LOVED THIS BOOK. It also wrecked me. There was one tiny element that I wish was different but it wasn't focused on for very long.

Are two books read in a row considered a binge read? If so, then as soon as I finished reading Mermaid Inn, I dived right into Paradise Cove, wanting more of the small lakeside town with its delightful characters.

Nora has left the city with a two year lease of a medical practice in Moonflower Bay after the breakup of a relationship with a cheating ex. She's instantly welcomed by the townspeople who hope to convince her to make her stay permanent. One of the people she meets (in a hair salon meet-cute) is Jake, a quiet, divorced, grieving man who lost his young son to the flu. They forge a friendship, and eventually, friends with benefits but getting to the next level takes courage and a leap of faith.

Once again the author takes on the gamut of human emotions with grief and joy, laughter and heartache. Her descriptions of Jake's grief are poignant and will bring tears to the eye but Nora's position as a doctor means she is able to be empathetic without pity. And the sad scenes, including ones with Nora's grandmother who has cancer, are balanced with funny and heartwarming ones. Nora fits in well with the community and with Jake's friends, and she quickly finds female friends Evie and Maya to hang out with - I loved their female companionship. Jake and Nora's HEA takes real life work and commitment but is satisfying. If you want to read a book that makes you feel, that makes you root for a couple's happy ending, this is an excellent choice.

Review submitted to Amazon and BN.

I really love the Marchmaker Bay series. This the cutest quirky town that i love to visit and get to spend time. Jake and Nora friends to lovers relationship was sweet and ii loved it.

i did a series round-up in my blog

I really like the characters Jenny Holiday created in her make-believe town of Moonflower Bay. Jake was one of the intriguing ones from the first novel in the “Matchmaker Bay” series so I was really glad she focused on telling his story. Jenny did a good job to weaving grief into the story without making grief its own character or preaching. The book is a quick read but worth spending the time to read it.

3.5 stars

The two main characters become friends, then friends with benefits, and then lovers, but this quickly turns into a recipe for disaster. The resolution to the story could use some development, but it’s an easy to read book involving love, friendship, and drawing a line between the two. Great book!

This book was exactly what I needed to read next!! I was looking for something easy and light like the typical small town romance, to read between heavier books, but this was so much more! I absolutely loved the characters and caught myself smiling while reading. I read it all in one big gulp and can't wait to read more from this author!

CW: death of a child (in the past, but remembered in detail on page), cancer (on page)

I'm definitely not kidding about the CWs - I normally struggle some with kids in danger on TV shows and in movies, and didn't realize how hard this was going to hit me even though Jake lost his son prior to the events of the book taking place. I may have had to go hug my babies a couple of times reading this, so if that's triggering for you please be aware of what you're in for. This is a beautiful book but will definitely be difficult for some folks.

I was SO GLAD to return to Moonflower Bay (aka Matchmaker Bay) and all of the small town wackiness that goes on there. Fair warning though, this book is at time quite sad and heavy. I probably spent about a third of it leaking from the eyes because my heart hurt so much for Jake or for Nora or for them both. They develop this beautiful friendship that, much like the lake they love, has various moods - at times silly and playful, at times serious, always there supporting and buoying each other up.

Nora and Jake are often off in their own little bubble, as Jake doesn't seem to open up well to many people, so the focus of this book falls more on them and to some extent their small circle of friends. Because of this, there's a bit less focus on all the wacky town antics than in the previous book (though let's be real, there are still PLENTY of amazingly wacky town antics!) Jenny Holiday masterfully weaves themes of friendship, love, and grief into this amazing story about letting go, holding on, and letting love lead you forward.

This is the second book in the Matchmaker Bay series, and can be read as a stand alone with some minimal spoilers for the first book, Mermaid Inn. There's also a bit of set-up for the third book, which I CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR.

4.75/5 stars.
I love small town romances with all my heart. There’s something so cosy about reading books which center a small town ~ they know how to make the gloomiest days better. I think Paradise Cove has become my favorite book with the small-town romance trope.

Paradise Cove is the 2nd book in Jenny Holiday’s Matchmaker Bay series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone. That being said, I will definitely read the first book as soon as I can, because I miss the characters already.

From it’s beautiful set-up, to it’s adorable cast of characters and an engaging plotline, Paradise Cove ticked of all the things I want in a romance novel. I really loved how the book had the perfect balance of heart-warming and heart-breaking moments. Grief was a very important part of the book, and I really appreciated how the author dealt with this theme by expressing it through Nora and Jake’s lives. Jenny Holiday’s writing style is really captivating as well and that got me hooked into the storyline from the very beginning.

Nora and Jake were just….perfect together. I loved their chemistry from the very first page. Seeing their relationship shift from being friends to lovers made me feel really happy. The conversations between them, the bond they shared and how they found a safe haven in each other were so pure. NEW FAVORITE COUPLE ALERT!

Nora is a very strong character and her outspoken nature was my favorite thing about her. The way in which she was determined to let go of the toxicity in her life was really inspirational as well. And then Jake. OH MY GOD JAKE. I’ve never wanted to hug a character so badly while reading a book. Jake is the sweetest person ever. Where can I sign-up to get a best friend like him? I could talk endlessly about how much I love him, but I’ll leave it to you guys to find out how awesome he is. Just go and read the book as soon as you can, alright?

The side characters added their own charms to the storyline as well. I really liked Maya, Eve and Nora’s friendship. The elderly members of the town were so adorable too!

I didn’t like how the story was rushed in the end, and that’s why the book missed my 5 star rating. Other than that, the book was PERFECT. Highly recommend. ❤

I've been waiting for Jake's story! Paradise Cove is a heartfelt romance, filled with grief, passion and humor. Jenny Holiday has a way of writing the most sincere characters, that will pull you into the story and never let go. I love small town romances - especially ones that take your emotions through a plethora of ups and downs. This series is one I've highly enjoyed and can't wait until the next one!

Not having read the first in the Matchmaker Bay series, I went in blind, but what I found was a wonderfully fresh, poignant small town romance with humor, intimacy & surprising depth.⁠
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Moonflower Bay includes everything that makes a small town easy to romanticize. It's gorgeously set along the banks of Lake Huron, has unique mythology & traditions, & includes a cast of well meaning, meddling residents who know each other deeply & show up to ease one another's burdens. It's a community that's both tight knit & tolerant. Holiday delivers on all the promise of a small town, but sidesteps an overly idealized portrayal with the acknowledgement of challenges from opioid addiction to vaccination rates.⁠
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It's Nora's actions to ease these difficulties that quickly settle her into the community & Jake's ready aid as she does so that nourishes their steadily growing bond. The chemistry between them is palpable from their first meeting, but it's Nora's willingness to dive into emergency doctoring on the town green & Jake's steadfast, compassionate support as her impromptu assistant that really opens their eyes to one another.⁠
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Watching them slide inevitably from easy camaraderie & mutual admiration into deep partnership is a joy. Each begins with good reason to avoid entanglement. Nora's intent on rediscovering herself after being subsumed in her prior relationship. Jake's mired in grief at the back to back losses of his young son & mother & clinging to that grief as a tether to his son. ⁠ ⁠But there's an alchemy to Jake & Nora's interactions that has them each accessing more of what they truly want in life when they're together.⁠
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Whether it's a vaccination campaign or playful, passionate sex, Jake is there backing Nora's plans with his gruff competence, quiet humor & refreshingly feminist sensibility.⁠ Meanwhile Nora's matter of fact compassion & easy acceptance give Jack space & incentive to ⁠share memories of his son & crack open the guilt & grief he’s been frozen in.⁠ ⁠
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Though not without deeply painful moments, it's written with such skill & purpose the result is a cathartic & uplifting read.⁠


*I loved the book but was very frustrated by the choice to include the hero sharing casually that he had a sexual relationship with a 34 year old woman at 17. The heroine expresses concern over the statutory rape, and he reassures her that it was a positive experience for him. While I don't dispute that this is a response people have, I felt it served no purpose in the book and see no benefit in normalizing statutory rape regardless of gender. Because it was a sentence or two of the book's entirety that didn't have larger implications within the text, I'm setting it aside.

CWs: death of child (off page), cancer death of parent (off page), depression, grief, casual reference to off page statutory rape of hero at 17 [spoiler](view spoiler)

It was great to read Nora and Jake's story. I couldn't put it down and would recommend as a great beach read.

They both have suffered in their past relationships and find a kinship develop quickly with a stranger. Although they don't expect the immediate kinship that develops and struggle to deal with their growing friendship, they're forced to seek help from their friends.

It's a story of love and loss, resulting in a second chance at family.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Paradise Cove is a well executed small-town romance in which a big-city professional woman moves to a small town and falls in love with both the community, the lifestyle, and a local hunk. Jenny Holiday makes the story feel fresh with a very egalitarian friends to friends with benefits to lovers twist. Neither Nora and Jake conform to societal expectations, and they're both kind people who've been damaged a bit by life. Their chemistry is red hot and they suit each other more than a little right from the start, so the primary conflict is how they overcome their pasts to eventually come together as whole, functional beings.

Not having read the first book in this series ( Mermaid Inn) I was not aware of Jake's backstory going into this one. I absolutely loved how the grief from losing his son was handled! All around this book was an awesome mix of a Hallmark movie and steam. Even if you haven't read the first book I highly recommend this one! And it will make you want to run out and get the first one ASAP. At least that is what happened for me.

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is a sweet book following Jake and Nora.

These two are quite the pair and make for an interesting couple to follow. Their romance blossoms, twists and turns throughout this story. As Nora takes over a medical practice, she meets Jake and finds out he's nursing a bit of a broken heart. His losses are strong, but the two of them seem to be helping each other heal from their hurt.

On a personal level, the grief sections really hit me in a hurtful way. It's my own personal issues from the loss of my Father, but reading such strongly well written grief made me feel things I haven't felt in a while. That made this book super difficult to get through for me, but it makes for one beautiful story. Jenny has done such a miraculous job, and me struggling to get through these because of the realness is a good thing. It just stings a bit. So, reader beware. If you have a heart as sore as mine, be careful with the excellent writing in this book. It'll make you feel things.

Overall, this is one emotional roller coaster romance. I read Jenny years back, and man is she getting better as each book passes.

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

My love for this book was much like the sweet romance in this delightful story- it snuck up on me and caught me unaware! I absolutely fell in love with this town and the people. The writing was lovely and had me all over the place emotionally! I laughed at the witty banter, I cried over the emotional turmoil, I frowned with anger at some of the antics, and I had a cheesy grin on my face through most of the book. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did, and I read it in one sitting because I was so caught up in it. This is book two in the series and while it definitely worked as a stand-alone, Moonflower Bay is a charming place and I recommend starting at book one. This is a perfect beach read! I’m ecstatic to have found this author and look forward to reading more in this series. My thanks to @grandcentralpub @readforeverpub for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I might have enjoyed this one even a smidge more. Jenny Holiday's books are some of my favourite contemporary romances. I love the small-town setting, all of the side characters, and the personal and emotional plotlines she weaves effortlessly into her stories.
Nora and Jake were adorable and SO much fun to read about. Moonflower Bay seems like an adorable and fun place to live and absolutely reminds me of Stars Hollow, as is referenced once in this book. There are some sad/triggering moments in this book but I found those plotlines were handled really well. Cannot WAIT for the third book in this series next summer.

I mean who doesn't like a life reset after a terrible break up, thats exactly what Nora was doing with moving even if it was only temporary. I liked Nora she was feisty, independent and ready to take on the town of Moonflower bay. I really like Dr. Walsh SR I could see what a pistol she was and where Nora and her sister got it. I had a love hate relationship with Jake, I like him sometime and the stuff he faced was very deep and I could relate, but then he would do something and he came off as annoying and I was ready to just punch him. Oh my Kerri even her part was small but oh my the author had a way of Kerri getting right into your heart as well. I loved the closeness of the community and the friends and how they would do just about anything for each other. I did feel like there were a few parts of the book that did drag which was hard but over all the story was good and a twist on a love story. There is sex in this story so may not be suitable for all.

I loved this book! This is the second in the series. I have not yet read the first, Mermaid Inn, and this read great as a standalone. That said, I will go back and read Mermaid Inn because I enjoyed this one so much.

Nora is a doctor temporarily leasing a family practice in Matchmaker Bay. This was her escape plan following an unexpected breakup. Her goal is to save money, move back to Toronto, and buy a shared house with her sister.

Jake has always lived in Matchmaker Bay and has his own history of heartbreak. He is typically quiet (practically mute), but is always helpful and is embedded in the tight knit community . He and Nora click early in the book, and this is their story. There are strong themes of grief and coping with grief. I love those! There’s something cathartic about working through grief with the characters. I found this to be a positive and hopeful story. I especially liked all the family and community characters and look forward to revisiting the series.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Hopefully you will consider picking this one up!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really love Holiday's writing and this book is no exception. In fact, aside from one thing that bothered me immensely, this book is excellent! So let's talk about the thing I hated first to just get it out of the way. Jake fully romanticizes his first sexual relationship with "Mrs. Robinson" who was much older than his 17 when they had a sexual affair. Personally and, you know, legally, this is not an okay thing to do!! I find this portrayal incredibly harmful and I really wish it hadn't been tossed in for literally no reason. So, now let's talk about all of the things I loved about this book!

Anyway, Paradise Cove is about Nora, a doctor, who moves to Moonflower Bay after her life basically implodes. After a messy end to her long term relationship, Nora is swearing off men and spending the next two years saving money to buy a house with her sister in Toronto. Jake, the silent and broody man we met in Mermaid Inn, can't seem to resist Nora's frank, no-nonsense manner and finds himself drawn into her orbit despite himself. Jake is dealing with the loss of his son during the first year of Jude's life. It's been a few years, but the grief is still all consuming. Nora draws this out of him, not by being nosy, but by being Nora.

There's a lot to love as these two become friends and eventually turn into more. I love the town and the side characters because they're a whole lot of fun. This book has some serious undercurrents, which you may have picked up on already, namely, grief and cancer.

Also, there are actually two other things I don't love. Let's first talk about what feels like my standard complaint: I really need characters not to get back together past 95% after the bleak moment. Also, in this case the bleak moment was bleak. Secondly, the trope that is used is, um, not my favorite, although I did think it was handled well.

I'm so looking forward to the third book in the series because Maya and Law are the most intriguing! Oh, and you may want to order a pizza before sitting down to devour this book.

This may be my new favorite Jenny Holiday romance. I do have a soft spot for her Sleeping With Her Enemy, but Nora and Jake's falling-into-friendship romance was Jenny Holiday at her most adorable yet serious yet funny yet snarky all at once.

Romances where a main character is coping with the loss of a child are so tricky. There needs to be an emotional payoff that builds to a believable bond while still honoring the memory. This is usually not balanced so well against the lighthearted rom-com aspects of friends-with-benefits trope. Somehow, the author meshed these tropes so perfectly that before I knew it, I was falling for Nora, Jake, her dog Mick, their friends, and even the ripped-from-Gilmore-Girls town of Moonflower Bay.

Jake's grief was so real, so present, but beautifully honored throughout the story. It was a relief that his ex-wife wasn't painted as a villain. There were no villains, just two people coping with life unfolding. More than him ultimately confronting how his grief was blinding him to a life with Nora, Jake's most endearing quality was how much he admired and respected the heck out of Nora. This is not a man with an over-sized ego but rather an over-sized heart.

Fans of competence porn will love how capable Nora is and how naturally Jake fits himself to make her job and life easier. This is not a guy who defines himself by his job, but can value everything that is strong and competent about the woman in his life. Jake puts Nora first, her job, her worries, her problems, and he just wants her to be comfortable and safe to do it all. That is a true modern-day hero.

I skipped over Mermaid Inn, the first Matchmaker Bay installment which is languishing in my ever growing TBR, but I may have to go back for another visit to Moonflower Bay. The friendships Nora finds in her new hometown are adorable, and I also can't wait for Maya and Law's story.