This book is so sweet, it gave me cavities! As the second installment in the Dream Harbor series, this small-town romance can be enjoyed as a standalone. It features a golden retriever MMC who is all in on helping the FMC live her best life before she turns 30. The tropes? He falls first, fake dating, teach me, and, of course, small town charm with that irresistible golden retriever MMC energy. It’s a quick, fluffy read with a little more spice than Pumpkin Spice Café. While it leans more towards an end-of-summer-to-fall vibe, I devoured every page. If you’re craving a cozy, feel-good story with just the right touch of spice, this is the one!

The is the second book in the Dream Harbor series, and right now probably my favorite! The main characters Hazel who works in a bookshop, who hasn’t really “lived”. She notices strange things happening to some of her books that might lead to a clue? That’s when the MC Noah who works on a small fishing boat comes in to help. She wants adventure, be a little reckless.. and Noah is just the guy!
I fell in love with both these characters, they had great chemistry, some mis-communication. But I tend to enjoy that. It’s told in Dual POV which I enjoy getting into the head of the characters.
The spice was nice! And I didn’t find it cringy. I would read a whole series about Hazel and Noah! If you love sweet, kick your feet kinda small town romance, this book is for you!

All the feels. Hazel follows clues to a scavenger hunt hidden in romance books in her bookstore, clues that lead her to drop some of her inhibitions and lean into just having fun while summer lasts. You get longing, self-discovery, the transit of time and it's ephemeral nature. All of which is perfect for a fall cozy read.

3.5 stars! I was so excited to go back to the cozy little town of Dream Harbor again! I really enjoyed this book as it had a warm, comforting feeling too it. I liked the mystery aspect of the book too and all the activities were so fun. Books set in bookstores always seem a bit magical to me because I love reading and when the cute bookstore also serves cinnamon buns, sounds ideal! Most of the characters are ones we have already met and I enjoy getting to continue their stories. Based off the cover, the setting of the book seems like it would be fall, but it was mostly set in summer. That was slightly disappointing for me, but all the summer activities in the book made it fun. In summary, this is a fun, cozy, easy reading book with some spice!

I read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore right after finishing The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, and I have to say, I enjoyed Hazel and Noah’s story a lot more than Logan and Jeanie’s. Noah is a green flag all the way—he really put in the effort to win Hazel over, and it was sweet. The story centers on Hazel trying to find that adventure before she turns 30 and Noah trying to prove himself. Its also like Hazel changed Noah for the better, from being a rake to a committed guy. Although it did not explain in the 1st book or in this book either how Noah first laid eyes on her, if anybody has an answer, please tell me, I can’t remember.

However, despite the book's title, the plot didn’t focus much on the bookstore itself. Instead, a lot of attention went to the boat scenes, which felt a bit out of place. Still, the ending was adorable, especially with Noah’s book-themed confession. I loved that!

While the story is cute, I wasn’t a huge fan of the third-person perspective, and there was quite a bit of repetitive backstory that I found myself skimming over. Also, like The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, I wouldn’t classify this as a cozy read despite the marketing.

On the spice scale, it lands at about 3 peppers, so if you’re looking for some heat, this book delivers!


Thank you for HarperCollins for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars - Lots of spice in this sweet romance. Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is book #2 in Gilmore's Dream Harbor series. Not a lot of depth to the characters, but sometimes a bit of fluffy romance is what we need. Looking forward to reading book #3.

I loved the second book in this series just as much as the first! Hazel’s looking to experience life and the adventures she gets pushed to experience with gorgeous Noah are perfect! Add in a bookstore and this is a hit for me!

I feel so left out. I wanted to enjoy this more. I just didn’t see it for the two main characters, I felt nothing. It was like I blinked and they were making out and feeling things.

The setting was a highlight. I’d like to read the previous book and then return to this one and give it another shot. The potential is definitely there.

I want to start with saying thank you to the publisher for sending me this to read! I really enjoyed reading Noah and Hazels story! The kooky towns people reminded me a lot of the towns people from Gilmore girls. Enjoyed the cozy mystery element of this, and reading about Noah and Hazels adventures in exploring the clues left behind. Over all a very cute, very spicy read!

I really wanted to love The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, but I’m left feeling a bit torn. It’s cozy and charming, with a delightful small-town setting that I instantly adored. Hazel, the bookish manager on the cusp of turning 30, is a character I could relate to. Who wouldn’t want to have an adventurous summer with a charming fisherman like Noah? The mystery clues sprinkled throughout the story added a fun element, though I wish the romance felt a bit more developed.

Don’t get me wrong, Noah and Hazel are cute together, but their relationship seemed to come out of nowhere. I wasn’t convinced of Noah’s supposed “ladies’ man” history, as we didn’t really see any evidence of it. It felt more like I was being told about their connection rather than experiencing it. And, while I appreciate a little spice, this one leaned a bit too much into it for my taste—definitely something to note if you're expecting a cozier vibe.

All in all, it’s an enjoyable read, but I was hoping for a bit more depth in both the romance and the town itself. 3.5/5.

Cozy, small-town romance. Hazel is the wallflower bookshop manager who is starting to feel the stress of her unadventurous life as her thirtieth birthday comes up. When she starts to get clues hiding on her bookshelves, she decides to follow them for an adventure and recruits Noah, the newly arrived fisherman, for assistance. He’s happy to go along with her and spend more time with her, since he’s had a massive crush on Hazel for months. However, it’s a temporary arrangement for them both because Hazel thinks that Noah isn’t interested in any commitments and Noah believes himself to be a screw-up an unworthy of commitment. It’s sweet and steamy fun times between these two as they follow the adventure clues. I enjoyed seeing Noah’s personal development through the story and learning to deal with his issues. And we get the sweetest grand gesture to cap off the story.

When Hazel, the owner of the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, discovered a secret message hidden in a book, she was puzzled. As more coded messages appeared between the pages, she became determined to follow the trail of clues. But she knew she couldn't do it alone. Noah, a handsome and outgoing fisherman, was always up for an adventure, and a scavenger hunt sounded like a lot of fun. Even better, the charming bookseller he had been fascinated with for months was the one who asked for his help! Hazel wasn't looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt led her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells. The tension between them grew with each step closer to solving the mystery. Could this be the beginning of a summer romance?

A cute, cozy fall read! I loved the scavenger hunt aspect of the plot, and I loved Noah and Hazel together. The spicy scenes were spicing! I will definitely keep reading this series. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me an e book of this arc.

I adored "The Cinnamon Bun Book Store"! I’d say I enjoyed it even more than "The Pumpkin Spice Cafe." It’s a wonderful summer-to-fall read that readers will eagerly immerse themselves in! I know I did! Hazel and Noah are such lovable characters. Hazel, nearing 30, feels like she’s stuck in a small-town rut until she stumbles upon secret messages tucked away in the pages of books at her store. These clues push her out of her comfort zone and into the arms of Noah. Noah, who has had a huge crush on Hazel for some time, helps her have a memorable summer. The book is a wonderful mix of cinnamon bun sweetness and spicy romance, with some cheesy dialogue that enhances its appeal! I cannot wait to see what the next installments have in store!

I really enjoyed this book! Hazel and Noah were both wonderful main characters. I love that characters from The Pumpkin Spice Cafe were featured in this book. The book gave me cozy vibes which I loved. I loved that Hazel worked in a book store, I felt like I could truly picture the bookstore. I loved the journey of Hazel learning about herself in a different way. I loved it!

Hazel Kelly is feeling stuck and enlists the help of the town’s lothario to help her find her adventurous side. It’s a sweet romp about discovering yourself as well as a love story. There was a fun cast of characters from the first book but I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone.

As is common in romance novels, most of the tension is from 2 adults failing to communicate. This vexes me to no end. Yes, some people are like this but it would save so much time and trouble to just put it out there. 

I thought the author could have dug a little deeper into the respective character growth. I fully believe the relationship was a catalyst for change but there needed to be a lil bit more of that one the page. 

Now that I’ve finished it, I’m going back and listening to the playlist at the beginning. I love that the author included this. More books need playlists. Not perfect but fun. I rounded up to a 4/5

Cute fall read. Very stars hallow vibes. I likes the first one a little more tho! Still cute tho! Really made for us book girlies.

Noah is the perfect bad boy persona from out of town. Hazel is the sweet good girl in a small town. Neither of them are from the town. She works in the local bookstore. She is feeling like she needs an adventure. He runs a fishing tours boat and Hazel peeks his interest.

Hazel finds a book that’s been marked up in her store and believes someone is leaving her clues. She asks Noah for his help with her summer adventure. Noah doesn’t hesitate to help because he will get to be around Hazel. These two have some fun in the small town. But can anyone tame a bad boy?!?

If you loved the first book in this series you will more than love this one. It’s the perfect fall read. It’s cozy but spicy. It’s romance and a little mystery. It makes you want to move your a small town!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for my ARC!
Comment

Tropes:
• opposites attract
• small town
• forced proximity
• he falls first


This was THE most perfect book for fall. I mean a little mystery/scavenger hunt.
Hazel and Noah intrigued me from book #1, you could tell something was up with those two. I was so happy to get their story finally. The mystery of someone planting book clues within the library and Hazel finding them was perfection. I loved that it ended up being her dad(s) and the book club that were involved in the mystery. I loved seeing Noah work thru his issues with his family and really get his self confidence back,

Overall, "The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore" is a heartwarming story that will resonate with readers who appreciate the magic of books and the comfort of good food. It’s a perfect cozy read for anyone looking to escape into a world filled with warmth, community, and delicious treats. Highly recommended!

This book follows Hazel, who works at the town bookstore, and Noah, a fisherman known for his reputation with girls. One day Hazel finds clues highlighted in the books and she enlists Noah to go on a summer adventure with her before she turns thirty. This book was cute and explored topics of self esteem, self discovery, and more. Hazel and Noah were such a perfect pairing and I found myself enjoying this one a lot more than the first one. However, it was still just average and I won't be thinking about this book as time goes on. The fall cozy vibes paired with the small town and mystery is a cute, quick read but nothing super memorable.