This book was cute and very light read. I see why people love this series because it's very charming. This is a single-dad romance where the dad is just getting custody of his daughter because the mother passes away. He is a renowned chef who moved to Dream Harbor to run the pancake restaurant. He meets the fmc when she offers to be his child's nanny and as they spend more time together they have to fight the attraction.

I liked seeing the relationship between the MCS and the kid grow especially since it started rocky. The found family tight-knit town was also very nice to read. This book was steamy and for some reason, I wasn't expecting that but I enjoyed the scenes. Overall a good read and I'm going to go back and read the rest of the series. Thanks to the publisher for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Small-town romance
- Single dad romance
- Nanny fmc
- Chef mmc
- Steamy romance

why did it take me so long to read this series? i started the first and loved it so much that i immediately read the 2nd and 3rd and then realized this one was on netgalley and HAD TO HAVE IT. im suddenly saying yes chef in my sleep. i loveeeeed noah and his competency and iris was so fun, they seemed like a great pairing and i wanted more of their little family with olive. how am i supposed to wait until september for mac and annies story???

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is a heartwarming, charming read that took me on an unforgettable emotional journey. From the very first page, I was captivated by the lovable characters, each with their own quirks and depth that made the story so engaging.

At the heart of the book is Archer, a strict and career-driven head chef who makes the life-altering decision to leave his high-end career in Paris when he learns he’s the father of a four-year-old girl, Olive. His transformation from a disciplined, work-focused man to a tender, loving father is nothing short of beautiful. I loved seeing Archer evolve throughout the story as he navigates fatherhood and learns the true meaning of family. What really struck me was how his initially rigid demeanor quickly gave way to a gentle, caring side that was hard to resist.

Iris, the quirky and delightful female lead, was the perfect counterpart to Archer. As Olive’s nanny, she brought a much-needed spark to their lives, but her role in their world became so much more than that. Her unique blend of charm and humor made her an essential "ingredient" to the story. Watching Iris and Archer slowly bond, their connection felt so natural and warm. I loved how their relationship developed, moving from strangers to a real, functional family.

The single dad trope was done beautifully here, and I appreciated the depth of emotion that Laurie Gilmore infused into the narrative. The found-family aspect was another highlight — Archer, Iris, and Olive quickly became an unshakeable trio, each offering the other the support they needed in different ways. The result was a story full of love, growth, and a sense of belonging that left me with a smile on my face long after I finished the book.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a lovely story about unexpected changes, and the importance of family in all its forms. Whether you’re a fan of heartwarming romance or love stories about personal growth, this one’s a gem that’s hard to put down!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this! Dream Harbor books are just so cute and cozy 🥰 I loved this one and found Olive to be the sweetest 🥹💖 I always liked Iris and I loved reading this! I can’t wait for book 5 to come out 🤩

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper 360 and Laurie Gilmore for giving me an ARC of this wonderful book! It was on my 2025 read list and I couldn’t be happier to be given an advanced copy!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is just as sugary sweet and cozy as Pumpkin Spice Cafe, including a new father in over his head with his new precocious little girl. It's a trope that I don't really enjoy but it is an easy, cozy read filled with Gilmore's signature style.

I have read the other books in this series and this is on par with the rest. If you enjoyed the other books then you will like this as well. Even if you didn’t like some of the first ones I’d still recommend this book. I loved Archer and Iris, they were a great couple and the banter was great. Very swoon-worthy. These books are cozy romances with low stakes. The setting is adorable and half the fun. I love this town. I highly recommend this book, it’s so cute!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

I have read all the books in this series and they get better each time, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is my favorite! I loved Archer and Iris! Their story had fun banter and very raw emotions for both character. Olive may have stole the show a few times because she is adorable! Laurie Gilmore did an excellence job on with the single dad trope.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the 4th book in the Dream Harbor series and dare I say my new favorite. Although I can't wait for the next one. Like the rest of the series, this book gives tons of cozy reading Hallmark'esque vibes with the added spice. I do feel like as the series progresses the books get better and better.

🍓 Single Dad
🍓 Forced Proximity
🍓 Slow Burn
🍓 Found Family
🍓 Small Town
🍓 Dual POV
🍓 A bit of grumpy x sunshine
🍓 other secret tropes I won't name to not spoil anything

In this book we follow the POV's of Archer, the single dad who just found out he has a child, and Iris, the nanny who desperately needs a job but isn't a fan of children because they are "sticky".

Archer has recently moved to the town of Dream Harbor to meet and hopefully gain full custody over his child Olive. He just moved from Paris and left his dream of becoming a Michelin star chef on pause after learning he had a child whose mother recently passed in an accident. His plan is to stick around only as long as possible and then take Olive and head back to Paris. Working at a local diner and not making great impressions with the locals Archer realizes he has his work cut out for him with more than just bonding with Olive than he thought.

Iris, a local yoga and water aerobics instructor who is desperately needing a job to keep her apartment decides to listen to one of her ladies opinions from class and decides to interview for a nanny position. The only problem is, she doesn't like children. But after hearing its a paid live in position her mind was made up, even if it was for the grumpy man she spilled smoothies on.

Reader be warned however, Olive is adorable but some things she says left me all in my feelings. This was such a good book and I'm so happy that the series is continuing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Longer review coming soon! Absolutely loved my first Dream Harbor book even though it’s #4 - I will definitely be reading the others!! Loved the single dad hot chef trope - Archer is hot - Iris is humorous and so full of youth and Olive will wrap you around her finger!!! Strawberries are always in season with this wonderful 5 star book!

I loved being back in Dream Harbor and Archer and Iris’ love story was perfection! I’m not usually a fan of the single dad trope and didn’t expect to love this one the way I did. Side note, I love how the fictional book club actually discusses the single dad trope in the book.This book was everything I expected from Laurie Gilmore - a cozy romance set in a dreamy small town with some steamy scenes. She is the queen of writing ‘hallmark after dark’ novels and I am already dying for the next one so we can finally get Annie and Mac’s story!

yikes less pancakes, more problems please.

ok listen, i love a good small-town romance. give me a grumpy single dad, a quirky nanny, and a diner full of nosy locals, and i am in, but this book served up more frustration than fluffy breakfast delights, and i'm still digesting my disappointment.

first of all, Archer. this man is allegedly a world-renowned chef, yet he moves to a town where the height of culinary excellence is a pancake house? Sir, why are you sweating over flapjacks when you could be running a Michelin-starred restaurant? and don’t even get me started on the “cooking topless” thing. what health code violation is this? butter and bacon grease are not things you want splattering on your bare chest, my guy. then we have the fmc Iris, our heroine, who has the job stability of a malfunctioning toaster. she spends half the book convinced she’s going to quit, and honestly, i was rooting for her to pack her bags and flee just for the drama but instead she sticks around, makes heart eyes at Archer, and somehow doesn’t sue him for workplace distraction via abs.

the romance was a slow burn that sizzled out before it ever caught fire. the forced proximity should have been fun, but instead, it felt like two people stuck in an awkward Airbnb rental. and the found family element? if “found family” means enduring a series of quirky small-town interactions that felt more forced than heartwarming, then sure, i guess.

ANYWAY. if you enjoy books where the biggest plot twist is whether the pancakes will burn before the romance does, then maybe this is for you otherwise, i'd recommend seeking your cozy, small-town charm elsewhere 🫠

sorry about it.

3 ⭐️

still, thank you Harper Collins for the arc.
always always appreciated!

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and Harper 360 in exchange for my honest review. Ugh. I loved the first 80% of the book. But then the author brought out my absolute least favorite trope and lost me. Iris and Archer were both very likable as main characters. Olive was the cutest and absolutely stole the show. I powered through after realizing where the story was going and I am giving it 3 stars since I loved most of it. I just can’t bring myself to rate it higher due to the ending. BUT I am still very excited to finally get Annie and Mac’s story in book 5!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. When an ambitious chef finds out he has a daughter and her mother recently died, he leaves his beloved position in France and moves to Dream Harbor. He hires Iris, a local woman who is losing her apartment and needs the live in nanny position. His traumatized daughter will not speak to him and he works so hard to gain her acceptance. Iris has no experience as a nanny but bonds quickly with little Olive and her father. The romance is sweet and passionate. As with all the books in this series, the sense of community is wonderfully heartwarming.

4 stars everyone. I think this may be my favorite of the Dream Harbor Series so far. I was an absolute feral creature for Archer. The absolute adoration for his daughter and the bond between him and Iris is uncanny. This is so much more than a single dad x nanny romance. This has everything. There is so much emotion, understanding, growth, and mutual respect in this. The tension between Iris and Archer was intense. I couldn't wait for the two of them to finally give into their feelings for one another. It did not disappoint.

I am a huge fan of the Dream Harbor series - I have grown to love the characters so much and enjoy meeting new ones with each installment. I must say that this one was not my favorite of the series, as I typically don't love the boss-employee romance trope, but what redeemed this story was the precocious and lovable Olive. I think the story would've fallen a little flat had Archer not been a single dad to the most adorable kid but I looked forward to every scene and one liner brought to us by Olive. Can't wait for Annie and Mac's story! I want more Dream Harbor!

This was my favorite of all the Dream Harbor series! I loved Iris and Archer’s love story. Olive was a sweet and cute little girl and I loved her spunk and personality. I can NOT wait to read Annie and Mac’s story next!!

Omg I love love this book, the found family troupe, the spice is chef kiss and the love between the two main characters really develops so much for them and they always needed each other no matter what others had told them. Laurie Gilmore never disappoint and I can’t wait for the last book in the series. Thank you for letting me experience this book once again

This town is growing on me.

Archer's life went upside down when he found out he got a child, so she moved in Dream Harbor, got a job in the diner and needed a nanny stat. Enter Iris, who needed a play to stay and a job.

I just got off from reading a fantasy book and wanted a fun silly little romance book then I saw this up in NetGalley and immediately requested it. Thankfully, they approved so thank you NetGalley gods!

Anyways, I love the first 60% of the book. It got me hooked and I read it so fast in a span of few hours. It was great, it was fun, it's your usual single-dad and nanny trope. I love the whole journey.

However, when I reached the second half of the book I lost interest and they introduced my least favorite trope so I mentally already clocked out after that.

Overall, not the best book from this series (Book 3!) and not the worst (Book 2!), and still looking forward to the next one because that couple was hinted from the very beginning.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
by Laurie Gilmore


I still can’t believe I received an eARC of this book! How can you not fall in love with Dream Harbor? I want to pack my bags and head to the pancake house. Two different people with two different lives, are they meant to be?? I really like Iris and Archer. I love cute cozy romantic mysteries. I could put this one down! I really enjoy Laurie’s writing!

Tropes:

👨‍💼single dad
🛌 one bed
🏡 found family
🐌 slow burn
⭐️ forced proximity

Big thanks to NetGalley, Laurie and Harper 360 for the eARC! I truly feel so lucky to have gotten an eARC! This one of my favorite series!! I can’t wait for the next book!

Publication Date: March 18th 2025
Rating: 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

#NetGalley #TheStrawberryPatchPancakeHouse

What an absolute wirlwind of a book.. it will have you feeling happy, anxious, sad, and relieved. Sometimes all at once!! I just adore the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore, so when this book was announced I was THRILLED to get my hands on it. This one is more… dimensional? As it involves a familial relationship as well as the “typical” Dream Harbor intimate relationship. And I absolutely love how it came together. Blending the two “worlds” into something beautiful, and not letting either relationship overshadow or take away from the other relationship. But letting both bloom and have their own spotlight. (Familial relationship with child *versus* intimate relationship with lover)