Another excellent book by Jenny Holiday. I loved reading this book and hearing the stories of the main characters. I would definitely recommend if you have liked Holiday's other novels.

A huge shout to my friends over at @readforeverpub #partner for the advanced e-copy of one of my fav authors @holymolyjennyholi new book!

I absolutely lovedddddd the first book in this series “Mermaid Inn” so I just couldn’t wait for this one to come out!

And once again Jenny did not disappoint! This book was filled with life lessons, swoon worthy scenes, heartbreak, self-discovery, learning to let go, and realizing what you deserve.
I absolutely loved the banter between the main characters and the beautiful one liners throughout! The parsnip scene had me in stitches.
I especially loved the shout out to @thatsostelle at the beginning because she is just such an absolute love of a human being and it was so so so well deserved.

Favorite quote: “I fell in love with you even through I tried not to. You got me. Like the zombie apocalypse.”

Dr.Nora is looking for a change and takes up a medical practice for two years in Matchmaker Bay then decide to whats going to happen next. After an incident she meets Jake who she can't seem to stop running into when she needs it.

This was just a nice contemporary romance. Nora and Jake were so cute together and just what eachother needed to heal and get though things. Like Jake was such a help to Nora when it counted. There was plenty of steamy times and just normal going on for contemporary books without needless drama and I enjoyed it.

I really like both MCs in this book - one thing I love about Jenny Holiday's books is that I always have a good grasp of both male and female MCs and understand both of their POVs and this is no different here. The problem I had with this book is that I'm generally over the kooky small white town. I just didn't care about the meddling old people and the crazy townspeople. Maybe with the exception of Wynd and Cicada. But maybe not, because honestly, meh? Now populate this town with the diverse suburbs and I might have been into it? I did love the nuance of grief and understand she put into everything here. That was lovely and well thought out.

Really loved this book and this couple. The easy evolution of their relationship and their banter made it easy to read in just one sitting.

The town of Moonflower Bay lives up to its nickname of “Matchmaker Bay”. A small beach town where everyone knows everyone and the resident group of meddling, nosy elders do whatever they can to match couples up. Paradise Cove follows new town doctor, Nora as she settles in and gets to know the town and establishes her new practice. One of the first people that she meets is Jake - a divorcée who lost his infant son a few years ago. He’s the strong, silent type who has not been handling his grief well since his son died. While Jake has technically taken over his fathers fishing business, he mostly spends his days doing odd jobs and carpentry projects for the entire town. For free. Jake ends up doing several projects for Nora and finds himself opening up to her in the process. These two go from friends, to “friends with benefits” to realizing that they love each other in a slow, natural evolution. It was so fun to read.

4.5 Stars Rounded

Welcome to Moonflower Bay where the locals know everyone and everything, are determined to ‘matchmake and manage’ lives (with all the best intentions) and are anxiously awaiting their new local physician after doing without for a couple of years. Nora was an ER doc in Toronto, but after her relationship ended in spectacular fashion and an opportunity to get her medical school loans forgiven and move away from her ex opened, she jumped. Arriving in Moonflower Bay, she arranged for a 2-year lease of the practice – giving her time to save money and have a change of pace.

From the start, the residents are welcoming and perhaps a bit intrusive, and when her rental turns out to be from the local slum landlord, in walks Jake. A man of few words but seemingly everywhere to take care of simple to complex, she finds Jake building her deck, doing the little ‘house maintenance’ issues that have been ignored for years. As a matter of fact, while Jake has his own heartbreak and grief, he finds himself attracted to and sharing tidbits of his life that he shares with no one. Ever.

Throughout the story, as Jake and Nora get closer, she finds herself with many firsts: the first man she’s comfortable with and doesn’t need to ‘adjust’ for, solid friendships, people helping without agenda, and even her being roped into (in the best ways) the town festivals – both for tourists and locals. The two are consistently ‘not in a relationship – but just friends’ - but it’s clear to everyone that it’s much much more. A few twists, plenty of turns and lots of ‘moving through’ grief and that ever-present hole when someone leaves your life – the story is heartfelt, happy, solidly emotional and clearly honest – with the feelings of fear, love and confusion as they get closer and close. It will take some serious determination and plenty of communication for them to pick (and stay) on a path that is determined, almost from the first page, they are meant to travel. A lovely read set in a little town just off Lake Huron, the story is sure to please many with lots of info and moments with characters from the earlier book.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aM4 /” > <a> I am, Indeed</a>

HELLO, SWOON ALERT!! This book swooped me up and snuggled me tight. I loved these characters and the town of Moonflower Bay. This book's premise gave me Hart of Dixie vibes (I love that TV show) so I was excited to read about another city doctor moving to a small town and taking over a general practice. It was a bit similar but honestly, this book took on way more emotion and life's trials of finding love and happiness; it was splendid.

The opening scene & meet-cute of Nora and Jake at the beauty salon was such a gem and completely hooked me. Jake is getting his lushes locks braided while Nora is getting her pixie cut bleached blond. Off the bat, Jake is described as similar to Aquaman, which HELLO, hot. The two are sort of drawn together and some of Jake and Nora's pasts are revealed. She is fresh out of a relationship, ready to take back her life, while Jake is reclusive and just go through the motions after losing his son.

Nora starts to bring life back into Jake. He can't explain, he just seems to open up with her. The pair form a wonderful friendship that develops to best friends and eventually lovers. There is so much to explore with these two and reading about the grief that both of them have experienced was heartbreaking. This book had me laughing, crying, and mildly yelling at the character but it was just so damn good!!

Stars: 5/5
Steam: 3/5 several open door scenes
Keywords: friends to lovers, small town, doctor heroine, dealing with grief

Reading Paradise Cove was like a guilty pleasure that I needed, and this one tore me apart and I loved it!! I loved this small town romance, with a friends to lover trope.

So happy to be back in Matchmaker Bay- the story was centered on Nora a doctor from Toronto who needed a reset in life, and Jake who was reeling from a horrendous loss.

Jenny Holiday wrote such an engaging and immersive book that swallowed me whole into the small town life, love, friendships and all the drama with it. Though the topics covered grief and loss, Holiday wrote this novel with a great balance of charming, fun and romance. This is going to be one of my favorites.

Overall, steamy and romantic, heartwarming and delicious! Recommend!!

I used to have a lot of negative stigma towards romance books. I assumed romance novels were all about sex. However, I discovered that's not the case. Even though I have started reading romance, I probably never would have picked this book up in a store. Why? Because that stigma of a certain type of romance comes out.

Luckily, I was given this arc to review and I was able to face some of my romance stigma's head on. Let me tell you, this book is not just about the steamy parts. Which there are steamy parts, don't get me wrong.

Paradise Cove has depth and covers a lot of topics that aren't covered in a lot of books let alone romance. (Which only increases my love for this book)

*Slight spoilers ahead*
Paradise Cove covers infant loss, accidental pregnancy (accidental pregnancy with an educated character), grief, losing love ones, small town support.

These topics allow the book to feel more realistic and it's done in a tactful way. Jake struggles through out the book and yet his struggles are valid. He feels guilty about forgetting his son that died and moving on. I thought it was powerful that he decided to go to grief therapy.

Overall, I loved this book and will definitely be reading more from Jenny Holiday.

A sweet, slow-burn style romance with a great, deep story. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first Matchmaker Bay story but I've fallen in love with all the characters and can't wait to go back and re-read the first book. Nora & Jake are both looking for something and it's such a delight following along as they become best friends...and a little more. There were a lot of characters initially to keep track of which I'm sure would be easier if I had read the first book but definitely managed just fine going in blind. Character development was great and I really rooted for these characters as they dealt with the grief in their life. It is an optimistic love story about friendship, community spirit and listening to your heart---a perfect read for the uncertain times we are living in now.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I loved Nora and Jake together and how they each were able to work through struggles together and individually. It was nice seeing Nora navigate a new town, establish herself there, and make friends. Holiday definitely makes living in a small-town sound so nice, even if there are meddling folks too! Jake’s storyline made my heart hurt for him. He is such a caring guy you just want to wrap him up in a hug and take away all his pain. The way Holiday described the pain/depression of his loss as increasingly high waves that consumed him made his struggle and feelings palpable.

I will say the last 10-15% of the book knocked a star off my rating. I really do not like the plot device the author used in the end to move the characters and storyline forward (it’s one of the things I hate most in romances). So I found that quite disappointing. I do understand why she felt the need to do it the way she did, but I think she could have had the characters move forward in a different way — I don’t think this particular plot device was absolutely necessary.

Other than that, it’s a great summer read.

TW: death of a child, death of a grandparent

This was the first book I have read in the Matchmaker Bay series. Ms. Holiday did a great job of writing bits and pieces into this book that I knew some of the characters and did not feel lost. Jake has had a rough time dealing with the lose of his son in which he totally blames himself. He does odd jobs around the town along with doing work with his partner. In waltzes Dr. Nora Walsh who is running away from her previous life and trying to heal from her recent breakup. She only plans on being in town a couple of years then off to Toronto with her sister. Life, as one can expect, has other plans for these two. They will learn to cope with their loses and use their "friends with benefits" status to help healing. Really enjoyed this book. Thanks to Ms. Holiday, Forever, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love Nora and Jake’s story! These two characters need a chance at love especially after Jake was stilling feeling the loss of his young son. Nora brought Jake out from his shell and made him want to live again. He had spent so much time alone and dealing with the grief that he felt that he was to blame for losing his son to the flu. Nora was such a breath of fresh air in his life and he made Nora feel as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world. They needed to find each other and their relationship helped to heal the wounds that had been hurting them for so long. The ending of this book is so wonderful and I’m looking forward to spending more time in this cozy community in the future.

Dr. Nora Walsh is a newcomer to Moonflower Bay. She moved from Toronto to be the town’s physician for two years, leasing the space and practice from the town’s retired doctor. She’s taking two years away from her life to regroup and reset after discovering her longterm boyfriend was cheating on her with a younger resident.

Jake Ramsey is the tragic local that everyone loves. His son, Jude, died before he turned one, and Jake blames himself. This has left Jake quiet and mostly isolated, but in a moment of crisis, he and Nora bond. This leads to a lovely friendship and more.

Paradise Cove is a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance that hit all the right notes for me. It’s one of those beautiful relationships that works so well because Nora and Jake connect so deeply right from the start. Sure, there is a physical attraction, but the bond created between two lost souls is even more lovely. Right from the start, Nora stands out to Jake because her first reaction upon learning about his son was to ask his name rather than how he died. I appreciate how Jake recognizes that Nora is different from most and it stirs him. He won’t admit to himself that he’s falling for Nora, yet he wants to make her happy.

What makes Paradise Cove a standout for me are the characters at the heart of the story. Nora and Jake, and the rest of the Moonflower Bay residents, are likable, enjoyable folks whom I’d enjoy being friends with. They are slightly goofy, not perfect, and lots of fun. The town is quirky and quaint. Nora and Jake both grow and mature over the course of the book. They have been hurt and see life through a narrow lens, but through their friendship and romantic fling, they learn how to open up, and they genuinely want to be better for the other. It’s not an easy road, but they are driven to be better because of their friends and love for one another. The author does such a wonderful job creating the setting and developing the characters that my emotions mirror and are wrapped up with the characters; crying tears and laughing along side Nora and Jake.

In the end, I loved Paradise Cove. The characters are a bit goofy, but they are genuine and experience true emotions. I cannot wait to return to Moonflower Bay with the third book, Sandcastle Beach, coming Spring 2021.

My Rating: A, Loved It

3.5/5

Jenny Holiday writes some of my favorite romance novels. I really enjoyed her foray into writing a small-town romance with the first book in the series, Mermaid Inn. Paradise Cove was a delightful installment though I did have a minor complaint.

We meet Nora, a well-established city doctor, who has just moved to Moonflower Bay after her last relationship goes sour. She's trying to settle in her new home when she finds herself befriending the town loner, Jake. I loved the pairing of the quiet and intense hero and the peppy and sunshine heroine, so I was loving every moment between Nora and Jake. It was lovely to see Jake open up to someone after having suffered such a horrible tragedy in his life. The chemistry between the two was palpable throughout the whole book and I so enjoyed watching them connect on both a physical and an emotional level. The romance was a slow-burn that budded from a sweet and open friendship, so if you like those, you're going to enjoy Paradise Cove a lot.

It was a shame when a trope I'm not particularly fond of in romance novels popped up. I was thrown off and I have to admit to being unhappy with Jake's reaction to the situation. I can't go into the details of it because of spoilers but it did dampen my enjoyment of the book a bit. It's obviously a personal preference and it may not bother other readers. That said, I did love everything before that thing happened. I love the meddling matchmaking elders in Moonflower Bay. They were so nosy but also adorable. :)

Even though Paradise Cove didn't 100% work for me, I do recommend picking it up if you enjoy small-town romances or if you're a fan of Jenny Holiday. She is a very talented author.

I love the stories about a small town romance.
When I read Mermaid Inn I wanted to read Jake's, Law's and Maya's story. So this one is Jake's.
Jake Ramsey had a broken heart. He suffered a great lose. First his child, than his mother. And he got devorced, so this guy couldn't catch a break.
He is still coping with his lose, when he met a newcomer Dr Nora Walsh.
Nora has also suffered a heart break, and she come to Matchmaker Bay, to recuperate.
Not to fall in love. But she does.
I love how Jake and Nora are real.
I adored the beginning of the book how they became first friends and it developed to something much more.
At 3/4 of the book I was little bored, but the ending and epilogue saved it.
I am totally in love with
Matchmaker Bay citezens. This was a good romance story, but I loved Sawyer's and Eve's story, a little more. But I just can't wait for Law's and Maya's story. For enemies to lovers. Yay ... just can't wait.

3 stars from me.

i adore jenny holiday. i love her on twitter. i love her books. even when she kills me with second-chance romances. paradise cove is the kind of second chance romance i love though. it's about finding love after grief. i love stories that tackle this. there's something about breaking a character's heart and finding a way to rebuild it.

i adored this story. i was excited to get back to matchmaker bay, but seriously, i loved paradise cove so much. nora and jack go through so much but at the end of the day what they find in each other is everything i love about romance.

just, do yourself a favor and pick up this series. or anything by jenny. honestly.

**paradise cove will publish on july 28, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.

There are books that come to me during times of my life exactly in the moment when I need them. Jenny Holiday's Paradise Cove is one of those books. I connected to the main character, Jake, on an emotional and human level and his experience in grief help to give me words for what I'm feeling and trying to recognize and acknowledge. I know that I will continue to turn to this book in those unsteady moments.

And I loved the friendship between Jake and Nora and how they could rely on each other for comfort - it was intuitive and came naturally. And I especially love it when the friendship turns to more and I get to experience that along with the characters.

Paradise Cove is full of real human moments of grief and pain, but it's also full of real human moments of love and humor and friendship.

I can easily say that Paradise Cove is one of my new favorite books. It helped me find solace in a moment that I desperately needed it and for that reason this book will always remain close to my heart.

Dr. Nora Walsh had found out her fiance was cheating on her and decides she needs a change. So she leaves Toronto and takes over a medical practice in Matchmaker Bay, for 2 years to get over the breakup.
Jake Ramsey also has a broken heart and one he thinks will never heal. He likes to hang out in his secluded beach cottage.
Then Jake ends up helping Nora with a medical emergency and he finds himself opening up to her, which he never does with anyone.
They decide to be friends with benefits. No romance at all. But can they really do that.
We also meet a lot of the other people in the community and how some are meddlers and some are just there to be there for each other.
Nora's sister and Grandmother also come for a visit, which Jake gets to know them.
Oh yeah and a dog is involved in this book because of Nora's ex. who happens to pay her a visit.
This was so good and I did read the first book of the series.
I received this from NetGalley and Forver for review,