Barefoot in Lace

Roxanne has out done herself in the story of Gussie and Tom. The

Roxanne has out done herself in the story of Gussie and Tom. They are both flawed with emotional scars and not sure of ever having the HEA. This is an emotional journey of these two along with Alex, Tom's niece.
I love how Roxanne can bring in the true to life flaws and not have the perfect heroine but can still find that HEA.
There is the perfect blend of romance and family emotions. Have a box of kleenex on hand for happy and sad tears. This has been the best book that I have read this year.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Barefoot in Lace by Roxanne St. Claire  Awesome romance. Gussie

Barefoot in Lace by Roxanne St. Claire 

Awesome romance. Gussie and Tom go through the dance of attraction, flirting, and connection. And then there are also some lessons to be learned about fear, hiding and love.

St Claire's Barefoot books keep getting more emotional and I'm finding myself crying more throughout. Not sad. Usually in sympathy or even happiness. At one point Alex is going through a painful moment and she whispers to the heavens "Momma, thank you for sending her [Gussie]." Wow. Powerful stuff.
I love a good cry. And I felt it a couple of different times in this book.

This book shifts between three different viewpoint: Gussie, Tom and Alex. While Gussie and Tom are the main couple falling in love they both, of course, fall in love with Tom's niece.
From Alex:
“She felt…whole.
It was the first time since Momma died that Alex felt like her arms and legs were connected to her body and her head wasn’t about to thud on the ground and her chest didn’t feel like a big empty pit of nothingness.”

Family is important, whether blood or friendship ties them together. It's a wonderful message repeated over and over in the Barefoot Bay and Bride series.

I received a copy of this book from the author

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Must read

I have never written a review before, but I was so taken with this book I decided to share. I love this author and the series, but I think this is the best of all so far. Wonderful story that spans the "ages" and emotions. Made me snicker, get teary and honestly touched my heart. Enjoy!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've loved Roxanne St. Claire's books since I first discovered h

I've loved Roxanne St. Claire's books since I first discovered her Bullet Catcher series years ago. I found I love her contemporary romances every bit as much as her romantic suspense books. Barefoot in Lace is one of my favorite books ever from Roxanne St. Claire.




Barefoot in Lace was a very emotional read for me. I openly admit to crying multiple times while reading this book. I wanted to know more about Gussie from the moment we met her. Gussie wears wigs of every color and style all the time. After learning why Gussie wears her wigs, I just wanted to hug her and it made me love her even more. I loved the meet-cute between Gussie and Tom (TJ) in the convenience store. It made me laugh and I could already feel the attraction between them.




While I loved Gussie right away, Tom was harder for me to love. He was totally honest with Gussie that he came with an expiration date, as his motto was  "Always Alone", yet he needed Gussie to help him learn how to connect with his 12-year old niece Alex. Tom's sister had died suddenly and he was named as Alex's guardian. Tom and Alex have such a hard time connecting, yet Gussie and Alex connect as soon as they meet. I honestly loved the relationship between Gussie and Alex from the moment they met. I think I connected very quickly to Alex because my mom died when I was 12 and I understood every feeling Alex was having about her mom. I loved how Gussie stepped in to help Alex deal with her loss and help Tom to learn to connect with his niece.




Gussie and Tom did work for me as a couple. They had really great chemistry and I loved they got each other so quickly. As I said before, I was a bit hesitant to believe Tom would get past his "Always Alone" motto, especially once he shared his reason for his feelings. I knew that Tom loved both Alex and Gussie, yet was afraid to admit his feeling and risk losing them because of his past.




I highly recommend Barefoot in Lace to any readers who love contemporary romances. Barefoot in Lace can be read as a stand-alone story, I think you see more about the characters if you read the books in order. 

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

 This is Gussie and Tom's story and Oh! what a story it is!! Ms.

 This is Gussie and Tom's story and Oh! what a story it is!! Ms. St.Claire developed these characters so real that I felt I was right there with them.
   Gussie is so dynamic and has such an 'old soul' wisdom. Just when I thought she would explode or be hurt over something she'd come out with patience, understanding and affection, most of the time anyway. She's a very strong woman, yet due to her 'imperfections' she's also very vulnerable.
   Tom is an amazing character. He's so talented and passionate in his photography.  He's world renowned  and sought after, yet he has a dark sadness that is so heart-wrenching it brought me to tears...lots of tears! (rarely does this happen)
   Tom's niece, Alex, was equally well developed as a 13 year old girl that had her whole world shattered.
   The three of them, as well as other wonderful characters, weave a story that is packed with emotions and is unforgettable. 
   I see a NY Times Best Seller on the horizon!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

In Barefoot In Lace (The Barefoot Bay Brides Trilogy #2) by Roxa

In Barefoot In Lace (The Barefoot Bay Brides Trilogy #2) by Roxanne St. Claire, you will go from Mimosa Key to France and back on a captivating journey of love, acceptance and family.




Gussie is a destination wedding planner in Barefoot Bay along with her two friends.  She is strong and independent, but has her own heart ache and sorrows.  She has, in own unique way, moved on and is happy with her life right now.  A chance encounter in a convenience store with famous photographer T.J. "Tom" DeMille will soon have her going places she's never dreamed of...physically and emotionally.




Tom finds himself in Mimosa Key, guardian to his niece Alex after his sister's sudden death.  A niece he doesn't really know, and he is struggling.  That chance meeting with Gussie soon not only has him taking wedding photos, but has Gussie helping him with his niece.  The attraction they feel for each other is definitely mutual, but Tom has never been a settler.  His motto is "Alone Always".  Even now with his niece it's difficult for him to even imagine living in one place.  Not at all what Gussie is looking for, but sometimes the heart just knows what is right.




When his work unexpectedly takes the three of them on an adventure, the attraction between Gussie and Tom only intensifies.  Tom has lost so much he's scared to love again, even if Gussie is cracking the walls surrounding his heart.  Gussie wasn't looking for love or family, but it found her - if only Tom could take the chance.  




Barefoot In Lace is a powerful, enchanting story!  I loved Gussie, she is so good for Tom, even if he can't fully recognize it.  She's very open with him, and this is so refreshing in a love story.  Tom is more closed about unresolved issues in his life, but Gussie is patient and doesn't push him.  And she doesn't pull away from him when she knows he's keeping things deep inside.  He is very open about who he is and his life style, and doesn't have the need to apologize for it.  I love mature characters who don't feel the need to play games with each other in a relationship.  They have great chemistry that shines through and kept me hoping that Tom would take the risk of love again.  I really like how Roxanne takes this relationship and makes it realistic with the ups and downs and uncertainty.




There are a lot of secondary characters who only add more to Barefoot In Lace, and Alex is a strong secondary character with struggles of her own that will pull you in and make you want to reach out to her.




Roxanne's descriptions are amazing and vivid, so that I could feel the sand between my toes and be on the streets of France.




Barefoot In Lace is filled with emotions, and Roxanne expertly drew me in with her well paced writing.  Barefoot In Lace took me on the best journey with characters and feelings I won't be able to forget.




I'd highly recommend Barefoot In Lace to any romance reader it can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend Barefoot In White also).  You will lose a little piece of your heart to Gussie, Tom and Alex!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Each of us masks our insecurities in one way or another. This i

Each of us masks our insecurities in one way or another. This is a story about insecurities, discovering truths and that family, whether blood or by choice, is a gift from God. I was able to relate to this story on many levels; and it opened my eyes to a few truths about me.

TJ DeMille, Tom to his friends, is a famed photographer that finds himself in Barefoot Bay with his 12 year niece, Alex, who is reeling from the death of her mother. He has no idea what he’s going to do with her – he travels constantly & has no desire to settle down.

Augusta ‘Gussie’ McBain wears outrageous wigs & makeup to mask her insecurities. Tom has the ability to take down peoples barriers and he’s set his sights on finding the ‘real’ Gussie. Since Gussie & Alex have bonded, Tom suggests a freecation for the three of them to France. A vacation from things that weigh down your life and keep you from being free.

During their freecation Gussie throws away her mask, finds her family and takes Alex back to Barefoot Bay to raise. Tom unable to overcome his insecurities lets Gussie & Alex leave. But a gift from an unlikely source, Tom’s deceased sister, gives his life the direction it needs.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I had loved the first book in this series, Barefoot in White, so

I had loved the first book in this series, Barefoot in White, so much I didn't think Roxanne St. Claire could top it. Wow, was I wrong.

This story is about Augusta "Gussie" McBain, the stylist at Barefoot Bay Brides who wears very brightly colored wigs and heavy makeup and T. J. "Tom" DeMille, famed photographer.

They meet at Charity's Super Min. Loved this scene. Gussie gets back to work and Ari and Willow tell her that they do not have a photographer anymore for this weekend's wedding. Gussie decides she will call in her favor and ask Tom to shoot the wedding. She finally tracks him down and he is surprised to see her. She is even more surprised to find out he is now the guardian of his 12 year old niece, Alex, whose mother just recently passed away. Alex and Gussie hit it off instantly. When Gussie asks Tom to photograph the wedding he makes a deal with her to do it if she will spend time with Alex. Since her and Alex both love Mario Kart she thinks that will be an easy trade.

As Tom and Gussie spend more and more time together getting ready for the wedding, their attraction to each other is ready to explode. Tom is really good at reading people and wants to know why Gussie hides behind the wigs and makeup. He finally gets Gussie to tell him the reason and he tries to convince her not to hide anymore.

Gussie cannot help it but she is falling for Tom. He had once explained to her that he does not do relationships. He even has a tattoo that says Always Alone in Greek on his arm. Gussie can tell there is a meaning behind this tattoo but he won't reveal it.

Tom is offered a job in France for a photo shoot for LaVie water. He really wants to do this and asks Alex to go. She will only go if Gussie comes with them. OMG! I loved their time in France. Between the neighbors they meet, the country of France, the photo shoot, and their romantic times together this story line was wonderful. It made me laugh, cry and melt all at the same time. Tom finally reveals to Gussie the meaning behind his tattoo and it is a doozy! She tells him that he has some soul searching to do or otherwise he is going to be unhappy his entire life. (Make sure the tissues are close by!)

The ending of the story that brings them to their happy ending is wonderful. Gussie comes full circle with the demons in her life as does Tom. They finally get the family that they both have been looking for! :)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Omg

Omg another hit!! Gussie and toms story was amazing...cant wait for aris book...just love rhis series...amazing

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.




Roxanne St. Claire has been one of my favorite authors for many years. Her books just keep getting better and better with each one. Every time I finish her latest, I think it was the best one ever. Barefoot in Lace is no different. In fact, I'm SURE it is her best one ever. Book two in her Barefoot Brides Series, it is the story of Augusta “Gussie” McBain, one of the three friends who make up Barefoot Brides, destination wedding planners at Casa Blanca Resort & Spa in Barefoot Bay.




Gussie loves her wigs. So much so, she wears a multitude of styles and colors, calling it her signature look. Truth be told, she has a deeper, more personal reason for wearing them. A chance encounter at the Super Min finds her face to face with TJ DeMille, one of the world's top photographers who happens to be in Mimosa Key to figure out what to do with his twelve year old niece, Alex. Named as her guardian after his sister's sudden death, he has no clue how to raise a child and surely doesn't know what he's going to do with her. Traveling the world for one photo shoot after another, he has no other family, no permanent home and no desire for either one. Always alone. Those two words, tattooed on his arm, is how he lives his life and that's exactly how he plans to keep it.




Family means everything to Gussie, but as for Tom, he lost that fantasy years ago. As Tom breaks down Gussie's walls and forces her to discover the beautiful woman he sees hiding within, he keeps his own walls firmly in place. After all, men don't expose their vulnerabilities, they just bury them inside forever, right? 




This book will take you away from Barefoot Bay on a freecation to the glorious beaches and breathtaking sunrises of the French Riviera. Follow Tom to the Greek island of Karpathos where he is forced to face his own demons in order to move on with his life...a life with Gussie. It is one of the most touching scenes I've read in a long time. It's a story of scars, both physical and emotional, a story of healing and forgiving, of trusting and loving. This was such an emotional book, I laughed at Gussie's vitality, cried for Tom's pain and rooted for them both. 




I vigorously recommend this book, the only drawback being that I can only give it five stars.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I fell in love with Tom and Gussie in the very first chapter. Th

I fell in love with Tom and Gussie in the very first chapter. The author brings together two characters who are each bearing scars.. both physical and emotional. At times, their pain is almost palpable and I was brought to tears. A very poignant story of loss, of healing and of love. I would definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An absolutely captivating story and group of characters. These t

An absolutely captivating story and group of characters. These two injured souls have approached life differently after tough life events but together they might just make each other whole. Roxanne St. Clair once again brings Mimosa Key to life and in this story we also get a glimpse of France. Incredibly well written it is a book you won't put down. Highly recommended read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome book! So much more than just a love story - layers of em

Awesome book! So much more than just a love story - layers of emotions, scars, healing, love, and the meaning of family. Loved it! I have loved all of the books of hers that I have read, but this one is definitely my favorite!

Review courtesy of ROmance Junkies Gussie McBain runs a wedd

Review courtesy of ROmance Junkies




Gussie McBain runs a wedding consultant business in a Floridian resort, with the help of two others. She is the one responsible for transforming the brides and her bridesmaids from plain Janes to stunningly beautiful. On the side, she writes a blog dedicated to fashion, style, and the weddings her business has done. Gussie always dreamed to one day work as a stylist for either a top-notch fashion magazine or a highly known photographer. When their original wedding photographer cancels, she calls in the favor Tom owes her. 




 








Thomas Jefferson DeMille, known to the public as T.M. DeMille, is a famous photographer in the fashion world. He has spent most of his life traveling from one shoot and site to the next without putting down permanent roots. The death of his younger sister leaves him in custody of a dejected, preteen niece. He feels that he is not qualified for such a daunting task. Tom reluctantly agrees to fulfill Gussie’s favor only if she helps him understand and get through to his despondent niece. 




Gussie, in my opinion, is the best role model for both males and females to emulate. Despite a scar she received as a teen, she did not let it defeat or lessen her. Instead, Gussie used that scar to propel her closer to her interest and passion in style. And she easily won my heart with her warmth, caring, and understanding with Alex. Gussie shows how important family is to her and her potential as a mother or nurturing guardian. 




Tom’s ability to see Gussie’s inner beauty hidden beneath the make-up and wigs melted my heart and helped him become my new favorite hero. Even though he has his own emotional and mental demons, he doggedly worked to show and convince Gussie that even though she’s scarred, it does not detract from her beauty. He and Gussie both have deep emotional scars that dictated their lives and behavior. I believe that similarity is what made the couple necessary for one another to accept who they are and what happened to them, finally heal, and take that final step of moving past it. I did enjoy Tom’s eagerness to whip off his shirt and detected a growing theme among THE BAREFOOT BAY BRIDES’s heroes: their need to take things off. I hope the author continues that fun quirk with the hero of the third installment. 




BAREFOOT IN LACE is a heartrending with a deep, embedded moral to the story. The story encourages people that even a flawed person can be seen as beautiful. The author punctuates that point with Gussie. BAREFOOT IN LACE is book two in Roxanne St. Claire’s THE BAREFOOT BAY BRIDES series, earns Romance Junkies’ Five Blue Ribbons for its heartfelt message.

Barefoot in Lace is the second in Roxanne St. Claire¿s Barefoot

Barefoot in Lace is the second in Roxanne St. Claire’s Barefoot Brides trilogy.  While a good portion of the action takes place away from Mimosa Key, in Nice to be exact, it is still a Barefoot Bay book at heart.  The focus is family and relationships and letting go of old hurts and beliefs, the core tenants of any Barefoot book.  While I enjoyed the change in scenery, I did slightly miss the interaction between Gussie, Willow, and Ari.  St. Claire seemed to understand, however, that Gussie had to let her family go for a while to regain the family she lost and fully create the one she needed.  It is funny how standing on our own two feet can be so profoundly liberating and successful.  If you haven’t gone Barefoot yet, this is a good place to start.  The change of scenery give this book enough of a stand-alone feel that you will not miss the familiar characters.  Gussie and Tom’s story is completely satisfying and definitely worth the time and effort.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.