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Barefoot Bay Undercover #1
Barefoot with a Bodyguard
The Barefoot Bay Undercover Series
Introducing Barefoot Bay Undercover, a romantic adventure series set on the tropical beaches of Barefoot Bay. When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the series
About to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.
Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.
When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.
Don’t Miss a Minute in Barefoot Bay - they can be read and enjoyed in any order and all stand alone!
"Plenty of heat, humor, and heart!" -- USA Today Happily Ever After
"Fun and engaging! A celebration of family and forgiveness!" -- Publishers Weekly
"Lively, light, pure entertainment!" -- Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER
Barefoot Bound – The Undercover Series Prequel
Barefoot with a Bodyguard (June 2015)
Barefoot with a Stranger (October 2015)
Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Date announced soon – Gabe’s book!)
THE BAREFOOT BAY BILLIONAIRES
Secrets on the Sand (always free!)
Seduction on the Sand
Scandal on the Sand
THE BAREFOOT BAY BRIDES
Barefoot in White (currently free!)
Barefoot in Lace
Barefoot in Pearls
Introducing Barefoot Bay Undercover, a romantic adventure series set on the tropical beaches of Barefoot Bay. When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the series
About to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.
Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.
When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.
Don’t Miss a Minute in Barefoot Bay - they can be read and enjoyed in any order and all stand alone!
"Plenty of heat, humor, and heart!" -- USA Today Happily Ever After
"Fun and engaging! A celebration of family and forgiveness!" -- Publishers Weekly
"Lively, light, pure entertainment!" -- Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER
Barefoot Bound – The Undercover Series Prequel
Barefoot with a Bodyguard (June 2015)
Barefoot with a Stranger (October 2015)
Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Date announced soon – Gabe’s book!)
THE BAREFOOT BAY BILLIONAIRES
Secrets on the Sand (always free!)
Seduction on the Sand
Scandal on the Sand
THE BAREFOOT BAY BRIDES
Barefoot in White (currently free!)
Barefoot in Lace
Barefoot in Pearls
307 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2015
789 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
265 books1,832 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
July 20, 2015
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Recently divorced Kate Kingston has received death threats, sent to her father who's a Philadelphia judge. Since it isn't clear why she's targeted, Dad arranges for her to go undercover in Barefoot Bay with protection provided by Gabe Rossi. He figures he can kill two birds with one stone when he assigns another client, mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov to be part of Kate's cover and her bodyguard, posing as her newlywed husband. Alec's on the run from the Russian mob so the situation is dangerous.
It doesn't get much scarier than the Russian mob so things were always quite tense in this story. I loved the parallel points of view from all those involved as it kept the suspense level very high. However, it was balanced by the developing romance between Kate and Alec. I really fell for him as he was pretty special, not at all my typical "type" but a very well developed (pardon the pun) character. There were a few times, however, that I wanted to throttle Kate because of a couple of TSTL (too stupid to live) moments where she could have gotten Alec killed.
I loved the story, the characters (yes, Kate redeems herself), the suspense and the humor. The romance was lovely with some over-the-top sensual interludes. There's a couples massage on the beach that you really have to read and highlight because once isn't enough. Can't wait for the next book. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)
Recently divorced Kate Kingston has received death threats, sent to her father who's a Philadelphia judge. Since it isn't clear why she's targeted, Dad arranges for her to go undercover in Barefoot Bay with protection provided by Gabe Rossi. He figures he can kill two birds with one stone when he assigns another client, mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov to be part of Kate's cover and her bodyguard, posing as her newlywed husband. Alec's on the run from the Russian mob so the situation is dangerous.
It doesn't get much scarier than the Russian mob so things were always quite tense in this story. I loved the parallel points of view from all those involved as it kept the suspense level very high. However, it was balanced by the developing romance between Kate and Alec. I really fell for him as he was pretty special, not at all my typical "type" but a very well developed (pardon the pun) character. There were a few times, however, that I wanted to throttle Kate because of a couple of TSTL (too stupid to live) moments where she could have gotten Alec killed.
I loved the story, the characters (yes, Kate redeems herself), the suspense and the humor. The romance was lovely with some over-the-top sensual interludes. There's a couples massage on the beach that you really have to read and highlight because once isn't enough. Can't wait for the next book. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review)
June 25, 2015
Barefoot with a Bodyguard by Roxanne St. Claire is a 2015 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you love the Barefoot Bay series or romantic suspense you don't want to miss this book!
Kate and Alec are polar opposites who find themselves thrust together in a very uncomfortable situation. Kate needs protection from an unknown person making threats against her through her father, who is a judge. Alec is on the run from the Russian mafia, so being Kate's bodyguard provides him with a cover. So, the plan is to have them pretend to be a married couple on their honeymoon. But, sparks fly right from the beginning and not necessarily in a good way, but before long the idea of playing husband and wife for real becomes a huge temptation.
This story has a very unique romantic suspense style to it- it's a crime drama, has a multi-layered plot with several huge bombshell twist along the way. It also has a playfulness about it, and the massage session was absolutely divine!
I thought there were some interesting themes explored in this book. One, is that sometimes, our backgrounds with men, including our own fathers, can play a key role in who we marry and how much power or control we permit them to have over us. Kate is not only stepping out from behind the shadow of her controlling ex-husband, but also standing up to her manipulative father.
Alec's life has been sad and dangerous and it looks as though he may never live a normal life. He is scarred and carries deep, heavy burdens and despite his rough exterior, I just wanted to hug him.
The secondary characters were simply a delight. Nico and Poppy lightened the tone of the book and were an excellent addition to the story.
I enjoyed this fast paced, action packed, sensual and romantic story and highly recommend it to those who enjoy romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
4.5 stars
If you love the Barefoot Bay series or romantic suspense you don't want to miss this book!
Kate and Alec are polar opposites who find themselves thrust together in a very uncomfortable situation. Kate needs protection from an unknown person making threats against her through her father, who is a judge. Alec is on the run from the Russian mafia, so being Kate's bodyguard provides him with a cover. So, the plan is to have them pretend to be a married couple on their honeymoon. But, sparks fly right from the beginning and not necessarily in a good way, but before long the idea of playing husband and wife for real becomes a huge temptation.
This story has a very unique romantic suspense style to it- it's a crime drama, has a multi-layered plot with several huge bombshell twist along the way. It also has a playfulness about it, and the massage session was absolutely divine!
I thought there were some interesting themes explored in this book. One, is that sometimes, our backgrounds with men, including our own fathers, can play a key role in who we marry and how much power or control we permit them to have over us. Kate is not only stepping out from behind the shadow of her controlling ex-husband, but also standing up to her manipulative father.
Alec's life has been sad and dangerous and it looks as though he may never live a normal life. He is scarred and carries deep, heavy burdens and despite his rough exterior, I just wanted to hug him.
The secondary characters were simply a delight. Nico and Poppy lightened the tone of the book and were an excellent addition to the story.
I enjoyed this fast paced, action packed, sensual and romantic story and highly recommend it to those who enjoy romantic suspense and contemporary romance.
4.5 stars
June 23, 2015
Barefoot with a Bodyguard (Barefoot Bay Undercover Book 1) by Roxanne St. Claire
Grade: C-
The blurb:
The Barefoot Bay Undercover Series
Introducing Barefoot Bay Undercover, a romantic adventure series set on the tropical beaches of Barefoot Bay. When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the series
About to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.
Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.
When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.
End of blurb
This book is part of a series. Roxane St. Claire has written a lot of “Barefoot” titles: Barefoot Brides; Barefoot Billionaires; and now Barefoot Bay Undercover. Is it just me or is it getting crowded in Barefoot Bay? They are all loosely connected and each can be read as a stand-alone, including Barefoot with a Bodyguard. This novel also connects her Guardian Angelino series to the Barefoot Bay series. Well, why the heck not? I’ll tell you, shall I? Pull up a chair. Pour a glass of wine. Is the cat curled up in your lap?
There are so many reasons to find the premise for this series implausible. Please allow me to count them: (1) undercover at a resort known for snoopy staff; (2) undercover at resort with snoopy guests; (3) undercover at a resort with high profile events; (4) undercover at a resort with high profile guests; (5) undercover at a resort where high profile events get press coverage; (6) undercover at resort where high profile guests are followed by paparazzi; (7) undercover at a resort pretending to be on a honeymoon always convinces the snoopy people; (8) undercover at a resort where the people undercover fail to call each other by their undercover names in public; (9) because they failed to make a habit of it in private; and (10) let’s not forget the ever indiscreet Poppy.
My apologies to Ms. St. Claire who has written some books which I have enjoyed, but this one made me grit my teeth all the way through it. Are you bored writing about the Guardian Angelinos? Exhausted the opportunities for crime in Boston and New York City? Hard to imagine that would be possible, really. Certain television shows based in those cities have continued to deliver week after week for years now. Are you bored writing about weddings at the Casa Blanca Resort? I have to admit, I kinda am bored reading about them. So you thought you’d go in a new direction and combine them, did you? Gotta say, based on available evidence, I don’t think this is working.
Kate Kingston is the kind of heroine I want to slap upside the head. Here is an obviously intelligent woman who demonstrates at every possible moment that she has not a lick of common sense and steadfastly refuses to use the brains the good God gave her. At every opportunity when she can choose to to something smart, she chooses to demonstrate that she is just TSTL (too stupid to live.) She knows the scary threats are real. How real I won’t say for fear of spoilers. But as the blurb says above, she prefers “her hard won independence” and wants no man to “wield power over her” even if it means keeping her safe from the Bad Guy(s).
Surely it is possible to write a heroine who is smart, sexy, independent, powerful and who has common sense and still have drama and sexy times? If you, the reader, are looking for that in this book, it didn’t happen.
Alex Petrov is a likeable guy. But I didn’t buy his story. He is on the run but he hides out under his own name not one hundred miles from his own Bad Guy. Who is a different Bad Guy than Kate’s. Just to make it interesting. Or not. Not only does he hide out less than one hundred miles away but he hides out in a city that the New Jersey Turnpike directly leads to from the city he grew up in and where his Bad Guy still lives. Not only that but he is making a name (using his real name) as an excellent MMA trainer.
I ask you, experienced readers, if you wanted to hide out from your Bad Guy would you chose a city with easy access by air and land? Would you do so under your own name in a career more than likely to attract the Bad Guy’s attention? I thought not. It’s called appearance of verisimilitude and fewer and fewer authors seem to know they have an obligation to present it.
The other thing I found unconvincing was the romance. Sad thing to read about a romance novel, isn’t it? On the one hand, we have Kate with her vocabulary. Oh yes. As Alex rightly says, she never uses a one syllable word when a fourteen one is available to her. While I am taking a moment here to show off and admit I understood every multi-syllabic word she used because I have an impressive vocabulary at my command, I felt Kate’s use of it came across as condescending and patronising. It certainly would have been had it not been obvious that Alex understood her big words which only raises the question “how could he?” since it was made more than clear, repetitively, that his education was not equal to hers.
On the other hand, if I were Alex, I would have been annoyed by her refusal to keep herself safe. I would have found that an unattractive if not repellant quality. Kate demonstrates her intellect in her studies and her vocabulary and yet she wants so much to be independent that she refuses to cooperate with basic safety procedures that are for her own good.
She wants to learn martial arts. Common sense would tell anyone that it is impossible to become accomplished in this in a few days. Alex, as we all know without being told, is a black belt. Clearly Kate’s desire to learn marital arts is a thinly disguised plot device to get the bodies rubbing together to generate sexual desire. I have no respect for thinly disguised plot devices because they lack that appearance of verisimilitude mentioned above. As far as I can tell the only reason these two got it on was propinquity and is that really something upon which one can build a lasting HEA?
Some loveable, if occasionally annoying characters, from previous books make cameo appearances. Nino is there, I think, for no reason except Roxanne is very fond of him, as she should be, and she could no more leave him behind than Gabe could. Poppy, while demonstrating the meaning of the word “inappropriate” is popular with the fans and is a useful plot device as are a couple of other women from previous volumes in the series. Their roles are explained and ones does not need to have read the previous books to know they are here merely to get the sexy times, such as they are, moving along. One character is introduced and is hired. She happens to be pregnant and I predict she will be the heroine of the next instalment.
Despite my review, I am sure Ms. St. Claire has another bestseller. Fans love the Barefoot stories. Sun, sea, surf, handsome men, beautiful women, gorgeous location. But is Florida, after all, and I keep wondering, how come it is never hurricane season in Barefoot Bay?
Grade: C-
The blurb:
The Barefoot Bay Undercover Series
Introducing Barefoot Bay Undercover, a romantic adventure series set on the tropical beaches of Barefoot Bay. When former CIA consultant Gabe Rossi creates a secret “privatized witness protection” operation hidden within the security firm at the local resort, things get a little more suspenseful on the island paradise. Gabe’s clients need to keep a low profile and stay safe while he helps them create new identities...and, sometimes, they find love. (To find out how Gabe started the operation, be sure to read the series prequel novella, Barefoot Bound.)
Barefoot with a Bodyguard – book one in the series
About to take the bar exam after ending a five-year marriage that derailed her career plans and her life, Kate Kingston craves independence and a vacation. Somewhere warm with sea breezes, sunshine, sand...and no scary threats against her that have been showing up in her dad’s office. Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for some serenity while she studies and puts her life back together. But when she meets the brooding wall of muscle her father hired to protect her, Kate feels her hard won independence slipping away as fast as her resolve to avoid men who wield power over her.
Mixed martial arts trainer Alec Petrov has been on the run for a long time. Guarding a young attorney-to-be while pretending to be her husband is not a bad way to live off the grid, hidden from the Russian mobster who is hunting Alec with deadly intent. But Kate brings out a tender side Alec doesn't understand, or believe he deserves, and he soon realizes that keeping them both safe is only half the challenge. Keeping his hands off her and his attraction under control will be every bit as difficult in the closed quarters of an exclusive resort.
When their make-believe honeymoon in paradise turns sensual, complicated, and dangerous, Alec and Kate realize it’s not just their lives that are in jeopardy, it’s their hearts. And they’ll have to fight to the end to save each other…and their love.
End of blurb
This book is part of a series. Roxane St. Claire has written a lot of “Barefoot” titles: Barefoot Brides; Barefoot Billionaires; and now Barefoot Bay Undercover. Is it just me or is it getting crowded in Barefoot Bay? They are all loosely connected and each can be read as a stand-alone, including Barefoot with a Bodyguard. This novel also connects her Guardian Angelino series to the Barefoot Bay series. Well, why the heck not? I’ll tell you, shall I? Pull up a chair. Pour a glass of wine. Is the cat curled up in your lap?
There are so many reasons to find the premise for this series implausible. Please allow me to count them: (1) undercover at a resort known for snoopy staff; (2) undercover at resort with snoopy guests; (3) undercover at a resort with high profile events; (4) undercover at a resort with high profile guests; (5) undercover at a resort where high profile events get press coverage; (6) undercover at resort where high profile guests are followed by paparazzi; (7) undercover at a resort pretending to be on a honeymoon always convinces the snoopy people; (8) undercover at a resort where the people undercover fail to call each other by their undercover names in public; (9) because they failed to make a habit of it in private; and (10) let’s not forget the ever indiscreet Poppy.
My apologies to Ms. St. Claire who has written some books which I have enjoyed, but this one made me grit my teeth all the way through it. Are you bored writing about the Guardian Angelinos? Exhausted the opportunities for crime in Boston and New York City? Hard to imagine that would be possible, really. Certain television shows based in those cities have continued to deliver week after week for years now. Are you bored writing about weddings at the Casa Blanca Resort? I have to admit, I kinda am bored reading about them. So you thought you’d go in a new direction and combine them, did you? Gotta say, based on available evidence, I don’t think this is working.
Kate Kingston is the kind of heroine I want to slap upside the head. Here is an obviously intelligent woman who demonstrates at every possible moment that she has not a lick of common sense and steadfastly refuses to use the brains the good God gave her. At every opportunity when she can choose to to something smart, she chooses to demonstrate that she is just TSTL (too stupid to live.) She knows the scary threats are real. How real I won’t say for fear of spoilers. But as the blurb says above, she prefers “her hard won independence” and wants no man to “wield power over her” even if it means keeping her safe from the Bad Guy(s).
Surely it is possible to write a heroine who is smart, sexy, independent, powerful and who has common sense and still have drama and sexy times? If you, the reader, are looking for that in this book, it didn’t happen.
Alex Petrov is a likeable guy. But I didn’t buy his story. He is on the run but he hides out under his own name not one hundred miles from his own Bad Guy. Who is a different Bad Guy than Kate’s. Just to make it interesting. Or not. Not only does he hide out less than one hundred miles away but he hides out in a city that the New Jersey Turnpike directly leads to from the city he grew up in and where his Bad Guy still lives. Not only that but he is making a name (using his real name) as an excellent MMA trainer.
I ask you, experienced readers, if you wanted to hide out from your Bad Guy would you chose a city with easy access by air and land? Would you do so under your own name in a career more than likely to attract the Bad Guy’s attention? I thought not. It’s called appearance of verisimilitude and fewer and fewer authors seem to know they have an obligation to present it.
The other thing I found unconvincing was the romance. Sad thing to read about a romance novel, isn’t it? On the one hand, we have Kate with her vocabulary. Oh yes. As Alex rightly says, she never uses a one syllable word when a fourteen one is available to her. While I am taking a moment here to show off and admit I understood every multi-syllabic word she used because I have an impressive vocabulary at my command, I felt Kate’s use of it came across as condescending and patronising. It certainly would have been had it not been obvious that Alex understood her big words which only raises the question “how could he?” since it was made more than clear, repetitively, that his education was not equal to hers.
On the other hand, if I were Alex, I would have been annoyed by her refusal to keep herself safe. I would have found that an unattractive if not repellant quality. Kate demonstrates her intellect in her studies and her vocabulary and yet she wants so much to be independent that she refuses to cooperate with basic safety procedures that are for her own good.
She wants to learn martial arts. Common sense would tell anyone that it is impossible to become accomplished in this in a few days. Alex, as we all know without being told, is a black belt. Clearly Kate’s desire to learn marital arts is a thinly disguised plot device to get the bodies rubbing together to generate sexual desire. I have no respect for thinly disguised plot devices because they lack that appearance of verisimilitude mentioned above. As far as I can tell the only reason these two got it on was propinquity and is that really something upon which one can build a lasting HEA?
Some loveable, if occasionally annoying characters, from previous books make cameo appearances. Nino is there, I think, for no reason except Roxanne is very fond of him, as she should be, and she could no more leave him behind than Gabe could. Poppy, while demonstrating the meaning of the word “inappropriate” is popular with the fans and is a useful plot device as are a couple of other women from previous volumes in the series. Their roles are explained and ones does not need to have read the previous books to know they are here merely to get the sexy times, such as they are, moving along. One character is introduced and is hired. She happens to be pregnant and I predict she will be the heroine of the next instalment.
Despite my review, I am sure Ms. St. Claire has another bestseller. Fans love the Barefoot stories. Sun, sea, surf, handsome men, beautiful women, gorgeous location. But is Florida, after all, and I keep wondering, how come it is never hurricane season in Barefoot Bay?
June 29, 2015
Not my favorite RSC book but I am so thrilled to see her edging back towards RS! Her writing is spot-on perfect, as usual. I found myself liking Gabe less, tho, but I have a feeling that won't last long *grin*. A solid 3.5-4 star read!
March 1, 2021
This was an alright read. I thought the story was okay. I thought it would be more interesting, but it wasn’t. Also, I thought the characters were okay. I did not love nor dislike them, I just felt like they were okay but not that relatable to me. I did have to put the book down a time or two. The ending was okay. Overall, an okay read.
September 10, 2017
I enjoyed that Alec, wasn't the usual perfectly GQ handsome hero - read more as a contemporary than a romantic suspense - overall too much focus was placed on the overall story arc of which the MC's played no part.
August 29, 2016
EDIT: Currently listening to the audiobook. So far? Awesome blossom! And here's the review I left on Audible! As headlined, I'm a big Rocki St. Claire fan and when I got the chance to grab this book in audio, I couldn't resist. I'm always a little leery about audio versions of romance novels, though. Who does it better? A male narrator or a female? I think it depends on the book and the narrator. In this case, Kaleo Griffith did a great job with the male characters and the couple of accents needed for correct characterizations and I wasn't disappointed in his narrative take on the heroine. This is a book with strong male characters--not only the hero but the secondary characters as well. And the heroine is sarcastic and brash so in this case, the Mr. Griffith's narration worked to perfection. I loved this book in "written" format and now I get to enjoy it "on the run" with the audio. 5 stars all around!
It's so wonderful to have Roxanne St. Clair revisit her romantic suspense roots plus give her RomSusp fans more of the Rossi family (from her Guardian Angelinos series). Gabe is always swoon-worthy and OMG! The twist at the end!!!! No spoilers. Read the book! However, this is NOT Gabe's book. That comes later. This book was Kate and Alec's. She's a law student coming out of a horrible marriage via divorce. He's hunted by the Russian mob. Gabe Rossi's new enterprise is putting people in private WitSec so these two end up in a pretend marriage at a resort on Barefoot Bay. Alec is ostensibly her bodyguard. Watching them spar--emotionally, verbally, and physically is an absolute treat. There's some scary moments, but Kate's strong and Alec is willing to sacrifice himself for her, and for a young pregnant girl who gets caught up in the drama. Fun times! Welcome back, Rocki. Don't be a stranger to RomSusp, 'kay?
It's so wonderful to have Roxanne St. Clair revisit her romantic suspense roots plus give her RomSusp fans more of the Rossi family (from her Guardian Angelinos series). Gabe is always swoon-worthy and OMG! The twist at the end!!!! No spoilers. Read the book! However, this is NOT Gabe's book. That comes later. This book was Kate and Alec's. She's a law student coming out of a horrible marriage via divorce. He's hunted by the Russian mob. Gabe Rossi's new enterprise is putting people in private WitSec so these two end up in a pretend marriage at a resort on Barefoot Bay. Alec is ostensibly her bodyguard. Watching them spar--emotionally, verbally, and physically is an absolute treat. There's some scary moments, but Kate's strong and Alec is willing to sacrifice himself for her, and for a young pregnant girl who gets caught up in the drama. Fun times! Welcome back, Rocki. Don't be a stranger to RomSusp, 'kay?
June 15, 2015
Barefoot with a Bodyguard by Roxanne St Claire
A contemporary romance with a bit of suspense in the Barefoot Bay series by Roxanne St Claire. It can be read without having read any of the previous books.
A delightful and satisfying, slightly steamy novel.
Alec Petrov has been running from the Russian Mafia for much of his life. He has a bounty on his head and a distinct tattoo on his hand that makes it impossible to effective hide from the public. Kate Kingston has been receiving violent letters threatening her life and must hide out while the police track down the threats.
Together, under the new private security company owned by Gabe Rossi, Alec and Kate pose as a newlywed couple staying in an exclusive island resort in Florida, effectively providing cover for each other.
Poor Alec has been on the run for a long time and seems to have had no love or even much self-respect for most of this life. His own father sold him to the mafia when he was only thirteen. He hates his hands because of their large size and can't find any worth in his life. I'm so glad that Kate sees him for the good man he really is. And she teaches him to see it as well.
This was an awesome and satisfying romance.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
A contemporary romance with a bit of suspense in the Barefoot Bay series by Roxanne St Claire. It can be read without having read any of the previous books.
A delightful and satisfying, slightly steamy novel.
Alec Petrov has been running from the Russian Mafia for much of his life. He has a bounty on his head and a distinct tattoo on his hand that makes it impossible to effective hide from the public. Kate Kingston has been receiving violent letters threatening her life and must hide out while the police track down the threats.
Together, under the new private security company owned by Gabe Rossi, Alec and Kate pose as a newlywed couple staying in an exclusive island resort in Florida, effectively providing cover for each other.
Poor Alec has been on the run for a long time and seems to have had no love or even much self-respect for most of this life. His own father sold him to the mafia when he was only thirteen. He hates his hands because of their large size and can't find any worth in his life. I'm so glad that Kate sees him for the good man he really is. And she teaches him to see it as well.
This was an awesome and satisfying romance.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
June 24, 2015
I tried..really tried to read this book but I just could not tolerate Kate..so I just read the parts where Gabe was there and skipped the rest of the book.
February 1, 2020
Oh, I am such a sucker for a good bodyguard dynamic. And this one doubled down by having him posing as a bodyguard for his own cover story! The tension! The drama!
But in all seriousness, romantic suspense is not my genre, I've tried it before and generally been unimpressed, so I didn't have high expectations when I dug this old (acquired for free) romance up on my Kindle.
Here I am to say how pleasantly surprised I was. Both leads have semi-tragic backstories, both have issues, and both grow with each other through those issues in ways that made me not want to put the book down. The situations they get into posing as newlyweds for their cover identities were awesome, squirm-inducing, and occasionally hysterically funny. I was delighted.
A heroine who needs to learn trust, and a hero who needs to learn tenderness. I AM SO HERE FOR THIS.
Though, again, romantic suspense not being my genre, I was annoyed every time the POV switched to one of the supporting characters in order to advance the suspense plot. On top of that, a very large portion of Gabe's POV seemed devoted to setting up an unrelated plot for the next book, which seems to be about his sister. DON'T CARE GIVE ME MORE OF KATE AND ALEC. Which is why this doesn't get a fifth star despite me being about half in love with Alec myself.
But in all seriousness, romantic suspense is not my genre, I've tried it before and generally been unimpressed, so I didn't have high expectations when I dug this old (acquired for free) romance up on my Kindle.
Here I am to say how pleasantly surprised I was. Both leads have semi-tragic backstories, both have issues, and both grow with each other through those issues in ways that made me not want to put the book down. The situations they get into posing as newlyweds for their cover identities were awesome, squirm-inducing, and occasionally hysterically funny. I was delighted.
A heroine who needs to learn trust, and a hero who needs to learn tenderness. I AM SO HERE FOR THIS.
Though, again, romantic suspense not being my genre, I was annoyed every time the POV switched to one of the supporting characters in order to advance the suspense plot. On top of that, a very large portion of Gabe's POV seemed devoted to setting up an unrelated plot for the next book, which seems to be about his sister. DON'T CARE GIVE ME MORE OF KATE AND ALEC. Which is why this doesn't get a fifth star despite me being about half in love with Alec myself.
June 15, 2015
REVIEW COURTESY OF ROMANCE JUNKIES
Alec Petrov runs an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) training facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and teaches martial arts to fighters. He has been running from the Russian mob boss his deceased father had promised him to since his young teens. Alec grows weary of the constant dodging and the need to fight off the crime lord’s hired thugs. A friend and ally helps him escape the Mafiya’s detection and sends him to the one person guaranteed to keep Alec hidden. As a cover he moonlights as a bodyguard, playing a role of a newly married man to protect not only himself but his principal’s life as well. Kate, his pretend wife and principal, does not make Alec’s job easy. He promises Kate to use his large, hated hands to keep her safe while under his care. Alec never expects Kate to be the impetus to make him yearn for a possible future free of the Mafiya and to be a person worthy of her affection.
Kate Kingston is the only child of an overprotective, high-profile judge. Newly divorced, she is determined to never allow another man to ever control or dictate her life again. Kate wants solitude so she can properly study for the bar exam and exert her newly won independence. A threat against her life throws a wrench into her plans, and Kate’s father, who is worried about her safety, hires Gabe Rossi’s firm to protect her until the mysterious culprit is found. She chafes and contests having yet another man mandating and running her life. Kate despises the charade forced upon her and pretending to be a newlywed, something she swore after her divorce to never undertake again. The bodyguard chosen to play her false husband overwhelms her with his sheer size and appearance. Kate learns that not only is Alec her cover but she is to be his also, hiding the tattoo that marks him as a wanted man by the Russian Mafiya.
Alec kind of reminds me of a character in an anime I enjoy, a mountain-sized giant with a gentle disposition who abhors violence but due to his size and skill is forced into it. He has this innocent quality about him I find quite endearing and attractive. It is a wonderful change from the usual cocky and arrogant cavemen types generally found in romance. I hope more authors will consider breaking the same-old mold in the future when it comes to the heroes they write. I did not expect a fighter of his caliber and size to behave so uncertain and backwards around a woman like Kate, it honestly made me think he was virginal. Alec’s down-to-earth temperament and belief in his self-worth appeals to me, where I could not help but fall a little more in love with his character. I love how he did not swagger about, throwing around his dominance, or behave as an overbearing ogre. Instead, Alec really listens to Kate, despite how she baffles him with the big words she likes to fling around, and intuitively bolsters her fight for self-reliance. Alec may have come from a humble and rough background, the complete opposite of Kate’s upbringing, but the two compliment one another and augment what the other lacks.
I really did not know what to think or feel about Kate at the start of the book, not having enough to form a concrete opinion and decided to reserve judgement until more of her personality was revealed. After learning what a jerk her ex-husband had been in their five-year marriage, I commiserated with Kate enough to excuse her man-hating conduct and rudeness. I can only imagine how five years of having a control freak repressing your personality could affect a person. Kate did surprise me, for the good, when she switches her determination to ferret out Alec’s story, especially the sneaky way she succeeds in coaxing him to reveal his background and true name. The fun interaction, coupled with Alec’s consideration and their close proximity, helps Kate warm up to Alec and realize he differs from the other men in her past, that he is uninterested in subjugating her. Kate sees the man behind the behemoth size and harsh appearance, the true Alec he could not see or was blinded to. She endeavors to make him see his true worth, and the effort she puts into him made me admire her.
I admit feeling curious about this Gabe Rossi character and wanting to see for myself why this man has quite the fan base since I have yet to read the GUARDIAN ANGELINO series, something I plan to rectify soon. He’s important to the story, yet plays a backseat role for now. Gabe is definitely an interesting character that I can see myself falling in love with also. I can also see the man’s fan-base growing because of this series. Perhaps, my interest in the man is bias because he shares my youngest son’s name and nickname, not to mention eye color. Poppy, the Jamaican maid, and Nino Rossi, Gabe’s Italian grandfather, make the story entertaining with their bickering about food and its preparation. Their clashing wills breaks the building tension between the characters and the plot, giving a great comic relief that I hope continues in the upcoming books.
BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is the first book in Roxanne St. Claire’s brand new suspense series, the BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER, another brilliant spin off from her BAREFOOT BAY books and her GUARDIAN ANGELINO series.
BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is a promising start to a series that guarantees to keep readers riveted to the pages. I love how the book has the same feel and vibe as the author’s BULLET-CATCHER series, my favorite of her books and the one responsible for introducing me to the author’s works.
Alec Petrov runs an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) training facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and teaches martial arts to fighters. He has been running from the Russian mob boss his deceased father had promised him to since his young teens. Alec grows weary of the constant dodging and the need to fight off the crime lord’s hired thugs. A friend and ally helps him escape the Mafiya’s detection and sends him to the one person guaranteed to keep Alec hidden. As a cover he moonlights as a bodyguard, playing a role of a newly married man to protect not only himself but his principal’s life as well. Kate, his pretend wife and principal, does not make Alec’s job easy. He promises Kate to use his large, hated hands to keep her safe while under his care. Alec never expects Kate to be the impetus to make him yearn for a possible future free of the Mafiya and to be a person worthy of her affection.
Kate Kingston is the only child of an overprotective, high-profile judge. Newly divorced, she is determined to never allow another man to ever control or dictate her life again. Kate wants solitude so she can properly study for the bar exam and exert her newly won independence. A threat against her life throws a wrench into her plans, and Kate’s father, who is worried about her safety, hires Gabe Rossi’s firm to protect her until the mysterious culprit is found. She chafes and contests having yet another man mandating and running her life. Kate despises the charade forced upon her and pretending to be a newlywed, something she swore after her divorce to never undertake again. The bodyguard chosen to play her false husband overwhelms her with his sheer size and appearance. Kate learns that not only is Alec her cover but she is to be his also, hiding the tattoo that marks him as a wanted man by the Russian Mafiya.
Alec kind of reminds me of a character in an anime I enjoy, a mountain-sized giant with a gentle disposition who abhors violence but due to his size and skill is forced into it. He has this innocent quality about him I find quite endearing and attractive. It is a wonderful change from the usual cocky and arrogant cavemen types generally found in romance. I hope more authors will consider breaking the same-old mold in the future when it comes to the heroes they write. I did not expect a fighter of his caliber and size to behave so uncertain and backwards around a woman like Kate, it honestly made me think he was virginal. Alec’s down-to-earth temperament and belief in his self-worth appeals to me, where I could not help but fall a little more in love with his character. I love how he did not swagger about, throwing around his dominance, or behave as an overbearing ogre. Instead, Alec really listens to Kate, despite how she baffles him with the big words she likes to fling around, and intuitively bolsters her fight for self-reliance. Alec may have come from a humble and rough background, the complete opposite of Kate’s upbringing, but the two compliment one another and augment what the other lacks.
I really did not know what to think or feel about Kate at the start of the book, not having enough to form a concrete opinion and decided to reserve judgement until more of her personality was revealed. After learning what a jerk her ex-husband had been in their five-year marriage, I commiserated with Kate enough to excuse her man-hating conduct and rudeness. I can only imagine how five years of having a control freak repressing your personality could affect a person. Kate did surprise me, for the good, when she switches her determination to ferret out Alec’s story, especially the sneaky way she succeeds in coaxing him to reveal his background and true name. The fun interaction, coupled with Alec’s consideration and their close proximity, helps Kate warm up to Alec and realize he differs from the other men in her past, that he is uninterested in subjugating her. Kate sees the man behind the behemoth size and harsh appearance, the true Alec he could not see or was blinded to. She endeavors to make him see his true worth, and the effort she puts into him made me admire her.
I admit feeling curious about this Gabe Rossi character and wanting to see for myself why this man has quite the fan base since I have yet to read the GUARDIAN ANGELINO series, something I plan to rectify soon. He’s important to the story, yet plays a backseat role for now. Gabe is definitely an interesting character that I can see myself falling in love with also. I can also see the man’s fan-base growing because of this series. Perhaps, my interest in the man is bias because he shares my youngest son’s name and nickname, not to mention eye color. Poppy, the Jamaican maid, and Nino Rossi, Gabe’s Italian grandfather, make the story entertaining with their bickering about food and its preparation. Their clashing wills breaks the building tension between the characters and the plot, giving a great comic relief that I hope continues in the upcoming books.
BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is the first book in Roxanne St. Claire’s brand new suspense series, the BAREFOOT BAY UNDERCOVER, another brilliant spin off from her BAREFOOT BAY books and her GUARDIAN ANGELINO series.
BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is a promising start to a series that guarantees to keep readers riveted to the pages. I love how the book has the same feel and vibe as the author’s BULLET-CATCHER series, my favorite of her books and the one responsible for introducing me to the author’s works.
February 28, 2017
Alec is wanted by the Russian mafia. Kate's father is receiving threatening messages about Kate. Gabe Rossi creates an undercover plan to keep them both safe at a Barefoot Bay resort. While Alec is hired to play a bodyguard for Kate, they are to pretend to be a married couple on their honeymoon. Everything appears okay until Kate's threat comes calling and Alec's mafia connections find him. Now they will have to fight for their lives.
This novel is a romance along the lines of Beauty and the Beast. Adult language and explicit sex.
This novel is a romance along the lines of Beauty and the Beast. Adult language and explicit sex.
September 17, 2021
I doesn’t happen often, but I’m DNFing this audiobook.
Admittedly I’m in a mood. But I just can’t do a too stupid to live heroine right now. You can’t decide you’re afraid for your life one minute - then make a phone call to your best friend after you’ve been told not to contact anyone. 🙄
So I’m tapping out. And probably removing the rest of this series from my audiobook queue…
Admittedly I’m in a mood. But I just can’t do a too stupid to live heroine right now. You can’t decide you’re afraid for your life one minute - then make a phone call to your best friend after you’ve been told not to contact anyone. 🙄
So I’m tapping out. And probably removing the rest of this series from my audiobook queue…
May 16, 2017
Easy read
I chose this as a five star because it was very hard to put down. The author wasn't smutty but realistic.
I chose this as a five star because it was very hard to put down. The author wasn't smutty but realistic.
November 1, 2020
Good read on ugly weather days
June 15, 2015
Roxanne St. Claire returns to her romantic suspense roots with BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD, the first book in her new Barefoot Bay Undercover trilogy and fans everywhere are cheering. Expertly combining the heartwarming romance of her previous Barefoot Bay books with the heart-pounding suspense of her earlier romantic suspense series, she brings us a page-turner that grabbed me from the first page and still hasn't let go. And, as an added bonus, we finally learn more about the deliciously mysterious, ex-CIA agent, Gabe Rossi! (his full story will be the third book in the trilogy) I highly recommend BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD!
Newly divorced Kate Kingston is finished having her life controlled by men. She's ready to stake a claim for independence when her high-profile judge father begins receiving notes threatening Kate. Her father packs her off to Barefoot Bay, an island off the coast of southwest Florida where she'll be protected by Gabe Rossi's new company, designed to sweep people in danger off the radar until either the danger has passed or new identities and locations can be secured for them. Kate isn't happy about her father taking charge of her life - again - but figures she can use the time to relax and study for the Bar exam, something her lawyer ex-husband refused to allow. Kate arrives in Barefoot Bay to discover a few things her father neglected to mention: 1) no contact with the outside world, 2) the threats are much worse than she was led to believe, and 3) she's sharing her bungalow with a hard-bodied, MMA master who she has to pretend is her husband!
Alec Petrov has spent much of his life on the run from a Russian mob boss. Alec was only thirteen when his dying father signed him over to the ruthless man in exchange for a promise to leave his business and wife alone after his death. Made to do something that has haunted him since, Alec's hand was then tattooed so that he would always know he belonged to the mob boss and would never forget what he was meant to be: a killer. When his mother died, support came from an unlikely source and Alec joined the Marines to escape his forced destiny but now he's home and it's become increasingly clear that he'll either be forced to accept that destiny...or killed. He's more than willing to be a bodyguard for the judge's daughter until the Feds can bring down the mob boss who's after him. How hard can it be? But then he meets Kate and, suddenly, everything becomes much more complicated.
For their own protection, Kate and Alec are not allowed to share any personal information, including their real names, but Kate is relentless and soon Alec finds himself divulging information he never thought he'd share with anyone. The chemistry between them sizzles and as they get to know one another better deeper feelings begin to stir though many obstacles stand between them. They come from different worlds, Kate is determined to never again be under a man's control and Alec...well, Alec just about broke my heart. Here's this deeply honorable, caring man who has been made to believe he's unworthy of happiness, unworthy of a good life, unworthy of love. Will Kate be the woman to teach him otherwise? Or will the bad guys find them before they have the chance to discover what could be?
Newly divorced Kate Kingston is finished having her life controlled by men. She's ready to stake a claim for independence when her high-profile judge father begins receiving notes threatening Kate. Her father packs her off to Barefoot Bay, an island off the coast of southwest Florida where she'll be protected by Gabe Rossi's new company, designed to sweep people in danger off the radar until either the danger has passed or new identities and locations can be secured for them. Kate isn't happy about her father taking charge of her life - again - but figures she can use the time to relax and study for the Bar exam, something her lawyer ex-husband refused to allow. Kate arrives in Barefoot Bay to discover a few things her father neglected to mention: 1) no contact with the outside world, 2) the threats are much worse than she was led to believe, and 3) she's sharing her bungalow with a hard-bodied, MMA master who she has to pretend is her husband!
Alec Petrov has spent much of his life on the run from a Russian mob boss. Alec was only thirteen when his dying father signed him over to the ruthless man in exchange for a promise to leave his business and wife alone after his death. Made to do something that has haunted him since, Alec's hand was then tattooed so that he would always know he belonged to the mob boss and would never forget what he was meant to be: a killer. When his mother died, support came from an unlikely source and Alec joined the Marines to escape his forced destiny but now he's home and it's become increasingly clear that he'll either be forced to accept that destiny...or killed. He's more than willing to be a bodyguard for the judge's daughter until the Feds can bring down the mob boss who's after him. How hard can it be? But then he meets Kate and, suddenly, everything becomes much more complicated.
For their own protection, Kate and Alec are not allowed to share any personal information, including their real names, but Kate is relentless and soon Alec finds himself divulging information he never thought he'd share with anyone. The chemistry between them sizzles and as they get to know one another better deeper feelings begin to stir though many obstacles stand between them. They come from different worlds, Kate is determined to never again be under a man's control and Alec...well, Alec just about broke my heart. Here's this deeply honorable, caring man who has been made to believe he's unworthy of happiness, unworthy of a good life, unworthy of love. Will Kate be the woman to teach him otherwise? Or will the bad guys find them before they have the chance to discover what could be?
June 9, 2015
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Yes!! I am so glad Roxanne St. Clair decided to write another romantic suspense series. This is where I first met her and became an instant fan. She has been so successful with her Barefoot Bay contemporary series and has now added a spinoff Barefoot Bay Undercover Series featuring the hot, sexy, enigmatic Gabe Rossi from her Guardian Angelino series.
A former undercover CIA agent, Gabe has now relocated to Florida's Barefoot Bay to set up his new protection/bodyguard business taking on clients the Witness Protection Program can't help. His first clients are Alec Petrov, hiding from the Russian mob and Kate Kingston, hiding from someone who is making threats on her life through letters sent to her judge father. Alec needs a new identity and a new place to live and Kate needs to wait out the investigation until this person is found. Strangers to each other, Gabe gives them new identities and sets them up to be each other's bodyguards by having them pretend to be a newlywed couple on their honeymoon in Barefoot Bay.
Stifled and put down by her ex-husband, Kate is determined to be her own woman. She won't let another man diminish who she is. The tranquility of Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for her to study for the bar exam she put on hold during her marriage. Alec, former MMA fighter and Marine, wants nothing more than to be free of the mob and go back to what he loves to do as an MMA trainer. Coming from such different worlds and trying to act like newlyweds, Gabe's first clients become more of a nightmare to him than he ever could have imagined.
Roxanne St. Claire fans will be thrilled with the new Undercover series and Barefoot with a Bodyguard. This one won't disappoint. Great story and super hot! If you have not read her work, all her books can be read as stand alones but if you want to become familiar with the characters, it's helpful to start with the contemporary Barefoot Bay original series and the Guardian Angelinos suspense series where we first meet Gabe. But why stop there? Rocki's Bullet Catchers series is the first series of sexy sizzling bodyguards.
As all Rocki's books, I recommend this for a great beach read or in a comfy chair with a glass of wine.
Yes!! I am so glad Roxanne St. Clair decided to write another romantic suspense series. This is where I first met her and became an instant fan. She has been so successful with her Barefoot Bay contemporary series and has now added a spinoff Barefoot Bay Undercover Series featuring the hot, sexy, enigmatic Gabe Rossi from her Guardian Angelino series.
A former undercover CIA agent, Gabe has now relocated to Florida's Barefoot Bay to set up his new protection/bodyguard business taking on clients the Witness Protection Program can't help. His first clients are Alec Petrov, hiding from the Russian mob and Kate Kingston, hiding from someone who is making threats on her life through letters sent to her judge father. Alec needs a new identity and a new place to live and Kate needs to wait out the investigation until this person is found. Strangers to each other, Gabe gives them new identities and sets them up to be each other's bodyguards by having them pretend to be a newlywed couple on their honeymoon in Barefoot Bay.
Stifled and put down by her ex-husband, Kate is determined to be her own woman. She won't let another man diminish who she is. The tranquility of Barefoot Bay is the perfect place for her to study for the bar exam she put on hold during her marriage. Alec, former MMA fighter and Marine, wants nothing more than to be free of the mob and go back to what he loves to do as an MMA trainer. Coming from such different worlds and trying to act like newlyweds, Gabe's first clients become more of a nightmare to him than he ever could have imagined.
Roxanne St. Claire fans will be thrilled with the new Undercover series and Barefoot with a Bodyguard. This one won't disappoint. Great story and super hot! If you have not read her work, all her books can be read as stand alones but if you want to become familiar with the characters, it's helpful to start with the contemporary Barefoot Bay original series and the Guardian Angelinos suspense series where we first meet Gabe. But why stop there? Rocki's Bullet Catchers series is the first series of sexy sizzling bodyguards.
As all Rocki's books, I recommend this for a great beach read or in a comfy chair with a glass of wine.
August 15, 2018
This was a great read with a lot of romance, some heat and a lot of suspense - I'd definitely recommend it to the lovers of romantic suspense because I'm sure they'll love this book. I'm usually a sucker for falling-in-love-with-a-bodyguard romances, and this one didn't disappoint. Kate is a smart woman determined to take her life in her own hands after a failed marriage, and Alec is on the run because some problems from past are resurfacing ready to catch up to him. The two of them could be a perfect cover for each other, if only they could pretend they are newlyweds... and keep their hands off each other in private - which might turn out to be the hardest challenge of them all. The book was packed with action, and some parts were seriously packed with heat - the attraction between these two was off the charts - but there were also surprisingly a lot of emotional moments, too. A woman terrified to love again because she was once burned, and a man terrified to love at all, afraid his beastly manners and ugly past aren't making him worthy of love... there's that Beauty and the Beast vibe. I really liked it.
Recommended to all who love romantic suspense.
Recommended to all who love romantic suspense.
June 14, 2015
We're back in Barefoot Bay but with a whole new cast of characters that bring some pretty exciting suspense, mystery and adventure with them! In this book we have Alec Petrov, highly successful MMA fighter but after being recognized by a Russian mobster has decided to take a job as a bodyguard and live completely off the grid. He's protecting Kate Kingston by posing as her new husband. Kate, fresh out of a bad marriage and studying to take the bar exam, just wants a little peace and quiet while hiding away from the threats coming into her father's office. When she meets Alec she soon realizes peace and quiet are the last thing she is going to find.
Loved this one! Far different from the other "Barefoot" stories but a great mix of that series with the "Guardians" and Bullet Catchers series. If you enjoy a great romantic suspense then this one is for you! I highly recommend it.
Loved this one! Far different from the other "Barefoot" stories but a great mix of that series with the "Guardians" and Bullet Catchers series. If you enjoy a great romantic suspense then this one is for you! I highly recommend it.
June 10, 2015
On the run, Alec is fighting circumstances beyond his control. Trying to stay one step ahead of the game. He never saw Kate coming. With exciting characters and an intriguing story-line Barefoot with The Bodyguard is an adrenaline pumping thrill ride. Every twist and turn takes you deeper into a world of suspense and darkness that is so mysterious you have to find out more. By the time I finished this story I knew I had to read the next. Am loving this series so far.
dnf
February 15, 2016I'm sorry, maybe I have no patience today but I can't with this book because the h is acting like an idiot. Her life is in danger and she's in a type of witness protection program and yet she's telling her bff where she is and trying to take a picture of a celebrity in the midst of a paparazzi storm??? Yale graduate my ass.
Also, her being SO unconcerned with her and the Hs safety just sucks all the suspense out of the book.
Also, her being SO unconcerned with her and the Hs safety just sucks all the suspense out of the book.
July 12, 2015
sweet sexy and heartbreaking... cried so much but its definitely a hit.
September 26, 2015
As with all Roxanne St Claire books I loved this one! Her stories are always so enjoyable to read.
It probably helped that I read this book on beach in spain! :)
It probably helped that I read this book on beach in spain! :)
tal-try-again-later
July 1, 2016I just couldn't see the plausibility of the entire plot, and Kate, the heroine annoyed me from the start.
February 28, 2016
How wonderful to see Roxanne St.Clair back writing romantic suspense! I've missed her!
July 15, 2020
3.75 stars.
But aside from that, which I found a little eye-roll worthy, I enjoyed this book. Kate was super freaking annoying at the beginning but she got better throughout and it actually ended up being Alec I wanted to smack upside the head. I could've done without his pity party.
There were a few really funny scenes that stood out to me. Particularly the part after Kate saw Alec naked for the first time. Her inner dialogue during that scene was hilarious! There was also a super awkward scene that made me wonder if this stuff actually exists in real life. Sex guru, anyone?
But anywho, I like this author's writing, and few complaints aside this was an enjoyable romantic suspense novel. We've got multiple overlapping stories here, not just Kate and Alec's. And oddly enough, Gabe's side story might have interested me even more than the main story. Especially after the epilogue. I'm very curious to read his book and learn more about his past.
And speaking of side stories (or more specifically side characters) this might be an unpopular opinion but I find Poppy very annoying. She enjoys antagonizing Nino for no reason. And the fact that she makes people pay for cursing in her presence? She can't do that! Well, evidently she can because she does, but I can't believe everyone just goes along with it. I mean, it is for a good cause so... whatever, I guess.
I still love Nino. Ever since reading my first book in the Rossi/Angelino world (the name is escaping me right now, but it was Sam and Zach's story) I've had a soft spot for that sweet old man who butchers catchphrases and loves to cook. I'm really glad Gabe brought him along on this new adventure. Looking forward to the next book!
But aside from that, which I found a little eye-roll worthy, I enjoyed this book. Kate was super freaking annoying at the beginning but she got better throughout and it actually ended up being Alec I wanted to smack upside the head. I could've done without his pity party.
There were a few really funny scenes that stood out to me. Particularly the part after Kate saw Alec naked for the first time. Her inner dialogue during that scene was hilarious! There was also a super awkward scene that made me wonder if this stuff actually exists in real life. Sex guru, anyone?
But anywho, I like this author's writing, and few complaints aside this was an enjoyable romantic suspense novel. We've got multiple overlapping stories here, not just Kate and Alec's. And oddly enough, Gabe's side story might have interested me even more than the main story. Especially after the epilogue. I'm very curious to read his book and learn more about his past.
And speaking of side stories (or more specifically side characters) this might be an unpopular opinion but I find Poppy very annoying. She enjoys antagonizing Nino for no reason. And the fact that she makes people pay for cursing in her presence? She can't do that! Well, evidently she can because she does, but I can't believe everyone just goes along with it. I mean, it is for a good cause so... whatever, I guess.
I still love Nino. Ever since reading my first book in the Rossi/Angelino world (the name is escaping me right now, but it was Sam and Zach's story) I've had a soft spot for that sweet old man who butchers catchphrases and loves to cook. I'm really glad Gabe brought him along on this new adventure. Looking forward to the next book!
May 26, 2019
3.5 Stars
The Barefoot Bay Undercover series is my first exposure to Ms. St. Claire's mystery or drama or suspense writing. My first experience was reading her Dogfather Series and a while later I discovered her Barefoot Bay Series which up until this sub-series was pretty much strictly contemporary romance. Although the last book in the series that introduced Gabe Rossi did have more of a mystery/action feel to it than the other books. At any rate I honestly wasn't thrilled with her turning her Barefoot Bay Series which I loved into something different. So even after I downloaded this book I waited several days and a few other books before I finally got around to reading it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I really enjoyed it. The story starts out slow as we get to know the hero Alec Petrov and the heroine Kate Kingston. It remained a bit slow for my tastes as the two met and tried to perpetuate the hoax that they were newlyweds on their honeymoon at the exclusive Casablanca Resort. But once their romance began to heat up and the non-sexual action right along with it the story sucked me in. You've got the Russian mob trying to kill Alec, some wack job trying to kill Kate and then throw in a very pregnant teenager Robyn whose life is also in danger and there was plenty of suspense. Just for some continuity to the original series a couple of earlier characters make a brief appearance and a couple more get mentioned. But none of the earlier heroines get much of a role to play in this story :( Still the second half of the story kept me engrossed until the end. Then Ms. St.Claire does what so many other authors do and focuses the entire epilogue not on giving us the couples happily ever after (although they do get a brief mention) but in setting the stage for the next book.
The Barefoot Bay Undercover series is my first exposure to Ms. St. Claire's mystery or drama or suspense writing. My first experience was reading her Dogfather Series and a while later I discovered her Barefoot Bay Series which up until this sub-series was pretty much strictly contemporary romance. Although the last book in the series that introduced Gabe Rossi did have more of a mystery/action feel to it than the other books. At any rate I honestly wasn't thrilled with her turning her Barefoot Bay Series which I loved into something different. So even after I downloaded this book I waited several days and a few other books before I finally got around to reading it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I really enjoyed it. The story starts out slow as we get to know the hero Alec Petrov and the heroine Kate Kingston. It remained a bit slow for my tastes as the two met and tried to perpetuate the hoax that they were newlyweds on their honeymoon at the exclusive Casablanca Resort. But once their romance began to heat up and the non-sexual action right along with it the story sucked me in. You've got the Russian mob trying to kill Alec, some wack job trying to kill Kate and then throw in a very pregnant teenager Robyn whose life is also in danger and there was plenty of suspense. Just for some continuity to the original series a couple of earlier characters make a brief appearance and a couple more get mentioned. But none of the earlier heroines get much of a role to play in this story :( Still the second half of the story kept me engrossed until the end. Then Ms. St.Claire does what so many other authors do and focuses the entire epilogue not on giving us the couples happily ever after (although they do get a brief mention) but in setting the stage for the next book.
August 6, 2017
Oh no. We were doing so well and now we’ve got a heroine that is too stupid to live.
And a premise that kind of fails… epically.
Body guard combined with fake married should work. BUT of all the places to hide out, a high profile resort with billionaires, open rooms/villas, easy access from a beach, paparazzi taking photos of the billionaires, multiple resort staff and… it goes on and on. PLUS using the guy as her bodyguard who has his OWN hunter and the guy is Russian mob so they are more dangerous than a single stalker. It puts the woman he’s allegedly protecting in MORE danger. It’s dumb.
Covering his Russian gang tats by holding his hand is so silly it makes my brain hurt. *whispers* that’s not even how you hold hands.
[jeez… have you seen Viggo in Eastern Promise?]
And the heroine Kate/Tilly? ‘No man is going to control me,’ she wails while doing everything possible to break her cover. ‘I’m in prison. Wah wah. ’She phones friends and tells them where she is. And this is AFTER she has been told in graphic detail what the person threatening her life wants to do to her. She’s supposed to be smart. And she’s as dumb as a rock. I don’t care if she keeps telling everyone she’s a lawyer and uses big words; which by the way is just rude when she keeps doing it to wind up her bodyguard.
And what big words? Vestibule? Wow. *sarcasm*
They sit in a public restaurant and talk about ‘cover’, and his real history. Ffs.
And then her father, the judge, turns out to be just as stupid as she is. *rolls eyes*
Alec can do better.
2 stars
And a premise that kind of fails… epically.
Body guard combined with fake married should work. BUT of all the places to hide out, a high profile resort with billionaires, open rooms/villas, easy access from a beach, paparazzi taking photos of the billionaires, multiple resort staff and… it goes on and on. PLUS using the guy as her bodyguard who has his OWN hunter and the guy is Russian mob so they are more dangerous than a single stalker. It puts the woman he’s allegedly protecting in MORE danger. It’s dumb.
Covering his Russian gang tats by holding his hand is so silly it makes my brain hurt. *whispers* that’s not even how you hold hands.
[jeez… have you seen Viggo in Eastern Promise?]
And the heroine Kate/Tilly? ‘No man is going to control me,’ she wails while doing everything possible to break her cover. ‘I’m in prison. Wah wah. ’She phones friends and tells them where she is. And this is AFTER she has been told in graphic detail what the person threatening her life wants to do to her. She’s supposed to be smart. And she’s as dumb as a rock. I don’t care if she keeps telling everyone she’s a lawyer and uses big words; which by the way is just rude when she keeps doing it to wind up her bodyguard.
And what big words? Vestibule? Wow. *sarcasm*
They sit in a public restaurant and talk about ‘cover’, and his real history. Ffs.
And then her father, the judge, turns out to be just as stupid as she is. *rolls eyes*
Alec can do better.
2 stars
July 25, 2016
CONTAINS SOME MINOR SPOILERS
BAREFOOT WITH THE BODYGUARD by Roxanne St. Clair is made of my own personal catnip all over the place. Bodyguard crush? Check. Sweet hero with a dark and troubled past he’s trying to escape? Check. Damsel who refuses to stay distressed? Check. Two people who aren’t romantically involved going undercover as a couple? Check. The list goes on and every trope was extremely well written.
The basic set-up is that Kate Kingston is fresh out of emotionally abusive marriage, not to mention her dad; a judge is getting several notes threatening Kate with death among other horrible things. For her safety and much to her annoyance she’s being sent to Barefoot Bay , a resort for people to hide who can’t get into Witness Protection due to lack of evidence etc. She hopes to use the alone time to study for her upcoming BAR exam. Unfortunately, her dad hired a bodyguard without telling her. The importance of agency and the struggle to obtain it after a traumatic past is a huge theme in the novel for both Kate and the hero, Alec. This struggle manifests in two different, but equally telling ways for each character. Kate refuses to be kept down although everyone keeps telling her to just accept her fate to the point of being dangerously reckless. Alec on the other hand feels unworthy of getting his agency back because of what he’s done under the control of others.
These two ways of coping appear immediately when they’re given their covers they had no say in and told to not ask any question about each other’s real lives. Kate immediately rejects the unwanted control by telling Alec everything about her past, including her real name. He, on the other hand decides the safest thing to do is accept the fate he’s given, whether he likes it or not. As the story continues the reader learns that in a situation like theirs it isn’t good to be too reckless or too complacent and places them on opposite ends of the same plain. As a result, I believed 100% in their relationship and rooted for them the whole time because they balanced each other out so well. I believed they could fall in love, not to mention, they are just enjoyable characters to read about.
Kate is clever and even figures out half of Alec’s past and his real name simply by asking him questions and using deductive reasoning to make believable conclusions. She also knows what she wants and takes it to the best of her ability, while still having enough flaws to make her a well-rounded character. Alec on the other hand is all kinds of huggable and while he is an alpha hero, he’s defiantly not a jerk. He also agonizes about hi s past and the bad choices he made. This got kind of annoying, but I think it is justified considering he thought his biological dad essentially sold him to Russian Mafiya(yes that is how is was spelled in the book) to use him as they please in order to protect his mother from harm until she died from a rare disease. He was barely a teenager when the Mafiya leader claimed his prize and taught him that he was essentially unworthy of love
The love scenes in this book were also really good and contributed to the development of the two protagonists. There is only one full sex scene in the book and it’s towards the end. I thought it was a good move on the author’s part, because jumping into bed too quickly would not fit the characters or make much sense considering their situation. That isn’t to say there weren’t any steamy scenes before this sizzling with sexual tension that was just as important and well-written as the main sex scene. Not to mention before, after and throughout those scenes Alec and Kate communicated like adults, even if Alec takes forever to finally tell Kate everything he did while he worked for the Mafiya.
Besides the leads, the cast of supporting characters was great as well. My favorites were Nino, the owner of the resort’s dad and head chef. He’s a stereotypical Italian, which might bother some people, but I found him both hilarious and likable. He has a bit of a cooking rivalry with the Jamaican maid, Poppy who also cooks while serving as Kate and Alec’s maid because she is one of the few people who can be trusted with knowing their actual history, without knowing too much about their real life. I adored her and Nino’s rivalry subplot; it was defiantly needed since the book is quite intense and serious. The rest of the supporting characters are just as layered, besides the villain who’s your typical gang leader whose evil for the sake of being evil. He was also fat for some reason, which I found a little unnecessary. The other villain of the story is just as flat, and a walking spoiler, so I won’t talk about him here.
The supporting cast is finished off with a couple minor antagonists who are bit rounder than the actual villains. They include: Kate’s dad, a pregnant and desperate teenager named Robyn, and Gabe Rossi, the owner of the resort. Gabe provides a subplot that unites all three books of the Barefoot Undercover series. While they exist mostly to cause conflict their reasons for doing so, while a little extreme, it makes sense based on their situations. Both Robyn and Kate’s dad want what’s best for their kids and see no other choice but to go in an extreme direction. Both also realize they were in the wrong at the end. Gabe didn’t change as much, mainly because his story isn’t told completely yet. Despite this, I still sympathized with his plight, which I won’t spoil here.
Lastly, BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is more of a thriller than a mystery and the two big reveals weren’t all that surprising, but they caught me off-guard enough that I don’t want to spoil them. Kate convinces Alec to teach her self-defense, this would be essential to her development as she uses it to save herself from one of the villains at the end. I appreciated this, especially since most heroines in romantic suspense novels are usually damseled in the end or worst yet, too stupid to live.
All and all I’m gonna give BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD an A. The villains were a little flat, but other than that I absolutely loved this book! As of this review BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is less than a dollar on Amazon, so what are you waiting for? Go read it!
BAREFOOT WITH THE BODYGUARD by Roxanne St. Clair is made of my own personal catnip all over the place. Bodyguard crush? Check. Sweet hero with a dark and troubled past he’s trying to escape? Check. Damsel who refuses to stay distressed? Check. Two people who aren’t romantically involved going undercover as a couple? Check. The list goes on and every trope was extremely well written.
The basic set-up is that Kate Kingston is fresh out of emotionally abusive marriage, not to mention her dad; a judge is getting several notes threatening Kate with death among other horrible things. For her safety and much to her annoyance she’s being sent to Barefoot Bay , a resort for people to hide who can’t get into Witness Protection due to lack of evidence etc. She hopes to use the alone time to study for her upcoming BAR exam. Unfortunately, her dad hired a bodyguard without telling her. The importance of agency and the struggle to obtain it after a traumatic past is a huge theme in the novel for both Kate and the hero, Alec. This struggle manifests in two different, but equally telling ways for each character. Kate refuses to be kept down although everyone keeps telling her to just accept her fate to the point of being dangerously reckless. Alec on the other hand feels unworthy of getting his agency back because of what he’s done under the control of others.
These two ways of coping appear immediately when they’re given their covers they had no say in and told to not ask any question about each other’s real lives. Kate immediately rejects the unwanted control by telling Alec everything about her past, including her real name. He, on the other hand decides the safest thing to do is accept the fate he’s given, whether he likes it or not. As the story continues the reader learns that in a situation like theirs it isn’t good to be too reckless or too complacent and places them on opposite ends of the same plain. As a result, I believed 100% in their relationship and rooted for them the whole time because they balanced each other out so well. I believed they could fall in love, not to mention, they are just enjoyable characters to read about.
Kate is clever and even figures out half of Alec’s past and his real name simply by asking him questions and using deductive reasoning to make believable conclusions. She also knows what she wants and takes it to the best of her ability, while still having enough flaws to make her a well-rounded character. Alec on the other hand is all kinds of huggable and while he is an alpha hero, he’s defiantly not a jerk. He also agonizes about hi s past and the bad choices he made. This got kind of annoying, but I think it is justified considering he thought his biological dad essentially sold him to Russian Mafiya(yes that is how is was spelled in the book) to use him as they please in order to protect his mother from harm until she died from a rare disease. He was barely a teenager when the Mafiya leader claimed his prize and taught him that he was essentially unworthy of love
The love scenes in this book were also really good and contributed to the development of the two protagonists. There is only one full sex scene in the book and it’s towards the end. I thought it was a good move on the author’s part, because jumping into bed too quickly would not fit the characters or make much sense considering their situation. That isn’t to say there weren’t any steamy scenes before this sizzling with sexual tension that was just as important and well-written as the main sex scene. Not to mention before, after and throughout those scenes Alec and Kate communicated like adults, even if Alec takes forever to finally tell Kate everything he did while he worked for the Mafiya.
Besides the leads, the cast of supporting characters was great as well. My favorites were Nino, the owner of the resort’s dad and head chef. He’s a stereotypical Italian, which might bother some people, but I found him both hilarious and likable. He has a bit of a cooking rivalry with the Jamaican maid, Poppy who also cooks while serving as Kate and Alec’s maid because she is one of the few people who can be trusted with knowing their actual history, without knowing too much about their real life. I adored her and Nino’s rivalry subplot; it was defiantly needed since the book is quite intense and serious. The rest of the supporting characters are just as layered, besides the villain who’s your typical gang leader whose evil for the sake of being evil. He was also fat for some reason, which I found a little unnecessary. The other villain of the story is just as flat, and a walking spoiler, so I won’t talk about him here.
The supporting cast is finished off with a couple minor antagonists who are bit rounder than the actual villains. They include: Kate’s dad, a pregnant and desperate teenager named Robyn, and Gabe Rossi, the owner of the resort. Gabe provides a subplot that unites all three books of the Barefoot Undercover series. While they exist mostly to cause conflict their reasons for doing so, while a little extreme, it makes sense based on their situations. Both Robyn and Kate’s dad want what’s best for their kids and see no other choice but to go in an extreme direction. Both also realize they were in the wrong at the end. Gabe didn’t change as much, mainly because his story isn’t told completely yet. Despite this, I still sympathized with his plight, which I won’t spoil here.
Lastly, BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is more of a thriller than a mystery and the two big reveals weren’t all that surprising, but they caught me off-guard enough that I don’t want to spoil them. Kate convinces Alec to teach her self-defense, this would be essential to her development as she uses it to save herself from one of the villains at the end. I appreciated this, especially since most heroines in romantic suspense novels are usually damseled in the end or worst yet, too stupid to live.
All and all I’m gonna give BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD an A. The villains were a little flat, but other than that I absolutely loved this book! As of this review BAREFOOT WITH A BODYGUARD is less than a dollar on Amazon, so what are you waiting for? Go read it!
August 2, 2017
I've been needing a slight change of pace and this was exactly what I needed!
Alec and Kate both have reasons to hide and when they are brought together for that to happen, sparks fly!
I genuinely liked both characters. She's a character learning to be strong after being surrounding by controlling influences for a long time and he needs to learn that his past (and the actions of others) don't mean that he can't have it all.
While Alec and Kate struggle with being forced together at first, it doesn't take long for them to form a friendship of sorts and then it's not a big leap to them being romantically involved. The relationship between these two moves quickly, but it works here, especially with the close quarters they are living in.
Ms. St. Claire does an excellent job of balancing the relationship story line with the suspense elements and including the secondary cast we will be seeing in future books. Threads of past and future books are woven into this story in such a way that you wouldn't necessarily notice if you didn't know this was part of a much larger set of series.
Definitely a good read and I am looking forward to move of the Barefoot Undercover world.
Alec and Kate both have reasons to hide and when they are brought together for that to happen, sparks fly!
I genuinely liked both characters. She's a character learning to be strong after being surrounding by controlling influences for a long time and he needs to learn that his past (and the actions of others) don't mean that he can't have it all.
While Alec and Kate struggle with being forced together at first, it doesn't take long for them to form a friendship of sorts and then it's not a big leap to them being romantically involved. The relationship between these two moves quickly, but it works here, especially with the close quarters they are living in.
Ms. St. Claire does an excellent job of balancing the relationship story line with the suspense elements and including the secondary cast we will be seeing in future books. Threads of past and future books are woven into this story in such a way that you wouldn't necessarily notice if you didn't know this was part of a much larger set of series.
Definitely a good read and I am looking forward to move of the Barefoot Undercover world.
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