It’s a total pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of Happy Endings at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett: the final book in this lovely series (hang on – just wiping away a tear!), it was published by Boldwood Books on 3rd October, and is now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. Thank you, as ever, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
I’ve loved every moment of this series – and having never read any of Sarah’s books before, it’s entirely converted me into a real fan of her lovely writing. I adored Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point, the first in the series (you’ll find my review here) – I still get quite emotional when I think about how the family embraced Jake when he joined them around the dining table – and loved the second, Second Chances at Mermaids Point, even more (here‘s my review – I reviewed it as Autumn Dreams but I do prefer the new title…). The shorter Christmas Surprises at Mermaids Point was just the perfect bridge between the two earlier books and the two yet to come, and a lovely taste of how well she writes Christmas (you’ll find my review here) – and Love Blooms at Mermaids Point was, I thought, the best of them all (you’ll find my review of that one here). But, like everyone else who’s read the series, I really wanted lovely Nick to get the chance of a happy ending – I was SO looking forward to this one!
Music sensation Aurora Storm finally has her career back on track, but then she’s caught up in a media storm. Desperate to distract from the story, she enlists the one man she trusts to pretend to be her boyfriend.
Meanwhile, in the small seaside village of Mermaids Point, Nick Morgan never expected to see Aurora again. When she calls out of the blue needing his help, he agrees at once. It feels like she’s back in his life for a reason, and he’s determined to make the most of it.
Aurora joins Nick and the rest of his family for their festive celebrations and, as the snow falls, Aurora finds herself caught up in the romance of Christmas. But having tasted worldwide fame, can she ever be content with village life?
Two weeks is all Nick has to prove to Aurora that there’s a happy ending for them both in Mermaids Point.
Do you know, I’d got Aurora Storm all wrong – largely because of her involvement in the mermaid episode that brought visitors flocking to the Point, but also because she walked away and broke lovely Nick’s heart. But when we meet her in this book, she’s particularly lost, alone and hurting – she’s been the victim of a really nasty sting that’s created a media storm, and badly needs to disappear for a while to lick her wounds. And when she reaches out to Nick, all the hurt that went before is forgotten – he willingly steps in as her fake boyfriend, and provides the support and safe haven that she so desperately needs. And, of course, it’s not just Nick – the families embrace her with the same warmth they do everyone who needs their help. But when the fake relationship becomes something rather more – a romance I really believed in – and the media start to lose interest again, might Aurora just walk away again and leave Nick alone and hurting? Or will the magic of Christmas and the special time they spend together make her realise that her future could be something rather different?
As the last in a series I’ve so enjoyed, I had rather high expectations for this book – and I have to say that I thought it was absolute perfection. And I knew it would be from the very beginning – the opening chapter is just wonderful, reintroducing the Morgans and Nelsons, setting the scene, gently catching up with some of the back story, reminding you what a lovely community this is to be part of, such clever and accomplished writing. Every single character is wonderfully drawn, their own stories continuing from the earlier books – but no-one would really struggle if they picked up this lovely book as a standalone. The story, although written in the third person, is told very much from Aurora and Nick’s perspectives, and they’re both really sympathetic characters who you can’t help but take to your heart, hoping that there’s some chance of them both having a happy ending. And, of course, it’s Christmas – and it’s one with all the feels, as everyone comes together for a children’s party at Alex’s bookshop (fancy dress included – it’s just so lovely) and for the excitement of a long awaited Christmas wedding.
As always, the emotional content is just beautifully done – but there’s also a lovely lightness about the storytelling and plenty of gentle humour. While the primary focus is on the story of Nick and Aurora – and she won’t really break his heart again, will she? – I just loved being part of this wonderful community again for one last time, popping into the cafe and bookshop, walking on the beach, seeing what’s happened with the development on the quay (those apartments are just gorgeous – might there be a chance of one becoming available?), feeling the warmth of the hug the community always provides.
Every series has to come to an end – and for this one, the timing is undoubtedly right – but it certainly didn’t stop me having a little tear in my eye when all the loose ends were tied up neatly and I reached the book’s end. This was just the most perfect finale – bravo! The loveliest read, and highly recommended by me.
About the author
Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Newsletter sign-up
