That Chesapeake Summer

I’ve been a fan of Mariah Stewart’s Chesapeake Diaries series for a while now and so when I was asked to review That Chesapeake Summer , I knew I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve been rather curious about Daniel as he’s been in the background for quite a while and I wanted him to get his happily ever after.

I have to admit that when this book started, I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. In fact, the book doesn’t even start out in St. Dennis, but rather in Jamie’s hometown where she’s cleaning out her family’s home after the passing of her mother. She learns a huge secret that leads her to St. Dennis and staying at Daniel’s family inn.

I love Daniel. He’s a steady family man, super responsible and hard working, loved by his family and community. He’s not not the most alpha of men, but he’s the kind of man that I’m drawn to… doesn’t need a lot of “work”. His two flaws are that he works a little too hard and he’s not completely over losing his wife.

Then there’s Jamie. She’s a successful writer who just has a bomb drop in her lap that has her questioning everything in her life. She heads to St. Dennis for answers and ends up gaining much more. She was a little harder to warm up to, but she and Daniel just work together. Occasionally Jamie just grated on my nerves, but a lot of that had to do with all the turmoil in her life.

I enjoyed my return to St. Dennis and anxious await another visit. I was happy to see old faces and to meet new ones. And came away with a smile on my face as Jamie and Daniel get their happily ever after.

My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.

Good story about a woman’s search for who she is, and how she finds love along the way. Jamie is a successful author of a series of books about honesty in relationships. After her mother’s unexpected death, Jamie discovers a letter that turns her world upside down. Hurt, angry, and confused, she sets off on a journey to find the answers she needs. Her quest leads her to the small town of St. Dennis on the Chesapeake Bay and a stay at the Inn at Sinclair’s Point.

The Inn is run by Daniel Sinclair, who took it on after the death of his father. Besides being completely immersed in the running of the Inn, Daniel is also the single father of two teenagers. His plate is full to overflowing, with little time for anything else. Having his mother, Grace, living with them has made life somewhat easier.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jamie and Dan. It started out pretty rough, with Dan in a harried mood just as Jamie arrived. He’s late for a meeting, but Grace insists that he be the one to show Jamie to her room. There are a few rather snarky comments exchanged, with Jamie believing Dan is a rude bellhop and something about Jamie getting under Dan’s skin. It doesn’t get any better later on when Dan accuses Jamie of butting in between him and his daughter. I have to say that Dan came across as quite a jerk during the early part of the book. Fortunately, he sees the error of his ways. I liked the apology scene, where he does a pretty decent job of making amends. It soon becomes clear that underneath the antagonism were also some sparks of attraction. I loved seeing them grow closer, but there were also some issues that could keep them apart. Jamie is trying to come to grips with her new reality, and the realization that truth isn’t always as black and white as she had believed. She hasn’t shared her reason for being in St. Dennis with anyone, and that secretiveness could come back to bite her. Dan is still dealing with the grief, guilt, and anger of his wife’s death. He has some trust issues because of it, and he senses that Jamie is hiding something. It was fun to see them spend time together and watch as Jamie weaned Dan away from his workaholic habits. I loved his support when Jamie finally revealed why she was there, and his understanding when she needed time to process it all. It was also sweet to see that he wasn’t able to stay away very long. I loved how he helped her work through her fears of pursuing what she had learned. I ached a little bit for Dan, who feared that he would lose her once she’d done all she needed to do. The ending was sweet and romantic.

The biggest part of the story was Jamie’s search for the truth. Her shock at the initial discovery was realistic, as was her confusion over whether she should do anything about it. I liked that she didn’t just rush off to confront the letter writer, but took the time to consider her options. Once she did make up her mind, she didn’t waste any time. It was interesting to see Grace’s diary entries that gave her the heads-up that something important was in the works. The connection between Grace and Jamie was terrific. I liked Grace’s way of helping Jamie find the truth, and also her little pushes to get Jamie and Dan together. I also loved how easily Jamie fit into life in St. Dennis. The buildup to the revelation of the truth was believable, as was Jamie’s reaction when she found out. I was on the edge of my seat as she worked through her fears, wondering if she would get the outcome she wanted. That resolution was emotional and heartwarming.