
Member Reviews

Loved this one even more than the first in the series. A super deep and poignant romance that dealt with more than just the surface level issues you sometimes see in romance novels. I appreciated the distinct characterization of both leads. Can't wait to see what else Jenny Holiday has up her sleeve.

I liked it better than the first book in the series. As we already know the different characters at the town there is not as much information about them as in the first book (but nevertheless I think it could work as a stand alone, even if you don’t know anything about the universe).

If it's even possible, I loved "Paradise Cove" even more than Holiday's first in this series, "Mermaid Inn". Maybe it's the secretive and quiet way of Jake and the cute pixie Doctor Walsh, but they way they compliment each other and build each other up is beautiful! Dr. Walsh moves to the small town of Moonflower Bay to escape her troubles and have a life "re-set". But during her time in the town, she meets wonderful friends and falls in love with the town "Mute", who has hardly spoken a full sentence to anyone since the loss of his child and the crumbling of his marriage several years previously. That is, until Dr. Walsh arrives and helps light a fire in him that he hasn't felt before. I love Jenny Holiday's writing and this book captivated me from the first chapter!

Having read Jenny Holiday's first novel in the Matchmaker Bay series I had high expectations for Paradise Cove and I have to say my expectations were shattered into next week. This novel was phenomenal. It was a beautiful storyline, with well written, believable unique characters and fun twists. It was a romance novel with a bit of an adventure built in.
Dr Nora finds herself in the small town of Moonflower Bay ready to serve as the town's new Doctor for the next 2 years. She gets a good idea of her new town within her first few interactions at the salon on day one. She also meets "Aquaman" aka Jake at the salon that first day. He ends up helping her with a few projects and a friendship develops.
Over time Nora develops a variety of relationships in town and truly becomes a part of the community. Of course the hijinks of the matchmaker bay crew unfold and Nora is thrown into a bit of romantic mischief care of the town elders.
Without giving away any spoilers know that the adventures, hijinks, romantic encounters, friendships and projects unfold to bring you laughter, tears, genuine care and sorrow for the characters involved. You will become invested and you will want to read the third book NOW!
Jenny Holiday is a one of a kind romance writer that truly connects character, story and reader.

Super cute friends to lovers trope. I love a good small town romance and Matchmaker Bay is the perfect setting in it! There are just enough characters to make it interesting but not too busy to track. However, while it is a great fast-paced book, I am not sure if it is super light and fluffy because Jake and Nora both have to deal with some heavy stuff, especially Jake. I am not good at casting characters but for some reason, while reading this book I kept picturing picturing Jason Momoa as Jake (prob because of all the Aquaman references) and Ginnifer Goodwin as Nora (mostly because she rocks a great pixie cut). Anyone else? Also, I don't remember The Mermaid Inn being so steamy but man this one was on fire! I am excited for Law and Maya's story next year, I think there will be lots of fun banter involved ;)
TW - loss of a child and loved one

this book is a light summer read. Nora is a new doctor in a smaller town, and quickly gets to know the different personalities in the town, including Jake who becomes her friend, but is very quiet to others. Jake' opens up about his past life experiences, and his bond with Nora grows.

Thanks to Netgalley for my free review copy!
I sat down to see if I was in the mood for this book and didn't found myself not moving till it was finished! This was my first book by Holiday but it won't be my last, I've already got The Mermaid Inn on hold.
I'm normally not a huge fan of the plot point the ending of this book revolved around but it worked perfectly for this story and these characters. I not only loved the main characters but the rest of the town was so fun and I can't wait to dive back into Moonflower Bay!

Oh man, I have been not so patiently waiting to go back to Matchmaker Bay after reading Mermaid Inn last year. When Forever posted this as a read now on Netgalley, I jumped on it and immediately devoured it. I was so excited to not only get to know more about Jake and his mysteriously mute self, but I was constantly fascinated by Dr Nora Walsh the new petite town doctor. The two meet at the local beauty shop. Dr. Hon wears a short platinum blond pixie and the quiet and intense man-god Jake rocks an Aquaman styled bun. But it was a good thing they met, when a woman goes into labor in the town square and Jake knows where to find Nora. The begin an easy going friendship. Their continued love for Hawaiian pizza and zombie movies resonated with me more than anything. I am constantly drawn into this series, the characters are so genuine and deal with issues of loss, cancer, and the reader is able to watch them work through their real life issues and fall in love. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to Jenny Holiday, Forever (Grand Central) Publishing, and Net Galley for this early ARC of Paradise Cove. This was the first Jenny Holiday book that I have read. Paradise Cove was a sweet romance, mixed in with heavy levels of wading through grief. I thought this was a sweet romance! I enjoyed the characters so much! I also loved the small town setting. The author did a great job of discussing grief and portraying one of the main characters going through waves of it! I will be going back to read Mermaid Inn!

I loved this book. It was a beautiful and emotional love story. I recommend this book, this series, and this author.

This is the second book in this series but it is a standalone. I absolutely LOVED this book. This was a feel good story from start to finish. I have read a bunch of books by this author and she really never disappoints. Her writing just brings you in. Jake and Nora have the cutest "meet cute" The author takes you in this roller coaster of a story. You laugh and cry and can't help but appreciate the little things in life after reading this story. Its about getting second chances in ways you never thought possible.If you like small town romance with interweaving characters and just an overall feeling of happiness after reading a book than this story is for you! I can't wait to read the next book!!!

Nora Walsh heads into the beauty shop in Moonflower Bay with a platinum colored pixie cut and sees a handsome man she compares to Aquaman. She has just moved to the town and plans to be the doctor at the town practice for the next two years. After Nora’s path crosses with Jake Ramsey more often, they begin a friends-with-benefits relationship with no hope of a future. How will they change each other? Will they become an actual couple?
This was the second book in this series, and I have loved them both. The way Holiday develops and reveals both Nora and Jake makes you love them both. I really enjoyed the way Jake opened up to Nora about his past. This book was an easy read and was well written!

Paradise Cove starts like so many small town stories — a big city doctor escapes to small town for a slower pace and cheaper cost of living and falls for a hunky local. But Jenny Holiday elevates the trope in a friends-to-lovers (and friends-with-benefits) story that’s funny, sexy, and deeply emotional.
Around town, everyone knows Jake Ramsey’s story. He lost a young son to the flu and his marriage crumbled in the aftermath. The grief is still overwhelming, and he’s known for being the guy who doesn’t say much. He and Dr. Nora Walsh end up meeting in the local beauty shop, and it’s the beginning of an unexpected friendship as she gets settled in town, and finds her new rental needs a lot more help than she thought.
They keep things low-key, knowing Moonflower Bay’s busy bodies never rest when it comes to matchmaking. Both Nora and Jake know what they want, and it’s not romance (mm-hmm). Once things heat up, they’re pretty combustible. It leads to an easily predicted conflict, but the overall arc (and character growth) for both characters is so good, I can’t be *that* mad at it.
I loved Paradise Cove. Holiday’s approach to small town and her directness about issues like mental health and feminism make this series one I want to come back to again and again. The good news is Maya and Law are up next <rubs hands together>.

I absolutely loved the first book in this companion series so I had pretty high hopes for book two... and I loved it even more! I need to get moving on Holiday's other books because damn. She knows how to write a low-drama romance!
Nora moves to Moonflower Bay to lease a family practice after a bad breakup in Toronto. She sets herself up there for two years as a way to escape and then move back home to buy a home with her sister. Meanwhile, Jake has been the strong, silent type around town for years, and the two hit it off right away. Everyone is surprised at how open he is with Nora - it's like something just clicks for them.
Jake and Nora had great chemistry throughout this story. It's a classic "I don't want a relationship, let's just be friends-with-benefits" that turns into more. I also enjoyed that this took place over a longer period of time so it felt like a really nice, slow progression of their relationship. Like I said, this is another book with a lower drama "black moment" that doesn't drag out due to miscommunication or something equally silly. Both of Holiday's books I've read so far have included logical "breakup moments" and conclusions, which is so appreciated. It also works so well when the characters choose to stay because it's what they've ALWAYS wanted in one way or another, instead of just sticking around for the man they fell in love with.
This book has a trope that many people don't like but I don't want to spoil anything. I didn't mind it because it actually made sense given some other things that happened throughout the story.
I continue to love Moonflower Bay from a setting perspective. I've needed more books set in quirky small towns with meddling neighbors and friends! I saw who the next book is about and I am HERE FOR IT.

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is the second novel in her Matchmaker Bay series. The novel is a charmingly written combination of romance, heartbreak, and new beginnings. The slow-built relationship between Nora and Jake from strangers to best friends is meaningful and emotional. Readers will laugh, cry, and fall in love with this novel. Jenny Holiday delivers another heartbreakingly beautiful love story that readers will not want to put down.

This story was freaking beautiful. The hero is grieving the loss of his child, and the book begins several years after that incident. The author does a fabulous job of portraying the healing process of grief and choosing to embrace good things after a tremendous loss. Not gonna lie, I cried multiple times. The main characters take you on a journey and it's 100% worth the ride. Their banter is perfect, their friendship is real, and the chemistry is off the charts. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

So cute! Totally adorable! Love it!!! It’s like a Hallmark movie in book form! Am now going back and reading book 1!

Escaping to a small lakeside town after heartbreak, Toronto emergency room doctor Nora Walsh embarks on what she thinks is a two year break from the bustle of big city medicine. Her time in Matchmaker Bay, running the local family practice, however leads her to discovery, friendship and love. Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is an enjoyable trip to small town Canada and the characters who inhabit it. Tackling complex subjects such as grief, love and betrayal, Holiday has created complex characters that make you feel with and for them. That being said this is an easy and enjoyable read for your porch or the beach. I was very happy to learn this was the second book in a series. I can’t wait to learn more about the other characters who inhibit Matchmaker Bay This book will be published July 28, 2020. ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley #ParadiseCove #NetGalley

I really enjoyed Mermaid Inn, but I LOVED Paradise Cove. I forgot when I started that Jake has long hair and that Nora compares him constantly to Aquaman. It just added so much fun to the story. Jake and Nora both have their own struggles with grief and insecurities and watching them learn about themselves through each other was so good. I loved going back to Moonflower Bay and hanging out with Eve and Maya. It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon and I am so sad that its going to be a YEAR until we get Maya and Law's book.
This series is the perfect mix of Hallmark/small town story and the steam we want in a good romance novel. Jenny Holiday, you are the best.

A doctor moves to a small town after a breakup where she makes new friends, learns about herself and falls in love. Loved this book - even got a little teary at the end!