Member Reviews
A gorgeous rural romance that is just perfect for curling up with and escaping in, Kate Forster’s Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace will take readers on an emotional journey and into a world they will not want to leave!
Tressa Buckland cherishes her quiet life in Port Lowdy. The sedate and serene pace in this quiet seaside village suits her right to the ground and she wouldn’t change her life for anything. Her job at the local paper gives her the freedom to pursue her art and being answerable only to her ginger tabby, Tressa loves her freedom and independence. However, it looks like her stress-free life is about to come to a end when the owner of the newspaper is called away for six months and she ends up in charge! With a huge list of tasks to accomplish, Tressa doesn’t know where to begin, but with the paper in desperate need of a part-time journalist, finding somebody to fill that vacancy becomes her number one priority. But little does she realise that she is about to have her life turned upside down when Dan Byrne comes to town and accepts the position.
Dan is one of Ireland’s most successful and most popular journalists with a column read by almost everyone in the country. However, when things go south with a story and Dan ends up losing everything, he finds himself with no other option but to start afresh somewhere else, so when the job in Port Lowdy becomes available, he thinks that this is the chance he has been waiting for. As he packs his bags and his dog, Dan heads to Cornwall unaware of just what he is going to find in the picturesque village he has chosen to call home…
Dan and Tressa couldn’t be more different, but the two of them realise that they need each other if they are going to make a success out of this situation. For far too long, Tressa has enjoyed being in her comfort zone, but Dan has made her wonder whether she should stop hiding in the shadows and start living. As Dan begins to shake up life in this sleepy Cornish village, he finds the fulfillment and happiness that has eluded him for so long and a chance to start again with somebody who will come to mean the world to him.
Kate Forster’s Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace is a book readers will just want to dive into. Full of charm, humour and pathos, Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace is a heart-warming tale about fresh starts, new beginnings and taking chances that will leave readers with a great big smile on their face.
I adored Dan and Tressa who are two absolutely wonderful characters. They are flawed, relatable, human and so lovely, readers will not be able to help themselves from falling in love with them.
As uplifting as a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day, Kate Forster’s Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace is absolutely sensational.
Finding Love At Mermaid Terrace was such a beautiful story. It had both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments - which I wasn't expecting at all since, at first glance, the book seemed like a fluffy, spring romance. The sad parts of the book made the characters more real to me though. Reading Tressa and Dan's story made me feel all kinds of emotions, and I can't recommend it enough.
The description of Port Lowdy was wonderfully written. The scenic setting of the book added a very atmospheric touch to the storyline. Even though Dan and Tressa are the main characters of Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace, the author made sure to include POVs from the other residents of Port Lowdy as well, which made reading the book so much better! All of the characters added their own charms and stories - I couldn't help being mesmerized by all the events that occurred in the little village. :')
I really enjoyed the sense of community that the story carried. The inhabitants of Port Lowdy were so supportive of each other, and helped other people out whenever needed. This made me connect with the storyline on a deeper level, and I came to care for the characters from the very beginning. The book broke my heart and mended it all over again. I finished reading the book with a smile on my face.
I'll miss the characters from Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace so much. Please read it ASAP, you won't be disappointed! <3
This is a lovely and beautiful book. Tressa is an artist who works as a photographer for a local paper. When the owner has a family emergency, she is in charge of finding a new journalist. Dan needs a place to stay and a new beginning after losing his job and his house. They have amazing chemistry from the start but different points of view about what's best for the newspaper.
This book almost broke my heart. There are many sad moments, and both Tressa and Dan have a lot to go through to find their happy ending. This story is like a journey you think is going to be easy and relaxing, but instead is full of obstacles and challenges, but at the end you feel you are so much better because of it. It's so emotional in a heartbreaking kind of way but romantic and sweet. The side characters are amazing and I'd love to live in such a special place with so many great people.
I've received an ARC of this book and all the opinions are my own.
What a great book. Katie Forster writes good stories & this one will not disappoint. Tressa lives in Port Lowdy & is happy just carrying on working at the local paper & painting. Life changes significantly when Dan Byrne comes into her life. So much happens to keep you hooked & I read it in two sittings. Enjoy!
What a lovely, feel-good, uplifting read!
Tressa Buckland is very happy in Port Lowdy; she loves her cottage where she lives with Ginger Pickles, feline extraordinaire, and her part-time job at the local paper which allows her to pursue her art in her own way. Then the owner of the paper has to go away and it's left to Tressa to come up with a replacement for six months. Enter Dan Byrne, Irish journalist who has just been fired and is looking for pastures new. He blows into the Cornish village with Ritchie, his golden retriever, like a breath of fresh air. For some strange reason, he upsets Tressa just by being there - do opposites really attract?
There's plenty going on between the covers of this book. Tressa wasn't alone in her love of Port Lowdy, I rather fancied living there myself! I've always had a notion to live on the coast, and everything about this village sounds awesome. The author has created a marvellous setting for her story, and the characters are equally as terrific. Each one has been carefully sculpted and each of their stories are enticing. I did have a few doubts about the treatment carried out by the paramedics though! A wonderful tale with several ups and downs, resulting in one very enjoyable novel which I'm happy to give 4*.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Vicky Joss for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.
Tressa loves her quiet life in Port Lowdy. She loves her little job at the local paper and the fact that she can do her art at the same time. Her cat Ginger Pickles is a bit of menace, but she loves him. All is good in her world, until her friend and boss is called away because of an emergency and Tressa is left to run the paper for 6 months. She recruits a journalist to help – Dan Byrne. Dan has a reputation in Ireland, and moves to Port Lowdy to escape along with his precious dog. But what neither of them realise is the impact they will have on the residents of the village……and each other….
This is such a lovely feel good read, based on the coast of Cornwall (and we all know I love a book based there!). The setting is fantastic; set right on the coast there is plenty of sun, sand, sea and seagulls to draw you in and make you feel like you’re there in the beautiful, yet sleepy little village. As always, I wanted to be there! The cover said it all for me and I couldn’t wait to get into this.
The characters are all fantastic; I loved every one of them. The main characters are Tressa and Dan, but we also get to know the other residents of the quiet village. Everyone has their own little story behind them and it was lovely to get to know them all and to see some of them getting the happiness they deserved. One thing this book makes clear is that you should never judge a person, there’s usually more than meets the eye! The stories that came from each of them and how they intertwined was fantastic.
This story will have you smiling, laughing and crying! I’m not ashamed to admit, I shed a few tears. Seeing the heartbreak some of the things the characters went through did me in! You’ll experience love, betrayal, heartache, anxiety and grief with the characters; all blending into a wonderful story.
I enjoyed this so much I read it in one day. The writing is easy to read, and the overall story beautiful and heartwarming. So if you’re looking for a new feel good story to take you on a little emotional rollercoaster, with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting, then you should definitely check this out. Highly recommended by me!
Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace by Kate Forster
Publication Date: February 4, 2021
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Description from NetGalley...
“Love comes when you least expect it...Tressa Buckland likes her quiet life in Port Lowdy, with its cobbled streets and colourful terraced houses overlooking the sea. Her job at the local paper allows her to pursue her art in her free time, with no one but her tabby cat Ginger Pickles to mind her in Mermaid Terrace. But then the owner of the paper is called away on an emergency, and it's up to Tressa to run the paper for six months. Her first task: find a new part-time journalist.
Dan Byrne is the angriest man in Ireland – or so the readers of his very successful column, 'Dan takes on the world', think. But after a story goes south and he loses his job in Dublin, Dan has no choice but to start afresh. When an opportunity comes up in sleepy Cornwall, Dan and his Golden Retriever Ritchie set off for a new adventure.
For Tressa, Dan's arrival to Port Lowdy changes everything. Tressa tries not to look too deeply at her own life, but Dan sees a story to uncover in absolutely everyone – even her. The two of them couldn't be more different... yet, if they can find a way to work together, they may just breathe new life and joy into this sleepy seaside village.
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Thank you to @NetGalley @ariafiction for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This was gari (sushi ginger) for me - a palate cleanser after reading a few heavy books. There was something in here for everyone. There were a few other side characters with their own stories to tell, a cat and a dog, all packaged in a little seaside village in Cornwall. I actually enjoyed the secondary characters, because Forster gave them interesting stories that didn’t distract from the main characters. The town and seaside were so well described that the need for a getaway vacation was much felt while reading this. Even though it was predictable, it was still a fun, enjoyable, quirky and quick read.
I would describe this as quirky. I loved the descriptions of Port Lowdy, I really wanted to be there near the sea.It sounds a wonderful place to live.
Dan has been sacked from his job as a journalist in Dublin.
Tressa is looking to recruit for the local paper as the owner George's wife is poorly.
And so begins the ups and downs of life for them both.
There are some great characters but Tressa's mum sounds a bit of a nightmare.
Each character has a story to tell. Would definitely recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the ARC
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
Tressa Buckland likes her quiet life in Port Lowdy.
It has colourful houses and cobbled streets. Not to mention the sea.
She has a job at the local paper, which is part time, giving her time to do her art, with her tabby cat Ginger for company.
At short notice, the owner had to go away, leaving Tressa to run the paper for at least six months. Her first job is to find a part-time journalist.
Dan Byrne, known as the angriest man in Ireland after a story which he covered goes downhill, he loses his job in Dublin, leaving him no choice but to start anew.
Then he spots an opportunity in Cornwall, so with his Golden Retriever Ritchie, they set off in search of this new adventure.
Once Dan’s arrival in Port Lowdy, everything changes for Tressa, as she’s never looked that deeply into her own life. On the other hand Dan has a way of uncovering a story in everyone, including her. But, can they work together??
Loved it.
Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace by Kate Forster is a story about a small town in Ireland named Port Lowdy, with romance and good friendships added in. These main characters, Tressa and Dan are an “opposite” attract romance. I loved the location, details, and the storyline. The author brings out the emotions and the characters so well in this well written story that I recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Can this book be any cuter?! I just love the story about small town, romance and good friendships.
This was sweet and cute... And I must say I was bought by this sweet cover.
If you need a pause from hard book, this one is for you. This is just a perfect summer read...
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return for some feedback Tressa Buckland likes her quiet life in Port Lowdy, with its cobbled streets and colourful terraced houses overlooking the sea. Her job at the local paper allows her to pursue her art in her free time, with no one but her tabby cat Ginger Pickles to mind her in Mermaid Terrace. But then the owner of the paper is called away on an emergency, and it's up to Tressa to run the paper for six months. Her first task: find a new part-time journalist.
Dan Byrne is the angriest man in Ireland – or so the readers of his very successful column, 'Dan takes on the world', think. But after a story goes south and he loses his job in Dublin, Dan has no choice but to start afresh. When an opportunity comes up in sleepy Cornwall, Dan and his Golden Retriever Ritchie set off for a new adventure.
For Tressa, Dan's arrival to Port Lowdy changes everything. Tressa tries not to look too deeply at her own life, but Dan sees a story to uncover in absolutely everyone – even her. The two of them couldn't be more different... yet, if they can find a way to work together, they may just breathe new life and joy into this sleepy seaside village.
Tressa is an artist who is scared how the world will view her work. Dan is a bolshy Irishman who 'gets the job done', throw in an adorable crotch sniffing dog and what can possibly go wrong?? Tressa and Dan bring out the best in each other....eventually.
Kate Forster writes page turners, and, as always, this is no exception. Beautifully written with real emotions there on the page for all to feel. A wonderful story about love, friendship, misunderstandings and fallible parents.
Tressa lives in the sleepy seaside village of Port Lowdy in a quaint house with her cat, Ginger Pickles. She loves painting seascapes.
Dan is unhappy with his life in Dublin. He's really angry at the world. I immediately liked these two polar opposites of characters.
When events conspire to land them both in Port Lowdy, they get off to an uneasy start. Will Dan get used to Port Lowdy?
Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace was much more than I initially expected. Yes, it's a "starting over" story and there are a wealth of authors who choose Cornwall as the setting for their characters to do so.
However, the novel is so multi-layered in subject matter that it soon becomes apparent that it is so much more than a second chance at life for the characters. Everyone has been through a very tough time in one way or another and has had to fight so much.
I particularly felt for Remi and his story was heart-wrenching. At first, I felt annoyed with Dan but even he softened.
Tressa is strong minded and self-sufficient. I loved the cosy quirkiness of her cottage. As with many West Country small-town locations, Port Lowdy was atmospheric and Kate Forster did a good job of showing the seasonal nature of the ebb and flow of people living there as well as traditions like Cornish ice cream (yum! this reminded me of many a family vacation to similar areas.)
If you have been to Cornwall, the setting will conjure up memories for you, and if you haven't, it will make you want to go.
There are so many books that show the romantic side of starting over and do deal with struggles, but rarely do they do so in such a raw way as in Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace.
I would love a cat like Ginger Pickles and Tressa's seascapes were stunning and added her individuality to the cottage.
Throughout the novel, I got a clear sense of each character's hopes, fears and motivations as well as their likes and dislikes.
Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace is so incredibly feel-good despite the raw subjects too and that's what makes it so true-to-life. It's my third novel by Kate Forster and every single one of hers I have reviewed so far is unique and enjoyable.
A welcome break from what is going on in the world and a safe way to travel to an unforgettable place. Heartbreaking yet fun and uplifting, you will find this book is one to love.
Thanks to Kate Forster and Arian & Aries for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised at the depth in this book! There was the main story revolving around Tressa but you also felt like the “secondary characters” were up front and center too. Tressa works for the Port Lowdy newspaper taking photos and paints in her free time. When an unfortunate event leads her to hire Dan, an angry Irish reporter, her world is turned upside down. I loved their story and the chemistry between the two. Tressa showed some moments of immaturity but her growth within this book was wonderful. Remi's character within this book was my favorite. His passion and longing for Juliet was tragic and beautiful. I'd definitely recommend this for a weekend away at the beach!
Thank you NetGalley, Aria & Aries and Kate Forster for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Light and sweet, this romance is the perfect palate cleanser after a heavier book! While the plot is a bit predictable, the characters and details setting of the story really makes this one shine! Perfect for fans of Hallmark movies and clean romances with a HAE.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel.
This novel is a feel good uplifting romance set in a small town. The characters of this novel are very interesting you will cry and laugh with them. Its a story about friendships, a community and emotions. But its a very light read at the same time.
3.7 Stars
The book is set in a picturesque town called Port Lowdy. It has colorful houses, friendly people, and no high ambitions to become a bustling city. With the sea, cliffs, and cute houses, the setting is perfect for a cute and heartwarming romance.
Tressa is an artist and works at the local paper. She comes from a rich family that doesn’t seem to understand what she wants.
Dan is a famous columnist in Ireland with a loud, angry voice (or so is his image). When a certain article leaves him without a job, he applies for the temporary position at the same paper Tressa works (and is now managing).
Thrown in Tressa’s tabby and Dan’s Golden Retriever, an ex-convict on parole, and a few locals- you can guess what happens next.
The story flows well, dealing with the lives of the locals as well as our lead couple and new entries. It has some conflicts that could have been exploited even better. But the author keeps the emotions touch and go with the lead characters.
What I love about the book is the setting and the equal importance given to secondary characters. Penny, Wendy, Remi, Markel, Jenny, Caro, George; we get a glimpse into some lives and an in-depth backstory for some. The characters felt quite real and relatable, despite the easy conflict-resolutions. Who doesn’t want to read a sweet book at times?
What I wished to be better was the relationship between Tressa and Dan. We know they are going to hit off, and they do. But the conflicts seemed silly. And considering the insecurities each of them had, it felt they were still not sure about their feelings for each other. The uncertainty (despite them saying they love the other person) reduced the overall impression of the story.
I’d rather see this as a small-town book rather than a simple love story. The relationship between other characters shone better than the one between the lead couple. The resolution didn’t have an impact either. It was a bit too mellow, even for a heartwarming romance.
Overall, this is a nice book if you are in the mood for something light and cute. Pick it up for the secondary characters. You won’t regret knowing them.
P.S: The history behind the name Lowdy was sweet, and so was the use of mermaid in the story. It was a good touch.
Thank you, NetGalley and Aria & Aries, for the ARC.
Tressa's been living a quiet live in Port Lowdy, painting, hanging out with friends, her cat, and working at the local paper. Then, like a whirlwind, Dan comes to town to join her as a reporter. These two have good chemistry but they can't quite find a groove at first. For one thing, he's got a dog (it's a great dog btw) and for another, well, he's just more cynical than she is. Their story, though, is not the only one - keep your eyes on Remi and Penny and the others in this delightful small town. I love the setting, the characters are terrific, and Forster is a good storyteller. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A cheery book that was especially nice on a gloomy winter day.
Thank you NetGalley, author Kate Forster, and Aria for giving me a free E-book arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was simply wonderful. The setting, story line, and characters drew me into the sweet village of Port Lowdy. The details given to this village created a clear picture of the people and place of this village. The characters were well developed and complex yet realistic personalities'. The author gave the readers a real treat in not only a compelling main story line, but also very interesting sub plot lines as well. Remi and Juliet's story was so heartbreaking yet became heartwarming with their reunion. Dan and Tressa were the driving couple of this book and was completely taken in by their relationship and backstories. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend this book to those who love the cozy village romances.
Some books are like a bowl of in-season blueberries. You want to savor it. Each page you turn is like picking up one blueberry on your spoon. You're never sure if it will be sweet or a little tart, but it doesn't matter, because you know that it will be good. For me, "Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace" was like that bowl of blueberries. Unlike some other books, I didn't want to rush through it. I wanted to savor its locale -- a quaint little seaside village in Cornwall. I wanted to take my time and get to know the people who make up the village of Port Lowdy. I also didn't want to hurry through the book and get to the point where the hero and heroine finally decide they belong together. (We know it's going to happen! This is a romance!) No, I wanted to better understand what the deeper story was behind Dan's anger and Tressa's insecurities and feelings of inferiority.
This is definitely a feel good story, but I don't think it was all fluff. The author, Kate Forster, did a great job of developing Dan's and Tressa's personalities. She slowly gave the reader little bits of backstory that made one want to continue reading. Both characters had problems to which many of us can relate in one shape or form. In Tressa's case, who hasn't felt like they weren't good enough at least once in their life? In Dan's case, who hasn't felt angry over the hand that fate has dealt us in certain situations? This made it easily to sympathize with them as they work through their problems and grow to be better people because of their experiences.
It's also wonderful to see how Tressa's strengths help Dan, and Dan's strengths help Tressa.
This book has substance, yet Forster manages to write an enjoyable story that doesn't drag you down while reading it. Instead, she weaves in supporting characters that give the story a lift and keep it light.
This is a great book; check it out!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair review of this book.