Love Blooms at Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

 

Bestselling author Alex Nelson is slowly coming apart at the seams after a failed marriage and an abrupt change in career leave him at a crossroads in life. When an unexpected opportunity arises to escape to the idyllic village of Mermaids Point, he’s hot on the heels of his brother, Tom, who has recently moved there. Buying a rundown bookshop might be just his latest harebrained scheme, but Alex has never been one to do things by halves.

After spending her early years caring for her mother, Ivy Fisher is finally ready to start living her own life. But when the impossibly charming, impossibly good-looking Alex Nelson swoops in and snatches her dream out from under her nose, it really is the last straw. Forced by circumstances to spend more time with him, Ivy finally gets a peak of the real man beneath the confident exterior, and she likes what she sees.

But just when things are starting to come together for them, Ivy is reminded why men can never be trusted. Is Alex who he says he is, or is he using Mermaids Point as nothing more than research fodder for his next bestseller?

My Review:
A fan of this series, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into Love Blooms at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett. I needed a cosy, fun contemporary romance and knew that this would be just that. It’s that is the third book in the amazing Mermaids Point series, but you could read it as a standalone, although I really do recommend the other books too.

This is a series that is uplifting and this visit did leave me feeling happy and content. I love a book that has a strong sense of community like this, where characters support each other and are there for one another when things go wrong.

Crafty and creative Ivy is carefully dealing with the grief of losing her Mum. Although they knew it was coming, it has left Ivy feeling sensitive. When her world changes even more, she needs to find security so she can move forwards.

Alex, brother of local doctor Tom, is in need of a fresh start; he wants to go in a new direction, and he wants to settle in Mermaids Point. When he finds an exciting new venture, he jumps straight in, but is he thinking with his head or his heart?
When Alex provides Ivy with everything she needs, even if temporarily, will she accept? It will mean letting down the walls she has built and putting her trust in someone other than herself.
Such great chemistry between these two characters, it jumps off the page. I really like both characters, so this pairing is perfect in my eyes. I like how independent Ivy is, but I do see how a great guy like Alex will be a reliable and caring source of support for her.

Wonderful dialogue, fun characters and brilliant writing by Sarah Bennett, as always.
A romance filled with tension, drama and a naughty cat called Lucifer!
Highly recommended.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/31ZLqTm

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies i;ncluding those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas. The first book in her new Mermaids Point trilogy for Boldwood was published in Spring 2021.

 

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Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

 

When her dreams of young love were cruelly shattered, Nerissa Morgan found it hard to move on. Now, at forty-three, everyone around her is enjoying life while she’s just going through the motions. With her boss retiring and rumours of a new doctor coming in to take over the practice she manages, change is coming, whether she’s ready for it or not.

Following the death of his beloved wife, Tom Nelson buried himself in work at his busy inner-London GP practice. When his teenage children find themselves in trouble at school, he realises he’s completely lost touch with them. Desperate to reconnect before it’s too late, he whisks his family away to the pretty seaside village of Mermaids Point determined to make a fresh start.

But all is not as idyllic as it seems. With his predecessor reluctant to let go of the reins and the children as distant as ever, the last thing Tom needs is an undeniable attraction to the woman he unexpectedly finds himself sharing a roof with…

Warm, escapist, feel-good and altogether brilliant story-telling from bestselling author Sarah Bennett. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley and Milly Johnson.

My Review:

A pleasure to be back in Mermaids Point with Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett. Although the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. The main character has changed to someone involved in the story in book one but not the focus, so it’s nice to get a chance to catch up with what’s happened to characters from before but also get a more in-depth look at someone else’s story. Mermaids Point is a cute, coastal village with interesting characters that create a good community feel. This time we mainly focus on the stories of Nerissa and Tom. Both characters have suffered heart-breaking losses and although their grief has calmed to a liveable level neither feel the need to move past that. The more we read the more we see that both are struggling with how they are; they miss that spark in their lives. Tom has two children and when they come to the village and slap bang into Nerissa’s life, things look set to change whether they want them to or not. As their friendship evolves, they both help each other heal in various ways. I love Nerissa and how she takes to both children, supporting them whilst not being too much too soon. With moments of laughter, emotion and drama this is a brilliant read. I hope there is a return visit soon, I can’t wait to catch up with all of these characters and see what fun is in store next.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3hcHcv8

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

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Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point - Sarah Bennett

 

‘Delightfully romantic and touching.’ Phillipa Ashley

Laurie Morgan runs a café in the small seaside community of Mermaids Point, named after the beauties rumoured to live in the waters a few miles off the top of the point. When a hazy image is posted online of what appears to be a mermaid, the café and the village are soon full to bursting with curious sightseers. 

The most eye-catching of the new arrivals is handsome author, Jake Smith, who has rented a cottage for the summer while he works on his new book. Or so he says. In fact, he is a journalist, burned out and disillusioned with life, whose editor has sent him on a crack-pot hunt for mermaids...

Jake quickly finds himself drawn to village life, and to the gorgeous woman who runs the local café. But he soon suspects there’s trouble lurking beneath the idyllic façade, and when it looks like Laurie’s family might be involved, Jake faces a difficult choice. Pursue the truth, or protect the woman he’s beginning to fall in love with…

Warm, escapist, feel-good and altogether brilliant story-telling from bestselling author Sarah Bennett. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley and Milly Johnson.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/2Lokynf

My Review:

I love books that involve cute cafes, seaside communities and a little bit of romance. This first in a new series by Sarah Bennett has really got me hooked and already looking forward to more.

A perfect read for a couple of hours light relief and escape. Mermaids Point sounds like a brilliant community and a picturesque seaside town, would be lovely if we could visit and spot some mermaids for ourselves.

Here we have Jake, a burned-out journalist that finds himself in Mermaids Point following the story of recent mermaid sightings. It’s a definite change of pace for him and he isn’t exactly upfront about his reasons for being there.

Laurie runs the local café and is keen for trade to pick up. She’s had her heartbroken so is focusing her attention on the business and supporting her family. When Jake and Laurie meet there is an instant attraction, but will their pasts come back to ruin any chance of romance? How will Laurie feel when she discovers the truth about Jake’s stay.

In this will they/won’t they romance, there is fun and laughter alongside mystery and intrigue -thanks to a couple of possible mermaid sightings.  

Nicely paced and a brilliant writing style meant I flew through this book in one indulgently lazy sitting. I was swept up in the lives of the characters. I am really pleased there will be chance to go back to Mermaids Point, and I hope we get to see a few of these characters again and catch up with how things are.

Fans of Sarah will love this latest release, if this is the first time you have read anything by this author I highly recommend her other book series. 

Author Bio:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas. The first book in her new Mermaids Point trilogy for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2021. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahBennettAuthor

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Somewhere Beyond The Sea - Miranda Dickinson

Available here on Amazon 

Miranda Dickinson's Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a romantic tale full of love, stars, living your own life and accepting the magic that can be found all around.

Seren MacArthur is living a life she never intended. Desperately trying to save the Cornish seaside business her late father built – while grieving for his loss. Seren has pushed her own dreams to one side and the pressures soon take a toll. One morning she discovers a half-finished sea glass star on her favourite beach, and cannot resist completing it.  One simple action starts a whole chain of events that will change everything.

Jack Dixon is desperate – wanting work to ensure he can give his young daughter Nessie the life she deserves. Recently widowed and made homeless, Jack has managed to somehow kept their heads above water. Creating seaglass stars with Nessie soon becomes something truly special for them both and the duo discover the magic they need to see a positive future.

Seren and Jack are both searching for something that is missing in their lives, but when they meet in real life, it’s on the opposing sides of a battle. Both have a definite reason to fight –but only one can win. With so much at stake, will they ever find what they are really looking for?
Miranda Dickinson (@wurdsmyth) has given us an incredibly heart-warming tale that transports you to the idyllic, St Ives. A location that adds some extra magic to this wonderful book, written with such description you feel like you are right there (and you definitively wish you were!) We are introduced to the hardworking and creative Seren, a young woman passionately, yet quietly, grieving the loss of her father; and Jack - a single father focused on giving his energetic daughter and with doing whatever it takes to provide her with all the love, attention, and security she needs. 
The characters and their stories of loss broke my heart in such a real way. I identify with both characters - the grief of losing a father and the heartbreak of being left a young widow (although my reality is we had no children and we were very much in love - so not quite the same as Jack). Without my Dad, I feel like a small girl wandering alone without the security and protection I always felt from him and this made everything Seren felt and did more important, I felt like I was with her in every heartbeat, every thought.

Nessie is fantastic; her character providing fun, comedic moments as well as melting your heart with her honest, innocent views on life. The relationship she has with her father is simply gorgeous, the love they have for each other is almost tangible and reflects what I imagine the relationship between Seren and her Dad was like when she was that age. Also, a very real reminder of the love I lost and deeply miss – as I am sure many other readers will feel too. 
I loved how the story was told through the dual narrative, having it unfold equally from both perspectives and understanding the motives behind each character’s actions.  I find the alternating chapters a treat, quite short and fast paced, it makes it difficult to put down as you desperately want to know each character next move. (It’s difficult enough as it’s such a beautiful book anyway). 

Although this is a love story, a real head over heels tale of falling for someone when it’s least expected, it isn’t all the story is. It is a beautiful reminder of how delicate and fragile we are (like the sea-glass), how deeply we can feel and how although we may be broken, we can still sparkle and shine – especially when you find something, or someone, to feel passionate about. It’s also about how we must, at times, look beyond what we need for ourselves and think about what those around us need more.

Somewhere Beyond The Sea is beautifully written, with characters you love and themes that you will easily identify with. It’s something special and you will not want to put it down. It’s not often something resonates SO deeply and personally. It’s a must read, you’ll be enchanted. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍