Good story!

Description
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Maine coast, Holly Chamberlin's novels are a summer staple. Now she weaves a heartfelt story of past and present summers and new beginnings, as a mother and daughter reconnect after decades apart...

There are moments that change your entire life's direction. For Arden Bell, owner of a cherished bookstore in the seaside hamlet of Eliot's Corner, one such moment comes early on a summer day when she opens the door to Laura Huntington--the daughter she hasn't seen in thirty-seven years.

Not a day has passed in which Arden hasn't thought of the baby she glimpsed only once before her wealthy, powerful parents forced her to give her up for adoption. Shy and sheltered, Arden finally mustered the courage to leave her Maine hometown of Port George, changed her name, and has barely seen her parents since. Nor has she heard from Rob, the boy she was so passionately in love with. Now Laura's arrival, and her inevitable questions, will propel both women on a journey to forge a new relationship and unravel the past. Amid revelations and discoveries--sometimes painful, often unexpected--they will learn the truth about a long-ago summer, and about the risks we take and sacrifices we make for love.

What a fabulous "beach read"! Mystery, reunion, growth, friendship! Barefoot in the Sand is an easy soothing tale that just seems to buoy you with each little wave and nugget of discovery. While Arden and Laura (Whom I absolutely adored - BRAVE and soooo industrious!!) are on the path to get to know one another, we get to see how each of them grows and finds peace. with the past. My heart broke for young Arden and all that she dealt with - and I seriously wanted to punch her pops in the lips!!! This book was a joy to read and Holly Chamberlin is now on my pre-order approved author list <3 This digital ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set off the coast of Maine, Barefoot In The Sand is a bit of a departure for Holly. It’s part whodunit along with a cast of somewhat flawed characters. The mystery element is second to the raw emotional component. The family aspect and the great lengths they will go to protect it are what drives the story along. A new found young love and the repercussions of that love haunt Victoria (Arden)for years to come. Her choices along with her families decisions set in motion a life of what if’s. Family relationships and dynamics of which we all face at some point in our lives propel the Aldridge family into a life of cover ups and regret.Unfortunately when faced with tragedy and situations we don’t know how to handle we can become unraveled such as the case here. Can we forgive the injustices done? Will we find love again and not be forever haunted by the past? I think when the tapestry unfolds we can see our loved ones in a different light. I loved Arden for her resilience and determination. I think Eliot’s Corner and Arden Forest bookstore will long stay with me. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own. #BarefootInTheSand.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

I'm not 100% sure why, but I could not get into Barefoot in the Sand. The book's characters did not draw me in like most books do, their conversations didn't seem natural, and the whole plot wasn't believable for me. Things happened way to easily and quickly for Laura and I have many unanswered questions about Arden and her relationship with her parents. It took me so long to read it as I just wasn't interested, several times I almost didn't finish it... but I hate doing that, and I must say the last quarter of the book did improve greatly. The story's themes include first love, family, and forgiveness. This is the first novel by Holly Chamberlin that I have read and I probably wouldn't seek out another. Though I would not recommend this book, others seem to have enjoyed it, so hey, maybe give it a shot and see what you think!

I really enjoyed this book. It had a few surprising twists in it that I didn’t expect. I would definitely recommend this book!

Barefoot in the Sand is the latest addition to the Holly Chamberlin catalog. Arden Bell has taken up residence in Eliot’s Corner, Maine, and has become the owner/manager of the local bookstore as well as the homeowner of Junipers End. Her life is comfortable, she has a few close friends, and is respected in the community. But Arden still runs scared of the life she left behind.

As a young woman, Arden, then known as Victoria Aldridge, met Rob Smith while browsing the library series shelves. They had an instant connection making for a stolen summer of time shared and secret kisses. But Rob was from a working class family and Victoria was from the upper crust with parents who would never allow them to be together. When Victoria became pregnant with Rob’s child he mysteriously disappeared and she was sent to a home for unwed mothers and forced to give her child up for adoption. When Arden’s daughter shows up over three decades later trying to piece her family history together and find her birth parents, mother and daughter bond in a quest to discover the truth.

This is a most interesting tale with many facets: overbearing parents, loss, being reunited after a long separation, and finding the truth. This story carries out its mission perfectly! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Barefoot in the Sand
I had not read this author before and knew not what to expect. What I got was a great light and easy beach read. I will definitely read more from Holly Chamberlain and love the idea that there are crossovers in her novels.

I read this book in one day and had a wonderful time doing so. The plot was engaging and well paced. We get inside the head of mother and daughter as they find they way back to each other and deal with past decisions they each have made. The book is well written and doesn’t take too much focus to follow unlike many recent reads where I felt like I had to keep notes on who was who. Considering there are multiple viewpoints and timelines that is quite an accomplishment. If you need to like your characters there are many to love and a few to hate in this book. Even the evil will be understood and by the end. This is an empathetic author who understands the human heart and will leave you with a sense of hope for humankind.

The setting made me long for the coast! The sense of place and the sense of where and what the concept of home is was strong. Themes such as motherhood, parenting, friends as family are all set around a shared interest in reading and a bookstore. What’s not to love?

Thanks Kensington Books and Net Galley for introducing me to another author.

I enjoyed Arden and Laura's story, especially the sections set in 1984 and then the mystery of what happened to Rob was a great device. The setting in Maine always adds a nice atmosphere to Chamberlin's books and if you like her you'll enjoy this change of pace from her.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Arden was young when she got pregnant, and her parents forced her to give the baby up for adoption. Arden moved away, changed her name, and was the owner of a bookstore. Laura Huntington is looking for her birth mother and comes to the bookstore. It is the daughter she hasn't seen in thirty-seven years. Together they try to figure out what happened to Rob, the man that Arden loved. As they look for answers in the past, they bring it into the present, which they will have to deal with.
This is a book, that explores adoption, searching for a parent or child, answers many questions, and what happens when they find the answers. Sometimes you have to find the courage to go back and find out what happened in your past, and as you do, you have no idea if it will make things better or worse, heal you or make you wish you didn't do it.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed reading this and it grabbed me from the very first page till I finished the last. It moves along at a relaxing speed which made for an easy read in which you could lose yourself. The characters are amzing and they seem so real that you feel as though you have known them forever. The story will grab you keeping your interest till the end and when you are done you are needing more. This book needs to be read, there is no doubt about it.

A day hasn't gone by since Arden has thought about the baby she gave up for adoption....and grieved the boy that she was supposed to marry, who disappeared, and was never seen again. Arden always felt like her father may have had something to do with Rob's disappearance, but like Rob's family, she had no proof. So after she gave birth and gave the baby up for adoption under orders of her parents, she quietly slipped away, changed her identity and never saw them again. Now she has made a new and contented life for herself, owning a bookstore in a small seaside town. Then one day, her dream comes true and her grown daughter knocks on her door wanting to meet her. Laura Huntington, newly divorced and both of her adoptive parents now deceased, is looking for connections to her past. She wants to meet her birth parents. She meets Arden, but still longs to find out what happened to her father, so she goes digging for answers, knowing that she could very well be putting herself at danger if the person behind Rob' disappearance is still vested in keeping the past in the past.

This book was a little different than the author's usual book's in that it was part women's fiction and part mystery. She was able to do the mystery genre justice, and I enjoyed it just as much as I have all of her other books. The story was told in alternating parts between past and present, and the past had a very creepy, gothic vibe to it. I really enjoyed the antics of the three cats....the scenes were very realistic and always brought a smile. I found Laura tiresome at times, but really liked Arden and her friends. This is a very enjoyable book that would make a great addition to your beach reads list.

BAREFOOT IN THE SAND is a sweet and poignant read, perfect for a beach vacation. Good characters, tragic story with redemption; it's all there.

This is a DNF at 41%. The story is just trudging along and I really don’t care about any of the characters. The dialogue is stiff and formal and there is much too much description.

I appreciate the opportunity to read the digital ARC in return for an honest opinion. Thank you NetGalley.

Oh my…..what a complicated story! Talk about family drama and deep seated secrets.
The story revolves around Arden Bell and what happened to her when she was 18 years old.
I’m really not sure how I feel about the story as many parts of it just seemed too easy or, I guess things just seemed to go too perfect. Others situations just seemed too unreal. It’s hard to explain.
Overall, Barefoot in the Sand is a emotional charged story with enough twists to keep you engaged in the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

One thing I always look forward to in the summer is the next book by Holly Chamberlin. Her books are always set in Maine, usually on the coast and to me just speak about summer. In this book, Barefoot in the Sand we meet Arden. She's a bookstore owner and a person with a mysterious past.

The story is told in a couple of time periods: present day and in the 1970s. The flashbacks are important parts of the story because they lead you into understanding the present story. One of the fascinating parts of the story is that there is a mystery tied up in what happened. I particularly like the character of Arden and her thoughtful gratefulness of the day’s blessings.

The other major character is Laura. She is searching for her birth mother and father. The faint information that Laura has gathered leads her on a quest in Maine to find her mother. Her dogged determination helps her stay on the path of searching.

I did like the two characters together, although I am not so sure I would so quickly capitulate my space to another. I did love the story and recognize the ending is appropriate for this novel. It is amazing to me how open some people are to class pressures, while at the same time, find it not surprising.

There is a strong storyline about mothers and daughters that will resonate with many readers. The book is less than a true mystery and more like a slow reveal. Barefoot in the Sand by Holly Chamberlin is a great read.

I was caught up in this emotional journey in no time. Holly Chamberlin weaves a tale like no other, so I'm always prepared to be drawn into her characters quickly, and Barefoot in the Sand was no exception. The backstory is powerful and the 1984 chapters were my favourite. The main characters are attention grabbing and the coming reunion was at the top of my mind as I moved through the pages. The mystery of what happened to Rob Smith was clever and added to the suspense and my enjoyment. I wanted to keep reading to find out the unknown reason behind his disappearance.

Holly Chamberlin continuously writes novels that are hard to put down. Her characters and plots are so real that it is almost impossible not to imagine yourself as one of them. The humanistic plot and real situations enable readers to become emerged into the story. The characters were ones I came to know and wanted to support. When they hurt...I hurt, when they cried...I cried. I loved the emotional depth that arose from this story and each aspect of it.

Part women's fiction, part mystery this is a book you won't soon forget. Thank you Holly for continuing to bring us into the lives of your characters. Highly recommend!

Victoria's tried to leave her past behind for so long. Her life goes around her bookshop, some good friends and her beloved cats. Until the day Laura knocks her door.
Laura's marriage is over. And with no future in sight, she gives her past a chance.
This is a story about love, contentment and reunion. Even if one would think two are needed for a reunion, sometimes the act of introspection allows forgiveness to bloom to reunite souls and memories.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great summer read! I can even see this story line becoming a Lifetime movie! Victoria struggled with so much during her life. What a blessing to have Laura return and be a part of her life after so many years. Holly Chamberlin will do well writing mysteries! This is a story of resilience of the love between a mother and daughter, regardless of the past. I will definitely be recommending this book to others!

Arden has built a business and a good life in Maine but that's not her real name and she's never not for a minute, forgotten the daughter she was forced to give up at birth. Laura is that child and she's found Arden at a time in her life when she really needs someone to care about her. Told in Arden's past and present,. it's also the story of Rob, Arden's love won was Laura's father. He disappeared right as Arden's wealthy and hateful family sent her away. What happened to him? It's not a hard call but it is twisty enough to keep you guessing. Yes there's a ester here but the charm is the relationship between Arden and Laura. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Blending a beach read's carefree writing with powerful prose, the shore's rocky past and present collide. At first glance, Laura Huntington and Arden Bell don't seem to have anything in common. Digging deeper, both have their heads in the sand trying to hide from the past. As readers page through the novel to discover the truth, they are riding an emotional roller coaster.

Struggling to come to terms with a painful divorce and loss of her adopted mother, Laura's life is drifting without direction. A clue hidden in her mother's files unleashes Laura's quest to find her birth mother. Putting together the pieces of her past, Laura finds herself in the seaside community of Eliot's Corner ringing the bell of Arden Forest Bookstore.

Writing a new page, Laura and Arden must unlock the secret of Rob's disappearance in order to put the past to rest. Will they discover the truth about Laura's father or create waves surfacing a sinister plot?

Thank you to #Netgally and Kensington Books for the early edition of #BarefootintheSand in exchange for an honest review. Chamberlin's charismatic characters leave readers eagerly awaiting her next novel. As a fan of the author's work, I looked forward to diving into her latest read and taking a trip to the coast.

Laura and Arden's fledgling relationship drew me into the story. I was swept away by their candor and openness to embrace the future despite hardships they endured.

The mark of a good book is that you can't put it down while not wanting it to end. This sizzling read is 'shore' to heat up summer.

"Our time will come to walk together barefoot in the sand." (Holly Chamberlin)