Such a heartwarming story. Archer is a chef and has his career all mapped out until he finds out he is a father, and the mother of his child has died. He knows nothing of caring for a child, but he still tries to make a life for his daughter. Olive wants nothing to do with this man who says he is her father. It is going to be a rocky road. Archer hires Iris to be Olive's nanny. Iris knows nothing of caring for a little girl, but she needs the job. Iris helps Archer and Olive learn to communicate and connect with each other. Then she does the unthinkable and falls in love with her employer and his adorable little girl. Archer shouldn't have fallen in love with the nanny, but she is just so adorable, he couldn't help it. Iris has never done a serious relationship and worries that she will screw it all up for Archer and Olive. What if she lets them down? Archer is ready to wait for her, but will she want to be a family with them?

I love this book series and was excited to see another being added to the collection! The book was beautifully written and I did really enjoy it. Thank you for this advance reading copy!

This book was giving me cozy Gilmore Girl vibes! However, the plot felt a bit rushed and there seemed to be a lot of internal monologue that was repetitive. BUT if you’re looking for an easy romance with hallmark vibes to get you out of a slump, this may be for you!!

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the arc!

this was a cute and cozy romance read, but nothing memorable. for some reason i just couldn't connect with these characters and the plot twist made me roll my eyes and it just fell apart from there. this was definitely my least favorite of this series...

Laurie Gilmore’s The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a heartwarming small-town romance about Archer, a chef adjusting to fatherhood, and Iris, a free-spirited nanny. Set in Dream Harbor, the story blends found family, slow-burn romance, and classic tropes like forced proximity. The book’s charm, engaging characters, and cozy atmosphere make it a delightful read. It’s book 4 of Gilmore’s series and it was truthfully my favorite! Thank you Net Galley for letting me read this!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is a sweet, easygoing romance about Archer, a single dad trying to take care of his young daughter, Olive. When he needs help, Iris steps in, even though she has no experience with kids. Despite that, she quickly becomes a big help and starts bonding with Olive and Archer.

As they spend time together, love starts to grow between Archer and Iris. It's a light, feel-good story that’s perfect if you want something simple and sweet to relax with. While it doesn’t have a lot of deep drama, it’s just the kind of story to zone out and enjoy.

I continue to enjoy this series! I love the friendships that have been built and how they continue to grow with each new book in the series. I love the small town community and cute shops and restaurants featured in each book. The pancake names of people in the town was my favorite part of this book. I valued the commitment from Archer, it was heartwarming to see the love for his daughter and for the community grow throughout the book and him finding an unexpected place to call “home”.

This was probably my favorite of the series so far! I really enjoy the single dad trope. Archer moves to Dream Harbor to meet and raise his daughter that he didn’t know existed. Iris becomes the nanny to his daughter Olive. I loved how cozy and cute this romance was while navigating the grief of olive losing her mom. The romance between Archer and Iris was so so good!! I love how close the characters are with the small town and all of the people in it. Iris teaches a lot of classes to elderly in the community and they were so fun! Thank you NetGalley for an arc.

🍓ARC Review🍓

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 by @lauriegilmore_author

🗓️March 18th

📄 384

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥
🍓Single Dad x Nanny
🥞Forced Proximity
🍓Roommates
🥞Slow Burn
🍓Found Family

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ʜᴀʀʙᴏʀ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ

Archer, a world-renowned chef, finds himself in Dream Harbor after an accident leaves him a single father to daughter, Olive. He reluctantly agrees to take a job at the Strawberry Patch Pancake House where the residents of Dream Harbor immediately dislike him.
Iris is struggling to make ends meet so when a townsperson tells her about the new guy in town looking for childcare, Iris really doesn’t have much of a choice. As the three of them settle into their new normal under one roof it beings to get hot in the kitchen..

𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
My heart. I absolutely adore this series. It is so cozy and fun. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was such a easy and comforting read that had me giggling and swooning all the way through. Laurie Gilmore has delivered yet another amazing story of community, love, and family. The relationship between Archer and Olive was so heartwarming. The tension between Archer and Iris was off the charts and the slow burn was so worth it.

I was so happy to catch up with the residents of Dream Harbor! I always look forward to the town hall meetings ♥️

Thank you @netgalley for the arc & @onemorechapterhc for the fun #thestrawberrypatchpancakehouse challenge 🥞

Huge THANK YOU to Haper 360 and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, by Laurie Gilmore was absolutely delicious! It's cozy, heartwarming, and sexy! Chef's Kiss 💋

Sexy & determined world renowned chef Archer has just had is his world rocked when he suddenly finds out he is the father to a 5 year old little girl named Olive. Oh and little Olive. I've never wanted to hug a book character more in my life.

Iris is gorgeous and quirky and a think of her as a free sprite. She works a bunch of different part-time jobs and has found herself on the struggle bus and about to be evicted when the opportunity to become a live in nanny for Olive comes with cozy perfect timing.

Watching these lovable characters navigate everything sometimes made me wanna cry sad tears and happy tears. I was rooting for these three so hard.

A must read romance for Spring!

I can't wait to see where the next book takes us with Annie & Mac! I'm literally ready to pack my bags and become a Dreamer myself. Haha.. see ya at the next Townhall meeting.


Tropes:
Single Dad
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Found Family

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series and I was so incredibly excited to read it! This book did not disappoint. It was so easy to fall back into a familiar town with some familiar characters. This was fluffy and adorable through and through but it had a few steamy scenes and some sensitive topics sprinkled throughout too. Despite this also having one of my least favorite tropes as a twist, I actually really enjoyed how it was executed and think it was perfect for this story. This is perfect for anyone looking for a small town, single dad, cozy romance full of pancakes, strawberries, and love.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.


Thank you to this book for getting me out of my slump!

These books are always fun little romps where you can enjoy a cozy story. I really loved the characters and their dynamics, especially Olive, who was absolutely adorable! These books always feel like a warm hug and are easy to read.

I enjoyed the relationship buildup, though there was a trope I typically like, but it felt a bit unnecessary for the story. However, I’m still really excited for the next book in the series to see what’s going on with Annie and Mac.

If you need a little pick-me-up in the style of a Hallmark movie with some spice, I highly recommend picking this one up! And I 100% made pancakes because of this book—cinnamon and chocolate chip, though sadly, from a box. Sorry, Archer. 😂

Another day, another Laurie Gilmore Dream Harbor book for me to enjoy. Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper 360 for giving me another opportunity to read an ARC copy of a Dream Harbor book! I will inevitably beg you for an ARC copy of the next title because, obviously, I'm obsessed with this little town, all those that live there, and have told many a person that I'd die for Laurie Gilmore.

I'll start off by saying that I genuinely dislike the single dad trope; the only two times I've read it anyway was when it was in a series that I was invested in (including this one). Too often I feel like the strangeness and uncomfortable nature of being a step parent, or surprise parent, is never honestly portrayed. However, Gilmore is unflinching in her portrayal of the fears and heartbreak that these situations can bring about, in a way that doesn't make this a hard read (because let's be honest, we read Dream Harbor for an escape!) but at least is refreshingly honest in a world where these kinds of situations can be Hallmark glorified.

I love that Iris is a mess! Not just in a "aww she's so cute and quirky!" mess, but actually a mess that you can connect with. Connecting to a characters flaws rather than their strengths forms a closer bond between a reader and a story without a doubt, and Gilmore gives us an opportunity to do that with Iris. In an idyllic town like Dream Harbor, where everything is perfect, Iris is fumbling through her young adult years.

Archer is the spicy bad boy chef that I've been craving since The Bear, which Gilmore even mentions in her acknowledgements (hell yeah girl!). His overcoming his innate desire for greatness and pride that is deeply part of the cooking world was really heartwarming.

I loved closing my eyes during this book and getting into my body to really revel in the experience of that undeniable attraction you can have with a person you're really not supposed to have. The fingers touching electricity; the full body awareness you can have with just knowing a person is in the room with you; it had me silent screaming in between the pages (metaphorically, since I read this on my Kindle). The heat in this one was undeniable and I was crazy for it!!

I'm just. so. ready. for the next book already!! Thank you again Laurie Gilmore; you've got a friend in me.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a 4 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ romance set in small town Dream Harbor. This sweet read is an ARC by @lauriegilmore_author and thanks to @netgalley for the sweet story. 💕 This is #4 in the DREAM harbor series. Archer, a world renowned chef relocated to the small town to raise his daughter as a single dad. He needs help so hires Iris as a nanny while he tries to run and perfect the pancakes at the local diner. Romance blooms with forced proximity and a slow burn. While very predictable this was an enjoyable, easy read that made me smile. 😊 This is a cute novel that shows the sweet side to a sometimes chaotic life. 🍓📚❤️ #peachypages #bookstagram #bookreview #books #netgalley #lauriegilmore #dreamharbor #romance #lightread #lovetoreadbooks #bookworm #kindle #alwaysreading❤️

Oh my gosh, small town romances are like the warmest hug ever! I devoured all the books because I was eagerly waiting for this arc, and the whole series was a delightful treat. I can’t wait to dive into the next one! Archer and Iris are absolutely adorable, and Olive is just the sweetest! The plot of this book was a magical journey, and I had no idea the chemistry between them would be so electrifying! It was like fireworks in my heart!

The single dad trope is my absolute favorite because the kids are always the cutest little bundles of joy. They never fail to melt my heart and add so much emotion and love. The way Iris is with Olive and how Olive loves Iris, even with her secret wish for more than just a nanny, brought me to tears. It was so heartwarming!

Archer arrives in this charming small town, having once been a famous chef in Paris. But then, he discovers he has a daughter, and he’s missed out on five whole years! Olive’s mom passed away, and now Archer has a whole daughter in this quaint little place, where he was offered a job to run the town’s Diner. I loved every moment of it! And of course, we can’t ignore the sizzling chemistry between these two, and the oh-so-steamy scenes. I’m totally here for the steamy stuff, lol! I adored them both, even the little surprise at the end, lol! Can’t wait for more!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House 🍓🥞

This was such a cute and cozy read! I loved being back in Dream Harbor and the close knit community.

Iris can never hold a job down for more than a few weeks. So when she hears that single dad and world renowned chef, Archer, needs a nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction. Iris agrees to do a trial, but ends up falling in love with Olive… and her boss.

The oven isn’t the only thing heating up in the kitchen. Archer is trying to master the original pancake and Iris is trying to steer clear of a shirtless, dreamy, pancake man Archer.

I really like this cute book, but I felt like it was missing something. I just can’t put my finger on it. I would have also liked to have seen the character name at the beginning of the chapter to see who was talking.

Read if you like:
👨🏽 single dad
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 found family
🔥 slow burn
👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏽forced proximity

Ratings:
⭐️: 3/5
🌶️: .5 /5 (very low spice. Note the point!)
📖: 384
📚: romance
🍾: 3/18/25

Dream Harbour is a special place where the neighbors all know your business and everything turns out ok. Archer, a trained chef, moved there after learning he had a 5 year old daughter whose mother had passed away. And the residents don't want the cooking at the diner to be elevated, they just want the pancakes they loved for years to be back on the menu. Meanwhile, footloose and fancy free, Iris, needs another job or she's going to be evicted. A nanny, perhaps? Fourth in the series, and every bit as enjoyable as the first three. Sweet and spicy.

I love Dream Harbor and all of its quirky characters. This series has been fantastic and this next book doesn't disappoint. We met Iris in Christmas Tree Farm, and she makes a great FMC. She's funny, smart, creative, and beautiful. She was already established as someone that doesn't like kids, so of course she gets hired to be Archer's nanny for sweet Olive. Archer is new to Dream Harbor and a world-renowned chef that had been living and working in Paris. Olive's mom, Cate, has been killed in an accident and Archer is the father (which he just found out about). Watching him find his footing with Olive and deal with Iris is so entertaining. Highly recommend this one and can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

I've read all four books in this series, and this one was by far my favorite!! Getting to see 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. It made me really feel for Archer. 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 about how Olive would be affected. Which really tugs at the heartstrings. Being pulled in two different directions. 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!!

It’s so good to be back in Dream Harbor. I’ve missed all the characters from the books and glad to see the gang back together! It brings nostalgia and butterflies in my stomach because I love this series so much. “The Pumpkin Spice Café” started it all then “The Cinnamon Bun Book Store,” “The Christmas Tree farm” and 5th book, “The Ginger Bread Bakery” soon to come.
“The Strawberry Patch Pancake House” is a spin-off story of Iris from The Christmas Tree Farm. Iris is a free spirit who works different odd jobs and was hired to be a nanny. Archer, a world-renowned chef, learned that he was a father to a 5-year-old girl named Olive.
Archer and Iris’ had a rough start but their love story really grew on me. Olive is so cute! I was rooting for their love story and I cannot wait for the next book!