This is a book about family secrets, mystery, and romance. It’s not a romance novel, but romance is at the heart of the book. Arden Bell is defined by an incident that happened when she was 18 years old. She became pregnant and was coerced by her parents into going to a home for unwed mother and giving up her baby. When her adult child, Laura Huntington, goes looking for her birth mother, she gets a lot more than she bargained for when she finds Arden. Laura’s father, Rob, disappeared just as Arden was sent away to have her baby, and mother and daughter team up to try and find out what happened to him. It was obvious to me early on who was responsible for his disappearance, but when this question is finally answered, the events that follow are shocking. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC In return for my honest review.

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a quintessential beach read. Love, mystery, family and unresolved questions. A quick read, perfect for the beach.

I received an ARC of Barefoot in the Sand in exchange for an honest review. I have always been a fan of Holly Chamberlin and I enjoyed this book.

On the surface, I would classify this book as a beach read with a "kick." There's some intrigue, family drama, murder, secrets and twists.

Our two main characters are Arden Bell and Laura Huntington. Arden left home, broken all ties with her family and hidden her true identify from everyone after being forced to give up her baby girl at birth almost 40 years ago. She now lives in Eliot's Corner and operates a bookstore, Arden Forest. Laura is on a quest to find her birth mother and father now that her adoptive parents are deceased and she is recently divorced - feeling very much alone in the world. Laura slowly puts the pieces of this mystery together under the guise of developing a podcast on the impacts on a town after someone has gone missing.

Eventually Laura's research leads her to Arden and they both join forces to determine what happened to Laura's birth father and Arden's one, true love. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the events leading up to the forced adoption of Laura and the challenging relationship Arden had with her parents. We also learn that image continues to mean everything to Arden's parents and the extreme measures they will invoke to maintain their image and status.

*****Coming out June 29, 2020*****

Thanks to Kensington and Netgalley, I was chosen as an early reviewer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Barefoot in the sand draws you in as you follow along Laura’s journey to find her birth mother. Laura’s adoptive mother leaves her a sealed envelope after she dies, giving her clues on who her birth mother is. Laura is divorced and has no other family left, so she decides to travel to Point Gorge, Maine, inorder to try to find her birth mom. Laura goes about it in a reporter type style by asking around this small town. Will she be able to find her mom and finally get the answers she is looking for?

Victoria Aldridge, who now goes by the name Arden Bell owns a bookstore in Point Gorge, Maine. This story goes back and forth between present day and her life of getting pregnant as a teen in the 80’s and what she had to do in order to not disgrace her wealthy family. Will she and Laura find each other in this small town?

A deeply thought provoking novel that explores adoption, love, loss, forgiveness, and second chances. A book that keeps you thinking about it long after it’s done. A great pick for book clubs! Be sure to add this to your TBR list!

A discovery, a mystery, and a trail of deceit lead a young woman on a journey to discover her roots. Tiresome at some points but overall a good novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barefoot in the Sand is a different kind of book. A mother and daughter are reunited after after almost 40 years. A mystery is finally solved. I thought the dialogue was decent. I thought the reunion of Arden and Laura was a little too perfect. Arden just seemed to be existing. I figured out a huge part of the plot early on. Some of the scenes seemed rather forced. I wondered why they just confront the parents about questions. There were many sad elements to it, but the ending was good.

I love Summer Reads and this is the perfect beach book to start the summer. I read this book in 3 days. Holly does such an amazing job developing the characters, I felt like I knew each of them personally. I'd love to be friends with Arden! The book did keep me guessing till the end. For people who love books of summer, I highly recommend this book.

Not quite what I was expecting, but it went beyond what I though was going to happen.
I loved how from just a tiny bit of information a whole world gets opened up for both women and unresolved issues get laid to rest and answers are found to questions that are over 30 years old.
I especially loved how books were a central character in this book too - important to all the lead characters and almost a path of uniting the whole story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

I really enjoyed this one! There was no foul language which is always a plus. Also, the small-knit community was perfect for this story and the characters were very lovable. It did go back and forth between decades, however, it was more as needed and not every other chapter. The story was weaved together well and the story from 1984 was kept to a minimal addition, which I loved!

Arden, the bookshop owner was an amazing character who was easy to follow and understand. The family secrets added a lot to this story and I really was able to get lost in these characters. Laura was probably my favorite though. She wanted to get to the bottom of everything and understand what had happened in her past. The other characters added to the story, but they remained in the backdrop mostly which is how I prefer it. When authors can create a heart-warming mystery and focus on just a few characters to make the story irresistible.

Great story and well-written, as well.

This is my first time reading Holly Chamberlin and it will not be my last. The cover shows a beach but there are no beach scenes in the book, LOL, what?! Did not bother me, but something I wanted to point out. Arden and Laura are strong characters and well written. Their story was definitely the emotional center of the book. But there was also a killer, and this part kept me guessing, which is good so it was not predictable. This was not just a women's fiction book. It had suspense and mystery built in without it seeming like every other story. It also had family drama!

Highly recommended! I think I am getting this book at publishing, it was that good.

Thanks to Netgalley, Holly Chamberlin and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 6/29/21

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Victoria's parents had money and did not want her dating just anyone. They were shocked when Victoria told them she was getting married to a man from a working class family. When her boyfriend went missing, Victoria was sent away to have the baby. Victoria returns home but realizes she can't live there. She leaves town and changes her name. This book was both emotional and well written.

Great women’s fiction novel. The main character, Arden Bell, tells her story in present day and in flashbacks to 1984 when she was 18 years old. I really enjoyed Arden’s character which had to be well fleshed out for this story to make sense. As the story begins, readers meet Arden who owns Arden Forest, a lovely bookshop she inherited in the charming coastal town of Eliot’s Corner, Maine. She has three rescue cats to keep her company; and best friends, Deborah and Gordon, who’d do almost anything for her. Arden is deeply grateful for her blessings. She also has a secret.

Laura Huntington is looking for her birth mother. She knows she was adopted in the fall of 1984 and her adoptive parents are now deceased and she’s alone. Laura is smart and educated and her story is interesting as it chronicles the steps in her research that leads her to Arden.

The mystery for Arden is what happened to her baby’s father; and once Laura meets her birth mother, their mutual quest is to find out exactly how, and who murdered a lover and a father. Barefoot in the Sand is a gripping storyline, and I was surprised at the actual killer reveal. It was someone I hadn’t given much consideration. One note—The cover is somewhat confusing as there are no beach scenes in the story.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

Secrets long buried are brought to light in this great summer read from Holly Chamberlin. It's heartbreaking when parents fail their children and offer no support or guidance. Forced to make her own way at an early age, Arden is finally settled in the town of Eliot's Corner, and had made a good life for herself as the owner of a book store. All that changes one day with a knock on the door, and she is face to face with the daughter she was forced to give up for adoption.

Labeled a summer read, Chamberlain's book is a slow and heartwarming story of a mother wondering about the child she gave up for adoption, the why and where of a missing young lover, and a daughter seeking answers to who she is. It also ties itself into a mystery about the missing lover. Told in a story of the past and the present questions are answered while in a backdrop of a bookstore and its owner every book lover wishes could be found in their community. Not to be taken as a fast read but something to savor for the story it tells.

This wasn't quite the breezy beachy read I expected, but overall a good story and a good book. I liked the Friendship between the 2 ladies. Tiny bit of romance, a family saga, a bit of mystery. Families are complicated, and many people make their own families and give up the ones they were born into. Victoria Aldridge did just that. Read this book to find out why.

A perfect summer read, Another great from author Holly Chamberlin who never disappoints! Arden Bell meets the daughter she never wanted to give up for adoption.

Well, what reader/librarian doesn’t like a tale that has a lovely bookstore? Arden’s story is believable and enchanting. I love how she dropped out of her former sad life to start over with great friends and the ultimate job and home. It’s not hard to imagine answering the door to find a child you had to give up when you were very young. All the details of this mother and daughter’s lives before they find each other is fascinating. Their moments of reunion are heartbreaking as are the results of their findings of their lover/father.

Wow. But what I expected, so much better. This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. A great summer read. Mother and daughter relationship with a little mystery !

This is going to be the perfect summer read come June 21'
I devoured this book by Holly! This was a wonderfully written quick enjoyable book!
I loved the setting owning a bookstore by the sea? Sign me up butter-cup!
Just a wonderful book that I loved!

A perfect Holly Chamberlin beach read with a bit of mystery woven in. This was an enjoyable, satisfying book.