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A review by wildflowerz76
Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery
3.0
I somehow ended up down a Susan Mallery rabbit hole. I started reading her stuff randomly and before I knew it, I wanted to read it all. I kinda went in reverse order. I say "kinda" because most of the series I read in order, but I read the newer series before moving on to older ones. Does that make sense? I read the Happily Inc series before the Fool's Gold series, for instance.
But the farther back I go, the more annoyed I get. Has Mallery just grown into a better feminist or did I ocerlook stuff in the newer books? I don't know but these aren't something I'll re-read.
ANYway, I read the rest of this series, but I could never find the first one. To buy it new, it's only in Trade size, so more expensive and even with buying it at cost, it would be at least $9. I don't get $9 of enjoyment out of these. So I left it on my request list and would look for it if I happened to be in another used bookstore. However, my wonderful friend and coworker went to McKays last week and she found it for me! So, now I've completed this series too.
It's problematic as hell, y'all. But the good stuff first. I loved the female friendship. I liked hearing about the two main characters. I liked that we had a female that was all wounded and troubled this time when it's usually the dude.
But. I know I had a lot of things that bugged me, but I didn't take notes, so I'll probably forget a lot. There will probably be spoilers, so you've been warned. Early on Carly sits down outside the inn and falls asleep. Sam, who has asked her out, but she's not given him an answer yet, comes upon her and kisses her. While she's asleep! Ew. Later on, Michelle has a conversation with the guy who she's renting a room room (I can't remember his name, he was hardly in the book) admits that he only compliments women when he's trying to sleep with them. Again, ew. There was more, but I can't remember. I know these are supposed to be romances, but THIS story would have been much better without them. Especially Michelle's. That shit came out of nowhere and felt totally out of place.
But the farther back I go, the more annoyed I get. Has Mallery just grown into a better feminist or did I ocerlook stuff in the newer books? I don't know but these aren't something I'll re-read.
ANYway, I read the rest of this series, but I could never find the first one. To buy it new, it's only in Trade size, so more expensive and even with buying it at cost, it would be at least $9. I don't get $9 of enjoyment out of these. So I left it on my request list and would look for it if I happened to be in another used bookstore. However, my wonderful friend and coworker went to McKays last week and she found it for me! So, now I've completed this series too.
It's problematic as hell, y'all. But the good stuff first. I loved the female friendship. I liked hearing about the two main characters. I liked that we had a female that was all wounded and troubled this time when it's usually the dude.
But. I know I had a lot of things that bugged me, but I didn't take notes, so I'll probably forget a lot. There will probably be spoilers, so you've been warned. Early on Carly sits down outside the inn and falls asleep. Sam, who has asked her out, but she's not given him an answer yet, comes upon her and kisses her. While she's asleep! Ew. Later on, Michelle has a conversation with the guy who she's renting a room room (I can't remember his name, he was hardly in the book) admits that he only compliments women when he's trying to sleep with them. Again, ew. There was more, but I can't remember. I know these are supposed to be romances, but THIS story would have been much better without them. Especially Michelle's. That shit came out of nowhere and felt totally out of place.