Get ready to fall more in love with the Dream Harbor series.

I absolutely adored The Pumpkin Spice Café and have been itching to get my hands on the next book in the series. I really enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as the first, but it's still a fabulous read. Like most romance book series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. Each book focuses on a different couple, and Laurie does a great job at bringing her readers up to speed on what happened in the previous book. The Cinnamon Bun Book Store was as delightful and charming as the first book. I loved getting to return to the small community of Dream Harbor. I think it's my favourite small town to be in, and that's because Laurie nailed that Stars Hallow vibe perfectly. Dream Harbor is bursting with sweet, quirky, and delightful townspeople who bring so much joy and laughter to the story. If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, then you will just eat up the vibes this book and series is giving off.

In this book, we follow Hazel and Noah. Hazel is the town's resident bookworm who works at the local bookshop. Hazel finds herself going through a quarter-life crisis. She realizes that she has been letting life pass her by and decides to spend the last two months before her 30th birthday being a little crazy. And who better to be crazy with than the town's playboy and good-time guy, Noah? Noah has fallen fast and hard for Hazel, but he doesn't know how to tell her how he feels. But she is determined to use these next two months, showing her they are perfect for each other. I enjoyed this story. I loved the little mystery around the clues left in the books and the mini adventures that they sparked. The pinning, especially from Noah, was a miss for me. I am not a bookworm who likes it when a hero pines for the heroine excessively. It's just a major turn-off for me. Don't get me wrong, I love it when a hero falls fast and hard, but it drives me crazy when he doesn't act upon those feelings. It was obvious from the previous book that Noah had a crush on Hazel, and I thought it was adorable that he kept coming to the bookstore to buy books just so he could talk to Hazel. I just wish he had told Hazel that he liked her sooner in this book instead of keeping it to himself. However, if you like a hero that pines, this book will be right up your alley.

Hazel was a great character. I found it to be really relatable and real. I'm sure many bookworms can relate to her fear that she is letting life pass her by. Those big birthday mile-stones can be a scary thing. I loved the fact that Noah brought out this wilder and more outgoing side of Hazel. She feels so comfortable with him that she is willing to try things out of her comfort zone. Watching Hazel go on all these mini adventures while falling head over heels in love with Noah was a lot of fun.

The romance in this book is spicer than the previous book. There are a lot more sexy time scenes scattered throughout the story. You will love this book if you are a fan of small-town romances; he falls first and harder, opposite attracts, major pinning, and friends with benefits. I liked Hazel and Noah as a couple. They really balance each other out in the best possible ways. They bring out the best in each other. It was a lot of fun watching as these two go on this romantic journey that starts out as being friends, then friends with benefits, and finally, something much more. The major hurdle that these two have to overcome is an internal one. They both are the ones who resist or are hesitant to act upon any romantic feelings they have for each other. Their inability to talk about their true feelings creates some moments of misunderstanding.

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store oozes with charm and spice and so many things that are oh so nice.

REVIEW✨
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
(Dream Harbor Series , Book 2)
By Laurie Gilmore
••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
If you are looking for the perfect romance novel to help transition from summer to autumn… this is the book my friends! It was perfectly done, the pacing was seamless, the chemistry between Hazel and Noah is palpable, the small town that makes it feel like Stars Hallow is so comfy and cozy.

Hazel is running The Cinnamon Bun Book Store and she’s in a rut, she wants to have a reckless summer before she turns 30. Noah has had a crush on Hazel for a long time and he’s up for adventure. When Hazel finds some mystery clues around the bookstore, she had Noah help her on the adventure.

So I may have watched Gilmore Girls 8 times this year… it’s my ultimate comfort show and I had a very stressful year. So this book has just become my ultimate comfort book that I see myself reading each autumn.

Included in this book…
📚He Falls First
📚 Dual POV
📚 Small Town Romance
📚 Stars Hallow Feel
📚 Friends to Lovers
📚 Cozy Mystery

I’m so excited for the third book in the series, I can’t wait to read The Christmas Tree Farm 🎄

Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
Plot points: 💥💥💥💥💥
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 stars. I found the first 60% of this moved pretty quickly and then the last 40% dragged a little. It’s the kind of story where you know where it’s going and the way there is the interesting part, but I started to lose interest a bit because it just felt like it was being drawn out. Based on the title I also expected a little more cozy Autumn vibes, but this was essentially a summer story that just ends slightly into fall. I will probably read the other books in this series, but I don’t know if I’m super invested in any of the characters so far. I think Hazel was a more well-rounded character than Noah, which made it harder to keep my head in the story when it switched to Noah's point of view. They both felt like very "general" characters to me, as though neither of them was particularly unique or specific. They were likeable and relatable, but nothing stood out about them that made me really understand why they were so interested in each other or why I should be interested in them. The story itself was enjoyable enough, and something I wouldn't mind recommending to anyone looking for a light summer read, but I think it might disappoint some people who are drawn in by the title and cover.

I loved book one of this series, and book two did not disappoint. Set in cozy Dream harbour, this book follows Hazel, manager of the local bookshop. Someone is leaving her clues, like a treasure hunt of adventures. Noah, a fisherman tour operator, agrees to help her.

This book is a sweet love story, that is also spicy. Its opposites attract, age gap (she’s older by 5 years), small town romance with Stars Hollow vibes. I enjoyed every second of it. It’s a feel good end of summer/ beginning of fall cozy story.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of Laurie Gilmore's novel 'The Cinnamon Bun Book Store' in exchange for my review.

Before reading this I hadn't heard of or read Laurie Gilmore first novel in this series. I choose this book based on the cover (I know, I know) because it was giving cozy Fall vibes. This book is set in the summer, spoiler alert. And the vibes were on the spicy end of the cozy scale. To quote the description on GoodReads it is a 'steamy small-town romance'. I read it across two afternoons and found it hard to put down. The characters are very likeable and you are rooting for them from the very beginning. I appreciated how Laurie handled the intimacy scenes with tact and highlighted the importance of continuous consent in a relationship.

Book two of the Dream Harbour series by Laurie Gilmore has just as much charm, spice and sweetness as the first!

The Cinnamons Bun Bookstore centres around Hazel Kelley and her summer of adventure and fun in the run up to her 30th birthday. She recruits the help of Noah Barnett to help her let loose and enjoy the clues she finds in the books at her shop. Noah, happy to help her out, has been in love with her for ages. But with a reputation for only having short term flings he’s definitely not being taken seriously. Besides, Hazel wants a casual fling and nothing serious. Or does she 👀

This book was sooo sweet and spicy! The writing was charming and the plot was engaging. I had an idea of who was dropping the clues early in and I’m pleased to say I was right! Good job me!

The chemistry between Hazel and Noah was wild! He absolutely worships her. He acts like she hung the moon and stars in the sky. And she thinks he’s amazing and adores him. Honestly, the pair work so well together and I loved them so much!

I just really loved the book. 10/10. No notes. It’s such a great, feel good kinda book. I 100% recommend this whole series. But especially for people who like small towns, small businesses and sweet and spicy romances!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review!

ARC Review

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore
By Laurie Gilmore
Publish date: Aug 28, 2024


Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for allowing me to read a give my honest review.

Fave quote:

“I was prepared to read every damn book in that bookstore just to spend more time with you”

This is book 2 in the Dream Harbour series. You can read in order or as standalone.

This is the perfect cozy book for fall. I absolutely loved every minute of it. This was a quick light read with all the small town fall vibes I love.

Hazel is very relatable and I enjoyed watching her character develop and grow from insecure to confident.

Noah is charming, uncommitted, town player but when he starts to fall for Hazel we see his character development flourish.

I loved watching their relationship go from friends and grow into more. They are adorable together. The grand gesture at the end had my heart melting.

I absolutely fell in love with Dream Harbour and I cannot wait to read more!

Read if you enjoy

🎃 Small town romance
🎃 He falls first
🎃 Opposites attract
🎃 Adventure and mystery
🎃 Dual POV

Hazel and Noah. She’s the well-liked, sweet bookstore manager that is convinced she’s dull and boring. Noah is new to town, a known ladies man and is crushing hard on Hazel. They spend a summer having some fun adventures and they catch feelings. The story is simple, easy to read and has a large cast of characters to provide humour and background story. It was fine. My biggest issue is that the tension between the characters was built on their inability to simply sit down and be honest with each other. If you like the town of Dream Harbor and the people who live there, this book is #2 in the series and keeps everyone’s story moving along. I would recommend reading the books in order.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC! Very similarly to the first book in the Dream Harbor series, I found the Cinnamon Bun Book Store nearly impossible to put down. The characters are just so loveable, you want them to just get together already!!! There were a few spots where I think the pacing came across as a little funky, but overall this was a great read and I will definitely be recommending it to others. Thank you again!

I think this book is a fun addition to the series and I love that it has such fun cozy vibes associated with it!

I absolutely loved The Pumpkin Spice Cafe last fall and was super excited to take another trip to Dream Harbour.

Hazel is just a few months shy of turning 30 and she’s feeling stuck. Having felt like her twenties were too calm and unremarkable, she wants to start being adventurous before her birthday. When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can't understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.
Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he's been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

This has all of my favourite things wrapped in one. Small towns, books, and romance. But more than anything Hazel is one of the most relatable characters I have ever read about. Also soon turning 30, I find myself in a rut most days and like Hazel, I too am craving adventure and fun. Much like in the first book, all of the town residents of Dream Harbour make appearances and my love for this odd little town grew double in size.

While at times a little spicy everything else is just soooo good that I can easily over look that tidbit.

Overall, I’m ready to continue on with this series and you can too when this book hits shelves in September