"Wonderful Return to the Chesapeake Bay"

Long-time fans of Ms. Roberts will recognize her latest as the fourth installment in the Quinn family series set amidst the beauty of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. Seth is the youngest of the four adopted Quinn brothers and the grandson of Ray, the man who adopted him. But when Ray was killed in a car accident mere months after Seth's mother Gloria sold Seth to him, the brothers Quinn stepped in to raise the emotionally damaged ten-year-old.

Growing up amidst the lively Quinn clan, Seth is able to foster his love of art even as he aids his new family in the boat building enterprise. Adulthood brings with it the promises of fame and fortune as Seth, the artist, takes a tour of Europe. To avoid demons of his past and revel in the security of family, he decides to return home to Maryland with the intention of making that his permanent home. And while his charming good looks have heralded a beacon to many a young woman, he has never met anyone like Dru Whitcomb, a D.C. transplant who owns a local florist shop. Dru's past relationships have taught her to be wary of men, but Seth seems to have a way of breaking down her barriers to begin to establish a relationship between them, only to find those demons knocking on his door again.

Ms. Roberts has written a novel that immediately immerses the reader into its every page with a sense of realism that gives one the feeling of being a bystander in this small Maryland community. The power of love is an oft-used theme of this author, whether it be romantic love or strong bond of family and friends. And a critical point employed in this novel, which puts Ms. Roberts in a league of her own, is the fact that while romance is a crucial part of the plot line, the sub-plots are not just an added attraction, but a major force in building the romance.

Reviewed by Sheri Melnick
Posted November 11, 2002

Don't miss the other books in the Quinn Brothers Trilogy
Sea Swept (Cameron's story)
Rising Tides (Ethan's story)
Inner Harbor (Phillip's story)
and finally,
Chesapeake Blue (Seth's story)

Summary

Seth Quinn is finally home.

It's been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, he'd 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, 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 since he's been gone-and the most intriguing change of all is the presence of Dru Whitcomb Banks. A city girl who's 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.

But storms are brewing that are about to put their relationship to the test. Dru's past has made her sensitive to deception-and slow to trust. And Seth's past has made him a target of blackmail-as a secret he's kept hidden for years threatens to explode, destroying his new life and his new love. . . .