I love this series so much!! Dream Harbor is one of my favorite fictional small towns. I knew this was going to be good when I saw that Archer (MMC) was a single dad and Iris (FMC) was his nanny! But I wasn’t sure how great it would be that we haven’t had much appearances from Iris in Christmas Tree Farm. But of course as always these new characters were easy to fall for. But Olive (his daughter) was by far my favorite. She was so cute 🥹 she made me tear up a few times and her naming skills were adorable 😂 I was really happy with the ending! I just wish we saw more from the secondary characters in this one. I missed having more interactions with the town’s kooky characters. As always, this was a quick and cozy read 🩷 I am SO excited for Annie and Mac’s story next! FINALLY!!

One of my favorite tropes: Single Dad and Nanny, however, this book didn't do the trope justice. Iris and Archer's chemistry was a little off-putting. Olive felt older than 5 years old. It was quick ready, light, not much thought needed. Enjoyable, just not something I would re-read.

Overall another cute read. I will say it took me a bit to warm up to both of the main characters and by a bit I mean at least a good chunk of the book. But overall another cute addition to the series. The only weird thing to me is that they weren't really part of the main set of characters you kept reading about in the first three books.

This book was absolutely 5 stars. I’m pretty sure that it’s my favorite in the series. This found family aspect left me wanting more about what happens to these characters. I’m so emotionally invested.

Oh Laurie Gilmore, you just keep giving with these delightful books! Dream Harbor has become my absolute favorite fictional small town and the characters are just quirky enough to still be loveable. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is probably my favorite book in this series so far! A single dad who is also a chef, say less!! Grumpy sunshine, and forced proximity absolutely. The connection between the two main characters was amazing and felt so believable. I felt like I was dropped into Dream Harbor and instant friends with Iris. Add in the cute little 5 year old, Olive, and I’m there to say. That little girl had some much spunk and sass and constantly reminded me of my own little spicy, spit fire. This book literally has my heart and I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy soon!

I liked this the best of this series, but the end did let me down. It felt so rushed in the final 5 chapters, and the added drama between the couple was not needed. I liked watching both Archer and Iris fall for Olive and become a family though. I also found the pancake journey of the diner delightful as it carried through!

I thought this was going to be my favorite in the series, but I ended up not enjoying it as much as I thought. The story had weird pacing for me, parts were slow, then it would speed up to be slow again. The ending felt rushed. I also was not a fan of the (spoiler) accidental pregnancy.

When people say this series brings the Stars Hollow vibes, they aren't lying! The cozy, small-town vibes were immediate and reading this story felt like settling in for a new Gilmore Girls episode.

While I didn't love the literal immediate hardcore crushing between Archer and Iris, they fit together so well as they actually got to know each other.

Also, I absolutely adored the adorable banter with Olive! That little girl is amazing.

I've yet to read the previous books in the series (though I own them all), but this makes me all the more eager to get to them! Overall, the spice is mostly kept to just a couple of scenes in the latter half of the book, for any curious. I personally prefer milder spice, but those scenes are easily skimmable without missing out on the story 🥰

*Thanks so much to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC!*

This book was a great addition to the Dream Harbor series. While the plot was a little predictable, the small-town romance while balancing single-parenthood was enjoyable. Laurie Gilmore does a great job of incorporating the heat without sacrificing the story line. Can't wait for the next in the series.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is about a single dad named Archer and town native, Iris, in the 4th book of the Dream Harbor series. Archer is a renowned chef in France who has to move to Dream Harbor to care for his daughter, who he didn't know existed until her mother dies suddenly and she's left without a guardian. Archer is forced to take the only cooking job he can find at the local diner and becomes the head chef. Meanwhile, he needs someone to take care of his daughter when he's at work and Iris is in desperate need of a job -- she ends up as his live-in nanny and though neither of them have any experience with children they start to figure out caring for Olive together.

If you are looking for a light-hearted read that's perfect for spring, this is the book for you. Though there is a controversial trope (or two) in this book, I loved it, even if I don't always love that trope. I think the author took a risk and it paid off, for me. The relationship between Archer and Iris felt authentic and natural and despite him being the single dad and her being the nanny, Gilmore managed to make it feel swoon-worthy instead of cringe-worthy. The will they/won't they tension builds well and helps us root for the characters and their relationship. Of course, just like with Gilmore's other Dream Harbor books, the town is absolutely a character and since it's book 4 the town is well developed and it's fun to get some updates on your favorite characters from the previous books in the series.

If you're a fan of romance, feel-good stories, personal growth, or if you're a parent you might love this one like I did. Though it can be read as a stand-alone, I would definitely recommend reading the other books first to get the best experience. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

What a cute, heartwarming, and funny book! This is a new author for me, and I absolutely loved reading this story. Iris and Archer had perfect chemistry together, and given they were thrown together under really unfortunate circumstances, it truly was a match made in heaven. I'm a huge foodie enthusiast, so this storyline was perfect. Olive absolutely stole my heart, and her antics and the way she dealt with her new situation was amusing and heartwarming. The town of Dream Harbor was definitely something dreams are made of, and if you didn't like pancakes before you started this book, you definitely will by the end. Truly enjoyed this book very much, I love stories that make me run the gamet of emotions while reading!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

This was my favorite book of the series so far. Archer and Iris are so cute together. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Title: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Genre: Romance
Tropes: Small town, Opposites attract, GrumpyxSunshine, Forced proximity, Single dad, Found family
Format: eARC
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Pancakes, parenting, and YES CHEF! Sweet and Spicy, small town romance

Summary:
Archer is a renowned chef, hell bent on dedicating his life and all his time to earning a Michelin star. He is so sure of his life’s plan and goals, until he gets a phone call telling him that a women he knew 5 years ago had passed away and left him a 5 year old daughter, Olive. Archer puts his life on pause and rushes to care for his daughter. Archer has no plans to remain the head chef of the diner in the strange, small town of Dream Harbor. But, he quickly realizes that it takes a village to raise a child.

Iris is a mess. Always late, bouncing between jobs and men. She is on the verge of losing her apartment and needs more stable, higher paying employment ASAP! Being Archer and Olive’s live-in Nanny seems like a perfect fix, except Iris doesn’t know a thing about working with kids. Archer hires her anyway.

He’s grumpy and she’s sunshine and opposites in many ways. Olive quickly trusts and begins to open up to Iris and Iris helps to bridge the gap between father and daughter. Iris is also helping Archer find the town’s original pancake recipe with late night taste tests/ kitchen meet ups. To protect all the progress Olive has made, the two try to deny their chemistry and budding feelings.

Thoughts:
This was my first romance book with the single dad trope and I loved it! The growth and development of Archer and Olive’s relationship/story was so sweet and well done. He was so patient with her. I thought the chemistry between the MCs was great! I really liked both characters and I found myself laughing out loud at their witty banter. I love seeing what the couples from the other books are up to and how they all support each other in this quirky community.

Great for readers who love interconnected standalones with small town vibes and spice!

Thank you to the Harper Collins (Harper360) and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviews posted to NetGalley, Amazon, and GoodReads.

Thank you to Laurie Gilmore, Harper 360, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House.

I absolutely LOVE the Dream Harbor Series and The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was no exception. I was so excited to get an ARC of this book. It took me a moment to place Iris because she wasn't a prominent fixture in The Christmas Tree Farm, but she did make a handful of appearances. I will say, Iris in this book was so different from the way I perceived Iris in the last book. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about her and seeing her relationship with Archer evolve over the course of this book.

I really enjoy the way Laurie Gilmore creates comfy cozy romances but turns up the spice in some scenes. Though this book dealt with some heavier topics (death of a parent and feeling like you don't have a course/purpose in life) I enjoyed the way Gilmore approached the topics giving the characters time to grieve and grow. Archer was definitely my favorite MMC so far, though. A cook and an overprotective dad? A recipe for success - pun intended!

I only have two complaints. One is that this book ended with my least favorite trope. Gilmore saved it and spun it in a great way, but I was NOT happy when I saw the turn the book was taking. The second is that I felt like we didn't see enough of our favorite Dream Harbor characters. Kira and Bennett made a handful of appearances, but Jeanne, Logan, Hazel, Noah, Annie and Mac weren't seen a lot which was a bit of a bummer. That being said, I know the next book is about Annie and Mac and I CANNOT wait!

Definitely worth a read if you enjoy cozy, spicy romances.

4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up!

I love this series and the books just keep getting better and better! Single dad x nanny troupe, a cute 5 year old and pancakes galore?! Say no more!

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book. This is the second book I have read in this series. If I’m being honest, this was a big miss for me. I personally found the story to be really slowly developing and I didn’t find myself really invested in the characters.

Best one in the series, yet!
A hot chef with a surprise daughter.
An aimless d0-gooder not looking for any kind of commitment.
He needs a nanny and she needs a job.
Perfect pairing?
Not quite. At least not in the beginning.
But Iris and Archer find their groove and it gets...interesting along the way.
Throw in a bunch of late night cooking escapades, a 5 year old wise beyond her years, and the nosiest town ever devised, and the STRAWBERRY PATCH PANCAKE HOUSE is a nice read with a little spice, a little angst, and a few really great characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to review.
4 stars

This series is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy, so it’s no surprise the newest installment was exactly that! I adore this author and I adore this series!

Spicy, male female, 3rd person dual point of view, contemporary romance. I really enjoy how this series is full of cozy seasonal romances. This one has a single dad trope and nanny trope. I enjoyed every single character - main and side. Perfect length sweet and steamy read.

Like all bookish girls, I've seen these books around Instagram and was so curious about them. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was cute, kitschy, and a fast, fun read. The tropes were not my favorite (single dad, insta-love) but the characters were endearing. I love seasonal reads, and this one was perfect for early spring.

This story was my first Dream Harbor experience, but I'm definitely going back to read the rest of the series!