This is such a perfect fall romance with a dash of fun mystery! I really enjoyed this book and the characters. Hazel and Noah have loads of chemistry and the banter between them is easy to believe. This is definitely a quick read that will put you in the fall mood. There is a bit of spice (in case that is something you mind) but the author handles it well. I am going to go back to read the first in the series (I didn't realize this was the second)! Thanks to Laurie Gilmore, Harper 360, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sugar and spice and everything nice! What more could you ask for in a sweet, small-town romance?

I was happy to revisit Dream Harbor, having really enjoyed The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. This one didn't channel Stars Hollow as strongly for me, but it was a nice summer-to-fall transition book. Looking forward to #3 in the series soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced reader's copy!

5/5

eARC provided by NetGalley

I was really excited for this book after I finished the first one in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, last year. I loved the setup that was provided and even though I realized while reading this I do not remember a lot of the first book. Just knew I wanted to read Hazel & Noah's story! It lived up to the hype in my head! I loved the communication the characters had and even their miscommunications that occurred made sense in the story. It all to me felt very real. Hazel feeling stuck and needing something to make her feel better about her self. Noah being the obsessed former playboy who does not know how to get better but wants to try. I really loved how they helped each other in many ways and in others they just showed each other parts of them selves they did not believed they had. They grew so much in a short time and I was never bored in their story. I can not read the next book in the series because even if I do not always love all the choice made I think the authors is a very good writer, That is only getting better and better.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC! I absolutely loved this story. I got so excited that I was approved for this ARC that I may have skipped The Pumpkin Spice Cafe…but let’s just say, I immediately purchased it after starting this one. I also may have immediately checked for and requested the next book, The Christmas Tree Farm. So to keep it short, this book hits all the marks. It’s absolutely adorable, a lil spicy, and a perfect cozy read to get you Fall/autumn ready. It dragged a little at some points with the whole will they/won’t they but overall, so excited to continue my Laurie Gilmore reading journey!

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is the second book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore and it’s another really cute, comforting small town romance read. The banter is quote-worthy, the romance is heart-warming and character growth and insight is significant.

This story follows Hazel, the steady, quiet, responsible bookstore worker who is on the verge of turning thirty and regrets her “safe” existence. She wants to break the mold that she’s created for herself, live without regrets, try new things and enjoy a summer of fun. When she begins to find clues in random books in the romance section that have highlighted quotations, she considers it her call to action and decides to follow them like a treasure hunt. Noah is the town playboy who runs fishing tours and is happiest when outside. He’s as nice as can be, but feels like he has disappointed his family and is a not worthy of high esteem. He agrees to help Hazel follow the clues and fulfill her summer of fun, but is he in it only for the summer?

The plot is light and sweet, the story is entertaining and easy to read, and though there were times when the lack of communication trope was just as frustrating as it always is, it was still an enjoyable summer read. It was a bit repetitive with its constant declarations of personal failure and flaws, and more steamy that I’d prefer, but overall, The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is a delightful story and even better than the first!

Wow, I absolutely loved everything about this book! I loved the first one so much! I love how cozy it is, I loved the romcom/sitcom it’s so effortlessly done! I love love the mystery that you from these books also! I cannot wait for book 3 with Kira! I’m so excited

What a cute cozy read. A perfect sequel to The Pumpkin Spice Cafe! The perfect spicy, sweet, story that hits you right in the feels!

If you love the Gilmore Girls, you’ll love this book. It’s a cute, small-town, romance with a hint of mystery.

Bookstore manager Hazel is turning 30 in 2 months and feels like she hasn’t had any real reckless fun in her life. In comes Noah, a playboy fisherman, who is ready to help her solve a mystery, while showing her some real fun. As their adventure continues, the two realize they might be exactly what the other was missing,

I enjoyed this read and will definitely be going to read the first one now!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book!

This was the perfect cozy book for the transition between summer and fall. I loved the character development of not only the main characters of this story, but also of the other townspeople we were introduced to in the first book. The author does a great job writing with the small town vibe in mind and makes you feel like you truly know the characters in real life. Reading this book made me want to book a trip to Dream Harbor- too bad it doesn’t exist in the real world!

I fell in love with the main characters, and the storyline of this book! This was a great cozy up under the blanket fall weekend read for anyone who loves a good romcom with a hefty dose of fun! I won’t drop spoilers but if you’re looking for a quick, fun, easy read that will suck you right in and leave you feeling hygge, this is the fall book of 2024!

2.5/5
The sequel to The Pumpkin Spice café follows Hazel and Noah. Hazel, manager of the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, is in the midst of a quarter life crisis. A few months away from turning thirty she doesn’t want to enter a new decade of life having regrets about the things she didn’t do. When random clues start popping up in the romance section of her store, she enlists the help of the fun, carefree fisherman, Noah, to help her follow them and have an unforgettable last summer in her twenties.
The story was everything it claimed to be. It was cute and cozy and a good transitional read from summer to fall; however, there wasn’t anything that stood out about it or that was particularly memorable. The miscommunication trope always feels like a plot cop out to me, and as a reader, it’s very frustrating. These are supposedly adults in their mid to late twenties and throughout the course of two months they can’t have a quick conversation?? The characters weren’t original and honestly, neither one was particularly likable. Their inner dialogues were full of repetition. The chemistry between them felt forced and the spicy scenes were cringe-inducing. I wasn’t sure either of them really liked each other despite what they claimed.
Overall, this wasn’t my favorite and after a second mediocre book I won’t be continuing the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity.

Laurie Gilmore takes us on another wonderful trip to Dream Harbor. It was good seeing old friends, getting to know them better. It was the book stack at the end that got me! Best Grande Finale!

#DreamHarbor
#The CinnamonBunBookShop
#LaurieGilmore
#NetGalley
#TikTokMadeMeReadIt

This book was the greatest fall cozy book! It’s a he falls first which you don’t typically see but I loved it. I related a lot to the main character about being obsessed with books and fall

Thank you to @harpercollins360 and @netgalley for the ARC for this book, it was awesome to have this great book be my first ARC!

Synopsis:

Hazel Kelly is the FMC who will be turning 30, and feels like she didn’t live life to its fullest in her 20s. A couple months before her birthday, books with messages start appearing around the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, and with the help of Noah Barnett, she investigates the message while learning how to live a more carefree, spontaneous lifestyle.

Noah Barnett, the MMC, is the carefree and outgoing fisherman with the reputation of being a “ladies man,” known to never commit to long-term relationships. Despite this, he’s been favoring a crush on Hazel, and after the first message, has been helping Hazel on her scavenger hunt and finding herself.

Even with the rules of their short-term hunt laid out, the chemistry is as sweet as a baked treat, but will it lead to something more?

Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

This book was exactly what I needed when I first started it! I related heavily to Hazel feeling like she missed out on her “younger years” and seeing her discover herself and gain more confidence was inspiring, to say the least. This was a light-hearted, super sweet book that touched on feeling like one doesn’t belong or isn’t good enough, and which touched my heart.

Noah was a cutie, and even though all of his self-doubt and anxiousness, was still so thoughtful and considerate towards Hazel. I especially loved the ending, and thought what he did tied everything together well.

This book felt like a comforting, warm hug with some shenanigans thrown into it, and it was an honor to have this as my first ARC!

I had such high hopes for rid after seeing so many positive things about the first book but I ended up trying to read this one first. But the writing style was just so bland for me and so hard to read. It ended up not being a book for me and not one I would recommend to those who have the same reading likes as me

Dream Harbor strikes again 🩵

This book follows Hazel, an almost 30 year old bookstore manager, as she comes to the conclusion that her 20s were a bore. She was never wild or reckless.. especially with her heart. But when somebody starts leaving clues in romance books in the store - she recruits the town playboy Noah to help her solve both of her problems - living a reckless last few months of her 20s and solving the book-clue mystery.

This book was possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever read. The love I have for Hazel and Noah is insane, I fell for them just as hard as they fell for each other hehe. I was swooning and giggling along with them the entire way. And the steamy scenes were hooooooot - I love that for them ❗️Cannot wait for the next books in this series, I’ll miss Dream Harbor until then!

~possible spoiler ahead~
The ~grand finale~ had me in tears.. I want someone to profess their love for me with highlighted book quotes 😭😫🤭

f you want all things Hallmark, no villains, charm and sweetness, book store and blueberries, boat ride in the storm and knock your socks off rumble in the sheets right after, cabins and coffee shops, then meet Noah and Hazel. It's your ultimate small town romance with steamy chapters sprinkled throughout. The couple here agrees to follow clues they find highlighted in book quotes to guide them in their summer romance. It's a no-heavy-stuff kind of read, and I must admit, I enjoyed this one more than book 1. It's a brain break just when you need it.

If you are looking for a no stress romance, this one is it.

One thing about Laurie Gilmore is she’s going to make you feel like you’re in an episode of the Gilmore girls. The Cinnabon bun bookstore is a cozy small town steamy with a little bit of mystery romance. If you want to read something that just screams fall with Gilmore girl vibes read this series. If your looking for more Halloween vibes this might not be the book for you

Hazel and Noah were so adorable. I KNEW that man was DOWN BAD for her after their first interaction. She was so blind to it. LOVED watching her finally realize that she did in fact make his heart skip a beat when he looked at her. The mystery of who was leaving the romance book notes in the bookstore was one that I could not crack on my own. I was totally surprise by who the culprit was. Can't wait to read more in this small town.

3.5 I am loving how cute and cozy the Dream Harbor series is!!! After reading Pumpkin Spice Cafe I was so hoping for Hazel & Noah’s Story & here it is!!! I am glad I read them one after the other because I still have a familiarity with all the people in Dream Harbor & I love how she is making it all connect! Hazel (Bookstore Owner) & Noah (Towns Fisherman) connect when Hazel starts finding these hidden messages in her books. Although it was defacing her property they took it as a sign to spark a romance! Totally worth the read 🫶🏽