That Chesapeake Summer (The Chesapeake Diaries)

Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by Kim

It’s been awhile since I’ve read Mariah Stewart and her Chesapeake Diaries Series. In fact, the last book I read was book six, The Long Way Home. In my mind, I was a little afraid to miss two books in the series. I didn’t know if what I missed was going to factor into book nine. Luckily, it didn’t, but couples from previous books are mentioned and some actually make appearances.

Starting with page one, it was like coming home. Grace Sinclair, the owner of The St. Dennis Gazette newspaper and patriarch of the Sinclair family is still writing in her diary, conversing with Alice (who has crossed to the other side), and still having sensory premonitions.

“I have a strange feeling that something big is about to come our way. It’s good and it’s not so good, both positive and negative. I sense something that’s been hidden for a long time about to resurface, something lost but found, it’s going to affect several of us in different ways.”

That Chesapeake Summer is a wonderful story of discovery and determination. After the death of her mother, Jamie Valentine stumbles upon a secret her parents kept from her that forces her to question her whole life. She starts to believe that she herself and her life are both frauds. Jamie travels to St. Dennis, Maryland, the one place she thinks she will find answers. She doesn’t expect to be welcomed into the St. Dennis fold like she is. She doesn’t expect to make the friends she does nor does she expect to find love.

Daniel Sinclair eats, sleeps, and breaths the Inn at Sinclair Point. He’s been running it for almost twenty years, since his father passed away. He takes the responsibility of providing for his family very seriously, to the detriment of his own life and happiness. For eight years now, he has been a widower raising his teenage kids with the help of his mother. Daniel thinks he’s happy and has everything he needs until Jamie shows up and forces him to look at his life.

Once Jamie discovers what she set out to find, she isn’t prepared for the emotions that overcome her. She isn’t sure what to do with the information and she isn’t sure her heart will survive. When she unexpectedly bolts from St. Dennis, Daniel is going to have to decide if he is ready to move on with his new life, one which includes Jaime or simply go back to the way things were.

In classic Mariah Stewart style, she brings readers a story of what friendship, family, and community are all about. That Chesapeake Summer shows that while your life may contain secrets, those secrets don’t have to define who you are. Sometimes fate leads you to the right place at the right time, to find what you have always wanted and needed.

I’m definitely looking forward to returning to St. Dennis and the wonderful characters of this series.

**Received a copy from Pocket Books in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**

I just love a good small town romance series. They are one of my very favorite books to read. Mariah Stewart's That Chesapeake Summer is a great small town romance story. I found an instant bond with Jamie Valentine. This poor girl has been through so much. The loss of her mother and a very hidden secret is just about too much for her.

Jamie sets out to find out more about the family secret and ends up in St. Dennis. It has been a while since I have had a chance to read any of the Chesapeake Dairies series but I loved catching up with old friends that I remembered from previous books.

Jamie booked a room Inn at Sinclair’s Point that is owned by Grace Sinclair's family. Grace is a lady that you want to get to know in St. Dennis. She knows all the ins and outs of the town as well as all the gossip and stories. Grace is one of those fun characters that I loved catching up with to see what she had been up to since my last visit to St. Dennis.

Dan, Grace's son, runs the inn. He runs a smooth ship and makes sure that everything is taken care of. He takes care of every aspect of the inn and feels the weight and joy the responsibility that comes with it.

When Jamie checks into the inn, Dan is the one to delivery her suitcases to her room. There is instant fireworks between these two and not all of them are the good kind. There is chemistry and there is also a flare of annoyance.

Dan is a single parent of two teenage kids. A teenage daughter that is adorable and sweet with the usual issues of a teenage girl.

Jamie bonds with Dan's daughter right away which causes more tension between Jamie and Dan. I loved watching Jamie interact with the kids and Grace. They form an interesting relationship that brings great joy to them all.

I enjoyed watching Dan and Jamie get to know each other. There is a nice touch of drama between these two along with a great attraction and sweet romance.

That Chesapeake Summer is one of those books that kept me flipping pages. I could not wait to see what might happen next or what secret might be revealed.

Overall this is my kind of story. There is a nice romance, some lovely friendships, a little mystery, and charming characters. I will be looking forward to the next release from Mariah Stewart. She has a lovely writing style. I was completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end.

I was given the opportunity to read this great story so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on That Chesapeake Summer.

Mariah Stewart has brought us back to St. Dennis, Maryland with heroine Jamie Valentine in the ninth book of the Chesapeake Diaries series, That Chesapeake Summer. While cleaning out her childhood home after the death of her mother, Jamie has learned of a family secret with which her only living relative is unable to help her. She has traveled to St. Dennis on a quest for answers about herself and her family. Staying at the beautiful Inn at Sinclair’s Point, Jamie is befriended by the Sinclair family who live and work at the inn. She starts off on the wrong foot with single father Dan, who thinks she is interfering with his parenting, but their awkwardness soon turns to romance, as they spend time talking on the porch and walking the town enjoying ice cream served by Dan’s daughter at her summer job.

Workaholic Dan feels the burden of caring for his family since his father died when he was in his early twenties. Jamie is the first woman he finds truly intriguing since the death of his wife eight years earlier, but he has trouble taking time from work to spend with her. As Jamie explores St. Dennis in search of answers, she begins to love the seaside town, as well as the Sinclair family, but wonders if Dan can learn to delegate and make time for relaxation in his life.

I always enjoy Mariah Stewart’s stories because they are realistic, with believable characters I want to befriend and settings I want to visit. That Chesapeake Summer does not disappoint. I was interested to follow Jamie’s quest, visiting the historical society and helping to organize the local newspaper archives in search of answers about her family. I could imagine myself sitting on the inn’s porch chatting with Miss Grace or hanging out at the bookstore after enjoying an ice cream sitting by the bay. There were even times when I gave a little chuckle out loud, which rarely happens with me. I strongly recommend That Chesapeake Summer as a fun, quick summer read.

I received That Chesapeake Summer for free from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

I’ve never heard of nor read any Mariah Stewart book prior to this one, but when I saw the cover, I knew I had to take it on a trip to the beach. Despite the magnitude of the stories situation and perhaps the deeper thinking that will occur, this is a sweet and light read perfect for the beach.

Jamie Valentine has grown up valuing honesty above all. The relationship she had with her parents was vastly engraved throughout her life. She even built a career around being honest in the form of her highly successful self-help books.
When the world of truths she’s come to live and admire rears its ugly head, it reveals that one of the most important truths has been a lie.

In the wake of her mother’s passing, Jamie busies herself cleaning and packing things up. She comes across a file that leads to a startling revelation that will change the life she knew and the life she’ll continue to live.
The only way she can get answers now is by going to the source. Her “vacation” in St. Dennis will give her more than she ever hoped for.

For me this wasn’t so much about the romance as it was about the search Jamie was on for the truth. There were certainly elements of romance mixed in, but the real focus was Jamie finding out things that were so greatly hidden from her her entire life. I don’t want to push the romance aside so I will say that when the romantic aspect was present, it was deep and beautiful.

I liked the formatting of the story with its alternating third person POV’s and the occasional diary entries. I thought the diary aspect was a nice addition to the story. It really amped up the mystery behind the big secret Jamie was trying to find out.

I enjoyed this story so much, I’m going to go back and read the rest of the series. This can easily be read as a stand alone even though this is the ninth book in the series. A small town tale of second chances that will leave you with a heartwarming feeling and a content smile on your face. If you’re a fan of women’s fiction, this book is right up your alley.

A special thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Stunning cover; perfectly matched for a fun summer beach read!

As always, love catching up with the gang in quaint St. Dennis, and with THAT CHESAPEAKE SUMMER (Chesapeake Diaries #9) there is a lot going on at the Inn at Sinclair’s Point, just outside St. Dennis, with two souls connecting.

A charming, heartwarming and captivating read with an enchanting town, keeping you coming back for more. Always a good mystery, new friends and a budding romance. As always, we begin and end we Grace and her diary, to keep us abreast of the latest and greatest of the town’s gossip and events. Of course she dreams of something big coming and she always pulls out the Ouija board to see if any of her friends, like Alice from the other side can shed some light on the subject. She is especially excited to see her son, Daniel may have found a possible love match.

Jamie is a successful author of self-help books; however, when her mother passes away unexpectedly, Jamie discovers her entire life has been based on a lie. Now she is obsessed to find out the truth which may be in the small town of Chesapeake Bay. As she cuts her previously planned book tour short, she books a room at the Inn at Sinclair’s Point.

Daniel Sinclair’s father has died and he has taken over the management of the family inn. After his wife’s death, he is left to as a single parent taking care of two children. Of course, with the inn and the children he has no time for a social life.

There is always intrigue, mystery, emotion, and complexity with new faces coming into the town (BTW, all the characters which visit have an interesting past). Daniel thinks Jamie is hiding a secret and he is intrigued, and there may just be more with romance in store for these two.

I have read all the books in the Chesapeake Diaries series by talented Mariah Stewart, and they always brings out the wanderlust, making me want to pack my bags and head north to this charming town.

Yes, agree with some of the others about the TV series. Since Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove was such a hit on Hallmark (returning 7/18/15), and upcoming Sherryl Woods' Chesapeake Shores series is coming to Hallmark Channel in 2015, as well; makes sense for Mariah Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries to follow. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

That Chesapeake Summer is another delightful read in the Chesapeake Diaries. Wasn’t sure where this one was going after Grace’s entry, then the story beginning not in St. Dennis but in Caryville. However, all is clear soon as to why Jamie is going to visit St. Dennis. Jamie has lost her mother four weeks before the beginning of the story, but soon receives another shock which leads her to St. Dennis. As her son, Dan, so said, “Never underestimate Grace Sinclair. She is a wily old bird.”

Again, Grace is instrumental in helping Jamie and her son, Dan find their way individually and together. I think this is a wonderful story that should be enjoyed by reading it so I’m really trying not to give any spoilers in this review. I can say the plot, the issues, the struggles faced, and characters were realistic. There is mystery without danger and an emotional pull without becoming overly dramatic. The story itself flows smoothly so that I lost track of time while reading it. Then it was easy to pick back up where I had left off, when I would have to stop for other activities. The characters human enough and to feel as if they could be living just down the road. In fact, I would like Dan, his family and Jamie to be my neighbors.

Mariah Stewart has given us a perfect summertime read with That Chesapeake Summer. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this romantic women’s fiction story. One last note, while I have some of the earlier books in the series, I haven’t read them all. It is not at all necessary to have done so. This book stands well on its own, no cliffhanger either.

Copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.

Another skim-worthy book in the series. Again, why did we need to know the layout of Jamie's hometown? Of what importance were those details? I really had a hard time getting into this one at the beginning because I was being told way too much about places and people I didn't know and didn't care about. I felt we needed to get back to St. Dennis much faster than we actually did.

As usual, love the characters and even the idea of this storyline. It really bothers me that such wonderful tales are being ruined by all of the useless details and words.

Now that I am caught up in this series I have to admit that I'm almost glad it doesn't look like there will be more. While the town and its residents kept me coming back, I am pretty worn out from having to slog through so many useless details.

In the 9th series of the Chesapeake Diaries, Mariah Stewart reunites her readers back to St. Dennis, Maryland with her newest installment That Chesapeake Summer. In this quick, light yet touching summer reader, Ms. Stewart pulls her readers with a heroine quest to finding the truth and love.

Jamie Valentine is a successful author of self help books and that emphasizes on the importance of truth. So what happens when she uncovers a family secret, that leaves her reeling and questioning on what is the real truth. In the search for the truth, it leads Jamie to St. Dennis, Maryland where she meets Daniel Sinclair, a widowed single parent running an Inn. In a quest for searching the truth answers, will Jamie be also finding an unexpected romance?

That Chesapeake Summer was the perfect summer read to get lost in. In this beautiful and endearing read, readers will get lost in this charming and heartwarming story of Jamie and Daniel and the unraveling of family secrets. I loved that author gave readers a realistic tale of emotions and characters.

~Michelle of Four Chicks Flipping Pages

Jamie Valentine is a successful self help author. She finds out after the passing of her mother that her own life has been based on a lie. She travels to a small town on the Chesapeake Bay to find answers and upon doing so meets Daniel Sinclair, the owner of the Inn at Sinclair's Point where she is staying. Secrets will be kept and answers will be discovered.

My thoughts on this book... This is the first book I have read from this author. Although I enjoyed the story and found it to not be predictable, I would have liked to have seen 2 things. 1. More interaction and romance between Jamie and Dan. 2. That Dan wasn't a jerk for half of the book. There were times for me where the story drug on, but I did enjoy the storyline. I felt the characters were well developed and interesting. If you are looking for a good summer read, this book is for you.

I was given this book for free through the goodreads, first reads program in exchange for my honest review. This is my honest review of That Chesapeake Summer.

Yet another fabulous addition to the Chesapeake Diaries series. It was great fun to finally get Dan's story. He's always been around but we've never really gotten to know him. The very stoic but successful innkeeper who doesn't quite know how to let go has his world turned upside down when Jamie Valentine comes to St. Dennis. Jamie has her secrets though and while the residents of St. Dennis quickly take to her, she keeps herself sheltered away until Dan finally breaks through her defenses.

A great story with a quick pace and wonderful characters. While we don't see as many of our favorites in this book, you still get the same wonderful feeling of community in this one. I definitely recommend this book for everyone's reading list!

This book really grabbed my heart. This is the first time I have ever read a book by Mariah Stewart but it won't be the last. Her characters are real, the situations are believable, and it is easy for the reader to become enmeshed in the plot. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and following the tale of a strong woman who seeks to overcome a difficult situation.

This is book is my favorite installment so far of the series. This book would make a fantastic summer read book for any romance lover. Even though it is the 9th installment of the series you could easily read it as a stand alone. Characters were easy to love. I couldn't put this book down once I started. Would highly recommend to everyone who loves a feel good romance story.

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review and opinion. All ratings and opinions stated are my own.

This is the first Mariah Stewart book I've read. I like the way the story was so involved with a mystery of the past. I didn't like the way it took the romance over two thirds of the book to develop and that there seemed to be more focus on the mystery than the romance until the very end.

Elements of the way the story is written are really quite intriguing, and I think this is a good summer read for anyone looking to escape for a while. It was hard for me to put down once I really got into the story.

I enjoyed this book. When Jamie's mom passes away, she is reeling from some startling discoveries about her family history. When she goes to investigate, she meets a handsome hotel owner who rubs her the wrong way. Of course, they eventually find themselves attracted to one another and help each other through some tough times.

Another fabulous addition to the Chesapeake Diaries series by Mariah Stewart. I love how Ms. Stewart incorporates characters from prior books into the story. I really loved Jaime and Dan. Grace is always a hoot! I can't wait to read the next book.

Jamie Valentine is a successful author of books based on honesty and transparency in relationships. After the death of her mother, Jamie makes a devastating discovery when going through her mother's desk. She was adopted by her loving parents but they never told her. She feels that she can't write books on honesty when her life has been based on a lie. She decides to call the lawyer who handled the adoption for her parents. The lawyer is retired now and lives in St. Dennis on the Chesapeake Bay. He told Jamie to let it go and not dig into the matter but Jamie can't do that. She books a room at the Inn at Sinclair's Point in St. Dennis for a vacation and time to see what she can find out from locals.

Daniel Sinclair was thrown into running the Inn at Sinclair's Point after the death of his father. He is very serious about his job and it is a full time job running the inn. His wife passed away in a boating accident and he is raising his two children on his own. He, his children and his mother live in the inn.

Jamie and Daniel clash as they get to know each other. He feels that she is hiding something and he feels that she is undermining his parental role as she befriends his teenage daughter. Jamie thinks Daniel is too tough on his children. As Jamie works with Daniel's mother, Grace, archiving old newspapers, he again is suspicious. Grace's family has owned the local newspaper for many years.

This is a fun visit to old friends in St. Dennis who run the shops and businesses and everyone knows everyone else. Jamie does a good job keeping her identity from everyone but what about Grace who knows everything that goes on? Does she find out about her parental background? This is one to keep you guessing as Jamie goes to the coffee shop with Grace and the ladies who grew up in St. Dennis.
She can't help wondering if one of them could be her mother.

The premise was intriguing: when her mother dies daughter discovers she was adopted. Book details her search for her biological mother. Story rapidly descends into a typical romance novel about a tortured female soul And, of course, she finds TRUE LOVE with that character who populates these novels: the former semi-bad boy who gives up sleeping around just for her. The book moves at the pace of a turtle trudging through mud. There is too much unimportant detail and no suspense or mystery(the identity of the biological mother is pretty obvious and rather heavy handedly revealed). The only interesting thing about "That Chesapeake Summer" is the setting, one of the loveliest places in the United States, but author Stewart makes little use of it.

I so enjoyed revisiting St. Dennis, getting to see what all my favorite characters are doing is like catching up with family. Mariah Stewart weaves such a wonderful story. I love walking through the town to all the quaint shops too.

Dan has been in need of his happy ending and I adored Jamie. His mother Grace Sinclair is such a favorite character of mine. I'm looking forward to what's next in this small Chesapeake town with big love stories.