Barefoot in White

Barefoot in White is the 1^st book in the Barefoot Bay Brides series from Roxanne St. Claire. The release date was May 5, 2014. From the back cover.~

The launch of a new Barefoot Bay trilogy of full-length novels from Roxanne St. Claire! Meet the Barefoot Brides -- three destination wedding planners who are experts at arranging dreamy "I do's" but haven't found their own happily ever after...yet. All that's about to change in Barefoot Bay! 

Up first is Willow Ambrose who has fought a battle with the scale for much of her life, but she has finally won the war. She hasn’t just cut calories -- she’s cut all ties to her past, too, and successfully carved out a new body and a new life. But when she comes face to face with someone who left an indelible mark on her heart years before, all that threatens to crumble. 

Navy SEAL Nick Hershey is on medical leave, doing a friend a favor as a stand in “man of honor” at a beach wedding. He might not be that interested in the nuptials, but the wedding planner catches his eye the minute they meet. When he realizes Willow is a girl he knew in college -- and a girl he unintentionally hurt to the core -- he knows he has some making up to do. 

Willow has learned how to beat every temptation...but Nick’s sweet as candy kisses just might be the one thing she can’t resist. However, the closer they get, the more the past threatens to tear them apart. Nick and Willow learn the hard way that they can’t change history, but does that mean they won’t have a future? 

I'm a huge fan of Roxanne St. Claire’s, as anyone who has ever been to my blog knows. I own pretty much every book she has ever published either in print, digital or both for many books. I'm a huge fan of her Barefoot Bay series and was so happy when I found out we would be going back to Barefoot Bay for the Barefoot Bay Brides series. Rocki totally delivers once again with Barefoot in White!

I loved both Willow and Nick in this book. Willow has totally changed herself from the chubby girl she was when she was growing up. I loved how hard she had to work to not only lose the weight (i.e. no magic pill), but she still ran and counted every single calorie to keep her body how she wanted it to be. I also understood her cutting out anyone from her past, even when it included her parents. While I didn't feel like Willow's weight defined her character, I do think the changes she made because of her weight added so much to her character.

Nick knew Willow when they were in college together. She went by Willie at that time and had feelings for Nick from the moment they met. Willow is still trying to keep anyone from her past out of her current life, so she really does try hard not to fall for Nick again. Nick knew he had hurt Willow all those years ago and still sees the beautiful woman he knew then. I love that he wouldn't give up and kept finding ways to spend time with Willow. Nick actually needed Willow's help while he was in Barefoot Bay to finish writing a book based on his time in Iraq and Willow seems to be his muse. The more time Willow and Nick spent together, the more they both seemed to let go of some of the things in their past.

The chemistry between Nick and Willow was fabulous from the moment they saw each other at Barefoot Bay. Nick wanted to take things slow with Willow and while I thought I would hate having to wait for them to be together, I actually loved that they waited until it was right to finally be together. Both Nick and Willow had to accept things from the past before they could possibly have a future together. 

I loved Barefoot in White and can't wait to read the rest of the stories in this trilogy. Roxanne St. Claire gave her readers another emotional, beautiful, sweet, funny, and sexy read with Barefoot in White. I highly suggest this book to anyone who loves contemporary romances.