
Member Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This series continues to be so delightful! It is like reading a spicy hallmark movie. I will continue to read every book in this series for as long as the author keeps writing them! I want to live in Dream Harbor.

Once again this series never disappoints. Gilmore girls vibes all the way. Grumpy meets sunshine in the best way possible!

I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the Christmas Tree Farm before it. Kira wasn’t my fav leading lady so it was a little irksome she was a prominent part of this one. I dont want to spoil anything but one of my least fav tropes showed up towards the end and as soon as I saw where it was headed I rolled my eyes. It won be over by the end and im glad they didn’t lead with it. On to Annie and Mac’s story
3.5⭐️ Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC

Archer, a chef living in France, has come to Dream Harbor to care for Olive, the daughter he never knew he had, after the child’s mother dies. He’s not used to living in a small town, working in a diner, and knows nothing about being a father.
Iris can’t seem to keep a job, needs money, a place to stay, and is uncomfortable around children. How on earth did she end up as a nanny?
A fun story about two individuals learning to come to grips with the twists and turns life has thrown at them, while trying their best to give Olive the love and support she needs.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

🍓🏡 The Strawberry Patch Pancake House – Laurie Gilmore
📖 Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the early copy!
Dream Harbor has once again stolen my heart! If you love small-town charm, cozy romance, and just the right touch of mystery, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the perfect read. Laurie Gilmore delivers another heartwarming story filled with love, family, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments.
🍽 THE STORY:
World-renowned chef Archer never imagined he'd be running a pancake restaurant in a small town, but life has a funny way of shifting plans—especially when you’re a single dad looking for stability for your daughter, Olive. Enter Iris, a free spirit with a track record of jumping from job to job. Becoming a live-in nanny for a grumpy, gorgeous chef? Definitely not in her plans. But as Iris settles into Dream Harbor, she finds more than just a job—she finds a family, a community, and a serious distraction in Archer (who has a habit of cooking shirtless, no less).
✨ WHAT I LOVED:
✔ Single Dad Done Right – Archer is the ultimate “step up and do what needs to be done” kind of guy. His devotion to Olive and his quiet strength make him impossible not to love.
✔ Forced Proximity Tension – Living under the same roof? Check. Longing glances in the kitchen? Check. Slow-burn chemistry that keeps you turning the pages? Absolutely.
✔ Dream Harbor’s Cozy Vibes – This small town is a character in itself. The found family dynamic, the warmth of the community, and the bustling pancake house atmosphere make it a setting you’ll never want to leave.
✔ A Dash of Mystery – There’s just enough intrigue woven into the story to add an extra layer of depth without overshadowing the romance.
💛 FINAL THOUGHTS:
Laurie Gilmore has a gift for writing characters that feel real—flawed, lovable, and deeply human. Archer and Iris’s journey from reluctant housemates to something more is filled with heartfelt moments, humor, and undeniable chemistry. If you’re a fan of found family, slow-burn romance, and grumpy/sunshine energy, this one is a must-read!

Thank you so much to Laurie Gilmore and Harper 360 for this eARC. This is such a great addition to the Dream Harbor series! I can't wait for the next one. Laurie is one of my Auto Read authors and I can't recommend her enough!

I have read all of these and I loved every single one and of course this one was the same. I fun, clean, uplifting read that was just what I needed to read! I normally dont like series but I can not wait for the next book!!

These are Hallmark stories wrapped into a beautiful paperback. I devoured each one of these stories and this was just as good.
Archer has came to town to be with his daughter who he has never met. Now this michelin star chef is working at a diner while thinking about his new nanny.
These books always have the best characters and are so lovable. I could pack my bags and move to Dream Harbor immediately. These stories are not deep and not trying to solve the most complicated issues but they still engage you through out the entire book.
🍓Grumpy Single Dad / Sunshine Nanny
🍓 Small Town
🍓 Spring Time
🍓 Lots of Pancakes 🥞
Genre: Romance
APK: eBook
Pages: 345
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book 4 in the Dream Harbor Series
Thank you One More Chapter for a free copy of TSPPH for a honest review.

I love this series! Your never know how the 4th book in, but this one was different than the first 3 and didn't feel monotonous at all.

I CANNOT wait to read the fifth book! Loved reading this story and immediately fell in love with the characters. Laurie Gilmore does it again!

🏘Small-town single dad REALLY needs the nanny👨👧
4.5🌟 stars
The author knows how to meld genuine heartwarming emotions with some steam and create a really good romance.
I loved the plot and the three main characters in this romance. The dad is so appealing: a guy with big ambitions who steps up to the plate and readjusts his life for Olive, the five year old daughter he never knew about who lost her mother. The nanny thinks of herself as restless, flighty & probably not the best fit to care for a young child, but she's actually well entrenched in the life of their small town and quickly provides the companionship and loving care Olive craves. The whole story, right down to the grumpy clattering of pots and pans and the search for the perfect nostalgic pancake recipe, was entrancing. Single dad romances are one of my favorite tropes, especially when the kids are as cute as strawberry-obsessed Olive. The secondary town resident characters are friendly and welcoming; they didn't need to be quirky side "characters" because the main attraction was so good.
My first read in this series but hopefully not the last.
Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Review shared 3/10/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads, Bookbub and submitted to Barnes & Noble. To be shared on kobo and Google Play when published.

Laurie Gilmore’s The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a heartwarming tale set in the charming, tight-knit town of Dream Harbor. With a 4.25-star rating, this book delivers a perfect blend of community spirit, family dynamics, and romance. Gilmore’s writing captures the essence of small-town living, making Dream Harbor feel like a place where everyone knows everyone, and they all have each other’s backs. The sense of found family throughout the novel is incredibly strong, and it’s one of the things I loved most about this story.
The characters are what truly make this book shine. Archer, a fancy chef from Paris thrown into the role of insta-dad, and Iris, Archer’s new live-in nanny, find themselves navigating more than just their own personal challenges—they have the weight of community expectations, family dynamics, and their blossoming attraction to each other. The single-dad nanny trope is one that I really enjoyed. Archer’s efforts to juggle his responsibilities, along with his clear chemistry with Iris, created a delightful tension that had me turning the pages to see how their relationship would evolve. The way their initial interactions were filled with both humor and emotional depth was a real highlight for me.
But it’s not just about Archer and Iris. The development of the bond between Iris and Olive, Archer’s daughter, was truly the heart of this story. Watching Iris grow into a nurturing and loving figure for Olive was by far my favorite part of the book. Their relationship helped strengthen Olive’s relationship with her dad, Archer. It was so touching to witness how the bond between them blossomed in such an organic and meaningful way. This dynamic added layers of warmth to the story and really brought home the idea that families don’t always come in the traditional sense—sometimes they’re created with love, time, and trust.
In terms of pacing, Gilmore does a fantastic job of balancing the romance, the personal growth of the characters, and the vibrant, supportive community that surrounds them. The charm of Dream Harbor and the people within it kept me hooked from start to finish. The town itself is a character, and it provides a cozy backdrop for all the important moments in the story.
Overall, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is an uplifting read that highlights themes of family, love, and second chances. The found family dynamic, especially between Iris and Olive, is one I’ll carry with me long after finishing the book. While I would’ve loved a little more depth in the romantic development between Iris and Archer, the overall narrative left me smiling. If you're a fan of sweet, emotional stories that celebrate community and personal growth, this book is a must-read!

What a sweet happily ever after book! Archer is a world renowned chef who moved to Dream Harbor when he found out he had a young daughter. He was a grumpy workaholic until his new nanny, Iris, entered the picture. As they fell in love, Iris and Olive (his daughter) that there's more to life than work. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House made me smile and cry. I can't wait to read more books written by Laurie Gilmore!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was such a charming and cozy read! The story flowed beautifully with great pacing, making it easy to get lost in the small-town setting. Archer and Iris had fantastic chemistry from the start, with just the right amount of push and pull to keep things engaging. I especially loved Archer’s struggle with doing the right thing as a new single dad—it added so much depth to his character. Another great theme was the realization that what you want in life can change, which was woven into the story in such a heartfelt way. Overall, this was a warm and comforting romance, perfect for when you need a feel-good read!

Another delightful peek into the town of Dream Harbor! Laurie Gilmore has created the cutest, friendliest, cozy, coastal town with dream harbor and the Strawberry Patch Pancake house is the next sweet & spicy installment. We meet Archer who has just found out he's now the guardian of his never before known about 5 year old daughter Olive. He upheaves his fancy Michelin star Euro chef career to move to Dream Harbor to meet and try to figure out this guardianship. We also meet Iris, a dream harbor resident , Jill of all trades just trying to get by. She takes the live in nanny position with Archer & Olive and the rest is sweet, spicy, & delicious history. So happy to meet more wonderful characters in this series and I'm looking forward to many more!

These books are just so easy to read, it's like candy. The writing may not be anything special but the romance is always light and fun. Archer and Iris' slow-burn romance paid off in the end. I don't always love the single dad trope but this one handled it pretty well. Olive was tolerable as far as child characters go in romance novels.
I don't have any big complaints, I just feel like this series has gotten a bit formulaic now. I still enjoyed this book and the characters but I think this will be pretty forgettable for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love the cute cover. I appreciate Archer dropping everything to come care for a daughter he never knew existed. Iris was a big help to him right at the beginning with Olive. The community came together to help him. Iris was blessed with a family she never thought she wanted.

4.5 stars
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House may be my favorite Dream Harbor story! I am not normally a fan of the tropes within this book, but they were done so well that I found myself really loving this one. This was a lovely read after a long morning, especially since it was raining. Really felt like I got the Dream Harbor weather experience while reading!
Iris and Archer are so cute! I loved how realistic Iris's feelings about motherhood and relationships are. It was nice to see Archer loosening up and finding his own place in the town as the story progressed. Olive is just a ball of sunshine and easily became a favorite. As for the other characters, I love an interconnected series. I enjoy getting glimpses of past main characters' lives and how they interact with the current main characters. Archer made me crave pancakes the entire time I was reading. I did not even think there were that many ways to make pancakes??? (Might make me Noah's favorite for breakfast!)
I think The Strawberry Patch Pancake House does an excellent job with character development. The growth that both Iris and Archer go through in their time together was just so well done and for the most part, lighthearted. I felt relaxed, excited, and emotional while reading this story. It was such a fun read that left me longing for more. I think this would have been five stars had the end not felt very abrupt. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and could see me reading it whenever I have a bad day and need a pick me up! Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was cute, touching, relatable, and brilliant. Archer was literally wonderful. Coming back to take care of a kid he never knew he had, how amazing! Watching his character development along with Iris throughout the story was a beautiful thing to watch unfold. I also loved Iris. She was so relatable. Messy, loves to keep moving on to different things, not sure about the future or kids. Oh, and Olive! Olive was by far my favorite. She knew and saw more the adults believed. She was spunky, fun, and so adorable! I've never been into the "single dad trope," but I think this book turned me into a lover of it! It was absolutely breathtaking how the community was, too. I loved all of them, even the nosey old ladies, lol the ending made me tear up in a good (sweet) way. Wonderful writing, brilliant story!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Harper 360 to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

a sweet single dad romance set in the small town of Dream Harbours where Archer finds out about his daughter after the mother of daughter passes away. Now not only he has to move to the small town to take care of her but also settle down so that he can provide stability.
When because of the job he starts looking for a Nanny, Iris is what the people of town recommends. What starts as a fear of her incompetence leads to so much more because of attraction.
I felt that the couple deserved a little more built up in their relationship and I wish more scenes of Olive and Archer were there.
The spice was adequately put and I liked the fact that the insecurities and inner thoughts of Iris where shown which were raw.
I want to thank NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange of honest review.