Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery

Genre: Women's Fiction
Series: Blackberry Island #1
Publication Date: 27th March 2012
Pages: 368
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: Michelle Sanderson may appear to be a strong, independent woman, but on the inside, she’s still the wounded girl who fled home years ago. A young army vet, Michelle returns to the quaint Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. Instead, she finds the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wants to see.

Carly Williams and Michelle were once inseparable, until a shocking betrayal destroyed their friendship. And now Carly is implicated in the financial disaster lurking behind the inn’s cheerful veneer.

Single mother Carly has weathered rumors, lies and secrets for a lifetime, and is finally starting to move forward with love and life. But if the Blackberry Island Inn goes under, Carly and her daughter will go with it.

To save their livelihoods, Carly and Michelle will undertake a turbulent truce. It’ll take more than a successful season to move beyond their devastating past, but with a little luck and a beautiful summer, they may just rediscover the friendship of a lifetime.

My Thoughts:

Injured vet Michelle Sanderson returns home to Blackberry Island, Washington and her family owned business, the Blackberry Island Inn - managed by ex-best-friend Carly. Barefoot Season is a story with substance; friendship, betrayal, forgiveness and healing and Michelle's transition to civilian life battling PTSD and a financially ailing inn, adds another layer of depth.

Blackberry Island is a quaint, charming setting and I loved the feel the small community brought to the story. When Chance is introduced I literally melted, a cowering rescue dog in need of unconditional love and security ... Michelle and Chance were perfect for each other.    

If you enjoy stories about the complexities of friendship then Michelle and Carly's complicated history should tick all the boxes. If you're expecting a contemporary romance then you'll probably be disappointed, there is romance but it's secondary to the rest of the story.  

I loved the bonus recipes included, recipes offered at the Blackberry Island Inn ... Helen's Chicken Salad and Italian Vegetable Soup (definitely making this one) and on the Blackberry Island Website you can find information about the island and more delicious blackberry recipes like this one -

Peanut Butter & Blackberry Jam Pie

photo courtesy: Blackberry Island Website

recipe available here

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.