Christmas Surprises at Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

For Nerissa and Tom, this will be their first Christmas as a couple, but making sure they have time for each other, whilst blending their families, will take some careful planning. What festive traditions will they make their own?

Laurie and Jake are flat out running Laurie’s seafront café, packaging up orders of mince pies, sausage rolls and other delectable Christmas goodies, as well as finding time for Jake’s journalism. But when Jake’s mum offers them an unexpected gift, their plans are turned upside down.

Unfortunately I struggled to connect with this book, as a reader reading this as a standalone it was hard to keep track of the characters. It is a cosy book with plenty of Christmas spirit, I just would have liked a bit more detail that would have allowed it to be a standalone.

Rating 3/5

A cute novella. I'd suggest reading the other mermaid point stories first as this updates you on how the characters are, It assumes you know their stories. Since I do, I enjoyed this!!

A gorgeous festive short book which gets you in the mood for Christmas. It’s a catch up with all of the lovely residents of Mermaids Point - and what they are up to over the festive season and sets up the next couple of books in the series (hurray!!) as there are more questions and cliff hangers, than answers…… I’m looking forward to reading about Ivy, Alex, Nick, Aurora, Nerissa, Tom, Jake, Laurie and the others in the next books! A perfect afternoon read.

I loved this novella . Short but brought you up to date with all the ace characters that you love at Mermaid Point. Can’t wait for Alex’s story and Nicks to be told. Glad Nerissa and Tom got some time together and Jake was able to accept help from his mum.. Fab read . Roll on the next one.

Great short festive read. Looking forward to the next books in this series to see what happens with Alex and Ivy and Nick and Aurora.

The story
I recently read Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point and the eARC of Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point. This novella set at Christmas time introduces Doctor Tom’s brother Alex and the situation with his ex-wife that led to him writing a book. Laurie’s friend Ivy is a great seamstress, and we learn that her mother is dying and close to going into a hospice. Laurie’s brother Nick misses singer Aurora who he met when she came to Mermaids Point. Jake’s mother Linda is planning a three month world cruise before she decides what to do with her future.

My thoughts
This teasing story feels like a little palate cleanser between courses of the two books already released and the two future books that promise to focus on Alex and then Nick. The books come out in 2022 only 😞 I have really enjoyed this sweet series that feels like it should be showing as a artsy British TV series. I will be looking out for the two follow up books for sure! 🥰📚