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Chesapeake Blue

Chesapeake Blue

List Price: $36.95
Your Price: $24.39
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Indisputably Exceptional!
Review: "Chesapeake Blue" by Nora Roberts is a wonderful addition to the excellent Chesapeake Bay trilogy of "Sea Swept", "Rising Tides", and "Inner Harbor". The much-anticipated tale of Seth Quinn has finally arrived, and it was well worth the wait. Nora Roberts has written a romantic, insightful, and touching tale that stays true to the original trilogy and is sure to have readers everywhere cheering and begging for more.

Seth Quinn, the troubled and angry young boy adopted by Cam, Ethan, and Phillip after the death of their father, Ray Quinn, is all grown up and coming home. Now a successful painter who has conquered Europe, all Seth wants is to return to the big white house on the bay and be with his family. Troubled by a secret that has weighed on him heavily for more than a decade, Seth needs the peace that only home can bring.

And it is absolutely wonderful to see all of the characters we fell in love with in the previous three books. We see the most of Cam and Anna, because Seth lives with them, but Ethan and Grace, and Phillip and Sybill are never far away. Though 18 years have passed, not a whole lot has changed as far as the Quinn family dynamics are concerned (though the family has grown considerably), which I was immensely relieved to see. Grace and Ethan's daughter Aubrey is all grown up as well, and is a very important part of Seth's life.

Though some things never change, like the love and support Seth's family will always provide, there have been some changes in his hometown of St. Christopher. The most fascinating of which is the arrival of Drusilla Whitcomb-Banks, who has moved from D.C. and opened a flower shop. Intrigued by the beautiful Drusilla, Seth sets about trying to get to know her better. Dru, who comes from a wealthy and influential family, has come to St. Chris to get away from the demands of her previous life. Seth is determined to paint the lovely Drusilla, and as he convinces her to pose for him, and spends as much time with her as possible, the two of them begin to fall in love.

The romance between Seth and Dru is beautifully rendered and sure to touch readers' hearts. Drusilla is slow to trust and wary of relationships, but her misgivings are no match for Seth's charm, warmth, and love. Seth and Dru make a fabulous couple, and I was completely caught up in their developing relationship.

But trouble is brewing on the horizon, and the painful secret that Seth has been hiding for years is about to come back with a vengeance. Linked to his painful past, Seth's secret has the ability to destroy his new love and hurt his family. Conflicted, unhappy, and determined to keep Dru and his beloved family out of the mess he is in, Seth is heading for disaster. Will Seth trust in Dru's love, bite the bullet, and tell her and his family the truth? The tight knit Quinn clan always sticks together when one of them is in trouble, but they can't help Seth if they don't know what's wrong. Will some visitations from the ghost of Stella Quinn be enough to convince Seth to share his burden? Or will Seth let his past destroy his newfound love and happiness?

"Chesapeake Blue" is a truly heart-warming and affecting tale that had me smiling and wiping away tears throughout. Seth Quinn is a great hero, and readers are guaranteed to fall in love with the sensitive, strong, and fun-filled man who grew from a scared and angry boy. Dru is, likewise, a great heroine. She's independent, determined, and a very loving person when you get below the surface. Add in the amazing Quinn clan from the previous three novels, and you've got yourself an incredible and complex cast of characters. Nora Roberts has an undeniable gift for creating families that readers would love to be a part of, and the Quinns are one of her greatest triumphs. "Chesapeake Blue" is a superb read, and it focuses just as much on the love and importance of family as it does on the romance between Seth and Dru. Nora Roberts has really outdone herself with this one, so buy "Chesapeake Blue" today.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A keeper
Review: This book is a continuation of Nora Roberts' Chesapeake Bay trilogy. I'm sure that if you haven't read the trilogy, you could still enjoy this book. However, I have read the trilogy therefore this book was more meaningful and definitly more sentimental. In the trilogy we learned all about the four Quinn brothers and their tight family bonds. This story is about the youngest, Seth. Family still plays a major role in this book. It was like meeting old friends after so many years. I was happy to see that even though the Quinns were older their personalities hadn't changed. While falling in love with Dru, Seth still has to deal with unfinished business from his past. Once again he learns that "You mess with one Quinn, you mess with them all." If you haven't read the Chesapeake Bay triology (Sea Swept, Rising Tides and Inner Harbor) I highly recommend that you do. As usual, Ms. Roberts' characters are larger than life. Enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: LOVED IT!!
Review: This was the first of the Chesapeake Bay trilogy that I read and I could not put it down! IT made me go and get the previous three so that I could read more. I love the Family and the story. It touched me to my heart! Another great Nora Roberts Book, she is the best!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Average Read....
Review: Chesapeake Blue is the fourth in Nora Robert's Chesapeake bay trilogy, and, in my opinion, it is the weakest of the series. I will probably received many negative votes for this review, (especially in a forum of so many positive votes), but, here's the deal: Chesapeake Blue was an average read for me. The plot seemed contrived, the characterization forced, and the story suffering from the forced inclusion of too many characters from previous books.

Chesapeake Blue is the story of late 'twenty-something' Seth Quinn. Seth has decided to return to the small water front town, this time to stay, and hooks up with rich girl Drusilla Whitecomb. Both Seth and Dru have 'issues' they need to work out before getting together.

Seth: I had a great deal of difficulty envisioning Seth as a romantic lead from the way he is written. He still seems to be a little boy running away from his problems. (Personally, I really wish Nora had chosen to write about Aubrey, she was much more interesting as an adult). In Nora tradion Seth is a 'super rich, fantastically talented artistic bachelor', who can't seem to take no for an answer. He seemed to be very immature, and was really pushy with his relationship with Dru. I disliked the way he manipulated Dru to do things she didn't want to do, by using his art and artistic talent as a weapon, and I found his vocabulary and mannerisms.... Somewhat childish. (And I'm not referring to the cussing, that didn't bother me).

Dru: Dru was a much more interesting character, but was oodles more mature than Seth. Although her dysfunctional relationship with her parents was touched upon, this was never resolved to my satisfaction, and I failed to see that Dru and Seth had much in common as a couple aside from sexual chemistry.

The highlight of this story was NOT Seth and Dru's relationship, but seeing what had happened to the rest of the Quinns- but even there, Nora takes few risks. She portrays the Quinn extended family, as too perfect, a little too cohesive and a little too good to be true. I have come to expect a little more realism from Nora. Also, the Quinn's have lost a bit of their 'blue collar feel' which I really liked.

So, overall, I felt CB was an average novel with few surprises. Perhaps Aubrey's tale will be better?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Emotional story of growth
Review: Seth Quinn is back in St. Chris on Maryland's eastern shore. After a couple of years in Europe, he's a rich and celebrated artist. But now he is home--with his family, the family business, and the curse that has followed him over the years since he was a young boy. His mother is blackmailing him, doing her best to spoil everything for him--and for the family that gave him everything. Although he's all grown up now, he'll still pay her off, do just about anything to protect the brothers who raised him.

Drucilla Whitcomb Banks has fled a cheating fiance and the life of the outrageously rich in Washington D.C. to strike out on her own in St. Chris. She owns a flower shop and does her best to fit into the community. Given her experience with men, she doesn't want to fall in love--doesn't even want to date. But Seth Quinn can be as convincing as any of the Quinn men and Dru finds herself spending time with Seth despite what she promises herself.

Author Nora Roberts writes a compelling emotional story. Both Dru and Seth are damaged by their families and upbringing--damaged in ways that make it hard for either to commit, and in ways that make it hard to open up and trust anyone. Even supernatural help from Seth's adoptive grandmother (who had died before he was adopted) seems unable to do the job. Yet only if the two can overcome their upbringing can they find happiness with each other--or with themselves.

Fans of the earlier novels in this series will joy in seeing Cam, Phil, and Ethan again--each with a growing swarm of children who are now growing up. Nora Roberts can't write a bad book and CHESAPEAKE BLUE is a page-turning read. I would have liked to see a little more threat from Gloria--after all, one woman doesn't have a chance against the entire Quinn clan--ghosts and all--and I would have liked to see more of a resolution of Dru's issues. Still, BLUE works as a story and delivers an emotional wallop.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Captivating Series! Best of the Best!
Review: The first novel, Sea Swept, introduces the story of three adopted brothers and how the deal with the loss of their father and the gain of another adopted brother. Therefore, to fully understand the situation and the developing relationship with the brothers, the series should be read in order: Sea Swept, Rising Tides, Inner Harbor, Chesapeake Blue.

The books take place on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Therefore, be prepared to read about the lives that accompany Maryland natives.

Each book in the trilogy tells the love story of one of the brothers, beginning with Cameron, the first boy adopted. The brothers have completely different personalities, which allows the reader to better relate to one brother of the four.

Cameron, the star of Sea Swept, is extremely outgoing with breathtaking looks. Before the events that take place in Sea Swept, Cameron's heart lied in racing and women. Now, he unexpectantly falls for a woman whose main goal is to make sure the new addition to the family (brother number four) is properly cared for and his biological mother does not interfere.

Rising Tides is my favorite book in the series, dealing with the shy but undeniably masculine brother, Ethan. He is the only one of the three brothers who decided to stay on the shores of the Chesepeake and care for his father. His life is immensely simple, spending his days as a fisherman on the bay. The love story that develops between him and his lifetime love is the most romantic of the series.

Phillip's story is developed in the third book of the series, Inner Harbor. This book is immensly important in the trilogy because a great number of unanswered questions are resolved during this story. Phillip is a hansome, well-mannered, businessman with a taste for fine wine and beautiful women. Not prepared to ever become a family man, a mysterious woman with a suprising background comes into town and steals Phillip's heart on first site.

The last book of the series, Chesapeake Blue, tells the story of the last adopted brother, Seth. Twenty years have elapsed since Inner Harbor. This was the perfect ending to a breathtaking series. In this book, you are able to see how Seth has dealt with his new surroundings and if he has been able to separate himself from his biological mother. The book also updates readers on the lives of Seth's three brothers and their families. Seth unexpectantly falls in the love with a new businesswoman in town. They develop a relationship as friends that blooms into undying love, respect, and compassion.

I highly recommend any romance novel fan to read this series. You won't regret the time spent!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful continuation
Review: How many ever wondered what happened after the Quinn trilogy? Well now we know, once again Nora Roberts has written an excellent book.
Seth has always been an artist, and grew up with the Quinn's. Now he is a man of his on and an acclaimed artist through out Europe. But something is sending him home to the security Chesapeake Bay and family.
Not long after arriving home he meets the newest member of the area Dru Whitcombe banks, and is instantly drawn to her. But his past is still haunting him. Can he take care of all his problems from the past alone or will he need the help of his brothers and Dru?
Once again we are taking to the Bay, for an excellent read. Nora Roberts truly writes the intriguing books that bring the Characters to life right in your mind as you are reading.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing!!!!
Review: Nora Roberts has the ability to make you fall completely in love with her characters! I was thrilled when I heard that she had decided to write Seth's story as well. This books is just as good as the previous ones in this series. I love the fact that we also get to meet Cam, Ethan and Phil's families. Nora Roberts has become one of my favorite authors, and because the first NR books I read was the Quinn books, they will always be my favorites from her.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Why are these two even together???
Review: Since I'm an owner of all three other books in this series, I was very excited about getting to finally read Seth's story. However, halfway through the book I was already disappointed. The chemistry between the main characters just wasn't there. In fact, I didn't like the heroine (Dru Whitcomb Banks) at all. All she does is whine about her life and make rude comments to the people around her (especially Seth). It just was NOT believable that these two were in love. The only reason why I finished the book was becasue I wanted to know more about what happened to the other Quinn brothers. Nedless to say, the book was very anticlimactic and Seth definatly deserved better...maybe someone more like his very interesting, very loving niece/cousin/sister: Aubrey

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: From Tangier to Little Choptank...for lunch
Review: I confess that I want to complain about this trilogy/quadrilogy largely because of my un-PC affection for it. These books offer brief (and, alas, imaginary) fulfillments of three of my long-cherished wishes: close extended family, a job that lets me have evenings off (maybe with a beer in hand) and both of the above in Chesapeake country. (I already have the great relationship, but one of the sorrows of adult life is finding that even spectacular relationships don't fill every gap.)

Okay, so Roberts doesn't know Chesapeake country as well as people seem to think--no, you CAN'T sail in a fifteen-foot skiff from Tangier Sound to the Little Choptank before lunchtime, and if Ethan's really a waterman he'd know you haul up your heavy stuff with winches, not wenches. Okay, so the real reason the Brothers Quinn all have to be self-employed is because the lower Shore's economically depressed. So the Quinn family, despite its tormented background, is just a little too perfect: what, NO learning disabilities, sexual dysfunctions, drug problems, power struggles, school cutbacks, or marital struggles for dominance? Everybody survives those heinous childhoods without any therapy at all and comes out more mentally healthy than anyone has a right to be? (Incidentally, that's why we probably won't get Aubrey's story; as the eldest of the first generation of Non-Conflicted Quinns, she has no childhood betrayals to overcome.) And who took care of all those kids anyway while Anna was working long hours in Princess Anne and Cam was at the boatyard? Even Grace might blanch at the prospect of nursemaiding seven kids.

These are all genuine flaws in the books, including Chesapeake Blue, but as an exilt from Chesapeake and extended family alike, I'm eerily forgiving of this series. Imagination and memory fill in the gaps: if Roberts implies that Phillip (my fave--pity he has no speaking part in this novel) drives off the Bay Bridge into pristine salt marsh, ignoring the development that's scarring the Shore from Cecil to Accomac, I just shake my head and sniffle onwards. I still love this series as much as it's possible for me to love formula romance.

The bottom line? Family plus location, location, location. The sex is pedestrian (I mean, COULD the orgasm be described in nonviolent terms a bit more often?), the romance plot predictably predictable, but the idealized family and the idealized Shore together are a sentimental powerhouse, at least for readers like me.


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