Un bacio d'estate

Mermaids Point #1

by 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.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Summer

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2021

About the author

Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.

Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.

You can connect with her via twitter @Sarahlou_writes or on Facebook www.facebook.com/SarahBennettAuthor

Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove, Lavender Bay and Bluebell Castle series for HQ Digital UK.

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

With romance, a sprinkling of mystery and a wonderful cast of characters, Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point is the perfect feel-good summer read.

...the legend is that the mermaids will always come when the village needs them the most.”

There’s something about two people meeting and falling in love in a coastal setting that just soothes my little romantic soul and that’s exactly what happens when journalist, Jake arrives in Mermaids Point looking for the scoop on the village’s magical namesake where he soon meets cafe owner and local sweetheart, Laurie. And like Laurie, I was quickly a goner because Jake charmed the pants off me with his flirty nature and huge heart.

He didn’t have to be her happy ever after Prince Charming, but a little bit of happy for now sounded damn good.”

I wanted a great couple and a story to make my heart happy and that’s exactly what I got with family, friendship, love and new beginnings at the very centre. And having had my heartstrings tugged oh-so slightly with the snippet we’re given of the next book, I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Mermaids Point.

Copy received courtesy of Boldwood Books via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant, gentle read that is perfect for the summer. I felt transported to the idyllic, picturesque coast and found myself equally immersed in the excitement of spotting a mermaid.

I was delighted to learn that this is the start of a series. I feel that Bennett can explore so much more with the characters living at Mermaid Point, not to mention develop Laurie and Jake’s characters even further. The community that we are introduced to are loving, supportive and interesting. I was desperate to see more of Laurie’s own family and beyond – even including the Italian family that opened up a lovely deli in the village.

One thing is for sure, reading about Laurie running her café had me wanting to reach for a sweet treat! Bennett’s presentation of Laurie’s baking skills were inspiring me to grab me own apron and get cooking. The café seems rather idyllic and the heart of the community, especially once tourists start descending in the hope of spotting their own mermaid. Whilst this is great for local business, it is also a reminder of how much the community rely on visitors all year round, not just when there is a sniff of an exciting story.

Therefore, the presentation of Mermaids Point felt completely vivid and realistic. When Jake arrives under the cover of carrying out research on myths and legends, you know that this is going to generate shockwaves when the truth is eventually revealed. Although it was obvious that Jake would have to tell Laurie his real reasons for being at Mermaids Point – to potentially expose the hoax of the mermaid spotting – I could not have foreseen how this would have actually been revealed. These two characters make a lovely couple and I was really excited when they let down their barriers and expose their pasts to each other. Laurie and Jake’s background would make them definite candidates for the last biscuit in the biscuit tin! I think this makes them a more endearing couple because they have both experienced loss and loneliness in their lives. Therefore, when things get difficult to them both, I did have to wonder how and if Bennett would reunite these characters?

Despite it being a book under 300-pages, I did not notice this and thought the plot developed as expected. I felt a part of the Mermaids Point community and grew to love the characters. I think the only thing really missing from this story was more of the element of surprise. I do not feel that the crisis in the story was prolonged for long enough and, with Jake seemingly at Mermaids Point for several months, could not get a grasp of this extended period of time – it felt like the months passed incredibly quickly over the chapters.

This was a great read, nonetheless, and left me with a smile on my face. It is a definite “pick me up” sort of story and I cannot wait to return to Mermaids Point to see what happens next.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, it was warm and sunny and I loved the characters. The relationship between Jake and Laurie was sweet and I was glad they sorted themselves out in the end. Whilst reading this book my mind was conjuring up pictures of the seafront and the warm sunshine along with all the little shops and the cafe. Something we all hope to enjoy this year if possible. This was a first time read by this author but it won’t be my last. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you believe in mermaids? Such a fabulous escape! A small town Romance peppered with mystery. Laurie runs her family‘s café in the small town of Mermaid Point. The town is dependent on tourism that hasn’t been quite up to par in recent years, due to poor weather. Then some blurry photos of a supposed Mermaid citing go viral and the town is inundated with mermaid seekers. This includes handsome Jake who has been sent there to investigate these mermaid sightings, but Laurie knows him as an author. Will jake solve the mystery of Mermaid Point and will this stop Laurie and he finding their happily ever after? Or will it be his own secret that halts the path to love?

This was such a great story filled with such wonderful characters. Laurie and Jake were great. I was hoping that their secrets would not interfere with true love, they just seemed so well suited for one another. I also really loved all the secondary characters especially Laurie‘s family her parents and her brother. The mystery kept me intrigued I liked sussing out what was going on in this small town. A delightful read, looking forward to future books set in this charming town.

This book in emojis 🧜🏻‍♀️ 📱 🗞 🫖

*** Big thank you to Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer kisses at Mermaids Point… see that is a title that spoke to me on so many levels. Mermaids, summer,… I am there for it!

People who follow my reviews know I have a secret love for café stories. Throw cakes in books at me and I will be a fan forever. And god, there were some lovely sweets mentioned in this book. Only for that I would grant it 5 stars. 

I know.. I know… that is not why we are here. But honestly this book has everything I love. Set in a little picturesque village on the English coast, cakes and a romance. But this time add a little sprinkle of mystery to the story because a mermaid has been spotted! Are mermaids real?

So if it has everything I love, why did I only rank it 3 stars? Well, because of two main reasons.

1. So much in this book was based on bad communication and little lies. It is something I don’t like in stories. Especially if they are only added for the plotline. Like all good romances do our couple is faced with a “difficult revelation” they have to overcome. But in this case the revelation is totally unnecessary and just there to help the plot along. I absolutely hate it when authors do that. Why can’t you just invest some time in a believable twist in the romance story?

2. The romance developed really fast. And I don’t mind that normally. But this was just very fast… a couple of hours fast.

So overall a quick and enjoyable read, but certainly not the best out there.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point is the first book in a new series by Sarah Bennett. I have enjoyed her previous books so was happy to dive into this story. Mermaid’s Point is a small, close knit community which relies on tourists for much of the local income. The Morgan family have lived there for generations with Laurie Morgan running the local café, her parents operating the gift shop and her brother, Nick taking tourists on sea excursions with their uncle. Having had bad weather for a couple of years, the village is in trouble and needs a boost. When a grainy image of what looks like a mermaid appears on social media and goes viral, Mermaids Point is inundated with tourists and media. Jake Smith arrives and rents a cottage for the summer to get some privacy to work on his writing, Everyone assumes he is an author working on a book about myths and legends, but he is an investigative reporter sent to debunk the mermaid story and find out who is behind it.

Laurie is happy with her single life and has no intention of getting involved with a tourist as she has been burned before. She was an excellent baker/cook and just reading about all her delicious offerings made me hungry. The café is the heart of the community and where most of the tourists end up. As Jake begins to ask questions of the locals and get to know people, he starts becoming part of the community. Jake and Laurie are both wary for different reasons and it was great seeing their relationship develop in a very realistic way. I loved the sound of Laurie's family. They were so close, and supportive of one another and I am looking forward to reading their stories. I love the community of Mermaids Point. I could easily visualize it due to the descriptive writing and I felt like I was there on the beach looking for mermaids. The mystery of the mermaid pictures is solved, but not before it causes some problems for Laurie and her family. This is an uplifting story of family, community and falling in love, with some deeper issues. I am looking forward to my next visit to Mermaid's Point. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Annabelle Indge. She does a nice job with the voices, expression and tone. I enjoyed my listening experience.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading: July 29th 2022

"He didn't like to tell her most of the best stories in his career had started off as gossip."

I really like the way Sarah Bennett writes her stories, and after enjoying my time with the third Mermaids Point book earlier this year I thought it was time to return to book number one. Summer Kisses At Mermaids Point is set in a small seaside village, and the book has definitely nailed that coastal vibe with the detailed descriptions. It made the setting come alive for me, and I loved both how important the seaside setting was for the plot and the community feel of the village itself. The story switches between the POV of Laurie and Jake, which is perfect to slowly get to know both characters better. This is a mostly sweet slowburn romance, and I enjoyed seeing their connection grow over time. There is also a heavy focus on family; both Laurie with her family being very present in the plot and in her life and Jack who has less than happy memories from his childhood. There is also the mystery around the mermaid sightings of course, and I liked the moral dilemma and the journalist angle Jake provided to the story. Certain parts were a bit cliche, but as a whole Summer Kisses At Mermaids Point��turned out to be a heartwarming and mainly uplifting romance story with a spectacular seaside setting.


P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point" by Sarah Bennett. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. Who doesn’t want to escape to a small village by the sea...

The setting of a tiny village called Mermaid Point sounded breathtaking, I could picture it especially as I have visited small villages along the coast of England. It had everything you could want in a story love, family, community and second chances.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots like the mermaid sighting to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome. I must admit I choked up a bit at the end, and was glad this is a series and I'll get to meet the characters again because I wanted to know more and what would happen next. It’s a great start to a new series, and I can’t wait to pick up Nerissa’s story in the next book!

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Il confine dei libri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voto libro: 3.5
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is lovely heartwarming love story. I read this in a day. It was also lovely to read book based at the seaside which was a nice escape. The story is written from two points of view Jake the journalist and Laurie have that runs cute coffee shop next to her mum and dad shop. It’s a lovely community feel. Every one gets on with each other and knows everything about each other which sometimes is not good. Someone seen a mermaid and all of sudden the seaside resort is getting very busy due to them wanted to see the mermaid. This is where Jake comes to investigate it but he tells people he’s writing a book. I can’t wait for the second book. It was beautiful written and I give it 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Bennett for letting me read this book.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story just didn’t work for me. Everything moved too fast to be plausible. From hello to I love you my darling in a split second. Very odd. Also the mermaid business was frankly unclear and the ending felt quite chopped. The setting was nice so it’s too bad the characters just didn’t work out.

Also what is with the terrible fashion choices in these kinds of romances? Jeans with sparkles on the pockets? What year is it?? I felt so terrible for Laurie and her date outfit.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for review

[Silvia Devitofrancesco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recensione presente nel blog www.ragazzainrosso.wordpress.com
3.5 stelline
Laurie Morgan gestisce una caffetteria a Mermaids Point, un piccolo paese sul mare dove tutti si conoscono. Da qualche tempo la cittadina è letteralmente presa d’assalto dai turisti, tutti desiderosi di vedere la misteriosa sirena che una foto sfocata divenuta subito virale ha immortalato. Jack Smith, un giornalista investigativo, riceve il compito dal suo editore di scoprire qualcosa di più su questo strano fenomeno. L’uomo si reca subito sul posto, affitta una casa per l’intera estate e, fingendo di essere uno scrittore, si unisce ai turisti, in cerca di scoop o di qualcuno che gli possa dare informazioni utili. Tuttavia, non ha fatto i conti con i suoi sentimenti. Laurie lo affascina, ma non è facile abbandonarsi a una relazione estiva considerato che ha dovuto celare il vero scopo del suo viaggio a Mermaids Point e, soprattutto, i sospetti che nutre nei confronti di Nick, fratello di Laurie.

“Per la prima volta in quella settimana si sentiva calmo. In forma. Concentrato. Non si era risolto niente, nella sua testa c’era ancora una terribile confusione, ma andava bene. Aveva pensato di dover affrontare tutto da solo, ma la donna che gli sedeva accanto non lo avrebbe permesso.”

Il mito delle sirene affascina da sempre la gente di tutte le età. Le mitiche donne dalla coda meravigliosa popolano l’immaginario collettivo e il racconto mitologico e folkloristico. Si può facilmente immaginare quale impatto abbia su una cittadina piccola e pressoché sconosciuta dove domina il calore umano, la presenza di una sola di queste creature.

Laurie ha creato la sua caffetteria dal niente. Se ne occupa con passione e dedizione da anni e pur consapevole di quanto la vita a Mermaids Point sia difficile, non rinuncerebbe mai alla sua famiglia. dopo una cocente delusione, ha rinunciato all’amore anche se, da questo punto di vista, si sente incompleta.

Jake, il quale, a differenza di Laurie, non può contare su una solida famiglia, crede fortemente nel suo lavoro. È costantemente alla ricerca del pezzo perfetto, della testimonianza chiave, in nome del giornalismo investigativo non esita a sacrificare gli altri anche se spesso i sensi di colpa lo attanagliano. Mentire fa parte del suo lavoro ma quando in gioco ci sono i sentimenti la missione diviene via via più difficile.

Laurie e Jake si conoscono casualmente, tuttavia sin dal primo istante l’attrazione aleggia tra di loro. Insieme troveranno il coraggio di aprirsi, narrando episodi della propria vita che tenevano ben sigillati nella memoria, dopotutto non sono così diversi l’uno dall’altra.

Degni di nota sono i componenti della famiglia di Laurie, in particolare i genitori, il fratello Nick e la zia Nerissa che trasmettono una ventata di buon umore e leggerezza.

Lo stile della prosa è semplice e scorrevole. Personalmente ho trovato alcuni concetti ripetuti più volte, un piccolo neo assolutamente perdonabile.

Il lettore è pienamente coinvolto dalle vicende, anch’egli desideroso di scoprire cosa si nasconde dietro la misteriosa sirena avvistata.

Un romanzo piacevole e accattivante. Una lettura da gustarsi in riva al mare.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point is a heartwarming fun beach read. The picturesque setting of Mermaids Point is idealistic and makes me want to spend time there.
A blurry picture of a mermaid appears online one day from the seaside town and now the tourist have started flocking in including book author, Jake who falls for cafe owner Laurie .
Laurie's shop is a friendly meeting place and the town's people are so friendly and supportive of each other.
It was fun to see the mystery of the mermaid play out, is she real ?
Sweet and fun book to read!

Pub Date 25 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jessica – Books, Books, and Japan! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the coastal village setting where the Mermaids Point books are set. Summer Kisses doesn’t disappoint in being a fresh take on small-town romance, packed with enduring characters and a story that has a little bit of everything, including a mystery. Although I am not looking for love, I sure would love to pack up everything and move to a village like Mermaids Point forever 😊

[Katie Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book!

I've always loved Sarah's writing and this was another brilliant read full of drama, romance and family.

Absolutely fabulous! I just couldn't put it down!

[Kim Coenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feelgood vind ik persoonlijk echt heerlijk om tussen de andere genres door te lezen. Ik denk doordat de verhalen vaak een positieve en niet te zware ondertoon hebben en veelal een hoop humor bevatten. De schrijfster Sarah Bennett gaat voor mij een nieuwe ontdekking worden. Maar de cover is in ieder geval veelbelovend. De heerlijke zomerse en kleurrijke illustratie van een kleurrijk dorpje met café met daarachter een strand. Dit moet haast toch een geniet-verhaal zijn.
 
In het kustdorpje Mermaids Point, runt Laurie Morgan een café. De verhalen doen de ronde dat er wezens in het water vlakbij het dorp wonen. Wanneer er een wazige foto online verschijnt, waarbij het lijkt dat het om een zeemeermin gaat, stromen de toeristen massaal naar Mermaids Point. Hierbij zit ook schrijver Jake Smith, die daar de hele zomer een huisje huurt om te werken aan zijn nieuwe boek. In ieder geval dat beweert hij te komen doen.. helaas steekt de vork anders in de steel. Jake voelt zich op zijn plek in het dorp en voelt zich enorm aangetrokken tot Laurie. Dan doet Jake een ontdekking en hij vermoedt dat er in de familie van Laurie problemen zijn. Hij staat voor een moeilijke keuze. Durft hij open en eerlijk te zijn?

Sarah Bennett heeft een heerlijke levendige en vlotte schrijfstijl. Hierdoor zit er een heerlijk tempo in de verhaallijn en de gebeurtenissen en weet ze het verhaal door middel van krachtige dialogen op een prachtige manier tot leven te roepen.

We volgen het verhaal van Laurie en Jake. Vooral het personage Laurie vind ik enorm goed neergezet en ik voel als lezer al snel een enorme empathie voor deze vrouw. Het personage is realistisch neergezet en ik kan het echt waarderen dat je niet enkel een sterke vrouw ziet, maar dat ook haar onzekerheden en emoties op een mooie manier in de verhaallijn tot uiting komen.
De verhaallijn is erg leuk en origineel. Het is erg leuk hoe het verhaal van een legende hierin verwerkt is, maar ook dat de thema's van familie en liefde op een mooie manier aan bod komen. Door de wendingen blijft het verhaal leuk en boeiend en het sluit af met een heerlijk feelgood einde.

Zomerliefde in Mermaids Point, is een heerlijke, leuke en mooie feelgood. Sarah Bennett heeft een vlotte en levendige schrijfstijl, waardoor het verhaal heerlijk weg leest en op een mooie manier tot leven komt. De personages zijn goed neergezet en door de leuke wendingen is het (vrij korte) boek dan ook uit voordat je er erg in hebt.

[Clare Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Sarah.

When an image is posted online of a mermaid sighted at Mermaid point author Jake heads to Mermaid point to follow the story. Laurie has had her heart broken a number of times she concentrates on her coffee shop business and tries not to let Jake in. They eventually decide to take the plunge with each other but will Jakes secret spoil everything.

[Darcie Boleyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point is a warm and uplifting romance. The characters are loveable, the romance sweet and sensual, the setting is beautiful and I loved the mystery added with the mermaid sightings. This is the perfect escapist read and I can't wait to follow the characters in what promises to be a wonderful series. Five sparkling stars!

[Samantha Tonge · Rating 5 out of 5]

When burnt out journalist Jake heads to Mermaids Point to follow a story he has no idea Laurie will turn his world upside down. It's as much a surprise to her. Since having her heart broken Laurie's been more than happy to simply focus on her coffee shop business, and family.
However fate has other ideas and soon it's more than the sea that sweeps them both off their feet. But will Jake's secret ruin everything?

Oh, what a joy this read was. I fell in love with the setting and characters and found myself racing to the end in the hope of a happy ending. You're in for a real treat with this beautiful escapist story. Unputdownable and utterly romantic.

[Rowenabookine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le petit café du bout du monde est un coup de cœur pour moi, j’ai tout aimé dans cette histoire, c’est exactement ce que j’avais envie de lire. J’ai été complètement embarquée dans ce superbe village portuaire anglais. J’avais l’impression d’être dans le café de Laurie, dans la boutique de souvenirs de ses parents. Ou encore à manger un délicieux gâteau les pieds dans le sable face à ces îles. J’ai adoré les personnages, ils sont tous gentils, doux et bienveillants, surtout la famille Morgan et les habitants du village. J’ai aimé la romance entre Jake et Laurie, elle est très belle avec ces deux héros qui ont un peu peur de l’amour et qui ont du mal à s’ouvrir. Mais leur lien est fort et ils vont réussir à surmonter les épreuves. J’ai adoré l’intrigue avec la sirène et toutes les légendes et les intrigues qui en découlent. Malgré ses airs de romance feelgood, l’autrice a néanmoins abordé quelques sujets importants. J’ai adoré ce voyage à Mermaid’s Point dans un fabuleux décor avec cette petite note de fantastique et surtout avec tout cet amour et cette bienveillance qui fait chaud au cœur.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much, it was so sweet and charming. It is set in a cute picturesque seaside town , I loved the family and community feel so much. To be fair I absolutely love a small town romance with a bit of a mystery. I loved the relationship between Jake and Laurie, they had such great chemistry and are so cute. . Looking for an escape this summer, this is definitely a great one

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Eleanor Barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer at mermaid point 🧜‍♀️
What’s can I say?… it was the title that made me pick it up as I love mermaids 🧜‍♀️
I really enjoyed the character and the story line but I just didn’t like how it was written, it kept jumping to far heading or going in a direction that didn’t make sense …. I really wanted to give up on this book nearly every time I picked it back up but I had to see it through 🤷‍♀️ it just wasn’t for me!

[Victoria Wilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I read the description for this book I just knew it was going to be a story that I would fall in love with.

Laurie (Lorelai) Morgan runs a much loved cafe in the beautiful village of Mermaids point, which is aptly named so after the beautiful creatures that are rumoured to live in the waters surrounding the point. When a rather blurred image of what is assumed to be a mermaid is posted online, it causes an influx of visitors to swarm towards the village hoping to catch sight of the mythical creature themselves.

Then arrives Jake – an Investigative journalist who, after exposing what can only be described as a disturbing story, is in serious need of a break to gather his thoughts once more. When his boss Mac suggests him taking a long break and sends him to work on the low key story surrounding this mysterious mermaid. When he arrives at Mermaids Point, he ends up renting a cottage off one of the local’s who makes him feel at home instantly. As Jake begins to explore the village, he sticks with the guise in which himself and Mac concocted – Jake is an author, who is looking for inspiration for his up and coming book.

As soon as Laurie and Jake meet sparks begin to fly between them. Throughout their meeting’s in Laurie’s cafe, they find themselves growing closer with every day that passes by, and soon enough they find themselves in a new romantic relationship. Things seem to be going so well for them, but as we often come to expect in these stories, they soon enough end up hitting a major hurdle in which they aren’t entirely sure they will ever be able to move forward from.

This story was quite honestly one of my favourite reads recently!. I adored the characters that Sarah created and so beautifully brought to life. Laurie is loveable from the first time we meet her, and I found myself completely and utterly invested in her story and her journey to find happiness. Jake is also a wonderful character, who is full of his own unique quirks and an incredibly likeable, believable personality. It is impossibly to not find yourself swooning a little over Jake as we get to know him more. Along with a fascinating cast of secondary characters, especially Laurie’s family members, along with the local’s who all look out for one another, there is most certainly someone who will relate to every reader in some way.

Beautifully written, with a gorgeous storyline that I was well and truly immersed in the world in which Sarah Bennet brings to life with her fantastic writing style. Full of romance, drama and fun, this is without a doubt a book that everyone must read!.

[Jessica Redland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie and her family live in the sleepy seaside community of Mermaids Point where she runs a café, her parents run a gift shop and her brother runs boat trips.

When a video clip appearing to show a mermaid goes viral, the town comes to life with tourists eager to catch their own sighting. That’s great for business at the café and Laurie’s happy to chat and be friendly but there’s no way she’ll break her golden rule around getting involved with any visitors. She’s been burned before.

Investigative journalist Jake has hit burnout and has been sent to Mermaids Point to recharge his batteries but also to investigate the truth behind the viral clip. It feels like a pointless mission but he could do with a break. He has a cover story worked out to help him get the locals talking and try to unearth the truth. It won’t matter if that means a few white lies here and there because he’ll be gone by the time the summer’s over, won’t he?

Laurie and Jake are really interesting characters, both guarded for very different reasons and it was lovely seeing their relationship develop in a very realistic way.

I love the community that Sarah Bennett has created at Mermaids Point. I could visualise it so vividly and feel like I was there among the seaside sights and sounds. Laurie’s family are fabulous and I’m already looking forward to the rest of the series where I understand we’ll find out more about them.

An uplifting story of family, community and falling in love, but with some depth … and not just the depths into which the mysterious mermaid plunges! Very excited to read the next in the series.

I was granted access to an early review copy of this book via NetGalley which has not in any way influenced or biased my opinions.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie runs a café in Mermaids Point and all the business owners there are feeling the pinch. The community needs tourists, and they get their wish when hazy photos of a mermaid start appearing on social media. Jake has just resurfaced after exposing a horrific case of human trafficking, and his editor encourages him to take a much-needed break. And while he is on this break, he might as well find out what's going on with the mermaid-sightings. Jake sets himself up in a cottage at Mermaids Point and tell everybody he is there to write a book.

That was some meet-cute between Jake and Laurie. I couldn't help but smile throughout the encounter.

Jake fell in the trap of feeling guilty about not telling Laurie and her family the truth about himself and trying to find the right time to tell them. And then, of course, he manages to make a huge mess of everything. It didn't help that Laurie had some experience with flaky boyfriends.

Laurie's father and his big personality was my favorite by far. Jake and Laurie and the rest of her family weren't too far behind. I liked the two of them together.

It's a very sweet story of the power of having a supportive family behind you and of finding love when you least expect it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant start to a new series by this talented author! Mermaid’s Point is a small, close knit community which relies on tourists for much of the local income. The Morgan family have lived there for generations and whilst her parents run a local gift shop, Laurie Morgan runs the adjoining café and her brother works with their uncle taking tourists on guided sea tours around the coastline and islands.

After two years of bad weather, things aren’t looking great for the community until a social media post showing a hazy image of a what might be a mermaid goes viral. Who posted the image? Why? Well the impact is an influx of tourists – and the arrival of Jake Smith who rents a cottage for the summer to enable him to work on his writing, implying he’s an author rather than the investigative journalist he really is!

This is a lovely story of a small community with great characters, an intriguing mystery and a heartwarming romance. It was delightful to virtually visit this beautiful seaside resort through this story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to go back to catch up on everything there in future. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone looking for a fun read to escape into!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Namita Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a lovely and beautiful story of Jake and Laurie. All the characters are likeable and well described.

There is a video circulating on the internet where a mermaid is spotted in the village. Jake, an investigative reporter is here to find out the truth and ends up falling in love with Laurie who runs a cafe in town. The story flows smoothly and the emotions are so raw.

The cover of the book is pretty. Recommended.

For more such reviews visit - https://penitratherkeyit.com/category...

[Lidwien · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She’d always been drawn to the sea. Whatever the season, there was beauty to be found. From the balmy summer days when the shiny white triangles of pleasure boat sails dotted the gentle waves, to the rolling majesty of a winter storm in full tumult when even the hardiest of the local fishermen kept their boats secured in the sheltered bay.”

Lorelai (“Laurie”) Morgan is a wenty-two-year-old with her own cafe in an idyllic coastal village. Well, it's considered idyllic by tourists - locals know how hard it can be to live with the sea. After a humiliating experience a few years ago, Laurie is now dreaming of a new romance, but feels like the small town is lacking options. Enter Jake: an investigative journalist who is sent to Mermaid Point to cover a hot news story. Images of a mermaid near the village have gone viral and tourists are visiting en masse in order to try and spot the mysterious visitor. But Jake suspects a hoax and as his relationship with Laurie blossoms, he is getting caught up in his own lies...

This was such a nice, summery book! I loved the setting: the descriptions of the sea and the little village painted a very vivid picture in my mind. This book offered a lovely escape and made me desperate for warmer days. I also thought that the characters were interesting. I liked Jake’s backstory and Laurie’s family members all had well-developed personalities. There were also some nice folktales that featured mermaids.

One thing that I found a little less realistic is how Laurie and Jake’s relationship seemed to almost skip a phase. They went from just getting to know each other to being in a committed relationship very quickly. Also, I felt that Jake’s reveal was somewhat rushed and everything came to an end before I knew it. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted but interesting (love) story! I am definitely keeping an eye out for the sequel.

[Renata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Que bela frustração foi o fina do livro, parece que alguém só arrancou as últimas páginas e ficou nisso mesmo. Precisei do dia todo pra respirar fundo e dar uma nota/review não emputecida.
A história em si é fraquinha, não desenvolve muita coisa além do romance e se desenvolve de uma maneira bem lenta. O protagonista da história é uma confusão que só, nada de tóxico, só um personagem que não fazia sentido as vezes.