This book was amazing, fantastic and absolutely broke my heart (good news it did put it back together again)

I really liked Mermaid Inn but paradise cove was one of the best romances I’ve read lately. There were definitely some heavy topics that deal with grief and I cried quite a few times but watching Nora and Jake fall in love was well worth the tears.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for an e-arc of this amazing story.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this early. Sometimes you need a summer story in the cold months and I was so happy to be able to read this one. I love Jenny Holiday’s books and loved going back with this story!

I’ve struggled with books by this author in the past, so I was a bit worried about trying again. But my friend, Estelle at Forever, pitched this to me so hard while we were talking on the phone one day that I decided to give Jenny Holiday another try! I’m glad I did, because I really enjoyed this for the most part! I do have a few tiny complaints, but I’m definitely interested in reading the other books in this series. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. We’ve got Nora, the city girl who moves to a small town to take over the medical practice there. I love stories like this, because I really enjoy anything medicine (even though it plays a tiny part in the story). She’s also running from a bad relationship and wants a new start. She’s a very energetic, bright personality and I enjoyed the contrast between her and Jake, the hero of this story.

2. Jake is a very quiet Mr. Fix-it that everyone loves even though nobody knows him very well. Well, they know his story but they don’t know him. He’s a man of very few words, but when he does speak it’s important. He lives off in a secluded part of town and goes around quietly fixing things that need fixing. He randomly shows up at Nora’s house to re-build her deck, and she stumbles upon him while he’s out there working. That’s just what he does! He’s the fix-it fairy, and I loved him for that. He’s got major heartbreak in his past, and watching him go through the grieving process and learning to open up again was very sweet. Oh, and Nora refers to him as Aquaman, if that does anything for you. I’m not a fan of the long-haired, man-buned man but I know many are!

3. Nora’s and Jake’s relationship is very organic. They start out as friends with benefits, which I actually hate. lol. But then things get deeper as he opens up to her. She expects absolutely nothing from him, and lets him open up slowly and quietly and on his own terms. When he tells her his story, she responds in a very comforting way without exhausted cliches. She reacts to him in a way nobody else has. She asks him tough, but meaningful, questions about his son instead of glazing over him as if he never existed. It’s hard on Jake, but also helps him realize that he can look to the good times and remember than fondly, rather than feeling guilty for the bad times.

4. The sex scenes were a bit too much and too frequent for me. I enjoy steam in my books, and I like it when it adds to the story. But when these scenes just keep happening and happening I start to skim over them because I need more than that in my books. I begin to disconnect from the characters because I’m not seeing them grown and learn and love. I’m just seeing how much stamina they have in the bedroom and that gets old. lol.

5. That being said, I really had fun getting to know these two characters and seeing their love story unfold. I loved Jake’s dog and his house, which was in a cute little cove. I loved that Jake bought Nora some rain boots that stayed at his house so he could put them out for her when he knew she was coming over. That way, when the tide rolled in she could traverse the wet rocks and wade through the water to get around the bend and make it to his house without getting wet. How sweet is that?

6. I loved the supporting characters and all the friendships that were developed in this story between the townspeople and Nora. I’d like to go back and read the first book in this series so I can get more info about some of these characters.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and am excited to read more books in the Matchmaker Bay series! Jenny’s writing is great and her characters are loveable. I could do with a little less heat and steam and more actual story, but it’s not enough of a drawback for me to keep me from reading more of her books!

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday

This story was about a heartwarming romance about a big city doctor who never expected to find her dream many in the tiny town of Matchmaker Bay.

A totally feel-good, small-town romance. I enjoyed this book and loved the characters. I recommend this book.

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review.

omggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg what else is there to say??? I love jenny holiday so much! Paradise cove definitely hit it out of the park with the emotional feels and how our main hero was still coping over the loss of his son! I loved the friends with benefits romance of this one.

When I read Mermaid Inn a few months ago, I fell in love with every single thing about Moonflower Bay. Seriously, I'd pack up my stuff and move to the town in a heartbeat if given the chance. I especially love the meddlesome townsfolk. If characters like those don't scream "small town," I don't know what does. After enjoying the first book so thoroughly, I was anxious to get my hands on the second one, Paradise Cove. I loved it every bit as much as the first, for both similar and different reasons.

Mermaid Inn was a second chance and so is Paradise Cove, though it's a different variety of second chance. Instead of reunited childhood sweethearts, we have a man not really looking for a HEA after the death of his child and subsequent end of his marriage. All bets are off once Nora moves to town and they strike up a friendship. (And then a "friends with benefits" agreement.) I loved their friendship but loved what all came next even more. These two were it. Their connection was apparent in every interaction. 

I loved this book. It was real and, at times, raw. Nora and Jake made me laugh, smile, swoon and cry. I love the small-town setting and all its meddlesome townsfolk, the friendships and, let's be honest, everything about it. There's a heavy focus on dealing with grief in this book and I found those parts were done beautifully. But, it's not all sadness. There's a fantastic romance and a well-deserved HEA (of course). 

Favorite Quotes:

Hearts were vulnerable. People gave them to the wrong people all the time. It wasn't pleasant, but it happened.

"That was Rufus. Species: disgusting ex-boyfriend who makes me question my taste in everything."

"When the universe gives you what you want, are you going to complain that it's too early?"

This was an enjoyable book to read. The characters were well written and the romance was pleasant and done in a realistic way. The story was easy to follow and I was able to read this book in one sitting. The setting was beautiful and who doesn’t love a small town romance. The interaction with the secondary characters flowed well. A truly wonderful reading experience.

This had a slightly less quaint feeling than Mermaid Inn but still maintained the whole quirky small town/close knit/Stars Hollow style community vibe. Nora comes to Moonflower bay from Toronto to serve as a primary care doctor after the end of a long term relationship. She plans to stay for just two years to Pay off student loans and save money to buy a house in the city with her sister, but things change when she starts a friends with benefits type of arrangement with Jake. He’s a strong silent type, still grieving his son, who died very young from complications of the flu, and the subsequent end of his marriage. This was heavier than the first book in the series, with more grief at the center of the characters’ stories, but still a satisfying romance.

I love Jenny Holiday books! When Dr. Walsh finds herself single she decides to make a change heading to Matchmaker Bay for some heart healing. And then she meets Jake... His broken heart is turning to stone and he isn't exactly open to love. But their friends and neighbors start to notice that they just might be a match made in heaven and start to work their magic on these two broken hearts.

paradise cove by jennny holiday is a great book that i liked to read. it was fun and cute and adorable and full of heart.

I absolutely love Jenny Holiday’s work and this was no exception. I love everything about this book and this series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and for any other books the author has in store!

I really liked the first book in this series, The Mermaid Inn, so I was very excited for Jake's story. The first 2/3 of the book were beautiful, fun, and tender. Jake and Nora strike up a friendship, supporting each other through their different versions of grief and mourning and needs. Even though there is a deep sense of sadness and grief in this book, there is also a lot of humor, not only from the supporting characters who are amazing, but also between Jake and Nora. But then there is a decision that I HATE and that did not feel organic to this story or these characters. It almost ruined the book for me. In the end, I loved the first parts so much, and the entire cast of supporting characters in Moonflower Bay, that I would still highly recommend it. But please check CW in the spoiler tag below.



<spoiler> CW: death of child, pregnancy, death of family member, cancer, grief, ptsd </spoiler>

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.**

Jenny Holiday does it again!
This was a charming story, a really fun new world she created with fantastic characters and sizzling chemistry.

The book hit all the feels. Jake and Nora are both hurt and lost souls who find their way to each other through friendship and understanding. Their story seemed so organic and believable, and I found myself feeling hurt along with Nora and sad with Jake. It was a journey that was more emotional than I expected and it made the ending so much more satisfying.

I look forward to reading more in this series and with this amazing town and cast of characters.

Set in the quaint town, Matchmaker Bay, full of the most lovable busy-bodies, Paradise Cove is the story of Dr. Nora Walsh hitting reset on her life after a messy breakup. She takes over the town’s only family medicine practice and needs a lot of help settling in. Enter hot and rugged Mr. Fix-It slash jack of all trades slash long haired Aquaman look-alike, Jake Ramsey. Jake is a man of few words, but takes a liking to Nora almost immediately. The feeling is mutual and their friendship starts to bloom into a very beneficial friends with benefits situation. They both have baggage and scars and neither are looking for romance, but I mean, we all knows what happens here, right? RIGHT. And it so happens and it’s good and steamy and pure and messy and lovely. Like, I was a little afraid there was going to be little to no steam and then it happens and keeps happening and it’s AMAZING.

This is the second book in the stand-alone Matchmaker Bay series. You don’t need to read the first book, Mermaid Inn first, but if you love Paradise Cove as much as I did, you’re going to want to go back and get Eve & Sawyer’s full story.

I love this series so much. When I read Mermaid Inn, I really wanted to know more about Jake and his past. I am so glad that Jenny Holiday chose to continue her series and give me what I wanted! I hope there are more to come with these characters, because I love it so much! I really got invested with all of the characters from the very beginning, and now I need more from Maya.

I volunteered to read this book, through netgalley in exchange, for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. The setting of this story is good. This is book 2 in the matchmaker bay series. The pacing of this story is really good. It is sad but very good. I absolutely enjoyed Nora and Jake's characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This book is in stores now for $7.99 (USD).

I thought this book was okay. It reminded me a lot of Virgin River by Robyn Carr. I would have to say I liked Virgin river better but i still thought this book was good and a quick read. Perfect for summer if tha'ts what you are looking for! The characters were interesting and the setting was nice.

Dr. Nora Wells has taken a a two-year job in Matchmaker Bay. This will help her in two ways. Not only can she work to clear some of her student debt, but she can work to heal her broken heart. Why is it, however, that the first man she spies there is everything the ever dreamed of? But, as will soon be made clear, Nora is not the only one= with a broken hear. Jake Ramsey is also reeling from a huge tragedy in his life.

Right away I knew I was in for a deeply emotional story. Not only are readers treated to the romance that is building in this story, but they get to see a side of Jake that was just so touching, if not heartbreaking.

Nora soon learns that small-town living has a lot to offer. As a matter of fact, one of the first things she experiences in the way of kindness is when Jake comes over to repair the deck at the house she is renting. This is the beginning of a slow-burning romance between them. However, as stated, both Nora and Jake are still dealing with loss, albeit on different levels.

So, they become friends - and soon are friends with benefits. Could this be a chance at love for both of them? How about the loss they've experienced, especially Jake? While reading this book I was truly brought into the drama, the emotion, the moments of sadness. However, there was always hope and love, and that is what tied everything together in this wonderful book by Jenny Holiday.

Paradise Cove is the second book in the Matchmaker Bay series. The first book, Mermaid Inn, was just as delightful as this book is. I cannot wait to see what might be next for this series.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. Jenny Holiday really delivered a great read. I loved this romance so much. I loved the small-town vibe. I loved Nora and Jake as characters both individually and together. This book was funny, steamy and so emotional. I highly recommend it.