The Cutting Tide is a story based on the imaginary town of Marlin Beach, on the Eastern shore of Maryland. It surrounds the beach house - The Dancing Seahorse - who is owned by the Miller family. The Snyder family, who is greatly involved in the beach community and owns Snyder's Beach Dreams Real Estate, is there to sell the beach house.

Sarah Miller is a successful architect working for her father's firm in Baltimore, Maryland. The family beach house is to be sold. Sarah has agreed to return to Marlin Beach for an extended weekend to take care of the listing.

Lance Snyder is the realtor from Beach Dreams who will help her do so, until Sarah realizes who Lance is - the lifeguard from 10 years prior, with the mystery tattoo who failed to rescue her twin brother - Dex - from a dangerous ocean riptide.

With only time on her hands and no realtor, after casting Lance aside, Sarah delays leaving until one can be found. Being at the beach house, with the patio doors open and the sultry sea air cascading throughout each room, brings back pleasant memories - of happy family times spent there together. As much as Sarah resists, she hears and feels Dex beckoning.... telling her to forgive and start loving again.