This one had chemistry blowing up at first meet at the local beauty salon with short hair- Nora and long hair aka Aquaman vibes for Jake. Nora the new Doc comes to town to get over her ex, clean slate, start over in a cute small town. (Read book one so you will love all the side nosssy side characters in this one) Jake talks to no one but finds he is comfortable with Nora and starts talking while he is fixing up her places. I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance with a lot of steammmmmy bits!!

Even though this is a light romance it has some heavy stuff with Jake dealing with the lose of his child and later on with Nora's grief. The world building of this town is perfect and matches the story lines and build up of the next book. I can't wait for the next one and to see where these last two go.

Overall, 4 star and 4.5 steam! (this one is fire hot)

Thank you to Forever Pub and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Warning: There are spoilers in this review, as the specific thing that bothered me cannot be discussed without revealing said spoilers. Proceed with caution.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever had a book that you were mildly enjoying, then something that you find personally objectionable (although not morally wrong, just enough that it’s a personal dealbreaker when reading) jumps out at you in the last act? That was my experience with Paradise Cove.

The setup is fine: both Nora and Jake have experienced heartbreak in their pasts, and I felt for both, particularly Jake, having lost a child. I like how Jake’s grief manifested, particularly when it came to his feelings for Nora and the idea that maybe he didn’t deserve it.

And I did feel the transition from becoming friends when she initially comes to town and becoming lovers was fairly well done, although I didn’t feel like there was anything substantial I liked about them as a couple.

That brings me to that big issue I had with this book: the last-act pregnancy. When secret babies and accidental pregnancies are advertised in the blurbs, it really depends on other factors as to whether I’ll even pick it up, much less if I’ll even become invested, so this way, keeping it as a surprise that no one else warned me about pisses me off.

Anyway, birth control was brought up in the book, which I initially appreciated, but then there’s a moment that should have been a red flag when they talked it over and said they’ll stop using condoms and Nora will just take the pill. And later it goes into how much she enjoys sex without condoms. But of course, she conveniently (for the plot) forgets to take her pills while away somewhere, leading to an accidental pregnancy, serving as the catalyst for these two people who haven’t confirmed they want to be serious with each other to do so.

I have no beef with anyone who enjoys plotlines revolving around accidental pregnancies. And I also acknowledge people are fallible, so a situation like the one depicted could happen. Instead, I object to not being warned that this element was in the book, and I want to reiterate that it’s something I personally just don’t want to read about, and the execution of it just felt like an overly convenient way for the couple to get over their issues and finally settle things.

So, should you read this book? I guess it’s down to whether the situation described is also a pet peeve for you or not. It’s a fairly charming book otherwise, and it does have its good points, just not enough to overwhelm my personal dealbreakers.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is a fun summer, small town romance. The book centers around Nora, a doctor who moves from Toronto to the small town of Matchmaker Bay, as a sort of reset for her life. There she meets Jake, a Jason Mamoa look alike (YES PLEASE!), the town recluse who has withdrawn from the world after the death of his son.

The characters in this novel were a delight. Nora loves zombie movies, is addicted to pizza, and is a one woman vaccine power house. Jake, the grief stricken town recluse and handyman, who is always quietly there when someone in the town needs somebody. I also enjoyed Nora and Jake's best friends who bring some quirky character as well as much needed moral support. And finally there are the town busybodies - because you can't have a small town romance without the town busybodies. As Jenny Holiday weaves the story you get to know and love the characters of the town, as Nora and Jake get to know each other.

The story is your fairly typical romance with extremely likable characters. There is some drama but it fits the storyline well and isn't dragged out. One thing I liked about the book is that I think it is a thoughtful look at the grief that is experienced when you lose a family member.

So if you are a fan of small town romance this is a great one. Steam factor is fairly high on this one so if you like your romances PG, this would not be one for you. Also the loss of a child is a big factor in this book so if that is a trigger then I would steer clear.

4.5 stars

So this is the 3rd or 4th book I have read by Jenny Holiday and I am starting to love her writing more and more. Mermaid Inn was a great book, but I loved this one so much more. I liked the whole burnt out go to a small town vibe like 10 outta 10. Its a great book it gave me all the Hallmark vibes honestly. This was a sweet Friend's to lovers book which is one of my favorite tropes, as well as small town. The characters are very well written. I love the support that Nora gets from her friends even Jake. Jake is a bit broken because of significant events in his past and this was kind of one of those books that you watch him heal and grow through what had happened. It was absolutely beautiful.

There were a few things that I will say I wish had been handled a little differently (that is a complete personal issue though) There are topics that I honestly wish I had known about going into this book.

CW: Loss and Grief/ Death of child (in the past off the page) but it is discussed a lot

Thanks to Estelle at Forever Romance and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is the second book in her Matchmaker Bay series. It can be read as a standalone, but I found the first book Mermaid Inn to be delightful, so I recommend reading that one as well. Dr. Nora Walsh was devastated to catch her fiancé cheating and looking for a fresh start packs up and moves from Toronto to Moonflower Bay, a beautiful small town on the shores of Lake Huron. She intends to stay for two years, pay off her student debt and save up a downpayment for a house to share with her sister back in Toronto. Jake Ramsey’s life as it was came to an end the day his infant son Jude died, and he’s still overwhelmed with grief, getting through each day as best he can. Jake and Nora start spending time together as he makes repairs to the house she rented sight unseen and what begins as friendship grows into something more, but she’s going to be leaving, and he’s not sure how to reconcile how he feels about Nora when he doesn’t deserve to be happy. I loved that this book is set near where I live, and even though Moonflower Bay is fictional, it brought back many happy summer memories. The story is lovely, so emotional, it brought me to tears, and the supporting characters are well written. The HEA is hard-won and so well deserved, I highly recommend reading this book.
Medium Steam. Publishing Date July 28, 2020. #ParadiseCove #JennyHoliday #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing #ContemporaryRomance #BeachRead #bookstagram

After she catches her boyfriend of five years cheating, Dr. Nora Walsh is ready to get away, take a break from her life as usual, and start anew. Hence her move from Toronto to the small town of Moonflower Bay. Taking over the medical practice in a small town will allow Nora to gain some perspective, get over her broken heart, and save money so in two years Nora and her sister can buy a house together as they've always planned. Feeling a little apprehensive at first, Nora quickly makes friends among the locals, especially Jake Ramsey.

Jake Ramsey knows what it's like to have a broken heart. He's been carrying one around with him for years and doesn't expect it to heal anytime soon. Instead he's closed himself off, become somewhat of the town hermit. While his friends are there for him, he doesn't open up to anyone, and people have learned to respect this out of Jake now. But, in Nora, Jake finds someone who, for whatever reason, he feels comfortable talking to, whether it's her straight-to-the-point attitude or the way she views the world through a Doctor's lens, he's not sure, but Jake and Nora form an easy, uncomplicated friendship. Even when they add the "....with benefits" to the end of "friends" it's not complicated. That is, until it is. Until the potential for more might mean the potential for healing.

I loved how easily Jake and Nora slip into a friendship. I mean, it's not a surprise where their story is headed (this is a romance after all), but I appreciated that their friendship is solidly built up first. It kind of makes the next move into a romantic entanglement seem inevitable. It's been awhile since I've felt the click between two characters as much as I felt it between Nora and Jake.

I do think that Nora's story gets a bit overshadowed by Jake's overall story. Because Jake is still dealing with the death of his young son. It's heartbreaking to read about, to even think about, but I felt like Jenny Holiday did a wonderful job exploring those feelings, but also showing readers one of many potential healing processes. Mortality is a big theme in Paradise Cove and while that might not sound exactly romantic, it's the juxtaposition of death and life that puts that romance in perspective. On one hand you have people you love that have passed away, and on the other hand you have the potential to have love in your life and be happy. You're not sacrificing their memory by living.

But helping to keep things a bit on the lighter side, you have the same wonderful cast of characters that inhabit Moonflower Bay (dubbed Matchmaker Bay for obvious reasons). I loved getting back into the idyllic small town setting seeing the same secondary characters. It's delightful and quirky and, as I said, helps to balance the more sadder aspects of the story.

A couple things I did notice were, at times, the story moving super quickly time wise. This happens mainly towards the end when plot lines are being tied up, but the narrative would skip ahead a couple of weeks or I think maybe even a month in some cases. I would have liked it to be drawn out a little more to feel the weight of these moments towards the end. And, going hand in hand, I felt like the lead up to the end could have been expanded upon. Honestly, though, that a gripe I have quite often in my romances.

Overall though, I think Paradise Cove really ups the ante for this series. I enjoyed the first book, but this one just really hit all the feels while tackling some really heavy topics.

A heartwarming and sweet story that made me smile and root for the characters.
I loved the setting, the plot and the well thought characters.
It was an entertaining and engrossing read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

2 broken hearts healing together while healing other people! LOVE IT!!!

In this small town romance, we have a Dr. returned home after a heartbreak. The local lonely bachelor ends up helping the pretty doctor at the local clinic, and sparks start to fly. In this Stars Hollow type town full of matchmakers, there are many shenanigans afoot, and this romance is really sweet.

Jake and Norah are a really sweet couple, and I enjoyed their story of coming together. Holiday is a must read author, so I highly recommend this read!

I loved getting back to Matchmaker Bay! Great strangers to friends to friends-with-benefits.
Jake lost a child (there is a lot of talk of his son Jude) and is known as the very silent type. I chalk it down to his loss.
Nora needs a break after a hard break up and Matchmaker Bay needs a new doctor.
She goes with the intention of staying only two years.
I love this little town! The residents are quirky but are gossipy. Once Nora and Jake get together.... They manage to keep from being the talk of the town. Jake had the most awesome sounding little cottage in his own private cove.
Nora brings out the fun side in Jake but it's only for her to see. I love the interaction with Jake's ex Kerrie in the end part of the book. They never really talked after their marriage dissolved, but the way they finally connected was a great help to Jake.

This story made my heart explode with happiness! It was so entertaining and fun with just the right amount of emotion and heat mixed in. I loved it all!

Jake and Nora were amazingly strong characters that I adored. Nora was awesome. I loved how she was moving forward in life, her attitude, and embracing a new town. Jake was amazing! I totally fell in love with him. He was a quiet man with a heart of gold working through his grief. I loved their subtle attraction and them becoming friends and how that friendship built to so much more and sparks started to fly. That building heat was awesome and I was filled with so much anticipation for them to get together.

I loved that the story jumped right in at the beginning laying everything out so I could just immerse myself in Nora and Jake’s world. It was sweet and easy with a bit of drama and emotion. It was an incredibly wonderful story with really great details and an amazing build. I adored the town of Matchmaker Bay and all the people and their friends. I loved the male bonding and how Eve and Maya embraced Nora. I loved the tension between Law and Maya and am looking forward to their story next. I also loved the meddlesome older folks and the wonderful humor everyone brought to the story, I was smiling and laughing.

This was terrific storytelling and I enjoyed it from beginning to end! I loved the feeling of hope this gave me. It was a truly wonderful read and the sweet little epilogue was like icing in the cake.

Sometimes you just pick a book, not because you are familiar with the author or the series, but because the title and the blurb peeks your curiosity. That was the case with this book and I am so very glad I gave this author a try. I absolutely loved it.
Dr. Nora Walsh needs a fresh start after being dumped by her fiancee for “a new model”. So she leaves the ER of a big Toronto hospital, for a family practice in the small town of Matchmaker Bay. A practice she plans to lease for two years and then return to Toronto after that time. Not realizing that the town would worm itself into her heart.
On her first day she meets the quiet, “aquaman” and ever supportive Jake Ramsey. A man that has isolated himself after the death of his baby boy four years ago. A loss he has never recovered from and even though he’s the “quiet man” in town, the community supports him and know he is always available when needed.
When these two broken souls meet, a special friendship ensues . But what happens when feelings develop and the unexpected happens?
This engaging and touching story was at times heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. A story about family, loss, hope , new beginnings, taking a chance as well as second chances in life and love.
This is definitely an author I will continue to follow . Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever/Hachette Book Group. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

spoilers!

I really enjoyed Mermaid Inn and have loved other Jenny Holiday books, so I went into this one with sky high expectations - and it somehow exceeded them?! LOVED it.

As soon as we met Jake in the previous book, I was champing at the bit to get his story. It was perfect.

I loved and related to Nora like you wouldn't believe. Going through a tough break up, wanting that major life change, loved how strong she was even when she didn't feel it. I really connected to her. Funnily enough I felt the same about Jake. There's no competition with grief but I went through something similar as Jake and I just felt like it was written so well, handled with such sensitivity. Those parts were insanely heavy and hard to read, I imagine they'll be that way for everyone, regardless of whether you've lost a child. I loved how it was dealt with, and I feel like you really get to feel Jake exploring all of those feelings and working through his grief. I really appreciated it, especially towards the end when he meets up with her ex and they talk about moving on and what their son would want, it just really hit me. There's something about staying exactly where you are with grief that makes you feel like you're holding on, if you move on it means you are forgetting about the child you lost or that it's not important anymore.. which of course, is not the case, but so hard to get to the point where you feel like you're not betraying them by trying to be happy/move on. again, I did not go though what Jake did, but similar enough that I had a lot of the same feelings and they really hit me.

Now, as for the romance - Nora and Jake's meet cute was quite possibly the most adorable thing in the entire world, I love how the hair thing kept coming back up. I might have squealed several times lol. I am normally not a huge fan of friends to lovers only because we rarely see the development - not so in this one, we get to watch their friendship grow and then turn into more. Gah, the chemistry! They were just so fun to read about, I loved their banter and conversations. I loved their relationship so much. And steamy, wooh boy. I feel like steamier than Mermaid Inn, which I am not complaining about in the slightest lol. There's a slight twist at the end which normally wouldn't work for me given the other stuff, but I thought it worked really well and was necessary for the development of their relationship, especially on Jake's side.

Of course the side characters were fabulous as well - I loved Nora's family and totally teared up, loved the people in Moonflower Bay - all those matchmakers lol. The people working with Nora and the patients, gotta love that small town community. I will say, this reminds me a teensy tiny bit of the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis, but not in a bad way at all - in a I totally recommend these if you love those way.

This book is a beautiful look at different kinds of grief and how people heal. It's also unusual in that it's a friends-to-lovers with stakes. In every romance, the love story should drive the sex, and this is accomplished in a way I don't think I've ever seen before. I love how openly the characters talk about sex with each other.I had a little bit of an issue with the pacing, which I usually do with Holiday's books that take place over longer periods of time, and the end, although wonderful, felt a bit rushed. Maybe I just wanted to draw it out! Three hanky read for sure!

Moonflower Bay is probably one of my favorite small-town romance settings. Seeing Nora and Jake become friends and eventually move towards something more was so enjoyable. I felt that you got a real sense of their friendship first, which isn't always the case with friends-to-lovers romances. In particular, I thought the way that we saw Jake open up with Nora and how he worked through the grief of losing his infant son (which occurs off-page) added an important and touching layer to their relationship.

I will say, the twist that came part way wasn't my favorite twist in terms of a plot device, but I thought it was well done, and it did make sense for the story of Nora and Jake, both as individuals and as a couple. Lastly, I am SO excited that book three (out 2021) will be about Maya and Law because after all of the build up and tension in these first two books I am so ready for it.

4/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

LOVE! Mermaid Inn grabbed me and I was super excited for this sequel. Nora has moved to a tiny town, allegedly for two years, to restart her life. She strikes up a friendship with Jake, local good guy/tortured soul. This book felt a bit heavier at times, lots of grief. Jake's loss of his young son was such a heartbreaking story, especially to me as a mama to a young boy myself. But Jake and Nora's friends to lovers journey is enough to warm anyone's heart and this is a truly enjoyable book.

Ok- I want to live in Moonflower Bay!

This was a perfect summer romance read- I loved the setting, and the couple was adorable and the background characters added a lot of fun to the story!

Dr. Nora Welsh is in need a fresh start when she rolls in to the lake-side time of Moonflower Bay as the new local GP. The small town, eager to keep the new doctor pulls put all the stops to make her feel welcome… even the towns closest thing to a hermit, Jake Ramsay can’t help go out of his way to make to bog city doctor at home in their humble town.

Let’s start with the perfect like-side resort town; Moonflower Bay. Situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron, the small town known for matchmaking is a perfect place for romance from the picturesque beaches and lake views to the charming Main Street filled with quaint shops and quaint trying spots!

Next you have the delightful pair got Jake and Nora, the handyman and the doctor. These opposites are a perfect pair, both recovering from loss and heartbreak. Dr. Nora has recently left a long term relationship after discovering her boyfriend was cheating on her. She’s sworn off men for a while since relationship track record is subpar at best. Hanyman Jake is a divorcee who is still grieving the loss of his infant son five years ago. He has shut his heart up and drown away the key. These two make a great paring because they both aren’t looking fro a relationship, but they both provide the other just what they need. Nora gives Jake a distraction from his daily routine and quiet support for his grief while Jake is there to fix and solve all of Noras problems, form fixing her deck to feeding her when she gets too busy to remember.

I adored these two and their supportive relationship. They didn’t play into traditional relationship roles and that made it even more encouraging to see. The loss of Jake’s son was handled well. It occurs in memories, but readers should be aware that the sudden death of a child plays a big role in this story.

Lastly, the townspeople and friends assed so much colour and fun to the story. To meddling to supporting Nora and Jake- they were excellent. Since this is the second book in the Matchmaker Bay series, I’m excited to extend my stay and read the first book and get the inside story on the Mermaid Inn and Eve and Sawyers relationship!

I can’t recommend this book enough- this is what summer romance is all about!

Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday is expected to release July 28th, 2020.

Thanks so much to Forever Romance and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me with my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ParadiseCove #JennyHoliday #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

I really enjoyed this book. Likable characters. Small town everyone's got your back feel good. It's about two wounded souls trying to find peace and each other. Great read.

Jenny Holiday is a new author for me, in fact I was so intrigued by the description of this novel that I went back and read the first book ‘Mermaid Inn’ and thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in the town of Moonflower Bay. (Otherwise known as Matchmaker Bay for reasons that are very clear in both books!) The tone and small town characters remind me of the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis so I will admit I was expecting a lot-and Jenny did not disappoint!

Dr. Nora Walsh left her job as an ER physician in Toronto after her scumbag physician boyfriend Rufus replaced her with a first year resident. She needed a change and taking over the small town practice of a retiring doctor in a small lakeside town seems like the right choice. Nora plans to spend two years saving up her money before moving back to Toronto in order to return to her career and buy a home with her sister. What she doesn’t expect is to be embraced by the quirky townspeople as Dr. Hon or to find Aquaman sitting next to her at the Curl Up and Dye!

Jake Ramsey may not actually be Jason Momoa, but he has the long hair and good looks that pique Nora’s interest. Jake is quiet and reserved but he can’t help but notice the new doctor, especially when he ends up helping her when a tourist goes into labor on the village green. They strike up a friendship which only deepens as Jake helps her with the rundown house she is renting and he slowly starts to come out of the shell he built around himself after the death of his son. Eventually they decide to enter a friends with benefits arrangement as they agree that neither want anything long term. Since this is a romance however we all know that will change!

I absolutely adored both books so far in the series, but I have to say ‘Paradise Cove’ has a little bigger place in my heart. There is a lot of emotion in this book and I ended up crying at least twice, which probably isn’t usually a selling point for this type of book but for me it is the mark of when the characters are so well drawn and true to life that I can’t help myself! I would 100% recommend this book to others and am eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the chance to read this early!

I loved this book!!

Jake and Nora have fantastic chemistry, their banter is super fun and sexy and the book offered the perfect amount of steam! This is the best kind of book to throw into your beach bag and devour in one sitting.

I will definitely be picking up a copy of Mermaid Inn and can’t wait to read the next book in the series next year!

Nora Walsh, the new doctor in Matchmaker Bay only plans to be in town for 2 years. Long enough to get over her previous relationship and to save some money so she can buy a house with her sister back in Toronto. She quickly builds a friendship with, quiet, keeps to himself, Jake Ramey. Nora's not looking for anything serious and Jake hasn't had any kind of relationship since his wife left him after a tragic loss.

Paradise Cove starts off with a bang! I instantly loved Nora. Strong, smart, but also flawed. She was very relatable. I knew, when meeting Jake in Mermaid Inn, his story would be heartbreaking. I couldn't wait to see him get his well deserved happily ever after. Their chemistry was fantastic both as friends and lovers.

Mix in the small town setting, wonderful friendships, along with the meddling town elders and Paradise Cove is an excellent installment to the Matchmaker Bay series. Although this is book 2 of the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.