I liked this book fine, and I was struggling to write a review about it, and couldn't figure out why, but I think I have a handle on it now. The entire book, you assume it's going in a Hallmark movie direction, where Big City Girl moves to Quaint Seaside Town to renovate and sell an inn left to her by her late aunt. Of course she runs into her old flame and there's some tension/chemistry there. (The only thing that could make this MORE Hallmark-y is if she had a nasty Big City Fiance back in her hometown that she realized over the course of the book that she didn't love anymore.) There's a point near the end where the male lead, Sawyer, seems like he might be the one moving to the big city instead, but of course, Eve realizes that her true home is in Quaint Seaside Town. That is when it lost me. I kind of felt cheated.

Otherwise, it's a fine book. The Quaint Seaside Town reminded me a lot of Stars Hollow, except on a beach. Or lake, I guess. There's a lot of fun side plots. The chemistry between the two leads was pretty good and I enjoyed the fun banter between them. I just didn't love it the way I hoped to, and partially I think that's because the book set me up to an nontraditional ending and then went to the old tired tropes again.

Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday is everything I needed and more. It is the HEA I needed that was both charming and hot, sweet and sassy, yet is also cute and sexy! Oooh Holiday can really make me blush in this second chance story about Eve and Sawyer who reconnects after ten years, when she has to return to Moonflower Bay (in Canada) when her great aunt leaves her The Mermaid Inn.

I loved Eve’s character and her obsession with making lists, her ability to always get in trouble, and she is a librarian - dream job! Sawyer is now the small town Chief of Police who once broke Eve’s heart; he is handsome, charming, sensitive and amazing with kids. What’s not to love!

I loved reading about Eve and Sawyer, though some parts were a slow burn, I enjoyed the groveling and certainly their attraction was undeniable! Swoon worthy read! I highly recommend this one.

It’s a cute story that I enjoyed and exactly what I needed to get me out of a slump!

The Mermaid Inn was a sweet, second chance romance, with all the makings of a Hallmark movie.

The Mermaid Inn and Matchmaker Bay are where Eve Abbott spent most of her childhood. Her aunt raised her as much, if not more than, her parents. But after the boy she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with broke her heart, Eve left town and never planned to return.

When her aunt died and left her The Mermaid Inn, Eve learned a condition of her aunt's will was that she remain in Matchmaker Bay for a year. The town wasn’t big enough for her to hide from her first love, the town’s Police Chief, Shane Collins - let alone the town’s meddlers.

The story progressed a little too slowly for me. And while it does pick up, and there were some funny, and poignant moments, I never became fully invested in the characters nor their story. I don’t think it was the writing - because it was great - as much as the formula that kept me from truly loving this book.

I really enjoyed Jenny Holiday's Bridesmaids series and she has another hit with this small-town second-chance romance.

Eve's list-making inner monologue was funny and she made me laugh with her observations and thoughts many times. Sawyer was sweet and, though his plan when they were younger was misguided, really puts Eve first.

The author did a nice job with moving the story forward at a good pace with them becoming friends again and then introducing the potential for something more. I also liked the little details about their small town and its residents. I really hope we get Maya's book next!

This is a cute romance. I love when the older citizens are matchmaking. Fast read and kept my interest pretty well

It's funny, I don't really care for second chance romances, and Jenny Holiday has gone on record saying second chance is her least favorite trope (and that this book was hard for her to write). And yet, somehow, I still really enjoyed Mermaid Inn. Likely because the first half-ish reads very enemies to lovers, followed by a deliciously slow burn.

I adore the town of Moonflower Bay. My favorite thing about small town romances is that they tend to have a fun cast of quirky neighbors, and Jenny Holiday doesn't disappoint on that front! The book opens with Eve standing on the roof of the inn she's inherited from her aunt, only to find that her ladder has disappeared! That's right - it didn't just fall down, it is gone. Of course her meddling elderly neighbors couldn't have anything to do with that... Or with calling the police chief Sawyer, Eve's ex, to come rescue her... The meddling of Pearl and Karl and the other old folks in "Matchmaker Bay" is hilarious and exactly the sort of small town I'd want to live in. The extra complexity of Moonflower Bay being a summer tourist town was really interesting.

The growing friendship and rekindling of their former flame for Eve and Sawyer is just *chef kiss.* They were together when they were teenagers and it's been 10 years, so they've both done a lot of growing up. The way the get to learn each other all over again, and change things for the better, was really well done. Sawyer is also SOOOOOO cute, I adore him and his self-sacrificing little heart. I just wanna pinch his cheeks, he's such a sweet, silly, infuriating man.

Mermaid Inn is the first book in the Matchmaker Bay series. I'm very much looking forward to the next book, Paradise Cove. I also *NEED* Maya and Law's book, which I have been promised will be the third book in the series, so you know I'm in it for the long haul!

Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday is the 1st book in the Matchmaker Bay series, and a really sweet and fun book about second chances. Eve Abbott returns to her home town after being gone ten years. Eve's aunt left her the Mermaid Inn, which she must keep a year before she can sell it. One reason Eve is anxious to leave town is because of Police Chief Sawyer Collins, her high school boyfriend, broke her heart, causing her to leave town. If you enjoy fun romantic comedies, I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jenny Holiday starts a new series and creates a Canadian small town setting that readers will want to get to know, full of heroes and heroines and quirky but endearing supporting characters. I loved Eve and Sawyer and their journey to recapturing (or more accurately rebuilding) their broken past. And who can resist a town built on mermaid and moonflower lore? Recommended!

After the loss of her aunt Eve is left with her aunts Mermaid Inn. At the state of the house the place could use some TLC but after Eve plans to do the bare minimum then leave. But when a part of the will requires her to keep the Inn for year, Eves plan to quietly come in and out of town goes out the window. Now shes back to seeing the people of her past which includes the now Police Chief Sawyer Collins who broke her heart. It seems old feelings haven't went away and there is a clear deadline so well see whats in store for the two.

I love books with second chances at romance theres something hopeful about them. I love seeing the people work them out and getting the full picture. I loved getting to know the characters, seeing their backstories and really caring and hoping for the best. There are bits of drama here and there that arent so bad. I loved seeing them work together and work on fixing the house and working on what happened to them in the past that the only problem that was looming ever closer was the deadline knowing things are going to end soon and decisions need to be made. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Mermaid Inn is a sweet second chance romance and is a stand alone.

Overall, it is just a fun and pleasant read. The character building is strong, with many well defined secondary characters and the town itself is almost a character in its own right.

Eve is a likable character from the start. She's a bit angsty at being back in town and wants to get out as quickly as possible, but she's never a whiner or ever suggests she's "too good" to be in a small town. She's basically just uncomfortable confronting the past. Sawyer is likable too. He's the town sheriff and is hard for Eve avoid for any length of time.

Their past break up makes sense, and you understand both of the characters feelings and motivations from the past. They were very young when they were first together and sometimes young people make mistakes that they wouldn't when they are older.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys second chance romance.

I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday. Y’all know I am a fan of Jenny Holiday’s books. This book was good but not a great read for me. The heroine, Evie, returns to the seaside town where she spent her summers while growing up. Her aunt has passed away and left Evie the inn. Evie doesn’t want it, but she doesn’t have options. Ther hero, Sawyer, is the townie boy who broke Evie’s heart. Naturally, they reconnect when Evie comes back to town.

CW: grief, mentions of child abuse that occured to a main character in the past

At first Evie is VERY mad at Sawyer for what he did. But then she decides to move on the anger. It wasn’t serving her a purpose and she was ready to be over it. They spend some time being friends. I liked it.

The town is cute and fun and Holiday does a good job at making the secondary characters actual people that I am interested in learning more about. But because it is the first in the series, the story felt a little heavy on the world-building and the actual love story/connection between the main characters suffered slightly.

Like many of jenny’s other books, the hero in this book does a fantastic job of being a support to the heroine. He is not there to stifle her, but rather wants to help her shine. I love this. The female characters in this book also pass the Bechdel test. If you loved the female friendships from Jenny’s previous series, Bridesmaids Behaving Badly, I think you will like the friendship in this book.

I had multiple quotes that I loved from this book. But I opted to share this one.

She— the actual, physical fact of her in his arms— was a shock. But also not. Because she was, simultaneously, familiar. He knew, in some kind of bodily, bone-deep way, how to hold Evie Abbott. In general, you had to hold her lightly enough that you weren’t holding her back. But, depending on the circumstance, you might also have to, temporarily, hold her tight. Be a bolster, a place to anchor.

I didn’t love this story, but I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

Librarian Eve Abbott is determined and a bit angry. Upon inheriting her aunt's home all those things she left in Matchmaker Bay are brought to the surface putting her determination to sell the house in high gear. Due to a stipulation in the will, Eve now finds herself stuck in the last place she what’s to be. In the proximity of the last person she wants to be around in a town full of meddling people who think it’s their job to match make.


Mermaid Inn is a sweet second chance romance. Eve was an amazing heroine. Life through her A curveball and she went with it. Her character develops so much from the beginning to the end of the book it was like watching a new flower blossom. I love that she decided to take her fears head-on, push through the bad parts, and was able to overcome. Eve pushed herself on many levels throughout this book and I think that’s part of why I enjoyed her so much. Sawyer was noble in his thoughts but his execution pretty much sucked. I love the reasons he did what he did but like a man if they would just learn to talk things would be different. I also enjoyed the tenderness that he had for Eve. They were truly a couple that was meant to be.

A charming lakeside town in Canada sets the stage for a fun and heartwarming second chance at love in Mermaid Inn. Eve and Sawyer take a slow dance around the attraction and chemistry they share. They are truly a wonderful couple together. The lake scenes with Sawyer and Eve are some of my favorites of the book. They show trust and caring along with determination and Hope. Jenny Holiday spin a wonderful tale of second chance love.

On the surface Mermaid Inn sounds like your typical second chance romance, but what I found inside was actually so much for than that. Sure it had all the great components of a romance. It had the hate to love banter and the back and forth and the uncertainty. But it also had a really good message to not forget you have a voice. It sounds corny but it really did take inspiration from The Little Mermaid in saying you always have a voice and you can use the voice to get what you want out of life, to be the person you want to me, to tell the people you love that you love them, to get a say in how your life will turn out. That was the magic of Mermaid Inn for me. Did I love Eve and Sawyer together? They were amazing. They had fantastic chemistry and just got each other, especially when they started talking. Also didn’t hurt that Sawyer was a hot cop and a genuinely good guy. J But seriously, there is so much more to Mermaid Inn than just a second chance romance. I definitely recommend picking it up and seeing for yourself. I know I’m really excited to revisit this town again in book 2.

Mermaid Inn begins the Matchmaker Bay series with a charming second chance romance that brings on all the feels of young love and all the reality of viewing those younger people with eyes a decade older. When your heart’s been broken, even if the person breaking it did it for the “right” reasons it still changes you and now Eve has returned to Moonflower hoping she can get through this without running into Sawyer again – but luck is not on her side (or perhaps it is, eventually).

At one time, Mermaid Inn was a summer sanctuary for Eve now she must remain at this now older, crumbling at the edges property for a year before she can sell a place that once meant so much and yet provided such pain as well. Sawyer knew he broke Eve’s heart, but he also broke his own as well. Now that Eve is back in town they might have a chance to fix the past but they have to be willing to risk their hearts once again, and Sawyer isn’t sure that Eve can trust him enough to do that again.

Sawyer and Eve make an interesting couple still dealing with the decisions of the past but the emotions have never died away and that spark that remains makes for an entertaining, at times emotional, romance. While their romance is engaging and I definitely wanted them to find their way back to each other – it was the town, the residents (quirky as they mostly all are) and the traditions of Moonflower that drew me in the most. There is, of course, world-building in the first story of a series so I expected to be learning this world. There were times that the town overshadowed Sawyer and Eve, I’ll admit to that feeling. I believe the next story will show if the town gets as much attention or the romance takes center stage. It didn’t change my enjoyment of Sawyer and Eve’s relationship yet I was aware of it. In all, I had a good time with this story and I’ll definitely be back for more.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

​​​​​Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday is an entertaining and heartfelt read. The characters are fun, interesting, and easy to get to know. The story is set in Moonflower Bay, a small coastal town about three hours from Toronto. The locals consist of elderly matchmakers, mermaid lovers and forever friends.

Moonflower Bay became Eve Abbot's home every summer while she was growing up. Eve's aunt owned the Mermaid Inn and she loved spending her summers there. Eve even had her own bright pink bedroom waiting for her each season. So when her aunt passed away, Eve inherited the inn. Although Eve and her aunt were very close, it had been ten years since she visited the area. The inn is quite a bit tattered, and according to her late aunt's will, Eve is not allowed to sell it for a year. Since Eve's life and job as a librarian are in Toronto, she has no desire stay for any length of time. Eve has many fond memories of Moonflower Bay, with the exception of the love of her life, now the police chief, publicly kissing another girl on a float during the annual Mermaid parade.

Police Chief Sawyer Collins cannot believe that Eve is back in town. He has always been in love with her, and does not regret his decision of a decade ago in order to force Eve to leave the area to pursue her literary dreams. Sawyer's life is a bit complicated, with raising his younger sister, policing the town and keeping his estranged father away. He and Eve start spending time together and Eve realizes what Sawyer did for love.

I truly enjoyed this book. The story is emotional at times and the supporting cast is genuine. When Eve and Sawyer finally get together, their sexy times are hot. The secondary characters are quite fascinating and I liked their respective story-lines. This is a well-executed second chance romance.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This was okay. It could have been a short story for all the repetition.. It took me forever to finish it and I was disappointed in that.. Sure there was history between them but it clouded everything else.

✦Review: MERMAID INN: Matchmaker Bay Series by Jenny Holiday https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bop
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4.5 Stars

I love finding a new series to love! Matchmaker Bay is filled with fun and quirky residents that make me want to pack up and move there. The second-chance romance was done spot-on and not drug out to the point of eye-rolling. I loved it. Eve was a character that I could relate to immediately, even if her past ten years was not fleshed out much, I liked her and understood her emotions and confusion. Especially about Sawyer… He is my idea of a perfect man. Strong, caring, patient, a cop in uniform. They made a fun couple to watch as they worked through the past mistakes and rekindled their love.

This is a sweet romance with some nice heat, witty humorous banter, and relationships that keep me smiling. I can’t wait to see what happens next to this little town.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle $3.99 https://amzn.to/2RtWVu2

I was kindly sent a digital ARC via Netgalley from the Publisher though all thoughts are my own.

This book was everything that I hoped for and so much more!

Evie and Sawyer are adorable and I'm so glad that they were able to work out their differences.

The older citizens of the town are quite the scheming matchmakers but also very sweet and are the best kind of people to have on your side!

Full of humor, several steamy scenes, the charm of a small town, the beauty of friendship and the power of second chances, it was a book I found hard to put down!

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it's released and I highly recommend this book!

this charming start to a new series finds eve abbott returning to matchmaker bay, where she learns that she's unexpectedly inherited her aunt's inn, the titular mermaid inn. she's eager to get out and go back to toronto, namely because matchmaker bay is the site of her greatest heartbreak that she's really not over even though it's been 10 years and they were teenagers at the time.

sawyer collins had his reasons for doing what he did. and let's be honest, he was a total jerk in how he destroyed his relationship with eve. but his reasons, they were honorable. and guy has a lot of baggage. including basically becoming his younger sister's guardian at the age of 18.

this is a second-chance story, and it's well established that i don't love a second-chance story. but i do like jenny holiday books, and this one is well worth the read.

**mermaid inn will publish on january 28, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.

Mermaid Inn was my first book by Jenny Holiday (although I bought One and Only as a to-me-from-me birthday gift last month and plan to read it soon). It was cute and funny with great characters, and I especially loved the Canadian setting. So few contemporary books are set in Canada, so I was thrilled to recognize nearby places and miscellaneous Canadiana (like the Milk calendar, which made me laugh because it was always a staple in my house).

Upon her great-aunt’s death, Eve inherits the Mermaid Inn, where she spent all her summers growing up. It’s been a decade since she stepped foot in Moonflower Bay; having her heart broken by her first love kept her away all these years. She returns with the intention of selling the inn as soon as possible, but it looks like her aunt is having a little fun from beyond the grave, hoping to keep Eve in the area. Enter Sawyer - the guy who did the heart breaking all those years ago and who now happens to be the chief of police, with his finger on the pulse of everything going on in Moonflower Bay - plus a bunch of nosy, meddling neighbours, and a few new friends, and you have a cast of characters who easily work their way into your heart.

I liked Eve and Sawyer together and separately. They both had issues to work through and past hurts to overcome. This story was fun, funny, and sexy with a great overall message of forgiveness and also finding your voice and having the courage to use it. If you love small-town romances, second chances at love, and if you’re a sucker for a book-loving heroine and a man in uniform like I am, be sure to pick up a copy of Mermaid Inn. It was the perfect cure for the January blahs.