Sea Swept is the first in a series of four books in the Chesapeake Bay book series. It was first published in 1998.

Plot summary

Cameron Quinn is a champion boat racer who travels around the world and enjoys a lifestyle filled with champagne and relationships. As a child, Cameron survived abuse before being adopted by the Quinns after they found him trying to steal their car. Now, Cameron returns to his childhood hometown of St. Christopher's on the Chesapeake Bay because his father died in a car accident. He must leave his reckless lifestyle as a daredevil behind and fulfill his father's request to care for Seth, a troubled young boy who shares similarities with Cameron's past. Like Cameron and his two brothers, Ethan and Phillip, Seth was adopted by Raymond Quinn during a challenging time in his life.

Cameron must live with his brothers again, which is difficult for three strong men used to living independently. Soon, their business, Boats by Quinn, brings the four Quinns together as they learn a craft taught to them by Ray. Problems arise when it becomes clear that Seth's future depends on Anna Spinelli, a kind and determined social worker. While the brothers fight to adopt Seth, Cameron finds himself drawn to Anna. At first, Anna is unsure about the three men, but she quickly realizes that their complicated pasts make them the best caretakers for Seth, a boy who seems haunted. Anna's growing interest in Cameron is unexpected, but she cannot ignore it. Meanwhile, Cameron struggles to adjust to a new way of life and earn the trust of Seth, a boy whose story has not yet been fully shared.

Characters in "Sea Swept"

• Cameron Quinn – Cameron is a champion boat racer. He is confident and sometimes angry. He is tall and strong, with black hair and gray eyes. Before being adopted by the Quinns, he lived with his alcoholic and abusive father in Baltimore until he was thirteen. After a serious beating, he ran away and found the Quinns’ house and their white Corvette. When he tried to steal the car, the Quinns gave him a choice: go to juvenile hall or explain his actions. He chose to explain, and the Quinns adopted him. Among the three brothers, Cameron is the most impulsive.

• Anna Spinelli – Anna is a social worker from Baltimore. She is strong, smart, and quick-thinking. She has black hair and dark brown eyes. Of Italian heritage, she is very committed to helping Seth and always puts Seth’s needs first. Unlike the Quinn brothers, she believes strongly in the system she works for. After her mother was attacked and killed in front of her, Anna found stability after standing up for herself with the help of her grandparents.

• Seth DeLauter – Seth is a young boy Raymond brought home shortly before a car accident that killed him. He is small for his age, with blond hair and blue eyes. Little is known about his past, except that his mother, Gloria DeLauter, gave him away to Raymond. Seth is angry and cautious, initially resentful and afraid of physical touch. He is referred to as “the latest of Ray Quinn’s lost boys.”

• Ethan Quinn – Ethan is a waterman on the Bay. He is quiet, loyal, and strong. He is tall and powerfully built, with light brown hair and blue eyes. His past is very difficult, possibly the hardest among the three brothers. Before being adopted by the Quinns, his drug-addicted mother sold him and herself for money. He found a home with the Quinns and became close to his two brothers. Among the three brothers, Ethan is the most steady.

• Phillip Quinn – Phillip is an advertising executive in Baltimore. He is confident, clever, and stylish. He is tall, with dark blond hair and golden brown eyes. When he was thirteen, he was seriously injured during a gang war and later came to the Quinns as a thief, drug user, and troubled teenager. After forming a bond with the Quinns, he worked hard in school and grew into a successful, well-mannered man. Among the three brothers, Phillip is the most refined.

• Raymond Quinn – Raymond was an English college professor. He was very tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was a kind and caring man who helped raise three boys who faced many challenges. He died in a car accident at the beginning of the book, but people still wonder about his connection to Seth.

• Stella Quinn – Stella was a pediatrician. She was a small woman with red hair and green eyes. She was strong and intelligent, and she helped her husband care for the three Quinn boys, who were not related by blood but by circumstance. She passed away from cancer seven years before the story begins.