Barefoot with a Stranger (Barefoot Bay Undercover #2)
by Roxanne St. Claire
Blurb:
Francesca
Rossi might be the youngest in a long line of badass siblings, but this
computer whiz would rather hack a database than pack a pistol for the family
business in Barefoot Bay. When an
assignment forces her out of her comfort zone and into the field, Chessie
decides to amp up the excitement quotient and has her first one night stand
with a sexy stranger she’ll never see again.
Former
CIA agent Malcolm Harris is fresh out of prison for a crime he didn’t commit,
and knows the government is watching his every move, waiting for him to slip
up. But the only mistake he makes is to
assume the sexy, sassy woman he seduces on the way to Barefoot Bay is a
spy. He learns too late that the beauty
he’s bedded is really his best friend’s sister…and his undercover partner on a
risky mission.
Chessie
and Mal have to stay one step ahead of the CIA, navigate their way through a
perilous country, and fight the insane chemistry that sizzles between
them. It doesn’t take long for this
hacker and spy to discover the power of their unplanned partnership…and learn
that falling in love might be the riskiest business of all.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 starsHeat Rating:
Review:
I have long been a fan of Ms. St. Claire,
voraciously reading everything she releases and falling more in love with her characters,
her skill at building suspense and her ability to drag her readers right into
the lives of the people that pour from her heart. The Barefoot Bay series and the spin-off Barefoot Bay Undercover series both
hold special significance for me being set in an area I’m very familiar with
and dealing with the kinds of drama and pain that are just too realistic to be completely
called fiction. Chessie’s story is one
that I have been looking forward to since we met her in a previous series
written by Roxanne, the Guardian
Angelinos, where her family is introduced and we get to
meet the whole fantastic group of beautiful overachievers and of course “Uncle
Nino”, arguably one of the best characters to bridge these many series. If you are coming to the party late, never
fear you will learn plenty about this great family and still fall in love with
Chessie and Gabe, but I promise you that if you go back and read the previous
books revolving around the Rossi clan you will not regret it. Barefoot
with a Stranger is a work of art, truly bringing together all the best
parts of romantic suspense and leaving you wondering how you will ever survive
until the next book. With the
vivaciously sweet Chessie breaking out of her shell and finally demanding her
place in life and the dark brooding Mal finally accepting that he doesn’t have
to be the lone wolf forever, this story is truly one of redemption and
discovery. I can only say that if you
are a Gabe fan be ready for lots of ups and downs and an ending that will leave
you ready to kidnap Roxanne until she can tell you what’s going to happen.
Chessie
and Mal begin their relationship with a grand twist of fate throwing them in
one another’s path before Gabe has a chance to introduce them and the fallout could
be disastrous if they let it. Heading
out together on a mission makes things even more complicated as Chessie and Mal
must depend on one another to stay alive and accomplish the most important
mission they have ever been, one that could mean the ultimate happiness for
Gabe or the end of his hope for the future.
I really enjoyed the flow of this story and seeing how Mal and Chessie
work together to overcome the crazy twists that crop up for them. Chessie definitely steps up and more than
once shows that while she might be the quiet one in the family, she is a Rossi
through and through and nothing will keep her from completing her mission—or
from getting her man.
Francesca
“Chessie” Rossi has always been the Rossi that everyone protected and tried to
keep in a bubble, but she has hidden in the shadows of her siblings and cousins
far too long and is ready to find her own niche. Her computer skills are second to none and
she is determined to do whatever she can to help Gabe find the child he only
recently discovered he has, but she never intended to be sent into hostile
territory, especially not with a man that makes her crazy and continues to
tempt her to forego her rules and succumb to the attraction between them. Sweet and obviously loving, Chessie’s easily
underestimated by all those she encounters, but at her core she is made of
titanium and there is no one that will prevent her from keeping those she loves
safe, even if she has to fight them every step of the way. I really loved getting to know more about
Chessie, even as she learned more about herself and discovered that she has
maybe even been underestimating herself.
I also enjoyed seeing Chessie as she explored her attraction to Mal,
bringing him around and making him love her more each day, healing his heart
and showing him that being together makes them better than they could ever been
alone.
Mal
was an interesting guy in a lot of ways; a hero who fell on his sword for a
woman in need and did time for a crime that he never committed. Being on the other side of the law has given
him a unique view of the world and a chip on his shoulder that would make
anyone wary of trusting. He begins the
story as a bit of an ass, but quickly we begin to see that though his motives
are sometimes questionable, he usually has a reason for taking any step he takes. The curve ball that gets thrown into his life
when he comes to Barefoot Bay to assist his old friend Gabe and instead finds
himself faced with an intense attraction to Gabe’s sister, shows us how he
really handles emotional upheavals and what kind of man he is—noble to a
fault. Obviously it could go without
saying that Mal is sensually overwhelming a lot of the time, but for Chessie he
seems to be the most powerfully attractive man she has ever encountered. As we see him kicking butt and using his brains
and brawn to keep both himself and Chessie alive and safe on their dangerous
mission we fall more and more in love with Mal and the way he is able to deal
with all the shit that comes at him. I
was thrilled for him in the end when he found a way to trust and really show
his feelings, but I know he will remain just as much a badass as always, if
maybe a little bit squishier on the inside due to Chessie’s love.
Barefoot with a Stranger
is one of those stories that sucks you in from the very first moment and leaves
you dying for more as you turn the last page.
Full of vivacious characters, flawless storytelling, and the obvious
love between the characters, Roxanne manages to keep you on the edge of your
seat wondering what will be around the next corner and how the H/h will cope
with the next disaster. Chessie is one
of the best female leads I have found in a while, her strength and
vulnerability matched perfectly by her wit and intelligence, she is simply the
whole package. Chessie really grows in
this story as she discovers her abilities are not actually restricted to
cyberspace and she can kick butt as well as the next guy (or gal). Mal too is a great character, though at times
readers will find themselves ready to punch him; he is the kind of guy that has
been through so much all his life, but really just needs to embrace the love
offered to him and find a way to accept that while his past definitely sucked,
his future doesn’t have to. A lone wolf
finding his perfect mate, Mal is ready to be the true man he is ready to be
once Chessie shows him his true place in the world—right by her side. The passion between Mal and Chessie is some of the hottest I have experienced in a while, but the love between them is what leaves a warm lasting comfort to the soul. I and many of the other fans of this series
are dying to read Gabe’s story and I am pleased to say it is coming next,
sometime in early 2016 according to Roxanne, but the important moments in this
story for Gabe will leave readers ready to tear their hair out. The message I always share with new Roxi Fans
remains true: “if you don’t want to go insane waiting, don’t read the
Epilogue.” Because of course that is where Roxi likes to give us hints to the
future stories that will make any true fan rabidly crazy waiting. Barefoot
with a Bad Boy is coming soon though and I for one will be first in line
for a copy!
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.
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