First of all I have to say how much I loved this book! The fact that there was a little bit of everything from new beginnings to second chances made that so very easy. That’s without adding in the wonderful themes of family and of course love that is right at its heart. For me the emotional thread that ran throughout also gave this book so much depth. In no time at all I had come to care about the characters and their various situations. Along with hoping they would find happiness.

Even though I was sad to leave Laurie and Jake in book one, Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point. I have to admit I couldn’t wait to read Nerissa’s story. Although luckily Sarah Bennett did a wonderful job of keeping the warm and loveable family connection running throughout this book too. Even though this is book two in the Mermaids Point series, I thought it completely worked as a standalone. However if you do get chance why not start with book one because it really is a gorgeous story and I wouldn’t want you to miss out!

What can I say about the characters?! Well they definitely pulled at my heartstrings. The heartfelt moments were expertly woven into the story as the characters came to terms with grief, family situations and life in general. The romance itself played out in a way that completely captured my attention. There was an almost gentle feel to it and I thought that this fit the characters personalities perfectly. Nerissa is a character that I easily connected with and if I’m honest I think I fell for Tom a little myself. I couldn’t help but root for this pair. Along with getting caught up in the warm and sweet feel of their connection. It was just like being wrapped up in an inviting and comforting hug.

For me this series has such a magical and heartwarming feel to it. With the characters and the setting of Mermaids Point making it extra special. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series! It’s safe to say that Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point charmed me from first page to last!

Such a fab series I love Mermaids point and was a pleasure to return.

This is just as good as the first in the series and you don't have to read them in any order.

Looking foward to returning at Christmas

Another great story in the Mermaids Point books. It was great to read of Nerrissa's life & her family around her. Highly recommended read & I look forward to visiting Mermaids point again.

I had no idea this was the second book in a series, but it doesn't matter because it navigates well as a stand alone story. It was an enjoyable read. There's a lot of heart to the story and the main characters are well-developed. There's not much conflict, which is sometimes okay if you're just looking to escape for awhile with likeable characters, a well-paced story, and a cup of tea. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the delightful ARC.

Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point
author: Sarah Bennett
Boldwood Books

As summer sunshine fades into the golden colors of Fall, the shades of change, healing, and second chances on love are glimmering in the English seaside village of Mermaids Point. Nerissa, who works for the community's aging Dr. Gadd, suffered a broken heart at an early age when she lost her beloved fiancé Gareth. A widowed young doctor, Tom and his two children relocate to Mermaid's Point from London to heal their shattered hearts and seek new beginnings.
Bennett creates a sense of place in Mermaids Point that feels welcoming, secure, and sheltered. In the list of characters presented at the beginning of the book, connections through family, friends, and careers provide interesting feature and side plots.
This book is second in Bennett's irresistible contemporary romance Mermaids Point series. It is perfect as a stand-alone book, but as readers fall in love with the engaging characters and seaside setting, they will want to re-visit often. Come be enchanted and discover the magic of not only the mermaid legends, but also the appealing and heartwarming stories of the residents of Mermaids Point.
Thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
 #AutumnDreamsatMermaidsPoint #NetGalley

Returning to Mermaids' point in the Autumn is an emotional and uplifting experience. Readable, as a standalone, but if, like me, you read the first book in the series, it's good to see what's happened in the lives of the town's coastal community.

Forty-three-year-old Nerissa has never moved on emotionally after the tragic loss of her first love. The reawakening of her dreams as a mature woman reflect the season. Nerissa's life changes when Tom, the new doctor, moves into all aspects of her previously sedate existence. Tom is bereaved and has issues parenting his two children. Neither is looking for romance, but proximity and serendipity conspire against them, but will they take the chance on love?

Community, family and friendship are interwoven into this gentle contemporary romance making this a heartwarming read.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett is a wonderful contemporary romance that was sweet, endearing, and a great addition to the Mermaids Point series.

Nerissa and Tom are such great characters. Both have experienced pain, loss, and difficulties. Both are missing that spark and ray of hope in their lives. Both are introduced to one another just when needed. I love how their relationship helps the other heal and move onward. They seem to really bring out the best in each other.

Such a sweet and romantic narrative that was perfectly balanced and paced.

I highly recommend this series.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Boldwood Books for this wonderful arc. I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Don't let the character list put you off at the start of the book, although it is very useful you won't need to refer to it. You will slip right in to the well sculpted story! Really enjoyed my time at Mermaid's Point. The perfect antidote to the outside world and its troubles

I’m really enjoying this series – it has all the qualities of a Sunday night tv drama, with its wonderfully created seaside town setting and cast of characters whose stories immerse you in their lives. As promised at the end of the first book (which you really don’t need to have read, but then why wouldn’t you want to?), this is Nerissa’s story. She’s in her forties – although she sometimes does seem a little older – and worried about her future, working as housekeeper and receptionist to the village doctor who’s on the verge of retirement. He’s very secretive about his future plans, and Nerissa has increasing concerns that she’ll find herself both jobless and homeless, forced to rely on the support of her sprawling family, the Morgans.

But she finds he’s lined up a replacement doctor – Tom is a widower with two children, keen to relocate to a new place and leave his memories and a few current problems behind. There’s an initial attraction between him and Nerissa, and that becomes the central theme of the story – she carries an edge of sadness having lost the love of her life when they were both young, and the ready-made family is something that she both yearns for but feels the need to resist. The story largely focuses on their developing relationship, both working and personal – and I thoroughly enjoyed the way their story unfolded against the tapestry of other characters and all the small dramas along the way.

There’s a character listing at the start of the book, but I doubt you’ll need it – the book wraps you in a warm hug of friends and family that soon whisks you out of your life and into the heart of theirs. The setting is beautifully drawn, and if this is your second visit there’s the opportunity to catch up with your favourite characters from the first book – that was rather a treat for me, but others will equally enjoy meeting them for the first time. Everything about this book is both heartwarming and uplifting – and if you’re thinking that the only other thing it needs is a lovable dog, I’m delighted to tell you that Toby most certainly fills that slot perfectly. The slow-burn romance with all its obstacles is quite beautifully done – very real, and with the perfect emotional touches.

This really was my kind of read – and one so many others would equally enjoy.

This is an absolutely gorgeous book, definitely one of my favourite books that I have read so far this year. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one is even better. This can also be read as a standalone novel.
This book features Nerissa, Laurie's Aunt who were both in the previous book. She is facing uncertainty about her future, her job and her home as The Doc is getting older and closer to retirement age.
This book is not a sequel as such, as it focuses on different characters and there is a new family, Doctor Tom and his children. The characters from the previous books do feature heavily though. It is nice to catch up with them all.
I can't describe how much I loved this book. Nerissa is a similar age to me and it is fantastic to have a slightly older Protagonist. She is a wonderful character and you can't help but hope that she has a happy ending. She really deserves to have one. She is such a warm and kind person.
There was a lot of emotions in this book, drama and grief, but also hope. It was a lovely heartwarming read. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Once I had nearly finished it though, I was a little sad, as I wanted to keep on reading it. Luckily there is a Christmas Novella in the Mermaids Point series which is out soon, so not too long to wait.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

A wonderfully warm and completely absorbing novel. Nerissa, Tom and all the characters that populate the story are well rounded and utterly believable. Nerissa is a gorgeous heroine whose kind but rather bruised heart really makes you feel that you want to be friends with her and so one is rooting for her to finally get her second chance at happiness in the wonderfully drawn setting of Mermaid’s Point.

Highly recommended 5*

This being the second book in the series it just fell into place with the characters and settings. Loved reading this and can't wait to read the next one which is coming very soon. Well written and well worth the 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this lovely eARC

I loved this second instalment of Mermaids Point just as much as I did the first one, with the added bonus of finding out that it is dedicated to us of The Friendly Book Community, thank you Sarah Bennett!
This is an easy, lovely read about grief, loss and second chances in life, utterly enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this revisit to Mermaid Point, the characters are so well written and very likeable I was hooked from the start, their stories are well told without all the “filling” others do, the story just told itself, I am really looking forward to visiting again

🍁 BOOK REVIEW | Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett 🍁

SYNOPSIS | When her dreams of young love were cruelly shattered, Nerissa Morgan found it hard to move on. Now, at forty-three, everyone around her is enjoying life while she’s just going through the motions. With her boss retiring and rumours of a new doctor coming in to take over the practice she manages, change is coming, whether she’s ready for it or not.

Following the death of his beloved wife, Tom Nelson buried himself in work at his busy inner-London GP practice. When his teenage children find themselves in trouble at school, he realises he’s completely lost touch with them. Desperate to reconnect before it’s too late, he whisks his family away to the pretty seaside village of Mermaids Point determined to make a fresh start.

But all is not as idyllic as it seems. With his predecessor reluctant to let go of the reins and the children as distant as ever, the last thing Tom needs is an undeniable attraction to the woman he unexpectedly finds himself sharing a roof with…

“The words we give to the sea are heard only by the waves”

MY THOUGHTS | Thank you to

Autumn Dreams at Mermaids Point is a sweet, easy read - perfect for this time of year. I enjoyed the characters and got major Virgin River vibes from Doc! I am looking forward to spending the Christmas season with Nerissa,
Tom, and the rest of the family in Christmas Surprises at Mermaids Point.

RATING | ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I read this book as a stand alone, and I am now motivated to go back and read other books by this author. What a sweet tale of second chances at happiness and moving on past grief. Painful and heart-warming! Thank you to NetGalley and Repeater Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Fantastic follow up to Summer Kisses at Mermaid Point, but can also be read as a stand alone book.
This book centres around Nerissa Morgan who is receptionist and housekeeper for the local doctor who is about to retire. The new Dr Tom is a widower and arrives with two children with their own issues.
Sensitively written around how death can affect different generations, loved how the characters have progressed from the summer and looking forward to the next one!!
Easy reading, pure escapism, Sarah Bennett's writing is warm, interesting and addictive.
Loved this latest! Recommended highly.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.

Nerissa Morgan, forty three and spinster of Mermaids Point. Her true love, her soul mate died many years previous before their lives had really begun. Nerissa has never really moved on it seems.

She is simple waking up and existing each day as the receptionist and live in housekeeper at Mermaids Point Doctors surgery. She doesn’t even need to go far, she has accommodation there as well. Her world is very small.

With the Doctor retiring, Nerissa needs to except the fact that everything is going to change. However she did not bargain for the handsome Tom Nelson to arrive into her life and her life getting much bigger.

Dr Tom Nelson has lost his wife, he threw himself into his work as a GP in London and neglected not just himself but also his two children, who were grieving for their mum. When an incident at school leads to some honest truths, Tom decides it is time to take a break. That break he decides will be a Mermaids Point.

Will it be for a week? Or will the magic of the place, the community and the possibility of his own mermaid in Nerissa, mean that the week will last a lot longer.

This is the second in the series of books set in Mermaids Point. Of course if you come to this book first, you will still find yourself drawn into the place and the wonderful characters that make up the Morgan family, which include Nerissa. It is great to see a woman of a certain age being the main protagonist in this story.

It was also lovely to still see plenty of the characters from the first book and that they were fully involved in the story and not just names mentioned as reference points like you can get in some series of novels. I always think this is what makes Sarah Bennett’s books stand out from some I read.

This is a lovely book of second chances, hope and how the sea can frighten and heal in equal measure and just maybe some dreams can come true, even if you have to wait a while for them! I could not help but fall in love with Mermaids Point and the Morgan family all over again with this book.

Autumn Dreams At Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett is the most delightful contemporary novel. It is the second book in the Mermaid’s Point series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The novel has the dual themes of loss and new beginnings. No matter how much time has passed, grief is still raw. We have to learn how to live again and adapt to the new normal.
As a father of two, the lead character finds it hard to adapt to being the sole parent. His own grief and job as a busy London GP sometimes hampers his ability to deal with the grief of his children. A fresh beginning is what is required.
The fresh air of Mermaids Point contrasts with the closed atmosphere of London. The reader can almost ‘feel’ the salty air on our faces due to full descriptions by Sarah Bennett.
The characters were wonderfully and realistically drawn. Strangers receive warm welcomes as the hurting are held close to hearts. It is refreshing to have the lead characters in their forties.
It is important to live in the present. The past is gone and the future is not yet here.
Life at school can be hard when you are twelve and sixteen. Sarah Bennett has realistically portrayed the struggles, decisions and choices faced by the two school children. Peer pressure is huge as the children feel trapped by the system.
You never stop being a parent and caring. The reader watches a father- son relationship in need of repair after a misunderstanding thirty years earlier.
There is a wonderful dog who unites the characters, giving them a focus for expressions of love.
I always adore Sarah Bennett’s books and I loved Autumn Dreams At Mermaids Point.
I received a free copy of the book via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

My first Sarah Bennett book was the first in this series and I knew it was going to be a wonderful set of books. Autumn dreams is a perfect next instalment as it focuses on Nerissa, who we met in the first book. I was thrilled to read her story and will certainly look forward to the next instalment – there’s a teaser at the end of this one.
The introduction of Tom, and his young family, brought a new dynamic to Mermaid’s Point. It created another opportunity to meet the wonderful characters that Sarah introduced in the first book. The extended Morgan family is becoming a firm favourite for me, it was wonderful to revisit Jake and Laurie and see their relationship continue to bloom.
Once again, the Mermaid legends play their part in bringing this story to its romantic conclusion, but not without drama. Of course, Sarah brings us a happy ending, she tied up all the loose ends and delivered the perfect conclusion. This is a gentle story which builds at the perfect pace.
Whilst this story deals with bereavement, there is a light theme of hope, that lurks around each sad element. I never felt overwhelmed by sadness, but certainly empathised with the pain that the characters were enduring. This lovely tale focuses on the ability to start again after devastating loss. Not everyone grieves in the same way, and recovery varies from one loss to another.
I thoroughly recommend this book and it can be read as a standalone story. Sarah Bennett is quickly becoming a firm favourite, for me. I hope you also manage to escape to Mermaid’s Point and soak up the magic in the air.