Mermaid Inn

ByJenny Holiday

Release Date: 2020-01-28
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 42 Ratings

Description

Escape to Matchmaker Bay in this hilarious and heartwarming second chance romance from the USA Today bestselling "master of witty banter" (Entertainment Weekly).
Eve Abbott has a problem--actually, make that a lot of problems. And they're all going to get worse the moment her toes hit the sand in Matchmaker Bay. Once a blissful summer escape, now the tiny town just reminds Eve of loss. Inheriting her aunt's beloved Mermaid Inn is the only reason Eve is coming back. She's definitely not ready to handle nosy neighbors, extensive renovations, or the discovery that a certain heartbreaker still lives down the street...
Police Chief Sawyer Collins always does the right thing, even when it costs him everything. Like Evie. He's spent the past ten years trying to forget her--to forget how right she felt in his arms, to forget the pain in her eyes the day she left. The last thing he expects is to see her back in town or to find that the spark between them is as strong as ever. Sawyer knows this is his only chance to prove that his feelings have always been real... before Eve turns tail and leaves for good.
Includes the bonus novella Meant to Be by Alison Bliss!

Reviews

It’s Only Ever Been You For Me 🧜‍♀️
4
By Bookbruin
This was just what my heart needed after coming off of a heavier read. It was sweet and quirky and had me smiling throughout. I can never resist a second chance romance featuring childhood friends to lovers. Throw in some forced-ish proximity and even a little hate love to start and I was sold. Yes, Sawyer and Evie's story was fairly predictable, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. Sawyer was pretty much one big swoonfest for me. He was all the things I love in my heroes and then some. Seriously, how can anyone not fall in love with a man who builds them little free libraries?? Evie was a relatable and hilarious heroine and I just about died of laughter when she discovered the note she left for herself on her phone.

There isn't a ton of angst in Mermaid Inn and I appreciated that Jenny Holiday gave Evie and Sawyer time to reconnect and gradually get to know each other again as adults. It felt truer and more natural and really helped build up the anticipation. I also loved how much the characters grew throughout the book and how they faced their personal demons. Even though I don't agree with the reasoning and aftermath behind the initial separation (it is a second chance romance after all), I can understand it. Young love, especially first love, is so all consuming that I can recognize how earth shattering that "betrayal" would feel. I think both characters come to see that regardless of the pain, they both needed that time to grow and mature.

I laughed out loud at all the meddling townspeople and loved the colorful cast of secondary characters. Maya and Law have definitely piqued my interest with their bickering and back and forth, but it's broody and quiet Jake who I'm dying to find out more about. This was a great start to the series and Jenny Holiday has set the stage perfectly for subsequent books.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*