Claire crosses his path, Chance recklessly plunges into uncharted territory with nothing but his heart to guide him-and a beautiful woman to tempt him. Destined to take his place in his family’s bank, Chance is content with the future that’s been mapped out for him, right down to his upcoming engagement to a prim debutante. Full-Speed-Ahead? The forecast is smooth sailing for Oliver Chancellor, one of Galveston’s premier financier. Slow and Steady finds himself on a collision course with Ms. Publishers and their insane demands on popular authors so often destroy the creative spirit and daring of talented authors, Roberts has been an exception to that rule for 40 years. It is so rare to find an author that consistently gives a sh&t, and has a code of excellence. I always resent an ugly review of a Nora Roberts’ novel for these reasons. She works as hard as her characters do, her energy and vitality are mirrored in her heroines. Roberts’ overall commitment to her craft, the way she continually challenges herself to grow as a writer and stretch her imagination into new genres, learn and keep current with the parlance of the vocations and entrepreneurial endeavors that her characters form over the course of her narratives is impressive, especially considering her prolific output. I have always loved that Nora Roberts doesn’t see either women or men in black or white - there are always characters that are selfish, cruel and superficial and have no interest and see no reason to be otherwise.

The unpolished (even if they seem to gleam) gems of romantic heroes - led by their hearts, if often like men led to a hangman’s noose in all areas of their lives - are often confused and haunted by models of toxic masculinity, abusive mothers, or jaded by past romantic affairs with unkind women.

The journey softens her heroines to the point they are able to be open to those that love them, and ultimately find the courage to dig deep within themselves, understand themselves, forgive themselves, and see their own worth. Overall, what strikes me is over the intervening years since this was published, the heart of her vision - reconnection after loss with the heroine’s roots, unquestionably brave and hard-headed female characters (in large and small roles), driven by circumstance to manifest their true passion in life, and find their drive and motivation - has remained her fundamental trademark plot arc. This book in particular has a scene that serves as a rare and unsubtle testament to both Roberts’ innate passion and unique perspective on the romance genre, which is very fun. Like another reader said, this book (and the entire series) is a great example of Nora Robert’s earlier work.

Nora roberts sea swept trilogy