Publishers Weekly
10/24/2016
The four members of the Sensible Shoes Club seem to have made little progress on their spiritual journeys when they reunite in this captivating third book of the series (following Two Steps Forward). Estranged from her only child, Meg struggles with anxiety, fear, and the condemnation she received from her now-deceased mother, which still affects her confidence. Mara's bitterness and anger toward her ex-husband result in self-inflicted chaos and turmoil. Hannah, a pastor on a nine-month sabbatical, remains saddled with guilt from an imperfect childhood. When she reunites with an old love, Hannah finds the church hierarchs who gifted her leave of absence is a gossipy lot, quick to question her motives and morality. Charissa shows astounding compassion to the homeless at a local shelter and to Mara when Mara's actions backfire on her after bemoaning her generous in-laws and showing scant empathy for a gravely ill friend. Brown does not sugarcoat the trials of living in an imperfect world. Her flawed characters will come across to fans of inspirational fiction as honest and accurate. Readers may find this challenging should the faults and failures of these women hit too close to home, but the difficulty is worth the solace that comes with working through tough problems. (Nov.)
Jen Pollock Michel
"Whether or not you've been a devoted reader of Sharon Garlough Brown's Sensible Shoes series, you will find yourself in the lives of the four women of Barefoot—in their gratitude and grief, their longings and resilient hopes. Most importantly, you'll meet Jesus, who startles us with this never-ending surprise: we are his beloved."
Mary Hulst
"Sharon Garlough Brown does not disappoint. That's because what undergirds all of her books is deep truth. One reads them and thinks, yes, that's how churches can be, or yes, that's what it's like to parent a twenty-something, or yes, that's a friendship that mirrors mine. But the deepest truth when we read her books is this one: yes, that's what a life of faith looks like—battered yet sustained, wounded yet deeply hopeful that God is up to something. These books resonate because they feel so true and because this is how we long to be: barefoot, surrendered, saying here I am to the One who guides our steps."
Emily P. Freeman
"During a difficult year of loss in my own life, I found great comfort in this fictional tale of four friends with true-to-life faith. The way they relate with Christ and one another in grief, disappointment, celebration, and joy served as a kind companion to me personally, as well as a creative reminder of some of my favorite spiritual practices."
Amy Boucher Pye
"Prepare to be encouraged, inspired, stretched, and wrung out by Barefoot. This enriching novel reveals God's transforming presence in the lives of four imperfect but beloved friends. Don't miss it."
Lucinda Secrest McDowell
"How grateful I am to be reunited with Hannah, Meg, Mara, and Charissa, my friends in Sharon Garlough Brown's Sensible Shoes series. Having already journeyed with them through seasons of growth and change, I was eager to see what this third novel, Barefoot, would reveal. And what a tender story ensued as these women faced both serendipitous joy and heart-wrenching sorrow. The thread of being in a supportive prayer circle is powerful in each of these books, and the valuable spiritual exercises woven throughout help us to process as well. . . . Barefoot brings us gently to the place where we know the only adequate response is to take off our shoes and stand before God on holy ground."
Sarah Arthur
"Sharon Garlough Brown may be a novelist, but she's also a portrait artist, painting with tender detail the souls of four women on a spiritual journey. This third installment is harrowing, lovely, joyous—like life, like faith. Beautifully rendered!"
