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    Barefoot Summer
    Barefoot Summer
    Barefoot Summer
    Audiobook7 hours

    Barefoot Summer

    Written by Denise Hunter

    Narrated by Julie Lyles Carr

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The first book in the Chapel Springs Romance series by bestselling author Denise Hunter!

    “A tender story of faith cast adrift and lives brought together by currents that can only be God-sent. Barefoot Summer is a satisfying tale of hope, healing, and a love that’s meant to be. Sail away with Denise Hunter’s well-drawn characters on a journey that is at once romantic and compelling.” —Lisa Wingate, national bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

    Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.

    In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.

    To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.

    Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.

    Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.

    But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?

    “Hold-your-breath romance, heartache, and laugh-out-loud moments. It’s more than a good read. It’s a delight.” —Lisa T. Bergren, bestselling, award-winning author

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateAug 12, 2014
    ISBN9780718032760
    Barefoot Summer
    Author

    Denise Hunter

    Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than forty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and three beautiful grandchildren. DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

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    Reviews for Barefoot Summer

    4.5/5

    60 ratings8 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Great characters. You can pick up on all the emotions in this book which will draw you in.
    • 4/5
      I loved the contrast between trying to fix something all alone versus admitting there a problem and asking for help. Madison thinks she can magically fix her problems by making a grand gesture, but it isn't until she opens up to the healing God has for her that she can be open to love. It's a good message.
    • 5/5
      The front cover drew me in, and the fact that I enjoy this author and her stories. It is a god summer read and although there was problems to be worked out, the story was just very sweet and full of romance and was hard to put down once I started.Madison lost her twin brother in a drowning accident years ago and although she has good support from her close-knit family, she still struggles with nightmares and bad dreams, which is also affecting her job as a veterinarian. She needs to learn how to sail a boat so she can enter the regatta and win, something her brother always wanted to accomplish. But her teacher for this turns out to be Beckett O'Reilly, who she struggles to get along with for many reasons (which you will discover as you keep reading).As the book states, "the chemistry between them is electrifying". Beckett has adored her from afar for many years and as the summer progresses, so will their feeling for each other. But there are a few secrets that need to be brought out into the open, which could tear this couple apart.A few of my favorite excerpts from the book:This one is talking about Beckett as he watched Madison; "On her porch, watching her watching a moth, and realizing he was the moth and she the light. It would always be this way."And then there was Madison's Mom talking to her about her brother who died;"But death is part of life. Not my favorite part, not by a long shot. But God does not owe us ninety years on this earth. Life is a gift, however long it lasts. It's God's to give and take away as He sees fit. We go through life thinking we're entitled to our ninety, but we're not entitled to anything. All we can do is trust that He knows what He's doing. That He has a plan for all of us, and that no pain He allows in our life will go unused."I look forward to reading the next book in this series, "Dancing with Fireflies". Enjoy!!
    • 4/5
      Madison McKinley is trying to desperately to put the loss of her twin brother, Michael, behind her. She's so desperate, she plans to brave her fear of water and swimming to enter the local sailing regatta to fulfill Michael's dream of being the youngest winner ever. What Madison didn't count on in her quest to honour her brother's memory was her substitute sailing teacher, Beckett O'Reilly. Beckett has always been an enigma since high school but as Madison spends more time with him, she discovers that there's more to him than meets the eye.I quite enjoyed this Christian romance. Madison is a lovely character who felt wonderfully real and well-rounded. Beckett is just as interesting and the development of their relationship is enjoyable to read. I also appreciated that Madison is a regular church attender but who is still severely struggling to connect with God, which made her spiritual journey just as interesting.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book.

      Madison who lost her brother in a boating accident years ago thinks winning 'his' race will make her whole again.

      This is her story.
    • 5/5
      Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter was an amazing book. Once I started the book I fell in love with the characters and the authors writing. I believe this is the first book of hers that I have read and I can't wait to check out others that she has written. You follow along with Madison as she is learning to sail so that she can win the towns annual regatta in memory of her brother. There are parts of this book that were slow but for the most part the book kept my interest. If you love cute stories about love and overcoming problems you will love this book.

      FTC:I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
    • 5/5
      Madison lost her twin brother years ago and though her life is filled with her work and family she still has an empty place in her heart. Her brother had a dream of winning the town's annual regatta, Madison decides she is going to win it for him but first she needs to learn how to sail. Beckett O'Reilly is going to teach her and though there have been bad vibes between them things change over the course of the summer. He has a secret that could ruin the possibility of a relationship.Denise has written such a beautiful story about how a misunderstanding can hurt someone terribly. A wonderful tale of forgiveness, tragedy and triumph. A fantastic book to read at the beach or curled up on the sofa on a rainy afternoon. I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Barefoot Summer, Series: A Chapel Springs Romance (Book 1) by Denise HunterMadison's family is large and they own a lot of land that need help with the crop harvesting. Some of the kids have grown up and left the area. Some are still around to help even with their own life's.The story goes back in time to when she and others in the neighborhood were teens. She excelled in 10th grade and the guy she liked was older. He was a trouble maker and always got caught. He would come with his drunk dad to help with the harvesting.They are from different sides of the track. She is now the vet and he fixes motors. Love the scenery of the tower and what it means to them and also the talk of the boating. I found myself drawn to more learning on the subject and also felt a connection with the women at the nursing home as I knit for our local one. They all pray for Maddie and her friends and family.Her twin brother Michael had drowned when he was 17 and he spent all the money he earned on a boat so he could race in the annual regatta and win all the money. She is terrified of the water and with help from Evan she is able to get used to the water.She won the auction bid of sailing lessons from Beckett. He also builds custom boats besides fixing motors. She hopes to fulfill her brothers dream after she learns how to sail and fix up his boat to make it seaworthy.Problems arise when Evan is called away and won't be sailing with her. There is much talk of time spent in church and prayers and bible study throughout the book. Some times they question why God let Michael die.She is praying for peace at the end of the boat race and to find closure with Michael. Beckett has a secret that may help her or harm her.Love how Beckett takes charge of everything in his family and just takes over and makes good decisions.Although there are not many characters there are a handful and they are easy to keep track of. Such a fun easy going book to read I had a hard time putting it down at the end of the night.Lots of mysteries along the way that only enhance this book to making it a really good read. Trust in God. Love how the book got it's title.I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.