DNF @ 33%, so no review.

I remember reading the Samantha Jellico series back in the day, just waiting on next installments. It was one of my favorite, and I remember it fondly. But 33% in to this one, and I'm so bored. Nothing is happening, and I find the addition of pop culture to be a bit jarring, since some of the things (like Outlander on television,) could not possibly be a thing given the timeline. Maybe I'll go back and start this series over from the beginning and try this again, but as it stands right now, it's not working for me.

Though I do want to say, Rick Addison will ALWAYS be my OG billionaire.

Rick and Sam are one of my favorite couples and I loved revisiting them again. This was a great continuation to the series about a thief and a billionaire!

It was so much fun catching up with Sam and Rick again. Shame it took so long, but the wait was worth it. Such a great read and I look forward to morel.

All Rick wanted was time away from the endless paparazzi and for Sam to meet his family in Scotland. What occurs lands them in a hunt for a treasure map from a notorious high man and his family questioning his love for his new fiancée. This book has it all romance, suspense and the ability to laugh each time Sam and Rick are together. Absolutely loved the chemistry between the characters.

Barefoot in the Dark by Suzanne Enoch is a 2018 NYLA publication.

This light romantic caper is delightfully fun and smart!

“Former’ cat burglar, Samantha Jellicoe is now engaged to billionaire entrepreneur, Richard Addison. Trying to keep Samantha out of trouble and out of the spotlight, Richard spirits her away to a crumbling Scottish estate where he plans to introduce her to a few of his relatives. However, Richard is never able to completely tame Samantha, and sure enough, before long she’s pilfering through the attic looking for something of value, while doing a bit of ghost hunting.

This alone is enough to make Richard’s anxiety levels rise, but Richard’s cousin is very serious about locating a booty of treasure. The treasure map is believed to be hidden in the castle. This situation causes a deep family rift, but also raises Samantha’s antennae.

Searching for the long- lost map leading to the treasure is just the type of challenge Samantha loves. She's enjoying it all the more because Richard seems to know more about this treasure than he’s telling, and appears quite determined to keep the treasure hidden. Hilarity, clever banter, and adventure ensues as Samantha outwits Richard, his relatives, and charms everyone on the estate despite their skepticism.


I have always known Suzanne Enoch as a prolific Historical Romance author. I’ve read her books off and on for many years. Well, apparently, somewhere in the early to mid- 2000s, Enoch published a handful of contemporary novels centered around Samantha Jellicoe. I had never heard of this series before now.

If have my information straight, there was a ten -year gap between the last Sam Jellicoe installment and the release of this book. It is somewhat confusing as this book is listed as ‘Samantha Jellicoe #6', but is also listed as the first book in the 'Samantha and Rick' series.

So, to be clear, Samantha and Richard have a back story that sounds interesting, and it would be great fun to locate some of the previous installments in the Samantha Jellico series for kicks and giggles, but this book works just fine as a stand-alone.

When I finally queued this book up on my Kindle, I realized it has been languishing in my ‘Currently reading’ folder for an entire year!! No, it didn’t take me a full year to read this delightful romantic mystery.

My intentions were good, but the book kept slipping down the list, despite my best efforts. I do wish I’d gotten to it sooner, but as they say better late than never.

I’m thrilled to have stumbled across this contemporary series by Susanne Enoch and will be looking for more installments in this series. If you like treasure hunts, ghost hunts, old Scottish castles, family drama and quick -witted dialogue, this fast -paced adventure will keep you entertained and rapidly turning pages. As much as I adored Samantha and her biting sarcasm, I think I may have developed a huge crush on Richard!!

Clever, light and oh so fun!!

4 stars

Barefoot in the Dark is the newest book in Suzanne Enoch's Jellicoe series. I have been waiting for a new addition to this series for what seems like forever and it was amazing! I hope there are many more to come!

I love this book. I read the other books in the series years ago. The gap between the last one and Barefoot in the Dark was big, but nevertheless I’m happy to read more adventures of Sam and Rick. Now I did have to go reread the other books to get me familiar with the characters and story, but hey who doesn’t love a reread. I hope there’s more books in the series and I don’t have to wait so long next time

"A simple pre-wedding getaway for a “reformed” cat burglar and her wealthy British fiancé – what could go wrong? Except for his contentious family, a crumbling Scottish castle, a legendary treasure, and a possible haunting, that is." This says it all and sets the tone for a delightful story set in the Scottish Highlands.

When Samantha Jellicoe needs to get away from all the limelight her adoring fiancé takes her to his estate in the Scottish Highlands. The crumbling castle is certainly not in the same caliber as billionaire Richard Addison's other properties. His family also has no qualms about showing their disdain for Rick's choice of fiancé. Samantha has no trouble finding trouble and soon Rick's friend and lawyer and Sam's friend and fellow fence are on the scene as Sam goes on a treasure hunt and Rick tries to save a large deal from crumbling.
Is the castle really haunted? I loved the Ghost busters segment as Sam and Rick set out to flush out not just the ghosts that haunt the castle but the insidious plots that are bubbling under the surface of the day to day life. I loved how Sam put together all the puzzle pieces and found an ingenious solution at keeping the secrets that Rick is sworn to keep. Not only did she end up winning over his aunt and uncle but she's also a great hit with the villagers under Rick's protection.
The story sparkles as Sam and Rick romance under the brooding eyes of his family and friends.

ARC from Netgalley

I was a big fan of Suzanne Enoch's contemporary cat burglar series, and was disappointed when it came to an end back in 2007. But this decade-later new installment doesn't live up to the joys of the previous series.

Fast forward ahead 11 years, and American Samantha Jellicoe, reformed jewel thief, is engaged to her mark-turned-lover Rick Addison, aka the Marquis of Rawley, aka multi billionaire businessman (both characters are white). The frenzy of the paparazzi after hearing that one of the western world's leading bachelors is off the market has got Sam itchy, and Rick is worried that his always wary woman may do a runner. So he arranges for them to vacation at a secluded old family pile in Scotland, where a ghost and a mystery keep Sam occupied (and engaged to Rick).

The joking, fizzing sexual between Rick and Sam still dazzles, more than a decade later. But the plot here leaves a lot to be desired. Secret pirate treasure and map? Creaking stairs and ghostly noises at night? Taciturn locals with secrets galore? Check, check, and check. But there's no real sense of danger to Sam or to Rick in anything here, nor much reason for Rick to be keeping the secret that underlies all the nighttime derring-do.

Samantha Jellicoe, jewel thief extraordinaire is adjusting to her new life engaged to wealthy British Lord Richard Addison. Rick takes her on a surprise holiday getaway to Scotland to meet his family & finds herself engrossed in a mystery hundreds of years old, a treasure hunt. Sam uncovers a legend of buried treasure can’t resist the lure of a treasure hunt, but she soon realizes she isn’t the only one searching for the famous highwayman’s loot. A captivating story has it all a romance with adventure, mystery, intrigue with a few twists and turns to create a perfect book!!! This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

I hadn't read any of the books in the previous series but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the story of Samantha Jellicoe and Rich Addison settling into their engagement. As a bazillionaire, Rich's engagement has caused a lot of interest and his house is surrounded by paparazzi and his disappointed followers. So he plans to whisk her away to Scotland to visit his ancestral home and let her meet her family. Of course, there is a mystery. A centuries old hidden treasure that is directly linked to the local village.
I am most definitely looking forward to further books in this series.

Four stars
This book came out August 15
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Barefoot in the Dark (Samantha and Rick Book 1)
by Suzanne Enoch

Superb , superlative, humor, fantastic.. wow!
All ways to this book just come to this ... READ it! Definitely a buy buy buy buy buy book. One worth the wait of the years. I can say this storyline was absolutely marvelous! I was totally captivated and could not put it down. Many may disagree, however, just the way it was so very different kept me reading and reading and reading until I came to the end. A total enjoyment nothing bad to say at all.... a superb read by a fantastic author. I was given this arc via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards, Anna

BAREFOOT IN THE DARK is book six in Suzanne Enoch’s romantic suspense series, SAMANTHA JELLICO. I am ecstatic the author returned to this dynamic duo because I have always enjoyed Sam and Rick’s misadventures. It felt like being reacquainted with long-lost friends again. The story picks up a couple weeks after A TOUCH OF MINX, book five. Also, situations from TWICE THE TEMPTATION, book four, are mentioned throughout the book, so it is necessary to read the prior books.
Richard “Rick” Addison, Marquis of Rawley, is a rich and successful entrepreneur. He suggests a holiday to help Sam escape the pressures of the press. Rick faces the circumstances of neglecting not only his relatives but his Scottish holdings too. Things gets complicated when Samantha learns about a highwayman’s rumored treasure. Rick tries to dissuade both his fiancé and his cousin from pursuing it. Will the treasure jeopardize Rick’s relationship with Sam?
Former cat burglar Samantha “Sam” Jellicoe is engaged to her modern day Marquis. She jumps at the chance to escape the paparazzi’s attention. Sam finds herself at a dilapidated castle in a remote area of Scotland with spotty electricity and no internet. Not only does she meet Rick’s upper crust family, but Sam learns about a mysterious highwayman’s treasure. Samantha cannot resist solving the two-hundred-fifty-year-old mystery. Can Sam find the elusive treasure before Rick’s cousin does?
Rick is Samantha’s perfect counterpart. They balance each other’s unique eccentricities nicely. I adore Rick’s level of trust with Sam, especially after the fiasco he endured with his first wife and best friend. He knows Samantha has no interest in his lofty title or his wealth. But what I admire the most about Rick is how he finally accepts the fact he will ever control Sam. That he enjoys how she marches to her own tune, regardless sometimes of the circumstances.
Samantha has always been such an entertaining heroine. I love her wily and snarky personality. Sam is trying to navigate her new ‘straight and narrow’ path. I adore the fact how Samantha can call Rick out whenever he’s being obtuse or stubborn about certain things. What I like the most about Sam is how she helps mend the rift between Rick and his relatives. She may not have family; however, she understands a family’s importance to its members.
BAREFOOT IN THE DARK is well worth the decade-long wait. I hope this is not the end of Sam and Rick’s adventures. I cannot wait to read more of their escapades.

Rick and Sam are back!!!! For those of us who have been waiting “patiently” for this latest billionaire marquis and ex-cat burglar adventure the wait is over! Everything we’ve come to love about these two is here from snappy one-liners to steamy kisses to Donner and Stony. While I would discourage trying to jump into the world of Rick and Sam with BitD, those of you who have read the previous books will feel as if you just closed the last one yesterday.
#suzzaneenoch #rickandsam #barefootinthedark #whatselevenyearswhenitistruelove #bookstagram #booklover

My rating is more of a 3+ Stars.

My reviews are different than most. You have most likely read a synopsis of the story, so I post what I liked, or disliked about a book. Remember that my taste in books may be entirely different than yours.

A handsome leading man and a beautiful leading lady....mystery....AND a haunted (maybe) castle in Scotland!! One of my favorite things about the story is the castle! It felt old, in need of repair, scary with hidden nooks and crannies, and the cozy fireplaces on cold stormy nights...…………..loved it. It was a perfect setting for the book. I liked the interaction between Rick and Sam and their personalities really fit each other. The book had mystery (is their a treasure?), a little humor, wonderful "Rick & Sam" time at the castle, and good supporting characters. My favorite was Yule.

This is the first book written by Suzanne Enoch that I've read. I didn't know 0f the first book in this series, but that didn't interfere with understanding this continuing story. From comments by Sam and Rick (Samantha & Richard), I know enough of how their relationship started and progressed.

What the book needed....The plot, I think, dragged out Reggie and "Norway's" secret search for the treasure. But the "search" by them needed more details of what they were doing exactly. I would like to have had more interaction with Sam & Rick. I think the book started off with a bang, slowed down in the middle, then picked up again towards the end.

I did enjoy the book and would recommend it. I really want to read the first book so I know all the details of their earlier story.


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Barefoot in the Dark by Suzanne Enoch is book One in the Samantha and Rick Series. This is the story of Samantha Jellicoe and Richard Addison. But Samantha and Rick had meet in a previous book called 'A Touch of Minx' from the Samantha Jellicoe Series I believe. I have yet to read that series but when researching to see when they meet, it would appear to be that book. Either way this was easily a standalone book, but I did enjoy it enough that I want to go back and find the book in the Samantha Jellicoe Series. This book has Samantha and Rick dealing with his family, a possible ghost, his Castle in need of work and Samantha trying to be a reformed 'cat burglar'....all the ingredients for a great story. Really enjoyed reading this book....couldn't put it down.

Theis is a delightful story, it hits all the high points -intrigue, mystery, romance, ghosts, great characters and annoying guests. Sam and Rick were real, I wanted to really get to know them, and can’t wait to visit with them again!

I met Rick and Samantha several years ago is books that were both entertaining and funny. He is a billionaire and Sam was a cat burglar. They met when she tried to steal from him. From there it was really a interesting romp as they played off against each other. I was happy to see them back but now that they are engaged some of the fun in the original book is missing. They are still a fun couple but with Sam out of the cat burglar business it took quite a bit of stretch to find the tension in the plot. The need to work in backstory also slowed the book down. Since this is book 1 I have hopes that the next book will return the nonstop fun to the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Barefoot in the Dark is the 6th book in the Samantha Jellicoe series which takes her to Scotland and Richard Addison’s ancestral home. Sam is a retired cat burglar who is now an art retrieval expert and security advisor. Rick is a billionaire businessman and the Marquis of Rawling.
After their engagement, Rich convinces Sam to go on holiday with him to England, but in reality he wants to introduce her to his family at Castle Canniebrae in the Scottish Highlands. Sam meets Lord Rowland and Lady Mercia Addison and their son Reginald. Reginald, Rick’s cousin, is accompanied by the beautiful “Viking” Eerika Nyland who dreams of becoming rich and famous.
The story revolves around a treasure map drawn by a highwayman named Will Dawkin who robbed the wealthy from 1738-1748 and hoarded the riches in Orrisey, Scotland. Reggie and Eerika are obsessed with finding the “booty” so Eerika can have her reality show titled “Booty Queen”. Rick denies the treasure exists but Sam finds the search a challenge. This causes conflict between Rick and Sam but leaves room for lots of humor.
Barefoot in the Dark is the first Suzanne Enoch contemporary novel I have read. I need to read the previous books to fully understand all the character’s idiosyncrasies, but that did not keep me from enjoying the novel. It contains mystery, humor, and romance along with secrets which cause family discord to be worked out in the end. It was good to see the compassionate side of Sam and Rick and with it their desire to take their responsibility to others seriously. I highly recommend Barefoot in the Dark.

I received Barefoot in the Dark written by Suzanne Enoch from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. While I read Ms. Enoch Historicals all the time, this is the first time I have ever read one of her contemporary. Barefoot is a continuation of Rick and Sam’s story about a year after they first meet.
Now engaged, the press is closing in and Sam is freaking out. While not ready to throw in the towel just yet, she still has 6 years before she can’t be prosecuted for the thiefs she has perpetrated. Rick, feeling boxed in as well, wisk them to Scotland to meet his family. Add a ghost and hidden treasure and you got trouble.
Personally, while the book was a fun read with the sarcasm and banter, not to mention the steamy sex, I truly think that you need to read the first books in the series to appreciate the relationships all the way around. So while I would recommend this book for the story, steam, and chemistry, I would also recommend to read the first books before you pick this one up. I’m going back now and reading them. #BarefootintheDark #NetGalley