4.75 🌟
Spice: open door

It's always a fantastic time when I return to Dream Harbor. This small town and all its residents have a piece of my heart. Ivy, Archer, & Olive quickly wormed their way in as well. I love a good single dad/nanny romance. The added bonus of Archer being a chef 🤭 gives a new meaning to 'Yes chef'
I wouldn't say their romance was picture perfect. They definitely had some bumps along the way. I enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings. I loved Archers relationship with Olive. It took some time, but that first time she called him, dad melted my dang heart.
Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't often read single dad romance books, but being the next in the series, I had to read this one. Laurie Gilmore did a great job making this both fun and heart-warming, and of course adding a little spice. Archer and Iris' story is full of ups, downs, and the unexpected. When Archer finds out he has a daughter and moves back to the US to be there for her, he doesn't know what to expect. Iris needed a place to live and wasn't looking to changes her ways. Sometimes life has other plans for you. I can't recommend this series enough.

A very sweet story centered around Archer, Olive, and Iris. Archer's life gets thrown a major curveball, and he learns that no matter how hard you try to plan, things will not always go the way you thought. With lots of ups and downs Archer learns to adapt as a new dad to a daughter he never knew he had.
Lots of great characters, fun banter, and a small town setting. Completely hooked from the start.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A charming little love story is the coziest of places. I love Dream Harbor its atmosphere is made for sweet light romances which is exactly what Archer and Iris provide. Their connection was fun and sweet at times and felt clumsy and clueless at others, it’s a slow burn which I enjoyed the forced proximity came off a bit awkward in spots but I felt their tension was written well as was the spice. Olive really was the bright spot in the book for me and kept me going through to the end. She really brought things together and her relationship with Iris was incredibly endearing. I struggled with likable characters in this one, Iris was a bit too bubbly and flighty for me and her inner dialogue and reactions frustrating. Archer while a fitting compliment to Iris I found to be rather cranky and unenjoyable most the book. Together they made sense though and I loved seeing them figure it all out in the end. It’s a quick lighthearted read great for a quiet spring afternoon where you can escape into the beginning of this little family.

I have been completely obsessed with this series since starting The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Each book in this series gets better and better and this one hands down is my favorite one in the series yet!

Tropes:
🥞Single dad
🍓Small town romance
🥞Forced Proximity
🍓Slow Burn
🥞Found Family

I absolutely LOVED the plot and the dynamics between the MCs. This one unexpectedly pulled at my heart strings. I had such a soft spot for Archer and how he stepped up as dad for his newly discovered daughter. The chemistry in this one was so perfect and I loved this town! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and the fact I have to wait is going to be painful! 😂 this one is a must have trophy shelf book series!

***Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 One More Chapter for an e-arc of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore! All thoughts are my own!***

Renowned chef Archer Baer never planned on moving to a small town. But when Archer finds out he has a five year old daughter who needs her father after the death of her mother, he moves to Dream Harbor to raise his daughter. Luckily, the community is more than willing to help him raise his daughter, Olive, and they need a new chef for their beloved diner.

Iris hasn't been able to hold down a job for more than a few months at a time. She finds out that the new chef is looking for a nanny for his daughter. Being behind on her rent and her senior classes doesn't get her very far. Her lack of funds doesn't give her ability to say no, especially finding out it's a live in position. She shudders at the thought of having to take care of a child with little to no qualifications, but she reluctantly agrees in dire need of money.

Archer and Iris start to get used to their new roles in Olive's life, but they might have more in common than they thought, or maybe Olive is just playing match-maker.

As much as I knew I should probably savor this book, I couldn't help but it! Getting to see Iris again after The Christmas Tree Farm was such a delight, especially how close her and Kira got from the previous book. From the first time Iris and Archer meet, I was giggling and kicking my feet! Seeing Archer and Olive blossom throughout this book was so heartwarming to see. I teared up a few times over how wholesome the two of them were. Going from being a chef in Paris, to a single dad trying to do right by his daughter, he took to his new role in life so well. I have a culinary background, so when I found out Archer was a chef, I was so excited to see that added to the series. When Archer cooked for Iris for the first time, introducing ingredients to Olive, I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

I went to see the author at a Q&A event when The Christmas Tree Farm came out, and she mentioned some of the aspects of Olive's character, including her sleepwalking, was based on her own children, which was great to see incorporated into the book.

This is my current favorite book of the Dream Harbor series! This book has my whole heart and is the perfect book for a spring day while eating strawberry pancakes! If you need a warm hug of a book, this is for you!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is available March 18, 2025! Thank you so much again for another opportunity to review a Dream Harbor book!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was a delightful standalone in the Dream Harbor series. It's cozy, and heart-warming with a slow-burn build-up, and the right amount of steaminess. I loved that the characters were flawed and real, and you could feel the connection. Although, I'm not a fan of an included trope, I appreciate how it was handled and don't feel like it took away the enjoyment of the book.

The bonus was the discovery of my new favorite term, competence p*rn,

Thank you to. NetGalley and Harper 360 for the arc.

ISO: One way ticket to Dream Harbor

If you’re looking for the coziest small-town romance with a swoony single dad, a found family vibe, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension, The Strawberry Pancake Patch House is it! Laurie Gilmore delivers another story that feels like a warm hug—with a side of sizzling chemistry and plenty of heart.

Archer is the kind of hero that makes you melt—a world-class chef turned small-town pancake house chef, trying his best to raise his daughter, Olive while adjusting to a completely new life. Then there’s Iris, who never sticks to one job for long but somehow finds herself becoming Olive’s nanny… and living right across the hall from her ridiculously attractive boss (who, by the way, has a habit of cooking shirtless 😍).

The slow burn between Archer and Iris is torturous in the best way—so much tension, so many stolen glances, and plenty of moments where you just know they’re doomed to fall for each other. And let’s not forget Olive, who steals the show and makes this found family dynamic even more heartwarming.

With a small-town setting you’ll want to move to, a romance that builds beautifully, and a delicious mix of humor, heart, and heat, The Strawberry Pancake Patch House is a must-read for fans of cozy romance with depth. Plus, the HEA is so worth the wait!

Highly recommend for anyone who loves:
🥞 Single dads with big hearts
🥞 Forced proximity that leads to undeniable chemistry
🥞 A small-town setting you’ll never want to leave
🥞 Found family that makes your heart so full

Laurie Gilmore has created something truly special with this one! 💕

Another delightfull installment of the Dream Harbor series.
You cannot help but find yourself rooting for Archer, Iris, and Olive.

While these books are best read in order, you can read any of them as a standalone as well.

I will keep coming back to Dream Harbor as long as Laurie Gilmore is writing it!

eARC copy of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House.

Welcome back to Dream Harbor! I am so happy to be back in this quirky, cute town. I absolutely loved this book! The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series—and my favorite so far.

Iris has always been a background character, so I really enjoyed seeing her step into the spotlight as the female main character in this book. Archer, a newly single dad adjusting to some major life changes, was a fantastic male lead. Watching his journey play out on the page was so satisfying. And the chemistry between Iris and Archer? Perfection. The banter was sharp, the tension was palpable, and the single dad/nanny trope—one of my favorites—was executed so well.

The side characters were also used beautifully, and I especially loved seeing Kira from book three pop up in several scenes!

I highly recommend this book, especially if you love the tropes I mentioned. While it’s part of a series, it’s an interconnected standalone, so you can absolutely read it on its own!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the next book in the Dream Harbor series. In this one, we meet Archer who has been living his best life in Paris as a renowned chef, determined to get his Michelin star. He then finds out that he has a daughter, Olive. He had no idea that she even existed, she was the product of one of his many flings and the mother, Cate, never told him and was raising Olive on her own. Suddenly he finds that he has to step up and be a father to this little girl and has to give up his dreams and move to the sleepy little town. He gets a job at the local diner and tries desperately to revamp it, much to the dismay of the town. He needs help with Olive so he can work, they Mayor suggests Iris, whose life is in turmoil and she's barely scraping by. Although she really doesn't want to be a Nanny, it's an offer that she can't refuse. It's a live in position and she really needs this for some stability in her life. Olive is sad and struggles to connect with her new Dad. Iris really helps bring her out of her shell and bring the family together. Just one problem, these two have chemistry that is off the charts. They try to manage their desires for Olive's sake, but of course that plan doesn't go well. Can they both overcome their issues and make this little family work?

I was a little leery going into this one because it can be tricky to write a romance novel with a small child in the mix, but somehow Laurie managed to pull it off and create a really good story. As always, I had fun spending a little time in Dream Harbor and connecting with some of the other townspeople. Thank you to @netgalley and @harper360 for this #gifted copy. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!

This whole series is just a chef‘s kiss! I have read all of them in one sitting because they are just so cozy!! Each book in this series has definitely had a Stars Hallow feel with their rambunctious town meetings, a very involved mayor, and a few older ladies with a Ms. Patty feel, just to name a few!! I also really love that you get tidbits about characters from the previous books as well! IMO, these could be read out of order and as a stand alone. While this was not my favorite romance trope—I always have a hard time when is a kid is involved, I did enjoy the MMC. He reminded me a bit of Gabriel from Emily in Paris, and I was elated to read in the acknowledgements that it was true!!

This has to be my favorite of the Dream Harbor series. As with all Laurie Gilmore books, I was captivated from the first page to the last page. Not really a fan of romance novels because of the spice (I am more of a closed door romance reader), but this author has pulled me in with characters who are humorous and endings that are delightful.

I really enjoyed the tension between Archer and Iris. The added element that I did not know I needed was Olive, Archer's daughter. I don't think I have ever laughed and enjoyed a book so much. I would give it 4-4.5 stars, for I rarely give anything 5 stars. Overall, this was a warm hug of a read.

This might be one of my favorites in the Dream Harbor stories! So cozy and sweet and romantic. Love!

The highly anticipated follow-up in the Dream Harbor cozy romance series, we’re getting another newcomer along with a romantic match who made a few short cameos in the most recent book. Archer is a renowned chef in France…but must relocate when he finds out he’s a dad to a 5y/o girl who just lost her mom. He slowly adapts to small town life - from getting to know Olive to shifting careers as a cook at the local diner. He brings on fiery Iris to be a live-in nanny, but she’s facing her own hurdles, not holding a job longer than a few months at a time. They help each other adjust to their new roles…but with such close proximity, it’s hard to ignore the sparks between them.
I enjoyed this! It was a sweet story seeing how much Olive affected Archer and Iris. While some parts felt sudden and rushed (like a certain condition later on) it was still a cute romance rooted in family and grief.
Thank you to Harper 360 for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The best book in the Dream Harbor series so far! This series keeps getting better and I can’t wait to learn more about these characters!

This book was so sweet and perfect for getting me out of a reading slump. I always love kids in books and this one was no different I loved Olive so much. I’ve never read the nanny/ single parent tripe but this one had me hooked and looking for more. I loved archer and Iris so so much they were a mess but trying to figure things out for each-other. As always with this author this one was a 5 star!

4.5! This was so darn cute, and I loved every second of it. It was so fun going back to Dream Harbor again. The shenanigans of the town were out full force in this one with the pancakes, and it added really fun humorous moments to the more serious ones! The author said in her acknowledgements she doesn’t usually write kids into her romances, but you’d never know it with how realistic and well done Olive’s character was, and honestly? The whole town is wrapped around that little girl’s finger and I love it. Iris is an optimist and I loved the relatable bits and pieces we got of her life style and how she tried to mesh it with grumpy Archer until they finally hit the ground running. This is a slow burn, it almost had to be, but it sweet and lovely and truly every time I read a Laurie Gilmore book, I feel like I’m in a hallmark movie, and that’s the biggest compliment in my eyes!

My goodness, this was absolutely adorable. Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this book.

Archer Baer is in a new town…meeting his five year old daughter, Olive for the very first time. She was a surprise he wasn’t sure he was ready for but he was there to see it through.

Iris Fraiser is in a pickle. She happens to fall into a nanny job for the hot new chef in town. But what she wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with both little girl and her daddy. Iris’s character had me laughing a lot. Shes exactly what Olive and Archer need. We follow along as these two start crossing lines and the kitchen gets steamy!

I loved it! Highly recommended.

Laurie Gilmore does it again with The Strawberry Patch Pancake House! This was such a cozy, small-town romance with just the right amount of steam. It follows a newly single dad and a free-spirited woman who can’t seem to find her path, and it’s packed with some classic tropes—grumpy-sunshine, single dad, and surprise pregnancy.

Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of some of these elements, but Gilmore’s writing totally won me over. The domestic moments were sweet without being boring, and the chemistry between the leads had plenty of tension to keep things interesting. It’s that perfect mix of heartwarming and spicy that makes for such a fun read.

If you love small-town romances with a little extra heat, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!