Chesapeake Blue (Chesapeake Bay Saga, #4)

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Chesapeake Blue (Quinn Brothers of Chesapeake Bay #4)

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 14,751 ratings · 306 reviews

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...more

Mass Market Paperback, 357 pages

Published January 27th 2004 by Jove (first published November 4th 2002)

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Feb 28, 2010 Jana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance

The main thing I object is, cliché. Am I that stupid? Yes, I am. I really enjoy romances, quick light fix of alpha male and alpha female, just it’s hard to find an intelligent romance. But it is. Most of them are so badly written, that every time when I see so many 5 stars, I think about the readers and the old lady and her cats metaphor. Don't you have any whatsoever criteria if you rate THIS book 5 stars?

Why do they have to be so transparent? Quick fix doesn't necessarily need to be shallow a...more The main thing I object is, cliché. Am I that stupid? Yes, I am. I really enjoy romances, quick light fix of alpha male and alpha female, just it’s hard to find an intelligent romance. But it is. Most of them are so badly written, that every time when I see so many 5 stars, I think about the readers and the old lady and her cats metaphor. Don't you have any whatsoever criteria if you rate THIS book 5 stars?

Why do they have to be so transparent? Quick fix doesn't necessarily need to be shallow as well. I know there are good romantic writers out there, just I haven't had my luck. And because I'm a junkie, I need my fix. So, I settle with everything, anything. Although, Roberts has a reputation as big as ... I don't know what comparison to use. National bank where she keeps her trillions.

The stereotypes were just killing me in this Chesapeake Bay Saga. Starting with the food: all they ate was pizza, meatball subway, lasagna and pasta. Budweiser. Period. They swear, they are gentle, they’re rough and they like their steaks blue rare. And they are all mind loosingly good looking. Like, properly good looking, like you would jump on them straight away. Like a nymphomaniac on a fly.

CAMERON, the oldest adopted brother is speedy, sexy, hands under skirt type of guy, been racing and likes speed, who met stunningly gorgeous almond shaped eye Anna, the Italian social worker. These two are fire, and they remain fire until the end. But, when I was reading their dialogues, it was so predictable. Why do you do that Nora Roberts? New York Times best seller countless times. You? The cats are meowing, sorry, I need to feed them.

Second brother ETHAN is an introverted fisherman, barely speaks, only hangs out with his boat and dog and is in love with Grace, first neighbor, who is sweet and good and peachy peach. PHILLIP, third brother, is an Armani wearing punk, falls in love with BA, MA, PhD psychologist Sybill, who was fucked up, but came to her senses. And the fourth brother SETH, with his upper DC class girlfriend Drusilla. And Seth is like - new Jackson Pollock.

And then Roberts tries to be smart as hell, and she starts writing about Seth's paintings. Because, you know, he’s seen the world. Rome, Cork and Paris. Wow, did you really? Did you really Seth?! Is world really THAT big? Will you tell me about your paintings? Weeeeell, if you wanna know sugar, I’ll tell ya all. When in Rome you’ll call every woman bella and you’ll paint Spanish steps, because you know, when in Rome.... In Paris you’ll paint Eiffel tower, because you know, c’est la vie. And of course in Ireland, all colors are green, and people there are happy, happy happiness all around me people, who only think and talk about leprechauns and they search for lucky shamrocks, because Irish are all ‘away with the fairies’.

And then when you get bored with travelling, you’ll paint a man and his boat aka presenting character's inner disturbances (never seen that coming!), wheat fields during the summer and a little girl with a red balloon in it, and if you are in a special mood, you’ll paint the love of your life, covered with just rose petals. Really Seth, red roses, my favourite flowers are red roses. You just outwit yourself in originality. Let me grab you another Bud and pizza with all the toppings.

Annoying as hell. No, I am annoying as hell. Because you really have to be a dumbass to like it so much to give it more than 2 stars. (less)

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Jul 29, 2008 Isis FG rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: romance readers / Nora Roberts fans

Recommended to Isis FG by: continuation of a series / favorite author

Shelves: author-nora-roberts, favs-reread, genre-romance-drama, reviewed, stars-4

The 4th and final book in the Chesapeake Bay / Quinn Brothers series. And yet another highly enjoyable book. I love rereading this one simply for the story (though the romance is good as well).

It's been 18 years since the Quinn brothers took Seth in and gave him a home. Eighteen years since he escaped the horrible life his mother led. He's never forgotten how lucky he is, and how much he owes to Cam, Ethan, Phillip and their wives. For the last few years, he's been traveling the world, painting...more The 4th and final book in the Chesapeake Bay / Quinn Brothers series. And yet another highly enjoyable book. I love rereading this one simply for the story (though the romance is good as well).

It's been 18 years since the Quinn brothers took Seth in and gave him a home. Eighteen years since he escaped the horrible life his mother led. He's never forgotten how lucky he is, and how much he owes to Cam, Ethan, Phillip and their wives. For the last few years, he's been traveling the world, painting and gaining a reputation. But now he's ready to come home, back to the little town of St Christopher on the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, the one thing he hoped to escape follows him, dragging the past along with it. All he wants to do is protect his family and the woman who has become such an important part of his life, but it won't be as easy as he hopes.

This is such a great book to read because Seth is not just some random character. He was a featured player in the 3 previous books in the series where you learned about his tragic childhood, how damaged and afraid he was, and how much his life changed because of the love of the Quinns. He's a character you're already firmly attached to. So to read about his later years and how he finds the love of his life, it's just really nice. I thought Roberts did a good job with the storyline of this book - showing how Seth still struggles with his past and how that relates to his family. I'll admit the "finale" made me a bit sad, but even so, you knew the Quinns would be all right. Together, they could do anything.

I loved how Roberts used Stella in this story. It fit so well with what she'd done in the previous books. I actually got a little teary-eyed at how her first appearance in the book played out. And the Zucchini Bread Football thing was hilarious.

The romance between Seth and Dru was solid. Dru did remind me a little of Sybill (Inner Harbor) but she was more relatable and likable. I like how their love story played out. It was slowly built, which is nice to read for a change, instead of just two people just jumping into the sack. It made their relationship very believable.

Another great aspect is getting to catch up with all the Quinns. The scenes with them were wonderful. I love Cam. He's such a great character. And it was great to see Aubrey grown up - though I was surprised by how Roberts wrote her character. But it fit.

All-around, this is a nice feel-good romance to read. The characters are wonderful as is the romance and the storyline. The book is a great addition to the Chesapeake Bay Saga.(less)

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Aug 30, 2011 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: with-review, series, 2011-reads, favorite-series, adult, favorites, amazing-romance, cont-romance, read-more-than-once, courage-hope, favs-rereads, cheer-me-up, family

It's always sad when you finish reading a book or a series, to say goodbye to characters you fell in love with, characters that become part of you while reading.
Each character from the Chesapeake Bay Saga became a part of me, made me want to be part of their amazing family and it's so sad to know Chesapeake Blue was the last book.

Chesapeake Blue brings us back to Seth Quinn, the last boy Ray rescued and who Cameron, Ethan and Phillip took care of after Ray died.
Seth's coming back from Europe, h...more It's always sad when you finish reading a book or a series, to say goodbye to characters you fell in love with, characters that become part of you while reading.
Each character from the Chesapeake Bay Saga became a part of me, made me want to be part of their amazing family and it's so sad to know Chesapeake Blue was the last book.

Chesapeake Blue brings us back to Seth Quinn, the last boy Ray rescued and who Cameron, Ethan and Phillip took care of after Ray died.
Seth's coming back from Europe, he's all grown up, an artist and ready to stay in St. Chris to live.
Of course we get to see the rest of the characters we met in Sea Swept, Rising Tides and Inner Harbor back as well. Cam, Ethan, Phil, Anna, Grace and Sybill are part of this story too.
So much happened in their lives and they're still so much in love and love each other. I was so happy to read about them again.

This book had the perfect balance between Seth falling in love with Drusilla (who's new in St. Chris and is a likeable heroine, perfect match for him) as well as interactions between the Quinn family. Both parts were wonderful to read, but of course my favorite part was the family aspect. I almost cried through many parts of the story. I couldn't stop grinning and laughing and suffering along with them.
My only complaint about the book was the ending because I would've loved to read an ending that close the entire series, but I guess the point of this ending was to let us know that the Quinn's story didn't end there because there's so much more things they'll live, so much more love they'll share. And also Nora put a lot of Cam and Anna (my favorite couple) in the book so I can forget that ending detail, haha.
Ok, I'll stop here because I don't want to spoil more things to those who haven't read it.

The Chesapeake Bay Saga is so worth reading. Nora Roberts fans who haven't read it, you won't regret it. Those suckers for romance like me who also want to read about family, you won't regret reading this series either. Even those who just like reading about two people falling in love won't regret reading about family too because the Quinn family has that something that will make you love them. And yes, read the series starting from book one. Maybe the fourth book could be a stand alone but you won't enjoy it as much if you don't start from book one.

Thank you Nora for writing such an amazing, heart-touching series with great and amazing characters.
It will certainly stay with me for a long time.(less)

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Aug 23, 2008 Brenda (b) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, 1-print-books, 2-2008-read

Definitely a keeper - the whole series is. I loved them all, this one included. Chesapeake Blue is a truly fitting conclusion to the original trilogy. The theme of family coming together in love and understanding is just as strong as in the first 3 books. I loved seeing Cam, Ethan, Phillip and their wives again, plus meeting their kids too. And Seth is one terrific guy - gorgeous, talented, considerate. The fact that he survived Gloria and was able to flourish with the Quinns makes him even more...more

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Jul 26, 2008 Elesa Labanz rated it 4 of 5 stars

My mom was forever reading one of these Nora Roberts books. I see that there are quite a few of them. They're definitely not my style of book but as I sit in her house, doing her dishes, going through her mail, I am curious to know more about the private part of her life. She was a very private person.

I'm not sure what reading this book revealed to me about her. It's very romantic; very sexual. I don't really view my mother that way. My mom was very practical and sex didn't seem to be a source o...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Lover of Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

In Chesepeake Blue, Seth Quinn returns home from Europe. After a successful career as a painter, he knows he needs to return home. Ever since he was fourteen years old, there is a secret that has been haunting him and feels a need to return home and to his family. After a family homecoming that lightens Seth heart and spirit. After overcoming his childhood that was a hellish nightmare, he is now more than ever determined to find joy in life and with his family now that he has returned home for g...more In Chesepeake Blue, Seth Quinn returns home from Europe. After a successful career as a painter, he knows he needs to return home. Ever since he was fourteen years old, there is a secret that has been haunting him and feels a need to return home and to his family. After a family homecoming that lightens Seth heart and spirit. After overcoming his childhood that was a hellish nightmare, he is now more than ever determined to find joy in life and with his family now that he has returned home for good. Then through a course of fate he meets a woman who runs a florist shop in St Christopher, a woman who he views as a challenge. After meeting her Seth knows he needs to paint her and truly get to know the woman beneath the cool exterior. But there is a rising storm on the horizon, that will come to haunt him and his family if he finds the strength to seek help from those that truly love him.

As I have loved this series, this is the final installment of the series. In this one I read this book "Audio" style. Its been some time since I have listened to a book by Nora Roberts, but I am glad that I did. Of all the brothers of the Quinn family, Seth is definitely my favorite, especially as we see his childhood in the previous three books, we see a terrified little boy who has been sorely treated in his young life, but then is adopted into the Quinn family and shown the value of family and love. Who encouraged him how to work hard and develop his talents, especially his talent for painting which has made him famous world wide. Now as he returns home Then he meets Drusilla, where a passion and a powerful love ignites between them. Drusilla has grown up in a family unit whereas wealth and title mean everything. Having been hurt in the past, she doesn't dare trust herself to be hurt by love once more. But when she meets Seth, things change, and the ice around her heart melts with every tender caress and kiss. This is a tender story where both Seth and Dru will have to trust in each other and in Seth's family to overcome the rising challenge that could tear his whole family apart including the new love he has found in his life. This was such a enchanting story, where all the pieces of the puzzle come together and with a full satisfying end that leaves the reader content. So if you love Nora Roberts than you will definitely fall in love with the Quinn family on Chesepeake Bay!
(less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Mónica Silva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...

Em O Azul da Baía a estória desenrola-se cerca de vinte anos após os acontecimentos relatados nos volumes anteriores. Assim, seguimos a vida de Seth, o último dos irmãos adotados pela família Quinn. O jovem assustado, tímido e profundamente marcado por uma infância trágica, tornou-se num pintor talentoso, um homem criativo, carismático e determinado. Porém, tal como os seus irmãos, o passado volta para o assombrar, na forma da sua mãe bioló...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

I always tell people that I never reread books. I'm starting to realize that is a lie. While I do not reread often I do like to revisit some books, especially when they are written by my favorite author and I've read everything she has written! It has been almost 10 years since I last read of the Quinn Brothers, but this has always been my favorite trilogy.

Cam, Ethan, and Philip Quinn are all called home to their fathers unexpected deathbed, and find a surprise: a ten year old boy named Seth who...more I always tell people that I never reread books. I'm starting to realize that is a lie. While I do not reread often I do like to revisit some books, especially when they are written by my favorite author and I've read everything she has written! It has been almost 10 years since I last read of the Quinn Brothers, but this has always been my favorite trilogy.

Cam, Ethan, and Philip Quinn are all called home to their fathers unexpected deathbed, and find a surprise: a ten year old boy named Seth who their father was in the process of adopting. While the adoption is not that big of a surprise - The Mighty Quinn adopted all of his sons, saving them from hard lives and surefire destruction - but there seems to be more to Seth than meets the eye. Against the backdrop of a small working water town on Maryland's Eastern Shore, the brothers soon realize that his adoption involves speculation of scandal, a hard mother that will not go away, and they must band together to protect their newest family member.

The first three books are the original trilogy and tell the story of Cam, Ethan, and Phil adjusting to, accepting, and coming to love Seth as they fight to keep him safe. Obviously, there are some attractive women involved as well: Anna, Seth's caseworker, is the perfect blend of Italian temper and soothing logic for the fast-paced Cam; Grace and Ethan have known each other almost their whole lives, but it takes the shared interest in Seth's safety to convince these two shy and cautious individuals to move a little faster; and Sybil has a secret that almost ruins her relationship with Phil, but in the end she makes them a true family. The forth books is about Seth almost 20 years later. His past is still haunting him but the sophisticated Dru is the perfect person to give him the courage to hope for a new life.

I truly adore these books. The characters are wonderfully done: the interaction and love between the adopted brothers melts my heart. They razz each other, occasionally get into fights, are not overly emotional, but when push comes to shove they are all Quinns, and if you mess with one Quinn you mess with them all. The women are smart, strong, and equally loving. I did rate the first two books just a bit higher because I like the relationships of the main characters so much more...mainly because the two women are my favorite :)

Overall, quick, enjoyable reads, and a welcome visit to old friends.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, romance, audio

Eighteen years have passed since the third book in the Quinn Brothers trilogy, and some things in St. Christopher never change. The three oldest Quinn brothers are still building boats, the Quinn wives are still putting up with their shenanigans, and everyone still supports the other, without question. But Seth has been gone for five long years, running more from his past than from his present. Almost immediately upon his return, his artist’s eye is caught by the new florist, Dru, who is doing a...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Vinaya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-loved, favorites, nora-week-with-flann-and-maureen, re-reading-times-1-million, romance, comparative-5-stars

Nothing But Nora Week, Book 2

Chesapeake Blue is the last book in the Chesapeake Bay Saga. It's the story of Seth Quinn, the youngest of the Quinn brothers, who has just returned home after a few years in Italy. Seth is now an up-and-coming painter who's making waves in art circles, but his heart, as always, lies with his family in St.Christopher, on the Maryland Shore. Soon after moving back, he encounters the fascinating Drusilla Whitcomb Banks, who has just opened a florist's shop in St. Chris...more Nothing But Nora Week, Book 2

Chesapeake Blue is the last book in the Chesapeake Bay Saga. It's the story of Seth Quinn, the youngest of the Quinn brothers, who has just returned home after a few years in Italy. Seth is now an up-and-coming painter who's making waves in art circles, but his heart, as always, lies with his family in St.Christopher, on the Maryland Shore. Soon after moving back, he encounters the fascinating Drusilla Whitcomb Banks, who has just opened a florist's shop in St. Christopher, and is immediately struck by the desire to paint her. Dru's been hurt before, and her complicated family history doesn't let her open up to people very easily, but as she gets to know Seth and his warm, boisterous family, she slowly loosens up and falls in love.

Chesapeake Blue is my favorite kind of Nora Roberts story. It's like a novel-length epilogue to the preceding three books. You get a glimpse into the happily married life of the couples that you fell in love with in the previous books. There's Cameron, the former race car driver, and Anna, the social worker with the steel of spine and the heart of gold. With two teenage sons, they're still in love with each other, and still running off for some nookie in the middle of family parties. It's a portrayal of a marriage that every woman dreams she'll have. Ditto for Ethan and Grace and Phillip and Sybill. They all have kids and contented lives, the boat-building business they all struggled with in the first three books is now a success and best of all, eighteen years down the line, they still haven't lost their charm. *swoon*

And Seth, who really tugged on my heartstrings as the suspicious, troubled kid in Cam, Ethan and Phil's stories, now comes into his own. He's smart, funny, laid-back and so full of love for his family, it hurts. There is, of course, trouble in Paradise, in the form of Seth's evil mother, Gloria DeLauteur, who has reappeared to blackmail him into giving her money, but in the end, the bonds of family triumph over all evil, and we get our expected, but still heart-warming, HEA.

As someone from a large, but not necessarily cohesive family unit, Nora Roberts plays into all my fantasies of a loud, boisterous, loving family that's always there for each other. It's like a Lifetime Movie of the Week, sure, but it's the sort of escapism that gives you hope and a dream to cling to. Someday I want very many, many kids who'll play in the backyard, tussle, tease, adopt ugly stupid dogs and grow up together. It's a vision for the future that I cherish, and Nora gives me blueprint for that imaginary, but still beloved family.

And returning to these romances reminds me of why I love the genre in the first place. There's attraction and sex and stubborn characters in her books, sure, but there's also that element of true romance. It's not all about hating each other, then falling into bed, then falling in love simply because you had heart-pounding sex, then standard clichéd misunderstanding and separation, ending up in confession of true love. Nora's characters are ones that you want to remember and cuddle instead of throwing the book away in disgust and screaming about how romance writers suck. She makes you believe that these characters are meant for each other, that they are destined to have a happy ending because they deserve it.

I'm going to be writing a LOT of Nora reviews this week, so I think it's a testament to her talent that I feel confident of being able to review a dozen Nora books without becoming boringly repetitive. But if I do, please tell me! :) (less)

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Sep 21, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Chesapeake Blue is the fourth and last novel in Nora Roberts' "Chesapeake Bay" series featuring her infamous Quinn brothers. Each book in the series focuses on a different brother, all of whom came from troubled and abusive families and were adopted by Ray and Stella Quinn early on in their childhoods. Chesapeake Blue is about Seth Quinn -- the only young man truly related to Ray Quinn by blood as his grandson.

There are very few authors I read in the realm of mass market publishing, and Nora Rob...more Chesapeake Blue is the fourth and last novel in Nora Roberts' "Chesapeake Bay" series featuring her infamous Quinn brothers. Each book in the series focuses on a different brother, all of whom came from troubled and abusive families and were adopted by Ray and Stella Quinn early on in their childhoods. Chesapeake Blue is about Seth Quinn -- the only young man truly related to Ray Quinn by blood as his grandson.

There are very few authors I read in the realm of mass market publishing, and Nora Roberts is one of them. With Nora Roberts, you always know what you're gonna get; which is sweet, old-fashioned romance of the sort found in Hollywood movies and angelic gentlemen with perfect manners, lots of money, and massive sex appeal. If I need a light pick-me-up after reading a horror novel, true crime, or award-worthy Holocaust literature, Nora Roberts will usually do the trick in bringing me back from the dark trenches into happy reality.

The premise of the book is about Seth returning to the Chesapeake Bay area (which is 15-20 years later) after being abroad as a successful artist. Seth comes home and reunites with his three brothers and their families which have all been featured in the previous three novels in the series. Seth meets troubled and stubborn flower-shop owner Dru, and they begin to fall in love after some trials and tribulations.

Although the majority of Nora Roberts novels have the same formula, Chesapeake Blue surprised me because not only is there lots of cussing, but it seems hotter and steamier than the other books in this series. Seth's character is super hot and sexy, especially being an artist, but I found his love-interest Dru to be pathetic. I'm really sick of reading about these beautiful and dramatic women with troubled pasts who need saving. But of course nobody in the novel is going to tell Dru she's sexy, young and beautiful and life goes on, so get over it!

I think the readers who'll enjoy Chesapeake Blue most are the readers familiar with the other books in this series, which are Sea Swept (1997), Rising Tides (1998) and Inner Harbor (1998). The novel is still great as a stand-alone, but you'll get more enjoyment from it if you treat yourself to the entire series.

For more book reviews, visit http://dreamworldbooks.com.(less)

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Sep 04, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contempry-romance-with-some-fantasy

2.5 stars. Weak characters, relationship development, and plot. Enjoyable teasing and conversations among family members.

THE SERIES:
The Chesapeake Bay series includes four books which tell a continuing story about a family. Ray and Stella Quinn adopt three troubled boys who came from abusive homes. In the first three books the boys are about 30 years old. They left home, have good jobs and are single. Stella died several years earlier. In the beginning of the first book Ray took in another boy,...more 2.5 stars. Weak characters, relationship development, and plot. Enjoyable teasing and conversations among family members.

THE SERIES:
The Chesapeake Bay series includes four books which tell a continuing story about a family. Ray and Stella Quinn adopt three troubled boys who came from abusive homes. In the first three books the boys are about 30 years old. They left home, have good jobs and are single. Stella died several years earlier. In the beginning of the first book Ray took in another boy, 10-year-old Seth, who was abused by his mother Gloria. Gloria offered to give legal guardianship to Ray in return for a large sum of money. Before anything was official, Ray died in a car accident. Shortly before he died, he asked his three sons to move back home to take care of Seth. All three men promised they would. They decide to start a boat building business. In the first three books each of the three men meets and falls in love with a woman. The fourth book tells the story of Seth, who is grown, returns home and falls in love. The best parts of the first three books are watching the developing relationships among Seth and the three men and seeing Seth blossom. Each book has a minor amount of fantasy due to some conversations with a ghost. The four books, main characters, and my ratings are:
Sea Swept (Cameron and Anna) 4 stars
Rising Tides (Ethan and Grace) 3 stars
Inner Harbor (Phillip and Sybill) 3 stars
Chesapeake Blue (Seth and Dru) 2.5 stars

STORY BRIEF (WITH MILD SPOILERS) (Chesapeake Blue, Book 4):
Seth is now about 28. Gloria began contacting him when he was a teen, threatening to hurt his family. He secretly has been paying her money to stay away. He spent several years in Europe to get away from her. But when he became a famous painter, she followed him to Europe. Since he couldn’t avoid her and since he missed his family, he moves back to Chesapeake Bay.

Dru is the only child of a wealthy family in Washington D.C. Her fiancé cheated on her, and she moved to Chesapeake Bay to open a flower shop. She bought a house and loves living alone, with no domestic help. She likes the small town environment. Seth sees her and immediately falls for her. He wants to paint her. She is reluctant. He rents the space above her flower shop for his art studio.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The primary weakness was the two main characters were not interesting enough. There was not enough relationship development. I also felt it was too quick for Seth to ask her to marry him. The best parts of the book were the camaraderie, teasing, and conversations among the Quinn family members. That was entertaining and well done.

The major conflict in this story was regarding Gloria, Seth’s horrible mother. The Gloria problem was resolved in Book 3. So I was unhappy to see that the author had to weaken Seth’s character in order to reactivate Gloria’s bad guy role. I did not enjoy seeing Seth wimp out and pay her blackmail money over fourteen years without telling his family. They stood up to her and scared her off before. They would have done it again. I wasn’t happy with this plot. I enjoyed the first book the most.

DATA:
Story length: 240 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 7. Setting: current day Chesapeake Bay area and Washington D.C.. Copyright: 2002. Genre: contemporary romance with fantasy.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb books, see my 4.5 star review of "Angels Fall" posted on 6-30-08.(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Lydia Perversius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chesapeake-bay-saga

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "Time just goes by, no matter what the hell you do. Some things you let go. Some things are worth repeating." - Stella Quin

What can I say? I love me some Quinn family dynamic, and the way those hard-headed siblings lead their life is irresistible. And there's no denying that if there was no story for Seth, it would be a great disappointment for me in all this. Last time I checked, this writer does anything BUT disappoint my taste and expectation in romantic stories.

Now an adult and a famous arti...more "Time just goes by, no matter what the hell you do. Some things you let go. Some things are worth repeating." - Stella Quin

What can I say? I love me some Quinn family dynamic, and the way those hard-headed siblings lead their life is irresistible. And there's no denying that if there was no story for Seth, it would be a great disappointment for me in all this. Last time I checked, this writer does anything BUT disappoint my taste and expectation in romantic stories.

Now an adult and a famous artist, Seth Quinn, the little smart-mouthed and adorable brat that the Quinn brothers made their own, is coming home from studying and working in Europe - and he's here to stay. But every person comes with a package, a past, and Seth's is far from being dealt with. With him, Gloria DeLauter, his abusing mother, is back, doing what she always does best - blackmailing and bleeding people out of their money. And it seems she's been doing so ever since he was fourteen without his brothers knowing! How can a single guy manage all that, and yet make it into convincing the new florist in St. Christopher to pose AND sleep with him? It should be an easy task, but Drusilla Whitcomb Banks is no easy target herself. And she has no intention of getting involved with Seth - or any other male, in that matter - at all.

I think it's been established so far that Seth was freaking adorable when he was a kid. That is multiplied now that he's grown up. If he hadn't backed down from his decision to never give any money to his bitch of a mother, this story would be a lot smoother. Then again, if he had done that, the story wouldn't be half as interesting. The whole "getting drunk and then try to act like an ass to the girl so that she leaves and thus stays safe" plan would be a damn success if he didn't chicken out in the end - thank God! I expected one of his brothers to do that in one of the previous books, and then, BAM! The kid goes and shocks me to next Tuesday! Also, the part where he was praising breasts and lingerie? I wish there was a time machine in this, so he could tell so to his younger self who was complaining to Ethan about that exact thing!

Dru was cute in her little steps to be accepted in the small-town society and blend in. To make friends and roots. But did she have to be like that to Seth? I don't know if I take it that personally because I adore Seth to bits, but really, using even the stupid excuse that Seth and Aubrey must secretly have romantic feelings for each other in order to avoid getting in a relationship was pathetic, and, if it was any other family, she would not be forgiven that easily! Seriously, girl, I don't even want to know how your mind works!

The whole Quinn clan was a hilarious unit, by the way. You have three former badasses who are so scared of their wives, they even flip the coin to see which one of them will tell them to go home!
"Quinn men don't fall for a woman unless she's got a spine." - Cameron Quinn
The kids are awesome, though I would have liked to see more of Ethan's spawns - or Phillip's. A nice surprise had to be Aubrey. In Ethan's story, she was the most annoying and cute thing ever. Now she's a real Quinn badass, a tomboy, AND Will's girlfriend - wait, woah, where did that come from?! Dan and Will McLean are now really cool - OK, we all expected Dan to be when he grew up, but Will?! The same cute little boy, whose mouth ran fifty miles a seconds, and he was as naive as they come? That Will?! Color me impressed!

All in all, the last book was a nice epilogue to the Quinn family story. It didn't have the whole "someone-please-kill-Gloria" scene that I craved for since the first book, but even so, it showed that the Quinns will again rise to the occasion should she try anything in the future, and that there was always a reason for everything happening. That bad things can sometimes bring along good things. Stella and Cam said the same thing more or less, though silly ol' me, being a major Cam fan, liked the latter's version better. If Seth hadn't come along, none of the guys would have met their wives, and their families would not exist. Plus, the Independence Day right after they all ganged up on Gloria? Real symbolic, and gave a nice emotional touch to it all.
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May 06, 2010 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nice setting, interesting people, family lifestyle is very appealing as is the fall in love romance.

Anna and Cam's noisy family with the yelling and blaring music - ugh.

Aubrey was a bit of a disappointment.

Seth is like Phillip in taste in women. Sometimes I confused the stories. At least there is more story and less gratuitous sex in this one. Seth seems to know how to respect and cherish the woman he loves.
Glad he has a happily ever after.

Could have done without the Stella visits. Not sure it...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Connie N. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: feel-good, romance, sports-boating

This was a wonderful series! It started out as a trilogy, I think, following each of the adopted troubled sons of Ray and Stella Quinn. Those books were so good--feel good, warm, and strongly family-oriented. I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking that Roberts created this 4th in the series so we could all follow the life of Seth Quinn, the brother who was adopted last and who figured prominently in all 3 of the previous books. Each could be a stand-alone book, I suppose, but the building of th...more

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May 01, 2012 Marianne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chesapeake Blue is the fourth of the Chesapeake Bay series by Nora Roberts. It is the story of Seth Quinn, who as a ten-year-old , was bought from his mother (Ray’s estranged daughter, Gloria deLauter) by Ray Quinn and raised by Ray’s adopted sons, Cam, Ethan and Phil. After years of promoting his art around the continent, Seth Quinn wants to come home to St Christopher, to the security of the place he grew up in. when he arrives, he meets Drusilla Whitcomb-Banks, granddaughter of a Senator, who...more

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May 03, 2012 Jintana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-audio-collection

เล่มจบของซีรีส์ Chesapeake Bay เป็นเรื่องราวของ the lost boy คนสุดท้อง Seth ที่เป็นปมของเรื่องราวทั้งหมดเติบโตขึ้นเป็นศิลปินวาดภาพที่มีชื่อเสียง

หลังจากที่ Seth จากบ้านไปอยู่ยุโรปหลายปีด้วยเหตุผลที่เขาปิดบังไม่ให้ใครรู้ เขาตัดสินใจกลับมาบ้านเพื่ออยู่กับพี ๆ และครอบครัว ได้พบกับ Dru เจ้าของร้านดอกไม้สาวสวยมีชาติตระกูลและร่ำรวยมหาศาลที่หนีจากชีวิตเจ้าหญิงในวอชิงตัน มาตั้งถิ่นฐานและเปิดร้านดอกไม้ในเมืองเล็ก ๆ นี้

Gloria แม่ของ Seth กลับมาตามรังควานและไถเงินจากลูกชายอีก ซึ่งคนในครอบครัวไม่มีใครรู้เลย...more เล่มจบของซีรีส์ Chesapeake Bay เป็นเรื่องราวของ the lost boy คนสุดท้อง Seth ที่เป็นปมของเรื่องราวทั้งหมดเติบโตขึ้นเป็นศิลปินวาดภาพที่มีชื่อเสียง

หลังจากที่ Seth จากบ้านไปอยู่ยุโรปหลายปีด้วยเหตุผลที่เขาปิดบังไม่ให้ใครรู้ เขาตัดสินใจกลับมาบ้านเพื่ออยู่กับพี ๆ และครอบครัว ได้พบกับ Dru เจ้าของร้านดอกไม้สาวสวยมีชาติตระกูลและร่ำรวยมหาศาลที่หนีจากชีวิตเจ้าหญิงในวอชิงตัน มาตั้งถิ่นฐานและเปิดร้านดอกไม้ในเมืองเล็ก ๆ นี้

Gloria แม่ของ Seth กลับมาตามรังควานและไถเงินจากลูกชายอีก ซึ่งคนในครอบครัวไม่มีใครรู้เลยว่าตลอดเวลาที่ผ่านมาตั้งแต่ Seth อายุ 14 จนถึงทุกวันนี้ เขายอมทนให้เธอรีดเงินจากเขาเพื่อป้องกันไม่ให้เธอเข้ามาก่อความเดือดร้อนและยุ่งวุ่นวายกับครอบครัวเขา

เป็นเล่มที่ชอบมากที่สุดของซีรีส์นี้ค่ะ เนื้อเรื่องและตัวละครมีสีสัน การดำเนินเรื่องน่าติดตาม ความสัมพันธ์ของคนในครอบครัวน่ารักและอบอุ่น (less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Jenny Delandro rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-nora-roberts-j-d-robb

I picked this book up at lunchtime ..... 130110

Sitting in the sun, with other lunchtime office workers, getting a little sun, I decide to eat my lunch and read a couple of pages....

A horn disturbs my quiet time and I realise that I am on my own .... where did the the people go???

Look at the time OOPS....
LOOK AT THE PAGE.... DOUBLE OOPS!!!!

Packing up and hurrying back to the daily grind.... 86 pages and slightly late but I can not stop smiling.....

**Sighing sadly**
I have finished...
the series is...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Tempo de Ler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

{Blog} http://tempodler.blogspot.pt/2012/07/...

Por fim, a conclusão da Saga da Baía de Chesapeake.

No quarto volume desta saga reencontramos Seth 18 anos depois - agora um famoso pintor que viajou por todo o mundo e regressa a casa, da Europa, depois de 5 anos de ausência. E é simplesmente maravilhoso acompanhá-lo neste regresso e voltar a encontrar, uma última vez, a família Quinn!

A dinâmica familiar que se desenvolveu ao longo dos três livros anteriores é maravilhosa - todas as conversas e int...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Lady Raven RAVE! rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favorites

I really enjoyed reading about Seth and his life. This book added so much humor to make the situations a bit more fun, especially since Seth is still young. Reading about him as a man was far better than hearing about him when he was a boy. However, a wonderful ending to a series....

Also recommended: SEASWEPT/RISING TIDES/INNER HARBOR/VILLA/BIRTHRIGHT---- WERE ALL A GOOD READ

Feel free to join my book group on Facebook (Romance Novel Junkies) and fan page ( Romance Novel Junkies Book Reviews). We...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: artist-photographer, challenge-2012, contemporary-romance, my-4-star-romances

The fourth book in Nora Robert's Chesapeake Bay Saga. I've always enjoyed Nora Roberts and this was no exception. I haven't read the previous ones in this series but I didn't feel lost. Likable characters and predictable but a good read.

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Apr 03, 2010 January rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-story, series

Let me first say that I loved this series by Nora Roberts. It was one of my favorite series to read! That being said this fourth book in the series isn't worth your time. This book was nothing like the first three books. I was so excited to read this one because it is about Seth and you get to see how things turn out for him. I was very disappointed. I didn't like the women he falls for...and didn't think they had much chemistry at all. I actually quit reading this book in the middle of it becau...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Elizabeth Nesbit-comer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have a feeling I would have liked this story better if I had read them in order, but it was still a great quaint read. I love how Nora Roberts can make these little towns and tyheir inhabitants come to life. Everytime I read one of these books I want to live there whether its a farm, boat, fire jumping base camp, or haunted house. I will need to go back and read the first three books :)
My only complaint with this book is the whole mom issue which didn't really seem like it should have been t...more

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May 25, 2012 Ning rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, contemporary, romance, favorites

ปิดจบไปอีกซีรีย์แล้ว ดีใจเอิงเอย ..

เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มน้องคนสุดท้อง
Seth เด็กน้อยเจ้าปัญหาจากเล่มก่อน ๆ หน้านี่เอง

เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่ปิดจบได้ค่อนข้างประทับใจมาก ๆ ค่ะ
ประทับใจครอบครัว Quinn มาก ๆ โดยเฉพาะ Cam พี่คนโตในเล่มนี้
แย่งซีนได้ทุกครั้งที่ปรากฎตัวเลยทีเดียว
(พอเข้าใจมาทำไมถึงได้มาเป็นตัวละครเด่นในเล่มนี้นะคะ
แต่ไม่เข้าใจว่า คนอื่น ๆ ถึงไม่มีความสำคัญเลย น่าน้อยใจแทนนัก)

อ่านแล้วประทับใจค่ะ สารภาพว่าเสียน้ำตาให้เล่มนี้หลายตอนทีเดียว
แต่เป็นการเสียน้ำตาแบบรู้สึกดี ๆ ค่ะ

จุดข้องใจมีนิดเดียว ก็คือน้อง...more

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Jul 27, 2010 adventurat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to adventurat by: Amy I.

Shelves: 2010, e-book, fiction, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 08, 2010 •´|||||`•. bkwrmb .•´|||||`• rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Nora Roberts book and I chose it partly because I live on the Chesapeake Bay and it was on the shelf at my local library practically begging me to pick it up. I really like Roberts writing style, great character development that sucks you right into their lives.

Being an artist myself, I really got Seth and the humor and wit she wove into him. I am so happy this was my first encounter with Roberts writing and I will probably compare everything else of hers by my first impressio...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Sarah Jagger rated it 4 of 5 stars

This series surprised me. My sister is a big fan of the works of Nora Roberts, and I was sceptical of the value of her work, but my sister was willing to read one of my favorite book series, and so I agreed to read one of her favorite series, and the Chesapeake Bay Saga was what she gave me.

This is a wonderful series, and Nora Roberts has a great talent of getting inside a mans mind. I loved the relationship between these four brothers, and their struggles to become real men of character. It is...more

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Jul 16, 2012 M rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php...

www.booksonboard.com nora roberts writes great contemporary romance. this is the final installment in the quinn family series. it is seth's story. i love how we get to see what happens to all the other brothers and seth since this story is told years after the first three installments. anyway, as usual nora roberts writes a good story. if possible read the other books in the series first.

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Feb 12, 2013 Lyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-and-poetry, entertainment-sports

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, and all the blessed chaos of the extended Quinn clan. Finally, he's back in the little blue-and-white house where there'...more

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About Nora Roberts

aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sopho...more aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sophomore year in high school, she transferred to a local public school, where she met Ronald Aufdem-Brinke, her future first husband.

In Augusy 17, 1968, as soon as she had graduated from High School, Eleanor married, against her parents' wishes. The marriage settled in Keedysville, Maryland. Her husband worked at his father's sheet-metal business before joining her parents in their lighting company. While, she worked briefly as a legal secretary. "I could type fast but couldn't spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever," she says now. After their sons, Dan and Jason, were born she stayed home. Calling this her "Earth Mother" years, she spent much of her time doing crafts, including ceramics and sewing her children's clothes. The marriage ended separating, and they obtained the divorce in January 1985.

In February 1979, a blizzard in forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate. During the now famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981 as Nora Roberts, a shortened form of her birth name Eleanor Marie Robertson, because she assumed that all authors had pen names.

Eleanor wrote under the pseudonym Jill March a story for a magazine titled "Melodies of Love".

Eleanor met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Her husband owns and operates a bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland called "Turn the Page Books". Since that time, they've expanded their home, traveled the world.

In 1992, she decided adopted other pseudonym so to publish a futuristic-suspense novels, she first decided to use the pseudonym D.J. MacGregor, but she discovered that this pseudonym was used by another author. In 1995, her first "In Death" serial novel was published under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, the initials "J.D." were taken from her sons, Jason and Dan, while "Robb" is a shortened form of Roberts.

Eleanor has also been known as Sara Hardesty, because when the "Born In" series was released in U.K. it carried that name instead of Nora Roberts. She has since changed publishers.

Eleanor has been plagiarized by another best-selling romance writer, Janet Dailey. The practice came to light after a reader read Nora Roberts' "Sweet Revenge" and Janet Dailey's "Notorious" back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the Internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Eleanor sued Janet Daily. In 1997, Janet, admitted to repeatedly plagiarizing from Nora Roberts' work, and that both "Aspen Gold" and "Notorious" lifted heavily from Nora Roberts's work. Both of those novels were pulled from print after Janet's admission. She acknowledged the plagiarism and blamed it on a psychological disorder. In a settlement, Janet paid Eleanor an undisclosed sum, which Eleanor donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.

A founding member of the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A.), she was the first inductee in the organization's Hall of Fame. She also is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the (less)

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Trivia About Chesapeake Blue

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Quotes from Chesapeake Blue

“It's not an exaggeration to say that they saved my life. Ray Quinn, then Cam and Ethan and Phil. They turned their world around for me, and because of it, turned mine around with it. Anna and Grace and Sybill, Aubrey too. They made a home for me, and nothing that happened before matters nearly as much as everything that came after.” — 7 people liked it

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Chesapeake Blue (Quinn Brothers of Chesapeake Bay #4)

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