Thank you Net Galley for the eARC and this opportunity! It’s always wonderful to get the chance to review.

This was a cute cozy little small town romance. It was a quick read and something easy to immerse yourself in if you need a faster pace book. There is a bit of mystery which was a fun element. The romance between Noah and Hazel was sweet. There were moments things fell short and seemed superficial with not a lot of depth but overall it was a good novel and one that gets you ready for fall.

I’m not going to lie, I went into this book completely blind, captivated by the cute cover and title. I will say, in this case, don’t judge a book by its cover!



Hazel Kelly is stuck in a rut with her 30th birthday looming near. During one of her shifts as a manager at the Cinnamon Bun Book Store, she notices a clue left for her in a romance book: a line highlighted in the text. Noah Barnett, owner of the local finishing tour company and friend of Hazel’s, offers his help to solve the clues. As more and more clues are found, the two find themselves adventuring around their town, Dream Harbor. Will they be able to solve the clues and figure out who has been leaving them, or will the clues lead to something more?



This was definitely a cozy, small-town romance read. While the story takes place at the tail end of summer, it gave off strong fall vibes for me. It features dual points of view, which I felt really added to the story. The spice was also very unexpected, especially with how “Hallmark-y” the title and cover are!



I did want more depth from the two main characters. At times, they felt very one dimensional, but I did really love the town of Dream Harbor! Going into this, I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series of interconnected stand-alones. Having not read book 1, I had no trouble following the story and characters in this book. It also sets up a potential third book as well that sounded right up my alley.



Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for the ARC!

this was another great read in the dream harbor series. we follow hazel a bookseller, and noah a fisherman. hazel is worried about turning 30 feeling like she hasn't lived. when she find this savanger hunt. she need noah help to work out the cluses.

I loved getting the chance to return to Dream Harbor. These characters feel like friends, and the town feels like a place you never want to leave. There is some good spice in the romance but not too much that it loses the story. The book is well written. It is a perfect, cozy read! I highly recommend this book for when you want a quick and comfy romance. It will not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

This is Book 2 of the Dream Harbor series but it can easily be read as a standalone. I absolutely loved Book 1 and was excited to see Hazel finally get her turn but the book left me a little let down. Don’t get me wrong, the book is cozy and Hazel is a really easy FMC to root for but the romance between her and Noah felt more like lust than anything else. He is thoughtful and you do get his POV so you know his mind but it didn’t feel like there was any major catalyst for their “like” to turn into “love”. There is more spice in this book than the first one and it felt like that was the focus more than their blossoming relationship.

That said, the book is comfort food for the brain. Nothing in the story is super deep and everything wraps up nicely while setting the scene for Books 3 (and hopefully 4 for Annie!?). This is easily one of those books you can waste a weekend getting lost in and Gilmore sets up the best cozy scenes (seriously, is dream hard or real cause I need to live there!).


Looking forward to book 3 but until then this will hold you over. 3.5 stars!

This book was everything I wanted it to be. I was in a reading slump, and this is the only book that was about to hold my interest and I fell in love with the characters. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore was such a sweet and spicy book. I loved meeting Hazel and Noah and the fact that their romance grew through quotes in books was so adorable. Hazel, an introverted almost 30 year old, finds a book mis-shelved and highlighted in when looking through the romance section of the book store she works at. She realizes the highlighted part of the book is a clue in a sort of birthday treasure hunt. She enlists the help of Noah, a handsome younger man who does fishing tours in their quaint town, to complete each activity as the clues show up in books at the store. Over time, Hazel and Noah develop feelings for each other and I loved reading their love story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. 4 stars!

Thank you, Harper 360, for sending me an ARC. I really enjoyed the first book and thought it was super cute. I was excited to continue the series and was happy to get the chance to read an ARC. Sadly this one fell flat for me. I ended up DNFing at page 86. This may be one I come back to later, however I just felt that it was dragging. I don’t like how the main conflict in this is so similar to the conflict in the first book. The main characters are struggling with if they are a fling or if they could be more. It’s so similar to the first one and it was kind of boring. The main mystery of the story sadly didn’t pull me in either. I thought that the main couple were cute at times but they just could not carry the story. It was nice to get to see more of the town and the different characters. I also like how we got a summer setting to see the town in a different season. Also it’s split POV which I did enjoy because you saw both the character motivations. Sadly though I would not recommend this book.

I loved Hazel and Noah’s story, especially after loving the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I was excited to read this and loved every second of it! I can’t wait for the next one.

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I 100% applied for this ARC because of the authors name, so thank you to @Netgalley for sending it to me in exchange for my honest review.

This was a perfect summer read as the story is all about Hazel making the most of her summer before turning 30. She suddenly realizes that she's bored with her life. She's worked in the same bookstore, in the same small down she grew up in, and doesn't really do much for fun. When random clues start showing up at the bookstore, she takes it as a sign and starts following them.

Noah has secretly had a crush on Hazel for months, so when she asks for his help following the clues and having fun adventures for the summer, he's all in for any excuse to spend time with her.

The two have lots of mutual friends and lots of small town neighbors keeping an eye as them as they start hanging out together and realizing how much they enjoy each other's company. In some respects, this book was super cheesy and small town wholesome... until you got to the spicy parts that were decidedly unwholesome, so it was slightly discordant in that respects, but not unenjoyable.

I loved this book! I have a full review up on Goodreads as well, but this was a perfect read. I related to hazel which made me love her even more and I fear that the love Noah had for Hazel I might never fid in my lifetime. it was so beautifully written and I think I read this books just smiling and giggling. I usually hate books in third person but I did not mind one bit with this one. I think this may have been my favorite book ive read all year!

Thank you Harper 360 and Netgalley for this ARC.

While this book did take place in the summer, its the perfect cozy romance for fall. Make it make sense ??? I loved everything about this. If I am being honest I never read the first one but this one was amazing that I think I need to go back and read immediately.

Charming and cozy, I read this in one sitting! I loved following the characters on their journey to solve the mystery but omg the spice! I loved the spice!

I received this arc after book 3, The Christmas Tree Farm, and I was so excited to read the rest of this series that I devoured this book in one day. I loooove this sweet little town, which is entirely new for me as I usually do not get too interested in side characters. I have a particular distaste for hearing about how 'experienced' a male love interest may be, which seems to be a theme for this author. I also get very irritated very quickly by miscommunication tropes, but at the end of the day I can recognize that it is a very popular romance trope for a reason. Overall I really enjoyed this book as an addition to such a sweet series.

Perfect mix of Cozy AND Spicy!!!! Guuuurl sign me up 🤣 this was such a cute read and I loved that this was giving innocent vibes with our adorable bookstore worker Hazel who’s realizing she never had her wild 20s moment and enlists the hottie fisherman Noah to help her let loose for the summer. This was such a great read to help me prep for the cozy end of summer and transition into fall vibes. It included all my favorite things books, hot men, and a girl learning to love to me herself unapologetically. This was my first book in the series and I will definitely be going back to read the pumpkin spice cafe ♥️

I liked this book because it has a neat plot with a touch of mystery that intrigued me. The idea of codes and secret messages is what actually pushes Hazel to go on an adventure and Noah is the perfect companion for her. Hazel and Noah are great characters and have a good dynamic between the two with opposite personalities. It was wonderful, the perfect ending and such a great cozy atmosphere. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I loved this so much that I read it in one sitting! The love those characters had for each other was so heartwarming to read. I would describe The Pumpkin Spice Cafe as the funny one, and this one as the sweet one. I loved both so much and I’m glad I found this author!

*Thank you Harper 360 & NetGalley for this ARC to review The Cinnamon Bun Book Store* All opinions are my own.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶️ 2.5

Hazel is a 29 year old living a pretty mediocre life in the small town of Dream Harbor. She is tired of doing the same thing everyday and never living life on the edge, so she enlists the very attractive local fisherman known as Noah to help her live life more recklessly before she turns 30. Noah is 25 and very interested in Hazel even though Hazel doesn’t see it for herself.

The story is really cute set in this very cozy small town. The summer is ending so Hazel and Noah are going on *dates* based on clues from spicy romance novels at the book store Hazel works at.

It gets a little tiring towards the end of the book with how much either of them won’t just admit how much they each have fallen for each other. They’re adults— be real! Stop beating around the bush. lol. The spice is nice but not overly naughty 😈.

This was my first book in the series and I felt it was fine that I read it as a standalone.
I really did like the book overall, it made me feel cozy and ready for a pumpkin spice latte at the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Now I also want warm cinnamon buns.. and to read another book by this author in this series.

If you like cozy spicy romance pick this one up this fall!

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore is a heartwarming romance set in a quaint, small town. Hazel is approaching her thirtieth birthday and feels like she’s spent her twenties being too cautious. When she discovers some mysteriously annotated books at The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, she takes it as a sign to make the most of her last few months in her twenties, following the clues and embracing spontaneity. With the assistance of Noah, a charming and younger fisherman, will she uncover the identity of the person leaving the clues? Will she finally take more risks? Could something deeper develop between her and Noah?
This was a warm and effortless read. Hazel is a character many can relate to, feeling very much like someone you might know in real life, rather than just a fictional figure. I appreciated her journey from insecurity to becoming content and confident in who she is, both in mind and body. Despite Noah and Hazel being so different, their chemistry was evident, and they complemented each other nicely. Seeing the story from both characters’ perspectives added depth and helped me grasp their emotions and thoughts about their relationship. However, I wish there had been more focus on the mystery element. The only real tension stemmed from the characters’ lack of communication about their feelings, which was a bit frustrating. At times, I just wanted to tell them to be honest with each other.
I did enjoy seeing Noah's character develop and the progress in his relationship with his family. I would have liked a scene where Hazel meets Noah's family, as well as a more detailed depiction of Noah meeting Hazel's family. The town itself was depicted as very cozy and realistic, with everyone involved in each other’s lives. I loved Hazel’s friendships and how much she depends on her friends. I wish there had been more exploration of Hazel’s relationship with her parents. I also think there could have been more content between the conclusion of the story and the epilogue.
All in all, this was a charming and quick read. The characters and their personalities were delightful, and the town of Dream Harbor is utterly charming—I’m definitely interested in reading more about it. I was thrilled to dive into this book and am looking forward to what’s next. The cozy atmosphere of this story is truly unmatched.

Spicy contemporary male female romance. I really enjoyed this book! Both leads were interesting and relatable. The way they came together was believable and really cute. Lots of fun and super cozy. I can't wait to read the first book (though this is a standalone I wish I had read them in order).