For the lover of all things single dad romance this one is for you! I’ve said it once, and I will say it again, do not let the covers and titles fool you, these books are just as spicy and good as contemporary romance writers like Elsie Silver and Hannah Bonam-Young.

Archer has recently learned that he is a single-dad, and he is in need of a nanny. In comes Iris, and well, you all know how it goes from there. What really put this book over the top is its exploration of grief for children and balancing your role as a caregiver or stepparent.

It’s easy to read, funny, cute, and spicy. There is nothing more I could have asked for out of.this book. I loved it.

Tropes: Single Dad, Nanny, Forced Proximity, Accidental Pregnancy

Thank you NetGalley for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was probably my favorite of the Dream Harbor books so far. I loved Archer, Iris, and Olive. Small town romance with a single dad, yes please! I loved getting bits of the other characters and I'm so excited for the next book (Annie and Mac)!

Side note to add: I was SO MAD when the surprise pregnancy trope reared its head. It's literally my LEAST FAVORITE TROPE OF ALL TIME. However, I will say that it does add a positive plot arc in the book and that's why I'm forgiving it. It helped Iris get her familial HEA.

Nothing really happened in this book. There wad a whole lot of pining and some cute moments with Olivia but nothing more to the plot. All the other books in the series had something else going on outside of falling in love and this book was desperately missing that.
Also accidentally pregnancy are the worst.

Loved the first half of this, the second half lost it's charm. It was just longer than it needed to be! And a certain trope got used that I was not a fan of... plus, the longer it went, the more it leaned into heteronormativity and the nuclear family and that kinda bugged me. I know this series is super beloved on BookTok, but I'm really not sure if I'll be returning to it

girl, Olive, after her mother tragically passes away. To gain full custody, Archie leaves behind his prestigious career in Paris and moves to the small town of Dream Harbor, where he takes a job at a local diner to prove he can provide a stable home for his daughter.

But adjusting isn’t as easy as he expected. The townspeople hate the changes he makes to the diner’s menu (they even send back his pancakes in protest!), Olive refuses to talk to him, and the town’s elderly ladies keep dropping by unannounced to monitor his parenting skills. Archie is drowning—and he desperately needs help.

Enter Iris, who can barely hold down a job, is struggling to pay rent, and is in dire need of a fresh start. Becoming Olive’s nanny seems like the perfect solution, even if it means dealing with her brooding, ridiculously sexy, grumpy chef of a dad. She should be able to resist his charms… but how can she when he’s whipping up late-night pancakes like it’s some kind of seductive one-man cooking show? Or when his arms flex while whisking butter (seriously, how is that even legal?)? Or when those adorable dimples make an appearance every time she teases him?

But crossing the line could ruin everything. Archie is determined to be a good father and secure full custody of Olive, and Iris can’t afford to lose another job—especially not one that could finally give her some stability. On top of that, the last thing she wants is to hurt Olive by giving up when things get complicated.

Yet, with each passing day, sparks fly, tension builds, and the temptation to break all the rules grows stronger. And even though everyone warns them to keep their hands to themselves, resisting might just be impossible.

But what if this could be more than just a fleeting attraction? What if two struggling adults could come together and create the kind of family they never thought they’d have? Could they find their own happily ever after?

Overall, this book is as sweet as a stack of strawberry pancakes and absolutely deserves its five heartwarming, swoon-worthy stars. I can't wait to read more books in the series, and I highly recommend grabbing a copy as soon as possible!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.


I’ve read all four books in this series, and this one was by far my favorite!! Seeing Archer struggle to raise his 5 year old daughter, who he just found out existed, all while falling in love with Iris was such a heartwarming story. Poor Iris was just as nervous to be a first time, live in nanny for little Olive, and she desperately wanted to keep that little girl safe and thriving. She was so scared to admit or act on anything she felt for Archer, because she was always worried how Olive would be affected. The two of them were imperfectly perfect together, and seeing their little family evolve was such a good time, and Iris’ internal monologue was so damn funny. This book was easily a feel good, 5 star read. I wouldn’t have changed a thing!!

5🌟
1.5🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360 and Laurie Gilmore for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Here we go! We're at book 4. Seasonally: we are starting the beginning of March and being carried through summer.

This book as some of your favorite tropes: world reknowned chef comes to the small town to care for the kid he didn't know he had, single dad & nanny, carefree/directionless(??) FMC that doesn't want kids or family based on her home life growing up but maybe this kiddo will make her change her tune. ANNNND perhaps one of your not favorite tropes: not gonna say which one- but it worked here!!! Listen! I'm all in on the cozy simplicity of these series in the times we are living in. It's not that serious! Just enjoy it!

Gahhhh! Annie & Mac's story is next!!! And we're back to Christmastime? EEEEEE!!

Loved this super cute and steamy single dad-nanny romance. Archer has just found out that he’s the father to a five year old girl whose mother had recently passed away. He’s way out of his depth as a father since he needed to uproot his life as a chef in Paris to move to the small town of Dream Harbor. And he has no idea what he’s doing with the kid. He hires Iris as the new live-in nanny, and she also has no idea what she’s doing with the kid. She basically has zero experience but she’s needs the money and a free place to live. And of course, the physical attraction and tension between Iris and Archer is high. Though they’re both starting to catch real feelings, especially as a built-in family unit. Iris is the skittish one here and needs to overcome her fears of commitment, while Archer has done a fairly good job of warming up to his new life. Loved this addition to the series.

The story focuses around Archer who founds out that he is the father of a child that he didn't know about. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, he becomes the parent in custody. Having to uproot his whole life he ends up moving to a small town and has to try to adjust to all kinds of problems. One of those problems happens to be his gorgeous babysitter named Iris that he hires. There is tons of tension between the two as they try to work out their feelings for one another and not forget that they are in a work relationship also.

This was the first book that I have read in the series, despite owning copies of the first two. I was surprised by how much I truly enjoyed this book. I am not a fan of children in general, but this book did a wonderful job separating the romance from the parenthood. Olive was an adorable child and I think that Iris did a wonderful job as a sitter and was so creative with how she interacted with Olive during several situations.

The ending had an interesting twist at the end that I'm not sure how I felt about it. While it was cute in some aspects, I felt that it was a little bit rushed. Thank you to Netgalley, Harper360, and Laurie Gilmore for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is the 4th book (standalone) in the Dream Harbor series. I enjoy these books because they're cozy, pretty predictable, steamy, and sweet.

World-renowned chef Archer never expected to leave his career behind for small-town life, but Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and he needs a stable place to raise his daughter (who he had no idea about), Olive. Meanwhile, Iris has never been great at holding down a job, so when she’s offered a position as Archer’s live-in nanny, she’s tempted to turn it down, especially since her new boss is hot. Archer absolutely does not want to fall for the nanny, and Iris has no intention of setting down, but this is a romance book after all.

I’m not usually drawn to the single-parent trope, but this one worked well within the story. Watching Archer fall in love with his daughter, Olive, while adjusting to small-town life at the diner was a heartwarming journey. With that being said, can we get more steamy books with chefs? I’m absolutely here for that trope.

I also found Iris to be an interesting character. She’s lived in Dream Harbor her whole life but is still seen as flighty. Usually, that label makes me think of someone constantly moving from town to town, but in her case, it meant trying out different ways to make a living. I also appreciated how she was pretty sure she would not enjoy being a nanny and she never wanted children of her own, but how she was eventually open to rethinking her beliefs. It added a unique layer to her character that I enjoyed.

This is a slow-burn romance (about a 2 on the spice scale) with low stakes and all the charm of a small-town love story. If you're a fan of the series, this one won't disappoint.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper 360, for the ARC ebook!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to HarperCollins, Harper360, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Dream Harbor series is one of my all time favorites, so reading this was super exciting and so much fun! This is a perfect read for this time of year—uplifting, sunny, cozy, and spicy. This is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book. It’s set in the cozy and cute town of Dream Harbor, same as the other books in the series, and the main characters from the other books make a few appearances. Such a cute read that’s perfect for spring! 🍓🥞💕

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House centers on Archer, a world-renowned chef and single father to Olive, and Iris, who can’t keep a job for more than a few months and is struggling to make ends meet. When Olive’s mother passed away, Archer discovered he is the father and now has to prove that he would be a good father to get custody. He needs to stay in Dream Harbor because it will help Olive adjust better if she’s in familiar surroundings. Now, Archer has to work as a cook in a pancake house and has to find a nanny to care for Olive while he is at work. Iris, who does not want to get attached to any family, ultimately decides that a rent-free, live-in nanny job is the perfect way to make money. All she has to do is not fall in love with Archer (and Olive) throughout the process, which proves to be a very difficult endeavor.

One of the best things about the Dream Harbor series is how cozy and charming it is—definitely evokes a Gilmore Girls or Hallmark feeling, but with spice. Overall, this was such a wonderful, lighthearted read! Highly recommend! Super excited for the next Dream Harbor book!

Tropes:
- Slow burn
- Small town romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Opposites attract
- Single dad

First off, thank you NetGalley, Harper One publishing, and Laurie Gilmore for the opportunity to read this book. I love the Dream Harbor series and this one might just be my favorite one yet!

Welcome back to Dream Harbor! I loved being reunited with all my favorite characters, and meeting some new ones as well! The single dad trope is not always my favorite, but Laurie really knocked it out of park with this one. Archer was 100% the perfect girl dad for Olive! I loved that we got to see his progression through out the book as he bonded and fell more in love with Olive each chapter. Though he started out as a broody grumpy chef, by the end he was a gooey cinnamon roll MMC and I loved it so much!

We met Iris in Christmas Tree Farm, but we didn’t really get to know her. After this book though, I am a fan! She was the perfect balance for Archer’s broodiness. Her carefree spirit was so fun, but I also loved her growth as well and seeing her fall in love with Olive just as Archer was. The book was definitely a slow burn and I was here for it! The tension between these two was top notch and honestly had me on edge as to when they would get together. It was such a great slow burn!

I loved all the regular cast of characters who were back for this book. I did miss Jeanie & Logan as they were only on it a little bit, but that’s ok! I know they are coming back for book 5!

Thank you again, to NetGalley and the publishers for this book. It was such a honor to read.

When professional chef Archer learns that 1: the woman he had a fling with several years ago has died, and 2: he is the father of her six year old child, he travels to Dream Harbor to take care of his daughter, Olive. He is given a job running the local diner and hires Iris to be Olive’s live-in nanny. Living together and raising Olive lead to a deep attraction between Archer and Iris and a relationship forms.

Spoiler Alert: I hate hate hate surprise accidental pregnancy books in contemporary romance. This is especially true when the woman has clearly stated on page that she does not want kids. Also, excuse me but Iris never even takes a pregnancy test or goes to the doctor to confirm anything, she just feels pregnant and tells everyone she is, and then she must have been because she has a baby at the end. What the actual hell?!?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The most perfect return to Dream Harbor. When Archer’s perfect Parisian life is rocked and he has to come to a quaint little town to meet a child he never knew he had, he doesn’t know how long he’ll last. He never dreamed of being a father, only or getting a Michelin star. When he falls in love with the nanny, his dreams change and he can finally see the appeal of being a Dreamer.

This was the sweetest story ever! Archer and his daughter Olive are absolutely adorable once they warm up to each other, and Iris plays such a big role in that. As Olive’s nanny, she helps bring her out of her shell and strengthen her bond with her father. It’s a tender and heartwarming read with some steamy moments too. It’s a slow burn, but trust me, it’s worth the wait. I absolutely adored Olive, and my heart melted for this trio. I really hope we get an update on them in the next book! Each book can be read as a standalone, and I recommend picking this one up if you love single dad romance, forced proximity, slow burn, found family, and grumpy/sunshine vibes.

Another fun story set in Dream Harbor. I love this series and all the townsfolk!

French chef, Archer, finds out he has a daughter after her mother passes and he moves to Dream Harbor to be with her. Soon he's flipped his entire life upside down - he's a single dad, looking for a nanny, working at the local diner and fighting with the townsfolks about how to make the pancakes. It's a cute story, as he finds Iris to help look after his daughter, Olive. It's funny to see his struggles with the locals hating the changes he's made to their diner and how it eventually turns into the pancake house.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I adore this series! Every book is cozy and romantic. This one was super sweet and I am obsessed iced every single character! This is an easy 5 star! Top tier vibes!

4.5 stars this was SOOO enjoyable! This has gotta be my favorite single dad trope I have read so far, I love Archer, I love Olive, I love Iris, I literally love them all!! I loved seeing Olive open up w/ Archer and see their bond form. I love Dream Harbor its just such a cozy series with such good spice. Now I am on my way to go devour pancakes because it is all I could think of after reading this book!! This is definitely my favorite so far in the Dream Harbor universe!!

I've loved reading the Dream Harbor romance series; this latest one did not disappoint. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, by Laurie Gilmore, is set in a small town, filled with fun characters and relationships, and heated up with a bit of spice! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an advanced e-book reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for the cutest town with Gilmore Girls vibes and love stories - look no further than The Dream Harbor Series by Laurie Gilmore! The Strawberry Patch Pancake House starts off with newly discovered single dad, Archer moving to dream harbor after he find out about the daughter he never knew he had. Sadly he find out due to the mother of the child dying. The accidental meet “cute” between Archer and Iris had me cringing and laughing. I love this series - the characters are so relatable and follow text book definition of small town folks (everyone knows everyone and everything). I really liked the ending especially because it seems to be a second chance especially for both main characters.

Also - it really had me wanting pancakes and a date with a world traveling chef! **foodie for life**