“She wrinkled her nose in that way that made him want to lean through the screen and kiss the tip of it. Even if he was never going to admit it to Ivy, he was past pretending to himself that he didn’t have a whopping great crush on her.”
Love Blooms at Mermaids Point is a wonderful English romance that will have you feeling so warm and cozy.
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 peek 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?
When I say I was excited for this book to come out, I need you to picture how excited kids get when they find out they are going to Disneyland. That was the level of excitement that I had for this book. Sarah did not disappoint me at all! I adored everything about Love Blooms at Mermaids Point, and I ended up re-reading it again right away. Before you read this book, I would recommend reading the other books in the series or at least Second Chances at Mermaids Point and Christmas Surprises. These two books introduce you to Ivy and Alex and give you their backstories that you will need to understand what is happening in this book.
I love the world of Mermaids Point; it centers around this charming coastal English town and the community of people who live in it. When I started this book, I had a sense of coming home. It was wonderful seeing familiar faces and spending time just hanging out at Laurie’s Cafe or walking the streets. Sarah has done a great job making sure that each book in this series is fresh and exciting. If you are a fan of stories centred around bookstores and renovations, you will enjoy this book. I know I am a sucker for a good reno book; I just love watching characters breathe new life into spaces.
I loved the plot in this book! It had everything that I hoped for. There was laughter, romance, moments (especially at the beginning) where I was tearing up, and enough twists to keep me interested. I felt the direction Sarah chose to take with Ivy and Alex’s story stayed true to these two characters and the community of Mermaids Point. Sarah also does a beautiful job setting up readers for the next book in this series.
There was just something about Ivy and Alex that captured my attention right from the first time they appeared in this series. I had that instant connection with them, and when these two met for the first time, I knew that their love story would be what happy ever afters was made of. Their romance is this beautiful mix of friends to lovers, forced-proximity tropes. I really enjoyed how their love story unfolded. It just felt authentic, and the build-up of chemistry between these two was just so delicious. Both Ivy and Alex are coming out of serious life situations. Ivy hasn’t had much of a life because she has been taking care of her mom. She also has some trust issues with men because of her father. Alex is coming out of a bad marriage and doesn’t know if he will re-enter the dating world. I loved how Sarah didn’t rush these two into an intimate relationship. With their complicated backstories, it wouldn’t have made sense if they jumped into bed with each other.
Love Blooms at Mermaids Point is a book that will charm your romantic socks off.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
