The Good:Ā Nora Roberts – Chesapeake Bay Saga
This is a series of four books. It started out as a trilogy and the fourth was added later. The trilogy, like many of Nora Roberts’ series, centers around a common goal. However, in this series it isn’t recovering lost treasure or saving the world from evil; it is saving one boy.
Ray & Stella Quinn couldn’t have children of their own, but they adopted three lost boys and saved them from horrific abuse: Cameron, Ethan and Peter. They raised these boys as their own, giving them the support and love they needed to get over their dark pasts and become their own people. Now Ray is alone after Stella passed away and their boys have scattered Ā – and Ray takes in another lost boy, Seth DeLauter. He starts adoption proceedings but dies suddenly in an auto accident. On his deathbed he gets his boys to promise: they will keep Seth no matter what.

Chesapeake Bay Saga
The first book, Sea Swept, concentrates on Cameron, who races boats for a living. Or rather, he used to race boats, because now he can’t as he needs to move back to his hometown and raise his new ten-year-old brother. His relationship with Seth, his brothers, and the sexy social worker Anna provoke sympathetic winces, nods and outright laughter.
The second book, Rising Tides, is about Ethan. He must come to terms with his dark past in order to move forward with Grace, the woman he’s always wanted, and give support to Seth as he needs it. The relationship of all the brothers with Seth develops and becomes deeper and more solid. This book is at times heartbreaking and at times heartwarming, but never boring.
The third, Inner Harbour, is about Phillip, “the detail man”. He is torn between his old life and the new, and Seth’s old life and his new life. He is juggling two jobs and family, and now Sybill walks into his life. But can she be trusted?
The fourth, Chesapeake Blue, takes place twenty years later and focuses on Seth himself, now a world famous painter. While his past still haunts him, he has grown into a charming and intelligent (and of course handsome!) man. And then he meets Drucilla…
As opposed to the other series I’ve read where I had a favorite and a least favorite, I found each and every book in this series a gem. The romance was wonderful and moving. The characters are interesting and well built. The drama is poignant. And Seth is a treasure. For each one: 5 stars.
The Bad: Nora Roberts – Sweet Revenge
This is yet another book that got great reviews and I found well below Nora Roberts’ standard. First, I found the whole story stretched my belief. I know life isn’t according to Nora Roberts, but some semblance of sense is still required. Next, I think a woman who really went through what Adrianne went through would need some serious therapy to work out her fear of men, and not just jump into bed with the first man who smiles at her (because she senses that Peter Chamberlain is different!). Third, she must be dumb as a plank to fall into the trap Peter set for her – and she wasn’t supposed to be. And last, this is stereotypical Islam bashing at its worst. When Nora Roberts shows us Evan Remington in “Dance on the Air”, you don’t assume that all rich people are wife beaters; but the way she portrays it here, all Muslims beat their wives and treat them like trash unless they are enlightened and move to the West. In short, ick. 0 stars.
The Duplicate: Nora Roberts – River’s End
If you haven’t read Public Secrets, then this is an excellent read, with suspense and romance, spanning the life of the heroine. If you have, then it’s painfully predictable and pointless. The story isn’t exactly the same, but except for minor details the story is practically identical. So the joint review on Public Secrets and River’s End: 4 stars. But read it on an either/or basis.
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