given how it ended, I'm glad I've got the next book in the queue.
4.5 stars
I loved that there were so many layers to this story...Gabe's relationships with Mal and Chessie, Mal's past that figures strategically in this story and Chessie's discovery of her identity outside of the Rossi family. Not to mention the smoldering romance between Mal and Chessie where, despite their bizarre start, they proceed down a pretty good path. I really liked that there weren't any tedious and protracted misunderstandings. Their relationship developed honestly, realistically and with maturity.
Much of this story takes place in Cuba and I got quite the education about the current environment, both political and otherwise, and the realities faced by its people. This was an unexpected and welcomed aspect of the story, especially as it was in the context of changing US political policy towards the country. Very well done.
Loved the story, the characters and the setting. The underlying mystery regarding Gabe's maybe son and Mal's past just made an interesting book even better. And, given how it ended, I'm glad I've got the next book in the queue.
4.5 stars