Release: January 3rd, 2017
Romance Subgenre: Women's Fiction
Romance Subgenre: Women's Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown returns with a heartbreakingly hilarious novel about three women who had nothing in common, except their husband.
Leaving one widow behind is unfortunate. Leaving three widows behind is just plain despicable. Oil heiress Kate Steele knew her not-so-dearly departed husband was a con man, but she’s shocked that Conrad racked up two more wives without divorcing her first. The only remnant of their miserable marriage she plans to keep is their lakeside cabin in Bootleg, Texas. Unfortunately, she’s not the only woman with that idea.
Fiery, strong-willed Jamie wishes Conrad were still alive—so she could kill the scoundrel herself. But for their daughter’s sake, she needs that property. As does Amanda—twenty-eight, pregnant, and still weeping over the loss of her true love. On a broiling July day, all three arrive in Bootleg…with a dogged detective right behind who’s convinced that at least one of them conspired to commit murder. One momentous summer filled with revelations, quirky neighbors, and barefoot evenings on the porch offers three women the chance to make the journey from enemies to friends, and claim a bright, new beginning.
Fiery, strong-willed Jamie wishes Conrad were still alive—so she could kill the scoundrel herself. But for their daughter’s sake, she needs that property. As does Amanda—twenty-eight, pregnant, and still weeping over the loss of her true love. On a broiling July day, all three arrive in Bootleg…with a dogged detective right behind who’s convinced that at least one of them conspired to commit murder. One momentous summer filled with revelations, quirky neighbors, and barefoot evenings on the porch offers three women the chance to make the journey from enemies to friends, and claim a bright, new beginning.
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Character Study
Once in awhile a book comes along that just makes your life better. The Barefoot Summer was like that for me. The book is quirky and fun while really doing a deep dive into the concepts of family and female friendship. The Barefoot Summer made me take stock of what I have and it made me so grateful for the blessings in my life. Seriously, what could be better?
Women’s fiction is such a happy, optimistic little place in the world and The Barefoot Summer is a great addition to the genre. I came to the book due to my love of Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances, but I have to admit, I may like her women's fiction style better than her romance style. Brown’s no-nonsense writing style, her quick moving pacing, and her witty dialogue made each of the three women featured in this book into living, breathing, and rather pissed off, heroines. Even better, we got a bit of romance thrown in for Kate and Waylon!
I couldn’t resist creating a playlist for The Barefoot Summer that featured a song for each of our gals. Kate, Jamie and Amanda all had unique stories but their eventual friendship and shared anger/hatred/disinterest towards their ex tied them all together. And since I already had a playlist going for these three, I couldn’t help but add Hozier’s “Someone New” for Conrad because...well, because he was always falling in love with someone new!
Women’s fiction is such a happy, optimistic little place in the world and The Barefoot Summer is a great addition to the genre. I came to the book due to my love of Carolyn Brown’s cowboy romances, but I have to admit, I may like her women's fiction style better than her romance style. Brown’s no-nonsense writing style, her quick moving pacing, and her witty dialogue made each of the three women featured in this book into living, breathing, and rather pissed off, heroines. Even better, we got a bit of romance thrown in for Kate and Waylon!
I couldn’t resist creating a playlist for The Barefoot Summer that featured a song for each of our gals. Kate, Jamie and Amanda all had unique stories but their eventual friendship and shared anger/hatred/disinterest towards their ex tied them all together. And since I already had a playlist going for these three, I couldn’t help but add Hozier’s “Someone New” for Conrad because...well, because he was always falling in love with someone new!
“Someone New” by Hozier for Conrad
There's an art to life's distractions,
To somehow escape the burning weight, the art of scraping through,
Some like to imagine,
The dark caress of someone else, I guess any thrill will do
Would things be easier if there was a right way?
Honey, there is no right way.
And so I fall in love just a little, oh a little bit every day with someone new
There's an art to life's distractions,
To somehow escape the burning weight, the art of scraping through,
Some like to imagine,
The dark caress of someone else, I guess any thrill will do
Would things be easier if there was a right way?
Honey, there is no right way.
And so I fall in love just a little, oh a little bit every day with someone new
“Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?” by Shania Twain for Kate
Whose bed have your boots been under?
And whose heart did you steal I wonder?
This time did it feel like thunder, baby?
And who did you run to?
And whose lips have you been kissin'?
And whose ear did you make a wish in?
Is she the one that you've been missin', baby?
Well whose bed have your boots been under?
Whose bed have your boots been under?
And whose heart did you steal I wonder?
This time did it feel like thunder, baby?
And who did you run to?
And whose lips have you been kissin'?
And whose ear did you make a wish in?
Is she the one that you've been missin', baby?
Well whose bed have your boots been under?
“Smile” by Lily Allen for Jamie
When you first left me I didn't know what to say I never been on my own that way, just sat by myself all day
I was so lost back then
But with a little help from my friends
I found a light in the tunnel at the end
When you first left me I didn't know what to say I never been on my own that way, just sat by myself all day
I was so lost back then
But with a little help from my friends
I found a light in the tunnel at the end
“There's Your Trouble” by Dixie Chicks for Amanda
Should Have Been Different But
It Wasn't Different, Was It
Same Old Story, Dear John, And So Long
Should Have Fit Like A Glove
Should Have Fit Like A Ring
Like A Diamond Ring
A Token Of True Love
Should Have All Worked Out
But It Didn't
Should Have Been Different But
It Wasn't Different, Was It
Same Old Story, Dear John, And So Long
Should Have Fit Like A Glove
Should Have Fit Like A Ring
Like A Diamond Ring
A Token Of True Love
Should Have All Worked Out
But It Didn't
What did you think of The Barefoot Summer?
Are there any songs that remind you of Kate, Jamie and Amanda?
Are there any songs that remind you of Kate, Jamie and Amanda?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Brown was born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma. These days she and her husband make their home in Davis, Oklahoma, a small town of less than three thousand people where everyone knows everyone, knows what they are doing and with whom, and read the weekly newspaper to see who got caught.
A plaque hangs on her office wall that says I know the voices are not real but they have such great ideas. That is her motto and muse as she goes through the days with quirky characters in her head, telling their stories, one by one, and loving her job.
She has been married almost half a century to a retired English teacher that she calls Mr. B and he does not read her books before they are published because she cannot afford a divorce. They have three grown children.—and enough grandchildren to keep them busy and young.
When Carolyn is not writing she likes to sit in the back yard and watch the two tom cats protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, other cats, spiders and blue jays.
A plaque hangs on her office wall that says I know the voices are not real but they have such great ideas. That is her motto and muse as she goes through the days with quirky characters in her head, telling their stories, one by one, and loving her job.
She has been married almost half a century to a retired English teacher that she calls Mr. B and he does not read her books before they are published because she cannot afford a divorce. They have three grown children.—and enough grandchildren to keep them busy and young.
When Carolyn is not writing she likes to sit in the back yard and watch the two tom cats protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, other cats, spiders and blue jays.
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