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Barefoot Bay Undercover #3
Barefoot with a Bad Boy
A man who trusts no one is forced to believe the unbelievable...
For years, former spy Gabriel Rossi has been secretly searching for CIA linguist Isadora Winter, a woman he loved and lost long ago. But recently, he learned of her untimely death in an accident...and death of her son named Gabe. Angry, hurt, and uncertain of his next move, Gabe is stunned when a woman he's never met approaches him on the beach and claims to be Isadora. She doesn't look, act, or talk like his beloved Isa, but she knows things about their past that only a lover could know, and she assures him that his son is alive as well. As much as he wants to believe her and knows that in the spy world, anything is possible, doubts and distrust plague him. Still, he sees glimmers of the woman he once knew shine through and she begins to melt his hardened heart.
A woman who is tortured by emotions must endure the pain of love...
Lila Wickham has been working deep undercover for so long that sometimes she's forgotten who she really is. Now that her assignment is over and the surgeries she endured left her utterly changed, she is determined to fix the broken life she left behind and assure that her little boy is safe. With lingering threats from an unknown source and blinding headaches that torment her whenever she feels deep emotion, she seeks Gabe Rossi for help and protection. But instead of setting her up with a new undercover identity, he insists on luring her nemesis to Barefoot Bay so he can end the threat to Lila and her son once and for all.
Can they survive the worst betrayal of all?
Even if they succeed in drawing out the killer who has Lila in his sights, a much more serious threat hovers over them...a treacherous, deadly truth that could not only destroy their love but end their lives as well.
For years, former spy Gabriel Rossi has been secretly searching for CIA linguist Isadora Winter, a woman he loved and lost long ago. But recently, he learned of her untimely death in an accident...and death of her son named Gabe. Angry, hurt, and uncertain of his next move, Gabe is stunned when a woman he's never met approaches him on the beach and claims to be Isadora. She doesn't look, act, or talk like his beloved Isa, but she knows things about their past that only a lover could know, and she assures him that his son is alive as well. As much as he wants to believe her and knows that in the spy world, anything is possible, doubts and distrust plague him. Still, he sees glimmers of the woman he once knew shine through and she begins to melt his hardened heart.
A woman who is tortured by emotions must endure the pain of love...
Lila Wickham has been working deep undercover for so long that sometimes she's forgotten who she really is. Now that her assignment is over and the surgeries she endured left her utterly changed, she is determined to fix the broken life she left behind and assure that her little boy is safe. With lingering threats from an unknown source and blinding headaches that torment her whenever she feels deep emotion, she seeks Gabe Rossi for help and protection. But instead of setting her up with a new undercover identity, he insists on luring her nemesis to Barefoot Bay so he can end the threat to Lila and her son once and for all.
Can they survive the worst betrayal of all?
Even if they succeed in drawing out the killer who has Lila in his sights, a much more serious threat hovers over them...a treacherous, deadly truth that could not only destroy their love but end their lives as well.
344 pages, ebook
First published February 16, 2016
319 people are currently reading
662 people want to read
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
174 books1,829 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 14, 2016
4.5 Stars
Barefoot with a Bad Boy is the 3rd book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay Undercover series. It’s a story filled with passion, adventure, romance and lots of humor.
Gabe Rossi is one of my favorite romantic suspense hero types in that he’s cocky, sexy, honorable, and willing to do whatever needs to be done to bring down the baddies and save the woman he loves. But Lila is strong, independent, and capable of bringing down the baddies and doing some saving of her own!
As with her Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelinos series, Barefoot Bay Undercover is an exciting world to live in! With terrorists, spies, and all sorts of bad-guys lurking about, this is a series not to be missed and I’m looking forward to reading more!!!
An ARC was provided by the author. In appreciation I'm giving her an honest review.
Barefoot with a Bad Boy is the 3rd book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Bay Undercover series. It’s a story filled with passion, adventure, romance and lots of humor.
Blurb…This really is a fun, fast paced story. There are twists and turns - some expected and some totally not expected, and a great supporting cast made of up quirky, totally endearing and show-stealing people!
A man who trusts no one is forced to believe the unbelievable...
For years, former spy Gabriel Rossi has been secretly searching for CIA linguist Isadora Winter, a woman he loved and lost long ago. But recently, he learned of her untimely death in an accident...and death of her son named Gabe. Angry, hurt, and uncertain of his next move, Gabe is stunned when a woman he's never met approaches him on the beach and claims to be Isadora. She doesn't look, act, or talk like his beloved Isa, but she knows things about their past that only a lover could know, and she assures him that his son is alive as well. As much as he wants to believe her and knows that in the spy world, anything is possible, doubts and distrust plague him. Still, he sees glimmers of the woman he once knew shine through and she begins to melt his hardened heart.
A woman who is tortured by emotions must endure the pain of love...
Lila Wickham has been working deep undercover for so long that sometimes she's forgotten who she really is. Now that her assignment is over and the surgeries she endured left her utterly changed, she is determined to fix the broken life she left behind and assure that her little boy is safe. With lingering threats from an unknown source and blinding headaches that torment her whenever she feels deep emotion, she seeks Gabe Rossi for help and protection. But instead of setting her up with a new undercover identity, he insists on luring her nemesis to Barefoot Bay so he can end the threat to Lila and her son once and for all.
Can they survive the worst betrayal of all?
Even if they succeed in drawing out the killer who has Lila in his sights, a much more serious threat hovers over them...a treacherous, deadly truth that could not only destroy their love but end their lives as well.
Gabe Rossi is one of my favorite romantic suspense hero types in that he’s cocky, sexy, honorable, and willing to do whatever needs to be done to bring down the baddies and save the woman he loves. But Lila is strong, independent, and capable of bringing down the baddies and doing some saving of her own!
As with her Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelinos series, Barefoot Bay Undercover is an exciting world to live in! With terrorists, spies, and all sorts of bad-guys lurking about, this is a series not to be missed and I’m looking forward to reading more!!!
An ARC was provided by the author. In appreciation I'm giving her an honest review.
March 24, 2016
Gabe Rossi is still reeling after learning of Isadora (Isa) Winter's death. Unfortunately, soon after learning she had his son, he finds out he died before he was two years old. He's rudderless until a mysterious woman named Lila Wickham approaches him one night with an incredible story that completely changes his life.
I won't say much about the details of the story but this was one I couldn't put down. It surpassed my expectations and was worthy of Gabe Rossi. Lila's history was pretty incredible and it was an interesting concept to explore...how much does one's outer package define a truly committed relationship? Would you be able to relate to that person in the same way if he or she later looked nothing like the person you fell in love with? These aren't necessarily easy answers as I discovered in this exploration.
The mystery involving Lila is always in the background but wasn't difficult to untangle. I figured out most of the "who" and a part of the "why" but it wasn't as important as Gabe and Lila's relationship journey. Uncle Nino and Poppy added Italian flavor and Jamaican spice, as well as hilarity. I've loved the Barefoot Bay enterprise and was initially a bit leery of Gabe Rossi. However, he was just what this resort needed. Loved everything about this book and while it has a satisfying ending, I'd be ready for more.
(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)
I won't say much about the details of the story but this was one I couldn't put down. It surpassed my expectations and was worthy of Gabe Rossi. Lila's history was pretty incredible and it was an interesting concept to explore...how much does one's outer package define a truly committed relationship? Would you be able to relate to that person in the same way if he or she later looked nothing like the person you fell in love with? These aren't necessarily easy answers as I discovered in this exploration.
The mystery involving Lila is always in the background but wasn't difficult to untangle. I figured out most of the "who" and a part of the "why" but it wasn't as important as Gabe and Lila's relationship journey. Uncle Nino and Poppy added Italian flavor and Jamaican spice, as well as hilarity. I've loved the Barefoot Bay enterprise and was initially a bit leery of Gabe Rossi. However, he was just what this resort needed. Loved everything about this book and while it has a satisfying ending, I'd be ready for more.
(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)
February 9, 2016
Guys, I'm speechless. I think I've just read the best romantic suspense in the history of romantic suspense. Barefoot with a Bad Boy was phenomenal, gigantic, extraordinary, mind blowing, the perfect book. We've been waiting for Gabe Rossi's story for years now and I can tell you, the wait was worth it. It was worth every minute and every hour, I believe Roxanne St. Claire has become one of my favorite author ever.
My mind cannot process how amazing that book was, I'm feeling completely lost and confused because everything felt so real and I feel like I've lost a part of me. I genuinely feel like I've just lost a part of myself to this book. I've never—in my life—felt that way, it's such a strange feeling, I can't really put it into words but Barefoot with a Bad Boy changed my life. I swear, this is unbelievable. How can a book—words on a screen/page—makes you feel all this? How is this possible? I'm writing this review, sitting on my bed, it's currently 3 in the morning, I have a cold and my entire existence just changed.
She's exaggerating, you say, she's going crazy and delusional, you say...well maybe, but I don't ever want to feel differently. Without a doubt, Barefoot with a Bad Boy changed my life, in the best possible way. This is a book that will forever stay with me and Roxanne deserves all the awards and all the hugs.
I don't want to reveal too much of the actual story because you need to fully enjoy this book. You don't even have to know Roxanne St. Claire's work, you don't even have to know Gabe Rossi to read and love this book. You just need to buy it, open it and start reading it. Trust me on this. For those of you who know Gabe and have been waiting for his story...then here it is and you won't be disappointed! You're all in for the biggest ride of your life.
I loved Gabriel from before but I completely and hopelessly fell in love with him in this book. I will be dreaming about him for months to come. He was the perfect alpha hero, cocky but still sweet and attentive, funny, foul-mouthed, strong, loyal and Italian...like I said, the perfect alpha hero. God, I love him!
I absolutely loved the heroine as well, Isadora/Lila. Heroines don't always work for me, I'm very picky with my them but I fell in love with this one. Completely. I loved her story, how freaking fierce and strong she was, beautiful inside and out, loyal and yet, still fragile. She broke my heart at times but it was all worth it.
Them guys. THEM. The love between these two, I can still feel it, I can still taste it. Roxanne rocked my world, she wrote something so powerful, so potent, I could actually feel it inside me. Their love was beautiful to witness, their relationship isn't easy, it's not always sunshine and rainbows but it's real and simply perfect. Both of them broke my heart for different reasons, I laughed, I swooned, I cried... I love them together so much, I got attached to them in such a short amount of time, it's ridiculous but I can't help it. It's Roxanne's fault, she makes me feel all the feels.
I talked about how awesome the romance was and how amazing the characters were but what made this book for me was the plot. The entire thing was spectacular, Roxanne blew me away. From start to finish, it was full of twists I never saw coming, packed with action and suspense (I almost had a heart attack at some point), everything was perfectly thought out and when I thought that, finally, it was over...BOOM, something incredible and unexpected happened and took my breath away.
So, yes, you really need to read this book. You need to experience what I have, you need to know what it's like to have Gabe Rossi in your life, even if it's just for a little while. You need to read about Gabe and Lila's love...you just need to go Barefoot with a Bad Boy.
My mind cannot process how amazing that book was, I'm feeling completely lost and confused because everything felt so real and I feel like I've lost a part of me. I genuinely feel like I've just lost a part of myself to this book. I've never—in my life—felt that way, it's such a strange feeling, I can't really put it into words but Barefoot with a Bad Boy changed my life. I swear, this is unbelievable. How can a book—words on a screen/page—makes you feel all this? How is this possible? I'm writing this review, sitting on my bed, it's currently 3 in the morning, I have a cold and my entire existence just changed.
She's exaggerating, you say, she's going crazy and delusional, you say...well maybe, but I don't ever want to feel differently. Without a doubt, Barefoot with a Bad Boy changed my life, in the best possible way. This is a book that will forever stay with me and Roxanne deserves all the awards and all the hugs.
I don't want to reveal too much of the actual story because you need to fully enjoy this book. You don't even have to know Roxanne St. Claire's work, you don't even have to know Gabe Rossi to read and love this book. You just need to buy it, open it and start reading it. Trust me on this. For those of you who know Gabe and have been waiting for his story...then here it is and you won't be disappointed! You're all in for the biggest ride of your life.
I loved Gabriel from before but I completely and hopelessly fell in love with him in this book. I will be dreaming about him for months to come. He was the perfect alpha hero, cocky but still sweet and attentive, funny, foul-mouthed, strong, loyal and Italian...like I said, the perfect alpha hero. God, I love him!
I absolutely loved the heroine as well, Isadora/Lila. Heroines don't always work for me, I'm very picky with my them but I fell in love with this one. Completely. I loved her story, how freaking fierce and strong she was, beautiful inside and out, loyal and yet, still fragile. She broke my heart at times but it was all worth it.
Them guys. THEM. The love between these two, I can still feel it, I can still taste it. Roxanne rocked my world, she wrote something so powerful, so potent, I could actually feel it inside me. Their love was beautiful to witness, their relationship isn't easy, it's not always sunshine and rainbows but it's real and simply perfect. Both of them broke my heart for different reasons, I laughed, I swooned, I cried... I love them together so much, I got attached to them in such a short amount of time, it's ridiculous but I can't help it. It's Roxanne's fault, she makes me feel all the feels.
"Lila and Gabe. One unit. One thing. One...one."I also loved the secondary characters, all of them. Nino, Poppy, Rafe (so much love for this little guy) and of course, Mal and Chessie, Luke, Chris, Dex...they were all an important part of the story and I truly loved reading more about each of them.
I talked about how awesome the romance was and how amazing the characters were but what made this book for me was the plot. The entire thing was spectacular, Roxanne blew me away. From start to finish, it was full of twists I never saw coming, packed with action and suspense (I almost had a heart attack at some point), everything was perfectly thought out and when I thought that, finally, it was over...BOOM, something incredible and unexpected happened and took my breath away.
So, yes, you really need to read this book. You need to experience what I have, you need to know what it's like to have Gabe Rossi in your life, even if it's just for a little while. You need to read about Gabe and Lila's love...you just need to go Barefoot with a Bad Boy.
"Isadora Winter Lila Wickham, woman of my dreams and best friend I've ever had. I love everything about you, old and new, good and bad, weak and strong. Everything."
March 10, 2016
Barefoot with a Bad Boy by Roxanne St. Claire is a 2016 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have enjoyed every one of the books in the Barefoot Bay series. I like that you can read them in order or not, read the trilogy arcs, or the entire long running series, this being the fourteenth installment.
In this story, Gabe Rossi, is the hero who lost everything he ever wanted when his beloved Isadora left him for an undercover assignment, never to return. If this were not heartbreaking enough, he found out he was a father, but the child had died before he was able to locate him.
Now five years later, as his family celebrates Christmas, Gabe meets a woman who claims to be Isadora. Only she calls herself Lila, and looks nothing like the woman he loved all those years ago. She claims Gabe’s son, is also still alive, and if Gabe wants to see him, he will have to trust her.
Caught between wishing this woman was his long lost Isadora, and being unable to believe her incredible story, or trust her, Gabe must make some hard choices and do whatever he can to keep his son safe.
Spy stories can be a hit or miss with me sometimes. I love the intrigue, the action, and the suspense, but at times the plot lines are just too outrageous, with all those convenient gadgets and over the top dialogue. But, when it comes to romantic suspense, the spy game is always a nice fit.
In this case, I had no idea if any of the situations detailed about Lila’s transformations were realistic or not, but I figure this type of thing probably goes on, at least to some extent. So, do we trust Lila? Is she really Isadora? Is she playing Gabe? The questions were many, and the murky details of Lila’s undercover days do nothing to quell the uneasiness I felt about her sudden reappearance and what her agenda might be.
For a long time, I was solidly in Gabe’s corner, feeling all the intense emotions he was struggling with, worried he was in danger or about to get his heart broken. Naturally, Lila was a much tougher sell, since her trademark is the cold outer shell she uses to play the part of Lila. Her struggles are hard to understand at times, as she fights to find her true identity, guard her health, and keep her son safe and happy. I can’t say I warmed up to her the same way I did with Gabe, as her progress is slow as molasses, and the truth hangs in the balance so long I couldn’t make myself totally believe in her.
I did guess, at least partially, who might be behind some of Lila’s issues, but was blown away at what transpired, in the fast paced, white knuckled, final showdown. Wow! Did not see that coming.
So, as you can tell, the story is complicated, but very absorbing, moving along with a precision pace that realistically builds the suspense and the romance. While the spy game and all its complexities are a huge part of the story, ultimately this is one of the most unique second chances at love stories I’ve read in a while. The ending is swoon worthy romance at its finest, with Gabe finally able to grab his elusive HEA.
Overall, this is another stellar heart pounding novel of suspense, as well as a unique and original romance. This is simply one of the best series out there in this genre and I can’t recommend it highly enough. 4.5 stars
I have enjoyed every one of the books in the Barefoot Bay series. I like that you can read them in order or not, read the trilogy arcs, or the entire long running series, this being the fourteenth installment.
In this story, Gabe Rossi, is the hero who lost everything he ever wanted when his beloved Isadora left him for an undercover assignment, never to return. If this were not heartbreaking enough, he found out he was a father, but the child had died before he was able to locate him.
Now five years later, as his family celebrates Christmas, Gabe meets a woman who claims to be Isadora. Only she calls herself Lila, and looks nothing like the woman he loved all those years ago. She claims Gabe’s son, is also still alive, and if Gabe wants to see him, he will have to trust her.
Caught between wishing this woman was his long lost Isadora, and being unable to believe her incredible story, or trust her, Gabe must make some hard choices and do whatever he can to keep his son safe.
Spy stories can be a hit or miss with me sometimes. I love the intrigue, the action, and the suspense, but at times the plot lines are just too outrageous, with all those convenient gadgets and over the top dialogue. But, when it comes to romantic suspense, the spy game is always a nice fit.
In this case, I had no idea if any of the situations detailed about Lila’s transformations were realistic or not, but I figure this type of thing probably goes on, at least to some extent. So, do we trust Lila? Is she really Isadora? Is she playing Gabe? The questions were many, and the murky details of Lila’s undercover days do nothing to quell the uneasiness I felt about her sudden reappearance and what her agenda might be.
For a long time, I was solidly in Gabe’s corner, feeling all the intense emotions he was struggling with, worried he was in danger or about to get his heart broken. Naturally, Lila was a much tougher sell, since her trademark is the cold outer shell she uses to play the part of Lila. Her struggles are hard to understand at times, as she fights to find her true identity, guard her health, and keep her son safe and happy. I can’t say I warmed up to her the same way I did with Gabe, as her progress is slow as molasses, and the truth hangs in the balance so long I couldn’t make myself totally believe in her.
I did guess, at least partially, who might be behind some of Lila’s issues, but was blown away at what transpired, in the fast paced, white knuckled, final showdown. Wow! Did not see that coming.
So, as you can tell, the story is complicated, but very absorbing, moving along with a precision pace that realistically builds the suspense and the romance. While the spy game and all its complexities are a huge part of the story, ultimately this is one of the most unique second chances at love stories I’ve read in a while. The ending is swoon worthy romance at its finest, with Gabe finally able to grab his elusive HEA.
Overall, this is another stellar heart pounding novel of suspense, as well as a unique and original romance. This is simply one of the best series out there in this genre and I can’t recommend it highly enough. 4.5 stars
February 28, 2016
Once again St. Claire has created a novel I simply couldn’t put down. Not only was this story intense & fast paced throughout, but the intricate backstory that St. Claire presented had my heart on my sleeve. The combination of everyday life in Barefoot Bay with the very spy-esque premise was fantastic. There were definitely some plot twists and turns that I never saw coming. St. Claire combines with best of real romance with subtle intrigue and some all-out action throughout to create a whole that is so much more than simply the sum of its parts. Picturesque descriptions combine with intensely, vividly in your face ones to create different feelings and moods throughout the novel. The tranquility of the setting contrasts with the intensity of the plot in a manner that left me breathless.
Gabe’s bad boy attitude combined with his complete distrust of everyone created a hero that I couldn’t help but fall for. His strength despite and because of everything in his past was unforgettable. I loved how Lila was a strong heroine who still had vulnerabilities. This combination made the entire story all the more poignant for me. The complicated yet intricate relationship between these two tugged at my heart. At the same time, the off the charts chemistry made the pages sizzle at times, without detracting from the fast paced suspense of the tale as a whole. The fact that St. Claire goes in-depth with her character development for her secondary characters as well creates a feeling of completeness in the story. The complex interpersonal relationships kick the story up to the next level.
This novel is going to become a staple on my shelves. It’s a fantastic read for fans of Barefoot Bay and for those just looking for a standalone to read. But I will warn you, you’ll get sucked in to this world and end up dying to read more!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Gabe’s bad boy attitude combined with his complete distrust of everyone created a hero that I couldn’t help but fall for. His strength despite and because of everything in his past was unforgettable. I loved how Lila was a strong heroine who still had vulnerabilities. This combination made the entire story all the more poignant for me. The complicated yet intricate relationship between these two tugged at my heart. At the same time, the off the charts chemistry made the pages sizzle at times, without detracting from the fast paced suspense of the tale as a whole. The fact that St. Claire goes in-depth with her character development for her secondary characters as well creates a feeling of completeness in the story. The complex interpersonal relationships kick the story up to the next level.
This novel is going to become a staple on my shelves. It’s a fantastic read for fans of Barefoot Bay and for those just looking for a standalone to read. But I will warn you, you’ll get sucked in to this world and end up dying to read more!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
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February 21, 2016
I really like this series, but I had a hard time buying into the premise of this one. Gabe’s storyline has been weaving in and out of the earlier books, so much of the background is already known to the reader. We've all been waiting for his story.
Lila leaves the love of her life Gabe to do super important undercover work for the CIA, work that absolutely no one else in the world could do except her. He’s been looking for her ever since. Lila has had plastic surgery, breast reduction, liposuction, lasering off her freckles, all sorts of other changes to her body and mannerisms, including having her eyes dyed another color. I kid you not. Oh, and she was pregnant when she left Gabe, so she's doing all her super secret spy work with a child in tow; a child she never told Gabe about.
Now, 5 years later she's back and out of the CIA. Gabe spent much of the first half of the book refusing to believe she is who she says she is. Imagine that. He has been led to believe that she and his child were dead, because she planted the information to make him think that, and this woman looks and acts nothing like his beloved.
The suspense and the storyline in the second half was really good, as was the story of the leads rebuilding their relationship and lives together; but I never quite bought into how Lila was made into a completely new woman. It was a ploy to have them separated for 5 years and then get back together. However, it failed miserably, imo; bordering on the ridiculous.
If you can wrap your mind around that far-fetched plot device and get through it, the rest is a great read.
Lila leaves the love of her life Gabe to do super important undercover work for the CIA, work that absolutely no one else in the world could do except her. He’s been looking for her ever since. Lila has had plastic surgery, breast reduction, liposuction, lasering off her freckles, all sorts of other changes to her body and mannerisms, including having her eyes dyed another color. I kid you not. Oh, and she was pregnant when she left Gabe, so she's doing all her super secret spy work with a child in tow; a child she never told Gabe about.
Now, 5 years later she's back and out of the CIA. Gabe spent much of the first half of the book refusing to believe she is who she says she is. Imagine that. He has been led to believe that she and his child were dead, because she planted the information to make him think that, and this woman looks and acts nothing like his beloved.
The suspense and the storyline in the second half was really good, as was the story of the leads rebuilding their relationship and lives together; but I never quite bought into how Lila was made into a completely new woman. It was a ploy to have them separated for 5 years and then get back together. However, it failed miserably, imo; bordering on the ridiculous.
If you can wrap your mind around that far-fetched plot device and get through it, the rest is a great read.
February 15, 2016
Readers first met Gabriel Rossi when he appeared as a secondary character in Roxanne St. Claire's Guardian Angelinos series. The mysterious CIA agent set hearts a'flutter and left us begging for more of the sexy, smart-mouthed, bad boy of the Rossi clan. It took a few years - and a move from Boston to an island off the coast of Florida - but he's finally back with a story that is all I could have hoped for...and more.
There is nothing easy about this book and that's what makes it so wonderful. It's deep, complex, heartwarming in places, and heart-stopping in others. Gabe Rossi is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the woman he loved and has searched for for years is dead along with the child he believes was his son. Like a wounded animal, he just wants to be left alone. Then an unknown woman approaches him with a story too unbelievable to be true. Or, considering his CIA background, a story just unbelievable enough to actually be true. Experience has taught Gabe to be wary of trusting women. He's given his heart to two women. One betrayed him and almost got him killed. The second, his beloved Isa, left him to disappear deep undercover. Dare he risk giving his trust to this woman who claims to be Isa but looks, sounds, and acts nothing like his beloved?
Lila Wickham is a tormented women. The former CIA agent is on a mission, a personal one this time, to reunite Gabriel Rossi with his son. Then she plans to disappear. It's the only way she can keep the pain that ravages her body at bay; the only way she can keep the people she loves safe. Her mind knows this. Her heart has other plans. Will fate give her another chance with the man she loves? Will the danger that has followed her to Barefoot Bay foil her plans? And just who is Lila Wickham? Is she really Isadora Winter...or someone else entirely?
Barefoot With A Bad Boy is one of those stories that reaches into your soul and doesn't let go. The suspense is riveting (I gasped more than a few times) with St. Claire throwing in enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the very end. While deeply emotional, there is also plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. Characters are fully formed and realistic and her descriptions so vivid that I could almost smell the tropical breezes and hear the waves gently splashing the shore of Barefoot Bay. But it's love's journey that makes this book so special for me. The love between Gabe and his beloved grandfather. The love of a father for the son he believed buried in a grave in Cuba. The love of a Jamaican housekeeper for the nephews she works tirelessly to bring to the U.S. The slowly evolving love between a man and a woman that must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles for a chance to grow. And my love for this exceptional story that I've already read twice and will undoubtedly re-read many times in the future.
There is nothing easy about this book and that's what makes it so wonderful. It's deep, complex, heartwarming in places, and heart-stopping in others. Gabe Rossi is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the woman he loved and has searched for for years is dead along with the child he believes was his son. Like a wounded animal, he just wants to be left alone. Then an unknown woman approaches him with a story too unbelievable to be true. Or, considering his CIA background, a story just unbelievable enough to actually be true. Experience has taught Gabe to be wary of trusting women. He's given his heart to two women. One betrayed him and almost got him killed. The second, his beloved Isa, left him to disappear deep undercover. Dare he risk giving his trust to this woman who claims to be Isa but looks, sounds, and acts nothing like his beloved?
Lila Wickham is a tormented women. The former CIA agent is on a mission, a personal one this time, to reunite Gabriel Rossi with his son. Then she plans to disappear. It's the only way she can keep the pain that ravages her body at bay; the only way she can keep the people she loves safe. Her mind knows this. Her heart has other plans. Will fate give her another chance with the man she loves? Will the danger that has followed her to Barefoot Bay foil her plans? And just who is Lila Wickham? Is she really Isadora Winter...or someone else entirely?
Barefoot With A Bad Boy is one of those stories that reaches into your soul and doesn't let go. The suspense is riveting (I gasped more than a few times) with St. Claire throwing in enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the very end. While deeply emotional, there is also plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. Characters are fully formed and realistic and her descriptions so vivid that I could almost smell the tropical breezes and hear the waves gently splashing the shore of Barefoot Bay. But it's love's journey that makes this book so special for me. The love between Gabe and his beloved grandfather. The love of a father for the son he believed buried in a grave in Cuba. The love of a Jamaican housekeeper for the nephews she works tirelessly to bring to the U.S. The slowly evolving love between a man and a woman that must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles for a chance to grow. And my love for this exceptional story that I've already read twice and will undoubtedly re-read many times in the future.
February 25, 2017
I've been waiting for Gabe's book ever since he appeared in The Guardian Angelinos series. I always imagined a heroine deserving of him enough but can also bring him to his knees. A heroine that's strong enough to match him but also challenge him. And the author definitely delivered in Lila/Isadora.
Book 1 and 2 built up to this finale. Gabe thought he lost the woman he loved along with his only son. Until a woman shows up claiming to be Isadora and that his son is also alive and well. In a world of spies, Gabe is a lone wolf, who always have his guard up and does not trust anyone. So could he actually believe this woman? She looks, talks, walks, and carries herself differently from Isadora.
Lila Wickham has been so deep undercover for the last 5 years, she's no longer the same person. Now that she's free from her CIA duties, she wants to return to the man whom she left years ago, but would he believe her story let alone recognize her?
The premise behind this story is intriguing though you may have to suspend some disbelief to buy into it. I don't know much about CIA stuff but perhaps implantation devices could be done (scary thought). Gabe took a while to see who Lila really is, she knows things that only Isadora would know, but then again she's a spy. I found his resistance plausible. Would you believe someone who shows up claiming to be the person you loved and lost?
The tension toward the end is quite high as Gabe and Lila figure out who's behind the implants. I couldn't guess who the baddie is until they showed up at the doorstep.
Gabe and Lila are wonderful together. He's cocky, but loyal and protective. She's stronger than she used to be but also vulnerable in many ways. Rafe is a devil child, he's cute but kind of bratty. I love that Nino could take him under his wings.
Overall, a nice conclusion to Gabe's story that I've been waiting years for. I guess you can say it's worth the wait.
Book 1 and 2 built up to this finale. Gabe thought he lost the woman he loved along with his only son. Until a woman shows up claiming to be Isadora and that his son is also alive and well. In a world of spies, Gabe is a lone wolf, who always have his guard up and does not trust anyone. So could he actually believe this woman? She looks, talks, walks, and carries herself differently from Isadora.
Lila Wickham has been so deep undercover for the last 5 years, she's no longer the same person. Now that she's free from her CIA duties, she wants to return to the man whom she left years ago, but would he believe her story let alone recognize her?
The premise behind this story is intriguing though you may have to suspend some disbelief to buy into it. I don't know much about CIA stuff but perhaps implantation devices could be done (scary thought). Gabe took a while to see who Lila really is, she knows things that only Isadora would know, but then again she's a spy. I found his resistance plausible. Would you believe someone who shows up claiming to be the person you loved and lost?
The tension toward the end is quite high as Gabe and Lila figure out who's behind the implants. I couldn't guess who the baddie is until they showed up at the doorstep.
Gabe and Lila are wonderful together. He's cocky, but loyal and protective. She's stronger than she used to be but also vulnerable in many ways. Rafe is a devil child, he's cute but kind of bratty. I love that Nino could take him under his wings.
Overall, a nice conclusion to Gabe's story that I've been waiting years for. I guess you can say it's worth the wait.
February 7, 2016
I've waited so many years to read Gabe Rossi's HEA and I still can't believe it's done! Far from the rest of the Rossis - and Angelinos - and living and working now in the beautiful venue of Barefoot Bay, Gabe finds the woman he fell in love so many years ago and thought dead - or she finds him - along with a son.
Through some terrible circunstances, they have to learn again to deal with each other and working together to find the enemy that wants them bad. Still the hardest part is for Gabe trusting again the woman he fell in love with some years ago.
I'm happy to read Gabe's story, finally! Isadora/Lila isn't what I expected for his heroine but she's also a stronger woman than I could imagine for him and given his work, I guess she's a better choice.
Through some terrible circunstances, they have to learn again to deal with each other and working together to find the enemy that wants them bad. Still the hardest part is for Gabe trusting again the woman he fell in love with some years ago.
I'm happy to read Gabe's story, finally! Isadora/Lila isn't what I expected for his heroine but she's also a stronger woman than I could imagine for him and given his work, I guess she's a better choice.
April 26, 2016
Gabe's story was built up over the last 2 books, with his character mysteriously and almost mythically developped over an even longer number of books. So that creates high expectations which are difficult to reach.
The overall plot seemed a bit far-fetched . The heroine's character was not easily grasped and accepted by the hero and neither by the reader. That also came from the author's bias to let the reader wonder with the hero regarding the truth or not of the heroine's allegations. Unfortunately I didn't manage to warm up to her as the hero did in the second part of the book.
The overall plot seemed a bit far-fetched . The heroine's character was not easily grasped and accepted by the hero and neither by the reader. That also came from the author's bias to let the reader wonder with the hero regarding the truth or not of the heroine's allegations. Unfortunately I didn't manage to warm up to her as the hero did in the second part of the book.
February 15, 2016
MILD SPOILERS:
The story we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. For long-time fans of Ms. St. Claire’s romance suspense novels you know who Gabe Rossi is and you have been dying to see him find his match for years, which is a category I can say I fall into whole-heartedly. Gabe’s story is one that has been building for the last three novels in real intensity, setting up the circumstances of the book and even offering us an idea of exactly what we could expect. Roxanne has a unique ability to make her readers salivate for her characters and come to see her world as the escape from our own often boring and mundane one. Barefoot Bay is an idyllic setting and the people that call it home are all exciting, intense, and quirky in turns, but Gabe and his immediate circle are also intense, secretive and full of surprises. If you are just coming into this series, I promise you will enjoy the story with its twists and turns and intrigue, but sorry to say nowhere near as much as we fans enjoy seeing Gabe meet his match and fall in love again. Another masterpiece for Roxanne’s Barefoot Series and a great addition to the stories of the Rossi/Angelino clan. This story picks up immediately where the last story did, actually with a bit of overlap of the epilogue from the previous story, and Gabe is confronted with a blast from the past that will bring his world crashing down around his ear once again. And once things really get interesting the story never releases its clutches in your heart and soul.
Gabe’s story is one that is heartbreaking and tragic, but the greatest trait of our hero is that even as his world crumbles around him, he is determined to keep others from dealing with the same pain. He has dedicated his life to keeping his country and his family safe and when faced with the ultimate loss he remains steadfast in his desire to keep others safe. Gabe is one of those heroes that stays in the back of your brain, even after only briefly meeting him in previous stories, and begs for you to learn all you can about him. His strength and obvious love and devotion to his family makes him sweet, while his skills and general badass attitude shows that even macho alpha guys can be the perfect man when they come with an understanding side as well. Along with Gabe of course comes his amazing and quirky family and his fabulous “Uncle” Nino. But there were a few times, I must admit, that his biggest character flaw—his lack of trust in ANYONE—is more of a hindrance for him than anything. It turns him into an ass and almost costs both him and his woman their lives. Luckily he learns the lesson we all must just in time; everyone has to have someone they can trust and rely on as backup. In the end it was my greatest joy to see Gabe find his HEA and build a new family for himself and finally have a chance to lose some of that distrust and anger at the world.
Lila/Isadora was an enigma more often than not as she tried to find a way to prove her identity and ultimately her love to Gabe and keep everyone she loved safe. She has made some regrettable decisions in her past, ones that cost her the love of her life and almost cost her own life, but she has given up her life as a spy so she can protect her son and give him the one thing he’s never had—his father. Lila underwent a lot of changes so she could take a job that she truly believed in initially, but has come to realize wasn’t the best choice in the end. She has her son in her life, but whenever she thinks about how much she loves him the pain she feels is unbearable, so her best idea for his future is to bring him to his father who can truly love him the way he deserves. As she and Gabe become reacquainted and investigate the true reason for her pain, they begin to fall back into love, though both resist. I liked Lila a lot, but I felt a few times that she was not acting correctly. Personally if I had her issues I would see every doctor in the world to figure out the problem, regardless of who someone tells me I can or cannot see. Defying an order for the safety of my child and myself is a non-issue, there’s just no way I wouldn’t have solved that problem long before she did. Once she finally got over that hurdle and began to stand up for herself I liked her much more. She showed us the kickass woman that is the perfect match for and the woman that Gabe fell in love with so long ago.
True to its name, Barefoot with a Bad Boy, takes readers on a journey through the past and present of a real bad boy with a heart of gold as his life changes forever with the return of his woman to Barefoot Bay. The danger and intrigue is interesting enough to make the story truly suspenseful, even though I figured out Lila’s issue long before either of them did, I never saw the true villain coming until they arrived on Gabe’s doorstep. True to all the greatness of Gabe, that man proves again and again that he really is almost the perfect man. Once he drops his barriers and allows himself to trust in love and his woman, he becomes the loving man he always showed us glimpses of, proving that only by opening ourselves up to pain can we truly fall in love. Lila/Isadora was a woman that has tried her best to make decisions in life to the benefit of all, but has hit a few bumps along the way. Once she returns to the man she loves and begins to unravel the mess her life has become, she shows us glimpses of the fiery and spirited woman that once held Gabe’s heart. The passion between these two is undeniable, even as Gabe fights his feelings for this woman that is so different from his heart’s desire. I was thrilled to see that Gabe was able to bring everyone their HEA and find his own. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next but can honestly say it will be a challenge for Roxanne to beat Barefoot with a Bad Boy, but I look forward to seeing her try.
The story we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. For long-time fans of Ms. St. Claire’s romance suspense novels you know who Gabe Rossi is and you have been dying to see him find his match for years, which is a category I can say I fall into whole-heartedly. Gabe’s story is one that has been building for the last three novels in real intensity, setting up the circumstances of the book and even offering us an idea of exactly what we could expect. Roxanne has a unique ability to make her readers salivate for her characters and come to see her world as the escape from our own often boring and mundane one. Barefoot Bay is an idyllic setting and the people that call it home are all exciting, intense, and quirky in turns, but Gabe and his immediate circle are also intense, secretive and full of surprises. If you are just coming into this series, I promise you will enjoy the story with its twists and turns and intrigue, but sorry to say nowhere near as much as we fans enjoy seeing Gabe meet his match and fall in love again. Another masterpiece for Roxanne’s Barefoot Series and a great addition to the stories of the Rossi/Angelino clan. This story picks up immediately where the last story did, actually with a bit of overlap of the epilogue from the previous story, and Gabe is confronted with a blast from the past that will bring his world crashing down around his ear once again. And once things really get interesting the story never releases its clutches in your heart and soul.
Gabe’s story is one that is heartbreaking and tragic, but the greatest trait of our hero is that even as his world crumbles around him, he is determined to keep others from dealing with the same pain. He has dedicated his life to keeping his country and his family safe and when faced with the ultimate loss he remains steadfast in his desire to keep others safe. Gabe is one of those heroes that stays in the back of your brain, even after only briefly meeting him in previous stories, and begs for you to learn all you can about him. His strength and obvious love and devotion to his family makes him sweet, while his skills and general badass attitude shows that even macho alpha guys can be the perfect man when they come with an understanding side as well. Along with Gabe of course comes his amazing and quirky family and his fabulous “Uncle” Nino. But there were a few times, I must admit, that his biggest character flaw—his lack of trust in ANYONE—is more of a hindrance for him than anything. It turns him into an ass and almost costs both him and his woman their lives. Luckily he learns the lesson we all must just in time; everyone has to have someone they can trust and rely on as backup. In the end it was my greatest joy to see Gabe find his HEA and build a new family for himself and finally have a chance to lose some of that distrust and anger at the world.
Lila/Isadora was an enigma more often than not as she tried to find a way to prove her identity and ultimately her love to Gabe and keep everyone she loved safe. She has made some regrettable decisions in her past, ones that cost her the love of her life and almost cost her own life, but she has given up her life as a spy so she can protect her son and give him the one thing he’s never had—his father. Lila underwent a lot of changes so she could take a job that she truly believed in initially, but has come to realize wasn’t the best choice in the end. She has her son in her life, but whenever she thinks about how much she loves him the pain she feels is unbearable, so her best idea for his future is to bring him to his father who can truly love him the way he deserves. As she and Gabe become reacquainted and investigate the true reason for her pain, they begin to fall back into love, though both resist. I liked Lila a lot, but I felt a few times that she was not acting correctly. Personally if I had her issues I would see every doctor in the world to figure out the problem, regardless of who someone tells me I can or cannot see. Defying an order for the safety of my child and myself is a non-issue, there’s just no way I wouldn’t have solved that problem long before she did. Once she finally got over that hurdle and began to stand up for herself I liked her much more. She showed us the kickass woman that is the perfect match for and the woman that Gabe fell in love with so long ago.
True to its name, Barefoot with a Bad Boy, takes readers on a journey through the past and present of a real bad boy with a heart of gold as his life changes forever with the return of his woman to Barefoot Bay. The danger and intrigue is interesting enough to make the story truly suspenseful, even though I figured out Lila’s issue long before either of them did, I never saw the true villain coming until they arrived on Gabe’s doorstep. True to all the greatness of Gabe, that man proves again and again that he really is almost the perfect man. Once he drops his barriers and allows himself to trust in love and his woman, he becomes the loving man he always showed us glimpses of, proving that only by opening ourselves up to pain can we truly fall in love. Lila/Isadora was a woman that has tried her best to make decisions in life to the benefit of all, but has hit a few bumps along the way. Once she returns to the man she loves and begins to unravel the mess her life has become, she shows us glimpses of the fiery and spirited woman that once held Gabe’s heart. The passion between these two is undeniable, even as Gabe fights his feelings for this woman that is so different from his heart’s desire. I was thrilled to see that Gabe was able to bring everyone their HEA and find his own. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next but can honestly say it will be a challenge for Roxanne to beat Barefoot with a Bad Boy, but I look forward to seeing her try.
February 9, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, but I'm not sure I can do this book justice with my review. It was the best book I've read for quite awhile. It is a suspenseful romance that really keeps you on the edge of your seat while you read. Everyone who has read Ms. St. Claire's books has been waiting for Gabe's story. It was well worth the wait.
Gabe had finally found the love he'd been waiting for. He loved everything about Isadora, but she didn't love him enough to stay. Then he had been told that she has died in another country, but left a child. He's given the bad news that the child he hadn't known about is dead, too.
Now in this book, a woman he doesn't recognize shows up in Barefoot Bay claiming that she is Isadora, but was changed physically for an undercover operation. She's got to do a lot of selling before Gabe is going to believe her. However, the boy with her is undeniably his son. Whether he believes her or not, he's got to protect her when it becomes evident that someone is out to kill her. Will he protect his heart as well, or will he let Lila, the new Isadora, in to share his love again?
Gabe had finally found the love he'd been waiting for. He loved everything about Isadora, but she didn't love him enough to stay. Then he had been told that she has died in another country, but left a child. He's given the bad news that the child he hadn't known about is dead, too.
Now in this book, a woman he doesn't recognize shows up in Barefoot Bay claiming that she is Isadora, but was changed physically for an undercover operation. She's got to do a lot of selling before Gabe is going to believe her. However, the boy with her is undeniably his son. Whether he believes her or not, he's got to protect her when it becomes evident that someone is out to kill her. Will he protect his heart as well, or will he let Lila, the new Isadora, in to share his love again?
June 11, 2016
I'm so depressed...I purchased this book the day it came out (which helps authors, I'm told) but saved it for a special read. I'm on vacation at the gulf coast, I get to lay out in the not-too-hot sun and do nothing; THIS is the special time. So I started BBB and it was so much fun to read Gabe's happily ever after! But now I'm done with it and there's no more Barefoot :( I've read them all and loved them all, especially this suspense trilogy. Now I have to wait...
What can I say about this story? Rocki always delivers, and this installment is no different. There is a wonderful flow and tension throughout (altho I must say, I was waiting for the Russians to cause a BIG splash), and all loose ends are logically, realistically, tied together by the end. Notice I said "by the end"? This wasn't a 'oh, I forgot, I need to do something about all this so let's get-er done right now, no matter how' kind of ending (I hate that!). I will miss Nino and the gang - I just LOVE Poppy! - and Gabe's unusually foul potty-mouth. And now I'm depressed all over again...
What can I say about this story? Rocki always delivers, and this installment is no different. There is a wonderful flow and tension throughout (altho I must say, I was waiting for the Russians to cause a BIG splash), and all loose ends are logically, realistically, tied together by the end. Notice I said "by the end"? This wasn't a 'oh, I forgot, I need to do something about all this so let's get-er done right now, no matter how' kind of ending (I hate that!). I will miss Nino and the gang - I just LOVE Poppy! - and Gabe's unusually foul potty-mouth. And now I'm depressed all over again...
February 9, 2019
4.5 Stars
This was my first read from this author and this series. I confess, I saw the book cover on "Fuller House" and wanted to see if it was a real book. And it was! So I gave it a shot. What a pleasant surprise! This story exceeded my expectations. The title really doesn't coincide with the actual story. Former CIA agents and lovers, apart for years, back together for a possible second chance romance. BUT with a new identity twist! So much fun to read and wonder if they can work things out, and then figure out what new threats they're dealing with. Plus, Rafe! I really enjoyed this one!
This was my first read from this author and this series. I confess, I saw the book cover on "Fuller House" and wanted to see if it was a real book. And it was! So I gave it a shot. What a pleasant surprise! This story exceeded my expectations. The title really doesn't coincide with the actual story. Former CIA agents and lovers, apart for years, back together for a possible second chance romance. BUT with a new identity twist! So much fun to read and wonder if they can work things out, and then figure out what new threats they're dealing with. Plus, Rafe! I really enjoyed this one!
November 25, 2020
Like the series and characters
February 15, 2016
Having just finished my favorite Barefoot Bay story (and there have been so many great ones), I have to give major props to Roxanne St. Claire for her GRAND FINALE to the Barefoot Bay Undercover trilogy, Barefoot with a Bad Boy. She masterfully tied up all of the loose ends that have lingered throughout the series, as well as provided a shockingly perfect romantic suspense for Gabe and Lila.
I have totally loved Gabe Rossi throughout this trilogy. The vulnerability he experienced in earlier stories was nothing compared to HIS story and the wide array of emotions he was forced to deal with in Barefoot with a Bad Boy. His world was completely rocked and the level of distrust he felt, even with his experience as a spook where trust never ran high, was at the max! Roxanne St. Claire went all-in with her portrayal of Gabe in this story and I couldn’t have loved him more if I tried. His ability to always set his priorities straight felt perfect from cover to cover, even though they changed frequently. Wow!
Lila’s journey in this story was also amazingly written. How difficult it must have been to pull off all of the nuances of her character, yet once again, St. Claire was brilliant! Lila’s desires couldn’t match up with her reality and it was heart-wrenching, especially when it was so obvious how she felt about Gabe and her son Rafe. I am so glad St. Claire made it clear to us how Lila evolved into the woman she was when she met Gabe and how she became a better Lila by their happily ever after.
Barefoot with a Bad Boy was an incredible read. I loved the suspenseful elements. I loved the deep feelings all the characters key to the series demonstrated throughout. I was amazed by the details that allowed this story to grow and end. I will miss these characters being at the heart of a story, but I sure hope to get glimpses of them in future Barefoot Bay stories. Well done, Roxanne St. Claire, well done!
Rating: A (5 stars)
Note: I received a review copy of this title courtesy of the publisher.
I have totally loved Gabe Rossi throughout this trilogy. The vulnerability he experienced in earlier stories was nothing compared to HIS story and the wide array of emotions he was forced to deal with in Barefoot with a Bad Boy. His world was completely rocked and the level of distrust he felt, even with his experience as a spook where trust never ran high, was at the max! Roxanne St. Claire went all-in with her portrayal of Gabe in this story and I couldn’t have loved him more if I tried. His ability to always set his priorities straight felt perfect from cover to cover, even though they changed frequently. Wow!
Lila’s journey in this story was also amazingly written. How difficult it must have been to pull off all of the nuances of her character, yet once again, St. Claire was brilliant! Lila’s desires couldn’t match up with her reality and it was heart-wrenching, especially when it was so obvious how she felt about Gabe and her son Rafe. I am so glad St. Claire made it clear to us how Lila evolved into the woman she was when she met Gabe and how she became a better Lila by their happily ever after.
Barefoot with a Bad Boy was an incredible read. I loved the suspenseful elements. I loved the deep feelings all the characters key to the series demonstrated throughout. I was amazed by the details that allowed this story to grow and end. I will miss these characters being at the heart of a story, but I sure hope to get glimpses of them in future Barefoot Bay stories. Well done, Roxanne St. Claire, well done!
Rating: A (5 stars)
Note: I received a review copy of this title courtesy of the publisher.
February 15, 2016
Review copy provided by publisher
There are times when you meet a secondary character in a book and you just want to know more about that character. Gabriel Rossi is that character for me from Roxanne St. Claire. I've wanted Gabe's story from the first time he appeared on the page back in the Guardian Angelinos series. I'm one of those readers who always wanted to know more about Gabe and wanted him to find happiness. Well, Gabriel Rossi fans, Roxanne St. Claire not only gave us Gabe's book, she gave us the perfect book for Gabe.
I'll admit I struggle writing this review. I loved Barefoot with a Bad Boy so much I honestly just want to tell everyone to trust me and go buy and read the book. Seriously, Roxanne St. Claire hit it out of the ballpark with this book. The romantic suspense elements were perfect and the romance made me swoon a few times. Add in Gabe's bad-boy presence and a kick-ass heroine in Isadora/Lila, and I just loved every single minute of this book.
I try to avoid talking about spoilers in my reviews as much as possible, so I'm going to be a vague as possible with my favorite parts of this book. I absolutely loved every single minute Gabriel Rossi was on the page. Whether he was in Mr. Spy mode or trying to keep his language clean around Poppy and Rafe, he was the Gabe I've always loved. I also loved his interactions with Isadora/Lila so very much. The chemistry between the two was so strong and only grew stronger the more time they were back together. The emotional connection was so strong that just being around Gabe effected Lila in a major way that usually only happened when she was around her son Rafe. The banter between Uncle Nino and Poppy makes me smile every single time they are on the page together. I absolutely adore both characters and love the friendship that has developed thanks to Gabe having them both under his wing.
I love a romantic suspense story that keeps me guessing until the very end and will say with all honesty, I did not see the bad guy coming. I had in my mind who it was from somewhat early on, and overlooked the signs of the read bad guy. While I hated the bad guy was able to step between Gabe and Isadora/Lila for a bit, I love the genius way it was accomplished.
Barefoot with a Bad Boy gave me the story I'd been waiting for when it came to getting Gabriel Rossi's full story and his chance at a Happily Ever After. Thank you Rocki for not only being true to one of your reader's favorite characters ever, but going above and beyond to make his story perfect.
There are times when you meet a secondary character in a book and you just want to know more about that character. Gabriel Rossi is that character for me from Roxanne St. Claire. I've wanted Gabe's story from the first time he appeared on the page back in the Guardian Angelinos series. I'm one of those readers who always wanted to know more about Gabe and wanted him to find happiness. Well, Gabriel Rossi fans, Roxanne St. Claire not only gave us Gabe's book, she gave us the perfect book for Gabe.
I'll admit I struggle writing this review. I loved Barefoot with a Bad Boy so much I honestly just want to tell everyone to trust me and go buy and read the book. Seriously, Roxanne St. Claire hit it out of the ballpark with this book. The romantic suspense elements were perfect and the romance made me swoon a few times. Add in Gabe's bad-boy presence and a kick-ass heroine in Isadora/Lila, and I just loved every single minute of this book.
I try to avoid talking about spoilers in my reviews as much as possible, so I'm going to be a vague as possible with my favorite parts of this book. I absolutely loved every single minute Gabriel Rossi was on the page. Whether he was in Mr. Spy mode or trying to keep his language clean around Poppy and Rafe, he was the Gabe I've always loved. I also loved his interactions with Isadora/Lila so very much. The chemistry between the two was so strong and only grew stronger the more time they were back together. The emotional connection was so strong that just being around Gabe effected Lila in a major way that usually only happened when she was around her son Rafe. The banter between Uncle Nino and Poppy makes me smile every single time they are on the page together. I absolutely adore both characters and love the friendship that has developed thanks to Gabe having them both under his wing.
I love a romantic suspense story that keeps me guessing until the very end and will say with all honesty, I did not see the bad guy coming. I had in my mind who it was from somewhat early on, and overlooked the signs of the read bad guy. While I hated the bad guy was able to step between Gabe and Isadora/Lila for a bit, I love the genius way it was accomplished.
Barefoot with a Bad Boy gave me the story I'd been waiting for when it came to getting Gabriel Rossi's full story and his chance at a Happily Ever After. Thank you Rocki for not only being true to one of your reader's favorite characters ever, but going above and beyond to make his story perfect.
February 17, 2016
I received a copy of this book for an honest review. I have been a long time fan of Roxanne St. Claire since her romantic suspense days, and I was a little reluctant to move with her when she wrote her contemporary romances. Needless to say, I am glad I made the jump. If not I would have missed the best book she has ever written. Barefoot with a Bad Boy is a great blend of both her worlds. St. Claire's voice sings throughout it all. I first fell in love with Gabriel "Gabe" Rossi when he entered the scene in the Guardian Angelino series. He was mysterious, dangerous, and a tough nut to crack. It was so good to see that he still had that edge to him. His story arch in St. Claire's latest addition to her Barefoot Bay series was absolutely amazing. Gabe was Gabe, but you got to see all aspects of him as a man. There was no filter, and I loved learning about his heart. He was classic Gabe, and he was not going to pick up what Lila Winters was putting down without going toe to toe with her. The interplay between them was sweet and intense at the same time. Their story is one of an enduring love. The theme throughout the novel, at least from where I was sitting, was that when you love someone with your heart and your soul, that type of love never dies. You fall in love with the soul of the person, and not just the external parts of them. St. Claire showed that in the dynamic that forms between Lila Winters and Gabe. He loved the essence of her when he knew her from the past, and even though the physical person he loved was no longer the same, Gabe was able to find tendrils of it in each meeting and conversation. Though the journey was rife with conflict and indecision, and so much angst, Gabe had to learn to trust again. He had to learn that no man is an island, and the only way to get what he wanted was if he relented, and dropped the armour; unlocking the chains around his heart. I really enjoyed this story, and it was definitely worth the wait. If you're a fan of Gabe, you know there is heat, lots of money made for Poppy in her swear jar, there is a lot of emotions, and a lot of action in this book. There's so much I want to say, but I do pn't want to ruin this book for you all. This book has a permanent place on my keeper shelf. I'm in the middle of another reread now. You will want to take this ride. Grab a copy, and check it out for yourself. Happy reading!!!
March 25, 2016
SPOILER ALERT! It pains me to write this review, because I absolutely LOVE Roxanne St. Caire's books...except for this one. If Gabe was the love of Isadora's life, how could she agree to end her life and become Lila? Especially when she finds out she's pregnant! First of all, the CIA would never allow a pregnant woman agree to go deep undercover. Second, no one knows who Isadora is. There was no need for all the plastic surgery and cosmetic alterations. Who on earth would agree to that unless they were already drastically scarred or deformed? Third, becuase of the fact that she lost her own parents, I don't buy that she would leave the only person she has left, and then abandon her baby, knowing what she was doing could kill her. Her son would be orphaned for real! No biggy, someone else raise him. Even if she still wanted to go through with the deep cover assignment once she had the baby, why didn't she give the kid to Gabe? Then there's the letter. Isa/Lila wrote it asking Gabe to wait for her. She's okay with the fact that Gabe will think both her and their son are dead. Yeah, like that won't destroy the guy. One moment she wants Gabe to know she's Isa, the next she's thinking she can't fall in love with him again and she's going to abandon her child for a second time (but at least THIS time she's giving him to Gabe). Isa/Lila claims her reason for doing all this is so no one will have to feel the pain she felt when she lost her parents...except she's hurting Gabe, the only person left in her life, by turning herself into a martyr. At the end, I even hated that she chose to remain known as Lila...her fake identity! Her dead parents would be so proud. Gabe needs to ditch this selfish, ridiculous woman for someone who won't lie to and abandon him! If Gabe was true to his charactor, he would never have forgiven Isa/Lila for letting him believe his son was dead, while she's letting someone else raise him. Roxanne, how about an alternative ending or a sequel where Gabe finds a woman worthy of him? I'll always read everything Roxanne St. Claire writes, unless her female characters continue to purposely ruin their lives and hurt the amazing men they love.
February 15, 2016
Barefoot With a Bad Boy is a fast paced romantic suspense that sucked me in and didn't want to let me go. Gabe is a former spy now in the security business with his own private agenda. Lily is a mysterious woman who is not at all who she appears to be.
I really enjoyed Barefoot With a Bad Boy and didn't want to put it down! Roxanne's smooth, well paced writing along with great characters and a unique, believable plot kept me feeling like I was in this story with Lily and Gabe. Lily and Gabe are a powerful pair separately and together. They make a strong heroine/hero. Gabe is not one to give up until he has all of the answers...I could feel his strength, his love and that he was a total alpha! I could easily picture him in my head. I felt for both of these characters - what they've been through and what they are going through now. Lily is really struggling and I was intrigued to see how she would deal with things. I liked how Roxanne wrote this, how Lily worked through things.
I liked the thrill of the suspense. With all the interwoven connections and the unexpected plot twists, Barefoot With a Bad Boy made me feel fear, but at the same time a glimmer of hope. I felt like what was happening in Lily and Gabe's world was something that could happen in real life.
I felt like I had a clear picture of past relationships and how these were playing a strong role in the present and would in the future. The characters are mature and well developed. The secondary characters add a lot of depth to the main plot, and I've seen a lot of them in previous books in this series. However, they are supporting characters in this book and Barefoot With a Bad Boy can easily be read as a stand alone.
Showing us life will always throw us the unexpected and how we react to this will guide our path, Barefoot With a Bad Boy is a romantic suspense that at times took my breath away. I'd recommend it to any romantic suspense reader.
I really enjoyed Barefoot With a Bad Boy and didn't want to put it down! Roxanne's smooth, well paced writing along with great characters and a unique, believable plot kept me feeling like I was in this story with Lily and Gabe. Lily and Gabe are a powerful pair separately and together. They make a strong heroine/hero. Gabe is not one to give up until he has all of the answers...I could feel his strength, his love and that he was a total alpha! I could easily picture him in my head. I felt for both of these characters - what they've been through and what they are going through now. Lily is really struggling and I was intrigued to see how she would deal with things. I liked how Roxanne wrote this, how Lily worked through things.
I liked the thrill of the suspense. With all the interwoven connections and the unexpected plot twists, Barefoot With a Bad Boy made me feel fear, but at the same time a glimmer of hope. I felt like what was happening in Lily and Gabe's world was something that could happen in real life.
I felt like I had a clear picture of past relationships and how these were playing a strong role in the present and would in the future. The characters are mature and well developed. The secondary characters add a lot of depth to the main plot, and I've seen a lot of them in previous books in this series. However, they are supporting characters in this book and Barefoot With a Bad Boy can easily be read as a stand alone.
Showing us life will always throw us the unexpected and how we react to this will guide our path, Barefoot With a Bad Boy is a romantic suspense that at times took my breath away. I'd recommend it to any romantic suspense reader.
February 9, 2016
Loved it...
Ms. St. Claire has brought us our Bad Boy Gabriel Rossi. She has shown us just what Gabe lost. He has been hit hard with that loss. If his sister hadn't shown him those words on the computer he wouldn't have believed it. Well that's until Lila Wickman approaches him on the beach of Barefoot Bay...claiming to be something that can not be. It literally turns his world upside down which is putting it mildly. What to do with the information she throws at him he isn't sure. She has to be a spy of some sort. She puts the drop on him, and he believes her to be a damn good one. But then he see's proof of something else. That can't be faked. He needs to get to the bottom of Lila's motives. There is no way he'll let anything get by him.
Lila is speechless when she see's Gabe on the beach of Barefoot Bay. She needs for him to believe what she says is the truth. It is so important. The only thing as her and Gabe spend time together she feels emotions and she gets sick. No idea why. When Gabe and her find out just what is wrong with her they're both stunned.
Go on a journey wih Lila and Gabe. More excitement to come between them and trouble in Barefoot Bay. Full of Romance, Turn the pages fast, Laugh out load. You won't be able to get enough of these two.
Don't miss any book in the BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER SERIES. I loved this series.
Uncle Nino's Line to Gabe: Love this line..."It’s very easy to imagine a woman is who you want her to be because she happens to be who you need her to be."
Ms. St. Claire has brought us our Bad Boy Gabriel Rossi. She has shown us just what Gabe lost. He has been hit hard with that loss. If his sister hadn't shown him those words on the computer he wouldn't have believed it. Well that's until Lila Wickman approaches him on the beach of Barefoot Bay...claiming to be something that can not be. It literally turns his world upside down which is putting it mildly. What to do with the information she throws at him he isn't sure. She has to be a spy of some sort. She puts the drop on him, and he believes her to be a damn good one. But then he see's proof of something else. That can't be faked. He needs to get to the bottom of Lila's motives. There is no way he'll let anything get by him.
Lila is speechless when she see's Gabe on the beach of Barefoot Bay. She needs for him to believe what she says is the truth. It is so important. The only thing as her and Gabe spend time together she feels emotions and she gets sick. No idea why. When Gabe and her find out just what is wrong with her they're both stunned.
Go on a journey wih Lila and Gabe. More excitement to come between them and trouble in Barefoot Bay. Full of Romance, Turn the pages fast, Laugh out load. You won't be able to get enough of these two.
Don't miss any book in the BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER SERIES. I loved this series.
Uncle Nino's Line to Gabe: Love this line..."It’s very easy to imagine a woman is who you want her to be because she happens to be who you need her to be."
February 28, 2016
I received and ARC of this book for an honest review.
Phenomenal suspenseful romance story telling by the wonderful Roxanne St Claire and a MOST DEFINITE well deserved 5 stars for this book. I have also read all the Barefoot Bay books so I could not wait for Gabe's story to come into words.
Well what a story Gabe Rossi has - this book answers all the questions on why Gabe an ex CIA agent is the way he is and what happened to the people he thinks he has lost in his life.
Gabe thinks the woman he loved and his son that he never knew are dead and he is in grief only to have Lila Wickham turn up in Barefoot Bay smelling like Isadora Winter and telling him she IS the woman he loves but can he believe it or is it a cruel trick the CIA are playing on him.
Lila Wickham is in danger and turns to the only man she can trust with her son's life Gabe Rossi but in order for him to help her she has to convince him that she is Isadora his lost love but because of plastic surgery she looks totally different, she acts different and she knows Gabe's instinct are to trust no one so she has an uphill battle on her hands. Throw in undercover spies out to silence them by killing them and you have one awesome suspenseful story.
I loved every page turn of this book, there are twists in the plot that keep you on edge and now I feel bereft that I have finished this wonderful book. Well Done Roxanne on an exceptionally well written novel - you gave Gabe the book he most definitely deserved.
Phenomenal suspenseful romance story telling by the wonderful Roxanne St Claire and a MOST DEFINITE well deserved 5 stars for this book. I have also read all the Barefoot Bay books so I could not wait for Gabe's story to come into words.
Well what a story Gabe Rossi has - this book answers all the questions on why Gabe an ex CIA agent is the way he is and what happened to the people he thinks he has lost in his life.
Gabe thinks the woman he loved and his son that he never knew are dead and he is in grief only to have Lila Wickham turn up in Barefoot Bay smelling like Isadora Winter and telling him she IS the woman he loves but can he believe it or is it a cruel trick the CIA are playing on him.
Lila Wickham is in danger and turns to the only man she can trust with her son's life Gabe Rossi but in order for him to help her she has to convince him that she is Isadora his lost love but because of plastic surgery she looks totally different, she acts different and she knows Gabe's instinct are to trust no one so she has an uphill battle on her hands. Throw in undercover spies out to silence them by killing them and you have one awesome suspenseful story.
I loved every page turn of this book, there are twists in the plot that keep you on edge and now I feel bereft that I have finished this wonderful book. Well Done Roxanne on an exceptionally well written novel - you gave Gabe the book he most definitely deserved.
February 17, 2016
Well finally we get a Gabe Rossi book. Feels like it's been ages waiting. It's hard to read a book you have been waiting for for so long but exciting too. There are expectations. Gabe was this larger than life character to many fans of Roxanne St Claire's Guardian Angelino's series. When that series was dropped for various reasons she was able to keep those characters alive in her Barefoot series of books. I am so glad she found a way to do that. Barefoot Undercover finally tells what happened to Gabe years ago that made him who he is now. Is she or isn't she? Gabe the super spy has to figure out quickly if Lila is Isadora. Especially when he finds out she has a son that looks exactly like him. Seriously a twisty turny suspenseful story that leaves you wanting to turn the pages faster and faster. I have seen Gabe in bits and pieces in previous books and he's gruff and alpha but still a mystery in so many ways. Seeing him finally showing us his emotional side was a real treat. If anyone deserved a Happy ending it was Gabe. Figuring out what was going on was not very easy. I would've liked to see Chessie and Mal get more involved but they are regulated back to secondary characters and don't get to do much. Roxanne St Claire does a excellent job keeping me from figuring out who the real bad guy was. Nothing obvious in the plot for me until it's finally revealed toward the end. Long time readers of the Guardian Angelino and Barefoot series are in for a treat with this book.
February 5, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
With that out of the way, all I can say is WOW!!!!
This is the last of the Barefoot Bay Bodyguard Trilogy. Ms. Roxanne St. Clair ended this trilogy with a bang! You don’t have to read the other books to appreciate this story. If you have read any of the Barefoot Bay Bodyguard Trilogy, you already have an idea of whom and what you think makes Gabe Rossi tick. Well with this book, Roxanne has finally told his story.
Put your detective hat on, set aside a few hours, and get comfy because you will not be able to put this book down. Gabe and Lila, Lila and Gabe, all I can say is WOW. This story has so many twists and turns in the plot, you almost need a road map. But it is Gabe’s book, he is an intense, strong-willed, and complicated. He deserves a story and heroine that reflects it. This book drew me in to the point that I couldn’t put it down and wanted to race through it to find out the ending. I definitely will have to reread this book to get the fine details (oh darn). The story will speak for itself once you start reading.
With that out of the way, all I can say is WOW!!!!
This is the last of the Barefoot Bay Bodyguard Trilogy. Ms. Roxanne St. Clair ended this trilogy with a bang! You don’t have to read the other books to appreciate this story. If you have read any of the Barefoot Bay Bodyguard Trilogy, you already have an idea of whom and what you think makes Gabe Rossi tick. Well with this book, Roxanne has finally told his story.
Put your detective hat on, set aside a few hours, and get comfy because you will not be able to put this book down. Gabe and Lila, Lila and Gabe, all I can say is WOW. This story has so many twists and turns in the plot, you almost need a road map. But it is Gabe’s book, he is an intense, strong-willed, and complicated. He deserves a story and heroine that reflects it. This book drew me in to the point that I couldn’t put it down and wanted to race through it to find out the ending. I definitely will have to reread this book to get the fine details (oh darn). The story will speak for itself once you start reading.
February 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have read all the Barefoot Bay books by Roxanne St. Claire and have been anxiously waiting for this one.
Gabe Rossi has been mourning the loss of the love of his life and of the son he never knew. A woman shows up in Barefoot Bay claiming to be his lost love Isadora... she looks different and sounds different but something about her is the same. Gabe struggles to accept that she might be his beloved Isa and Lila/Isadora tries valiantly to convince him that she is who she says she is.
In their journey to find the truth, they uncover secrets that can threaten their very lives. Can their love be re-kindled? Is Lila really Isadora? Who is behind the subterfuge that threatens to destroy their lives again? You will have to read the book to find out!
The book is well written and one that is hard to put down. Warning....there are so many twists and turns in this story you will have to be on your toes when you read it!
I have read all the Barefoot Bay books by Roxanne St. Claire and have been anxiously waiting for this one.
Gabe Rossi has been mourning the loss of the love of his life and of the son he never knew. A woman shows up in Barefoot Bay claiming to be his lost love Isadora... she looks different and sounds different but something about her is the same. Gabe struggles to accept that she might be his beloved Isa and Lila/Isadora tries valiantly to convince him that she is who she says she is.
In their journey to find the truth, they uncover secrets that can threaten their very lives. Can their love be re-kindled? Is Lila really Isadora? Who is behind the subterfuge that threatens to destroy their lives again? You will have to read the book to find out!
The book is well written and one that is hard to put down. Warning....there are so many twists and turns in this story you will have to be on your toes when you read it!
February 15, 2016
Barefoot with the Bad Boy by Roxanne St Claire
The long awaited story of Gabe Rossi from a different and older series by he author. This light suspense romance crosses well into the Barefoot Bay arena and delivers the swoon every romance reader yearns for in a book. Trust, belief and love are difficult to earn and keep and this couple has many obstacles to overcome.
I cried in a few places. I laughed in others. In the end, it was a love of family and this couple that was pure romance. Plus, little Rafe is adorable.
“Don’t be nice,” she said, the slightest tease in her voice. “It only makes it worse when I like you. When I…feel. When I remember how much I loved you.” The tears started again. “How much I loved sex with you.”
“I loved sex with you, too,” he said, wrapping his arm around her because he couldn’t help but want her closer. “How’s that for the master of understatement?”
Excerpt From: Roxanne St. Claire. “Barefoot with a Bad Boy.”
The long awaited story of Gabe Rossi from a different and older series by he author. This light suspense romance crosses well into the Barefoot Bay arena and delivers the swoon every romance reader yearns for in a book. Trust, belief and love are difficult to earn and keep and this couple has many obstacles to overcome.
I cried in a few places. I laughed in others. In the end, it was a love of family and this couple that was pure romance. Plus, little Rafe is adorable.
“Don’t be nice,” she said, the slightest tease in her voice. “It only makes it worse when I like you. When I…feel. When I remember how much I loved you.” The tears started again. “How much I loved sex with you.”
“I loved sex with you, too,” he said, wrapping his arm around her because he couldn’t help but want her closer. “How’s that for the master of understatement?”
Excerpt From: Roxanne St. Claire. “Barefoot with a Bad Boy.”
February 16, 2016
Gabe Rossi is the ultimate bad boy and it is about time he received his HEA. Years after leaving Cuba and after finding out Isabella and his son were killed he is just coming to grips with this reality when his world is turned upside down with the arrival of Lila Wickham at the resort. Secrets are uncovered, super spy tricks are employed, intrigue abounds, and, of course, all the love that goes with Uncle Nino is used both in and out of the kitchen (I could almost smell the peppers and onions).
I first fell hard for Gabe when he showed up on a few pages of Zach's book back in 2010 and with each subsequent peek into his ways I continued to tumble. I am overjoyed to finally get this book and certainly not in any way disappointed in how it was tied up with a pretty blue ribbon (to match his eyes). He needed a warrior princess as strong as him to stand up to him and bring him happiness.
**Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I first fell hard for Gabe when he showed up on a few pages of Zach's book back in 2010 and with each subsequent peek into his ways I continued to tumble. I am overjoyed to finally get this book and certainly not in any way disappointed in how it was tied up with a pretty blue ribbon (to match his eyes). He needed a warrior princess as strong as him to stand up to him and bring him happiness.
**Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
February 17, 2016
Gabriel Rossi's story has been a long time in coming but now that it's here, this tale of reconciliation and second-chances is so damn odd that I still don't really know what to make of it.
Gabe had lost a woman (and a son), only to gain her back in the most bizarre way possible that it truly stretched the boundaries of my ability to suspend disbelief. And from there, we're plunged into the shadowy, wacky world of covert operatives and undercover jobs so extreme it surpasses even the weirdness of makeover (and plastic surgery) reality shows.
Am I happy that Gabe finally gets his own book? Yes. With a woman who does surprise me at every turn, in a good way. It's just the journey that's still gotten me wondering if I've drunk something that I shouldn't be drinking after the last page has been turned.
Gabe had lost a woman (and a son), only to gain her back in the most bizarre way possible that it truly stretched the boundaries of my ability to suspend disbelief. And from there, we're plunged into the shadowy, wacky world of covert operatives and undercover jobs so extreme it surpasses even the weirdness of makeover (and plastic surgery) reality shows.
Am I happy that Gabe finally gets his own book? Yes. With a woman who does surprise me at every turn, in a good way. It's just the journey that's still gotten me wondering if I've drunk something that I shouldn't be drinking after the last page has been turned.
February 5, 2016
Reading is believing. This story is marvelous. Barefoot With A Bad Boy answers so many questions about Gabe. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Barefoot With a Bad Boy is the final link in the chain of a series that is laden with suspense, powerful performances by well developed characters and an exceptionally gifted writer. Ms. St. Claire's writing expertise is put on full display with Gabe and Isa. As a reader the more complicated the plot I tend to shy away from but this read just would not let me go. There were so many puzzles I had to solve that it was easy to become wrapped up in this amazing story of love, hope, forgiveness and second chances. This is a mind game worth the trip. This series has exceeded my expectations but I adored this story most because it's a story of how love can survive the worst of circumstances.
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