"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.