I’ve read the Dream Harbor books a bit out of order. I read the third book first, then the second book, well, second. It doesn’t seem to have affected the story much, thankfully. The books are definitely interconnected, but it’s not strictly necessary to have read the previous book first.

I really liked The Cinnamon Bun Book Store! I thought Hazel and Noah were super cute and perfect for each other. The entire plot is basically just one giant miscommunication trope, which is not my favorite, but it was still a good story. The writing and editing definitely needed to be tidied up a bit, especially with commas, but the pacing and flow were good.

I’m looking forward to reading the first book in the series, and any additional books to come!

I received a copy of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store from
NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As we’re getting closer to Fall, there’s absolutely nothing better than a cozy book to read while drinking a cinnamon bun coffee 😉 I loved that this book was a “reverse age gap”, because you don’t see that often. I really enjoyed the LGBT rep in Hazels dads and her nonbinary coworker Alex. I also adore when there are book clubs within a book!
Noah was adorable and lost, and I appreciated his character growth.
The only downside was I wish Hazel's character had more growth.
But overall it was a very sweet story.

This one missed the mark for me.
Not a cozy fall romance it feels very summery until the very end where you get a whisper of fall. It also has two of my least favorite tropes - miscommunication and insta-love.

The main characters felt like they had very little chemistry and I couldn’t related to them at all. The spice was alright at best. Hazel is almost 30 years old and she comes across very juvenile and immature. I tried but this was not the vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this e-read.

I enjoyed this duel perspective he falls first romance. It's part of a series and I ended up buying the first book to see if I needed to read it first (you don't!)
Hazel is such a fun gal to root for and I'm so excited to read the whole series.

This book was such a pleasant surprise in comparison to book one! I absolutely loved Noah and Hazel's love story and it makes me excited for the third book in this series! The spice was much better integrated in comparison to the first one and this is such a great cozy fall book that makes me want to curl up with a pumpkin spice latte!

A quick mysterious, romantic, and cozy fall read!
 
So charming! This fictional town is the epitome of coziness! I adored the writing a whole lot, and the plot was super entertaining which kept me turning the page.
 
The romance was perfectly executed; I could not have asked for more! I devoured every second I spent in this story, and I don’t regret a thing.
 
The most amazing way to fill your fall evening is with this book! I highly recommend cuddling up with this entire series.
 
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy!

This one wasn’t for me, though I certainly seem to fall in the minority! This is obviously a personal preference, but I found this too cheesy and hokey. I could not feel the chemistry between the main characters. Happy to see it is working for many others!

Thank you for the eARC!

Dream Harbor #2! Hazel + Noah! Hazel manages a bookstore and has played it straight and narrow her whole life, while Noah charters fishing tours, works at a bar and is more of a drifter/adventurer! Hazel convinces Noah to help her let loose while chasing clues that have popped up in random books in her bookstore! Both Hazel and Noah catch feelings but they are doing their best to keep it casual, as per their agreement. Both characters have their own personal struggles within themselves that I felt were relatable. This was such a cute, fun, feel good romance and I will definitely be continuing with this series!

Thank you to Harper360, NetGalley and Laurie Gilmore for this Arc!

This book is an absolute delight! The cozy setting of the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, combined with a fun treasure hunt and irresistible romance, makes for the perfect read. Hazel and Noah’s chemistry is electric, and their playful banter had me smiling from start to finish. The secret codes and scavenger hunt added a unique twist, keeping me hooked as they explored the charming streets of Dream Harbor together. If you loved The Pumpkin Spice Café, you’ll be head over heels for this sweet, spicy, and satisfying romance!

I am so honored that I was chosen to read this as an arc reader through @netgalley. I'll start this off by saying that I really just want Hazel's life. To manage a bookstore that smells like cinnamon buns and weekly smutty book club meetings sounds like a dream. As a woman also turning 30 in a few months, I really connected with her. Noah seems really sweet, endearing, and carefree, but in reality, he thinks very little of himself, and its unwarranted. This is the second book in the series, and I honestly liked it more than the first! There was more spice, also a little bit of mystery, but there was miscommunication between the FMC and MMC. The only downfall of Laurie Gilmore's books imo. It was a very cozy and fast read, more for late summer than fall.

This is definitely a cozy read!!! I didn’t got fully into it until more of the center of the book. But the plot keeps me interested on it . I did liked Hazel and Noah a lot and they were entertaining characters. I like the scavenger hunt and how it brought them together. Definitely a cute cozy romance.

Hazel’s journey from a shy bookseller who feels lost in her late 20s to a vibrant woman who knows what she wants out of life is fun and engaging, and I appreciate how Gilmore includes Hazel’s battles with her insecurity. Supporting characters, such as the adorable book club ladies and Jeanie from the bakery next door, as well as the leading man, the charming local fisherman, Noah, bring warmth and humor, making the story as much about friendship and belonging as it is about personal transformation.

The dialogue throughout the novel is lively and engaging. Hazel’s banter with Noah, full of fun and occasional tension, brings a delightful spark to their relationship as it evolves from friendly teasing to something deeper. Gilmore's skill in crafting natural dialogue ensures that the characters feel authentic, while moments of self-reflection in Lucy's internal dialogue add a layer of depth to her personal struggles and triumphs. I really loved the added mystery of the book clues!


The setting of “The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore” is one of the novel's standout features. Gilmore paints an inviting picture of the small, ocean-side town, streets filled with quaint shops, cobblestone paths, and the smell of fresh cinnamon buns wafting from Hazel’s bookstore on Saturdays. The cozy setting enhances the themes of growing comfortable with yourself and with rediscovering what is great about your community, making it the perfect backdrop for a heartwarming, feel-good story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read with a cute idea of following these clues found in books and that really lead to the main characters discovering so much more about themselves. Both FMC and MMC had to deal with their own insecurities in order to move forward in their relationship and they really built one another up. I also love the supporting cast from this town.

Thank you NetGalley and Laurie Gilmorefor the ARC of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store!! This was the absolute best cozy read I needed to get me in the fall mood for October!! I cannot wait to read the next one in the series at Christmas!!

This is the e second book in the Dream Harbor series. It totally stands alone. This book was a cute rom com.

I had such a fun time reading The Pumpkin Spice Cafe so I was so excited to read this one! I also was intrigued by the characters this follows and wanted to read their story.

Unfortunately, this one kinda fell flat for me! There was way too much spice and also I thought this was a fall book but it mostly took place in summer which confused me. Also some things the characters thought bothered me lol

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped but I will continue the series!

This book was so fun!! I loved Hazel and Noah’s summer romance that started as a silly scavenger hunt and turned into a sweet friendship/relationship.

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is the second book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore. It is a cute small town romance read with 3+ open door scenes. 
The beginning of the book was a bit slow for me. But once Hazel and Noah started the Summer of Fun and went on adventures the book moved a lot faster. 
I can relate to how Hazel feels the  need to find herself before turning the BIG 30. While finding herself she falls in love with Noah. It is super cute. 

Tropes:
- Opposites attract
 - He falls first 
- Forced Proximity 

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This page turner is so adorable. Between trying to find out the clues she’s getting and he bringing on the help of a cute fisherman it’s almost cute romance story meets mystery. Loved the concept and the vibes.

I really enjoyed this book and with the romance felt the chemistry throughout the entire book which I loved! The setting is a perfect cozy fall read. Highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed the first one or if you just want a cozy romance read. It's not a book I really though about when I wasn't reading it, but when I was in the story, it was a great time.