Reviewer: Holly
Rising Tides by Nora Roberts
Series: Chesapeake Bay #2
Also in this series: Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay #1), Sea Swept
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 1998
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 339
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Series Rating:

New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the second novel in the dramatic trilogy of three men who return home to honor their father's last wish—to care for Seth, a troubled boy in need of a family. Coming home has taught the brothers more than they ever dreamed about the meaning of family and responsibility. Now it is time to learn the meaning of acceptance and love...
Of the three brothers, it was Ethan who shared his father's passion for the Maryland shore. And now with his father gone, Ethan is determined to make the family boatbuilding business a success. But amidst his acheivements lie the most important challenges of his life...
There is young Seth, who needs him more than ever. And a woman he has always loved but never believed he could have. But beneath Ethan's seemingly still waters is a dark and painful past. He must learn to see around the shadows to accept who he is. Because through Ethan's past lies the future—and his one chance at happiness...

I read three books this weekend! THREE! I used to read sometimes upwards of 9 books in a single weekend, but lately that number has dropped to one..or even none depending on what I’ve got going on, so reading three is a huge accomplishment for me.

See my review of the first book in this series, Sea Swept, here.

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blockquote>Rising Tides

Of the four brothers, I think Ethan is my favorite. Calm, cool and collected, but with a well of deep feelings hidden underneath his calm surface, Ethan was a joy to read about. We met his heroine, Grace, in Sea Swept and I was really happy that they ended up together. I really like Grace and her daughter Aubrey and I liked her attitude towards her relationship with Ethan. Though Ethan is slow to act in anything he does, he doesn’t think he’s good enough for Grace because of his background and because he sees her as delicate. Of course we all see that Grace is anything but delicate. Stubborn? yes. Prideful? yes. A hard worker? Yes. But delicate? Not even close.

Once again we’re shown the amazing relationship between the three older brothers and their newest charge, Seth. And once again this was my favorite aspect of the book. I love seeing the family dynamics and adding Anna (Cam’s new bride) into the mix was fabulous. We also saw glimpses of Grace’s painful relationship with her father and the toll that relationship takes on her mother. I truly enjoyed both aspects.

A fabulous read. In Sea Swept, I enjoyed the family dynamics more than the romance, but in this novel it was a pretty even split. Even if I did want to smack Ethan a time or two for acting like a dumbass.

4.5 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts
Series: Chesapeake Bay #3
Also in this series: Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay #1), Sea Swept
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: January 1st 1999
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 342
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Series Rating:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts presents the final novel in the captivating trilogy of three brothers who have come together in a time of need. They honored their father's wish to raise young Seth as their own. And with all of the brothers home again, the Quinn family has never been so strong. But in the months to come, their strength is tested—once again...
Phillip Quinn had done everything to make his life seem perfect. With his career on the fast track and a condo overlooking the Inner Harbor, his life on the street was firmly in the past. But one look at Seth and he's reminded of the boy he once was...
Phillip has intended to fulfill his father's dying request and considered Seth to be a duty. He never expected he would grow to love Seth, and soon his promise to his father became more than just obligation.
Seth's future as a Quinn seems assured—until a stranger arrives in town. She claims to be researching St. Christopher's for her new book, but the true objects of study are the Quinns. Her cool reserve intrigues Phillip. He is determined to uncover her motives, but she is holding a secret that has the power to threaten the life the brothers have made for Seth. A secret that could tear the family apart... forever...

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blockquote>Inner Harbor

Of the three older brothers, Phillip was the one I was least interested in. A metro-type who was into fine wine and good suits, he just didn’t suit me as much as the quiet Ethan and bad-boy Cam did. But my opinion of him changed, especially after reading what trials he went through as a child before the Quinn’s took him in and saved his life. Having said that, however, this is still my least favorite of the four books.

I think my biggest issue was Sybill. I truly enjoyed that all four heroines were different, but Sybill just wasn’t my type of girl. I did like that she eventually grew a backbone, but I couldn’t forgive her for not trying to do more to help Seth when he was a baby. Even if she didn’t realize the full extend of her sister’s mental and physical abuse to her young son, she did know he was unhappy, had terrible nightmares and didn’t act like the average 4-year-old normally would. That she didn’t do what she could to find them after they ran from her apartment in NY frustrated me. Even understanding her reasons didn’t help, because she continued to ignore what was right under her nose. That annoys me.

Phillip himself was a good hero, and seeing him battle some of his own demons was lovely, but this is still the least favorite of the series for me.

3.5 out of 5

Reviewer: Holly
Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts
Series: Chesapeake Bay #4
Also in this series: Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay #1), Sea Swept

Publication Date: January 27th 2004
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 368
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Series Rating:

Welcome to Nora Roberts’ captivating saga about the lives and loves of four brothers on the windswept shores of the Chesapeake Bay…
Chesapeake Blue is the fourth novel in a stunning quartet about four men bound by the love of the extraordinary couple who took them in and raised them as brothers. Now, Seth Quinn is finally home…
It’s been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, Seth had been taken in by the Quinn family, growing up with three older brothers who’d watched over him with love.
Now a grown man returning from Europe as a successful painter, Seth is settling down on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, surrounded once again by Cam, Ethan, and Phil, their wives and children, and all the blessed chaos of the extended Quinn clan. Finally, he’s back in the little blue-and-white house where there’s always a boat at the dock, a rocker on the porch, and a dog in the yard.
Still, a lot has changed in St. Christopher’s since he’s been gone—and the most intriguing change of all is the presence of Dru Whitcomb Banks. A city girl who has opened a florist shop in this seaside town, she craves independence and the challenge of establishing herself without the influence of her wealthy connections. In Seth, she sees another kind of challenge—a challenge that she can’t resist.

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blockquote>Chesapeake Blue

After reading the first 3 books in this series, I was anxious to start this one. Watching Seth grow from a scared, abused child into a strong, confident man was wonderful. Once again the relationship between he and his brothers stood out more than his relationship with his heroine, but both were extremely satisfying to read about.

I really liked Dru and felt she was just what Seth needed. Someone who was a bit insecure and yet strong..and only stronger as the story went on. She and Seth complimented each other and worked well for me.

I was very disappointed in the way Seth dealt with his mother in the beginning. Though I understood his need to keep his family (The Quinn’s) safe, I still felt he should have learned from his big brothers and stood up to his mother, rather than feeding her need for hate. But in the end he stood up and did what was right, and I felt it was a satisfying close to the series.

His relationship with Aubrey was hilarious and knowing he could handle whatever life threw at him as long as he had his family’s support was…awesome. I truly enjoyed it.

4.0 out of 5

Overall a wonderful series and something I’d highly recommend. I cried at least once during each novel, and I felt emotionally invested in all the characters and their lives. Do yourselves a favor and pick these up to read over the holiday.