Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

Rising Tides
By Nora Roberts
Published August 1, 1998
Fiction/Romance
$7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com


Book 2 of 5  in "The Chesapeake Bay" Series


"Rising Tides" begins where the first book, "Sea Swept" left off. Anna and Cam are newlyweds on honeymoon and the other brothers are looking after the newest brother, Seth, and the building of their first sail boat from their fledgling boat company. This book focuses particularly on Ethan Quinn and his relationship with Grace Monroe. Each book in the saga covers a Brother Quinn and they are written in the order that each Quinn was adopted by Ray and Stella Quinn.

Ethan Quinn, the oldest of the brothers, shares his adopted fathers love for fishing and the Bay.
He operates his own commercial fishing boat. He has the toughest childhood of any of the brothers and Nora Roberts goes into great detail about the child abuse that Seth suffered at the hands of his birth mother. This topic is not new for Roberts; she writes often of adults who have been abused; physically, emotionally, and sexually, as children. She also writes quite often about adoption. Most notably writing as J.D. Robb in the Eve Dallas "In Death" series.

Grace Monroe, a single mother to Aubrey, was introduced to us in the first book. As a reader; it was obvious that there was chemistry between Ethan and Grace. In this book, the storyline just builds on that blossoming romance.

The storyline of Seth and the Quinn families struggle to adopt him continues in this story too. The battle with Seth's birth mother isn't mentioned much though, and there is no conclusion to this storyline. Three more books to see this resolved seems to be a a little much.I think this could be wrapped as a whole in the next book. I can't imagine what book 4 and 5 cover.

On positive note, the novels do a really good job about showing the impact that child abuse has on it's grown victims and  the effect it has on their family and relationships.

Over all, "Rising Tides" is a sweet, simple romance. I enjoyed the first book more though. I feel like Ethan and Grace's story was neatly tied up but it didn't give me enough details. Did they get married? Where did they decide to live? His house or her house? Does Grace continue working three jobs?

I personally like my characters a little more rough and rebellious. I found Ethan and Grace too sweet and meek. Even their love scenes were tame!

Recommend it: If you have read the first and want to see it through to book 5, then yes. If you want a super sweet romance, then yes!

But: If you are looking for spice, adventure, or mystery- don't bother.