The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the next book in the Dream Harbor series. In this one, we meet Archer who has been living his best life in Paris as a renowned chef, determined to get his Michelin star. He then finds out that he has a daughter, Olive. He had no idea that she even existed, she was the product of one of his many flings and the mother, Cate, never told him and was raising Olive on her own. Suddenly he finds that he has to step up and be a father to this little girl and has to give up his dreams and move to the sleepy little town. He gets a job at the local diner and tries desperately to revamp it, much to the dismay of the town. He needs help with Olive so he can work, they Mayor suggests Iris, whose life is in turmoil and she's barely scraping by. Although she really doesn't want to be a Nanny, it's an offer that she can't refuse. It's a live in position and she really needs this for some stability in her life. Olive is sad and struggles to connect with her new Dad. Iris really helps bring her out of her shell and bring the family together. Just one problem, these two have chemistry that is off the charts. They try to manage their desires for Olive's sake, but of course that plan doesn't go well. Can they both overcome their issues and make this little family work?

I was a little leery going into this one because it can be tricky to write a romance novel with a small child in the mix, but somehow Laurie managed to pull it off and create a really good story. As always, I had fun spending a little time in Dream Harbor and connecting with some of the other townspeople. Thank you to @netgalley and @harper360 for this #gifted copy. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!

This whole series is just a chef‘s kiss! I have read all of them in one sitting because they are just so cozy!! Each book in this series has definitely had a Stars Hallow feel with their rambunctious town meetings, a very involved mayor, and a few older ladies with a Ms. Patty feel, just to name a few!! I also really love that you get tidbits about characters from the previous books as well! IMO, these could be read out of order and as a stand alone. While this was not my favorite romance trope—I always have a hard time when is a kid is involved, I did enjoy the MMC. He reminded me a bit of Gabriel from Emily in Paris, and I was elated to read in the acknowledgements that it was true!!

This has to be my favorite of the Dream Harbor series. As with all Laurie Gilmore books, I was captivated from the first page to the last page. Not really a fan of romance novels because of the spice (I am more of a closed door romance reader), but this author has pulled me in with characters who are humorous and endings that are delightful.

I really enjoyed the tension between Archer and Iris. The added element that I did not know I needed was Olive, Archer's daughter. I don't think I have ever laughed and enjoyed a book so much. I would give it 4-4.5 stars, for I rarely give anything 5 stars. Overall, this was a warm hug of a read.

This might be one of my favorites in the Dream Harbor stories! So cozy and sweet and romantic. Love!

The highly anticipated follow-up in the Dream Harbor cozy romance series, we’re getting another newcomer along with a romantic match who made a few short cameos in the most recent book. Archer is a renowned chef in France…but must relocate when he finds out he’s a dad to a 5y/o girl who just lost her mom. He slowly adapts to small town life - from getting to know Olive to shifting careers as a cook at the local diner. He brings on fiery Iris to be a live-in nanny, but she’s facing her own hurdles, not holding a job longer than a few months at a time. They help each other adjust to their new roles…but with such close proximity, it’s hard to ignore the sparks between them.
I enjoyed this! It was a sweet story seeing how much Olive affected Archer and Iris. While some parts felt sudden and rushed (like a certain condition later on) it was still a cute romance rooted in family and grief.
Thank you to Harper 360 for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The best book in the Dream Harbor series so far! This series keeps getting better and I can’t wait to learn more about these characters!

This book was so sweet and perfect for getting me out of a reading slump. I always love kids in books and this one was no different I loved Olive so much. I’ve never read the nanny/ single parent tripe but this one had me hooked and looking for more. I loved archer and Iris so so much they were a mess but trying to figure things out for each-other. As always with this author this one was a 5 star!

4.5! This was so darn cute, and I loved every second of it. It was so fun going back to Dream Harbor again. The shenanigans of the town were out full force in this one with the pancakes, and it added really fun humorous moments to the more serious ones! The author said in her acknowledgements she doesn’t usually write kids into her romances, but you’d never know it with how realistic and well done Olive’s character was, and honestly? The whole town is wrapped around that little girl’s finger and I love it. Iris is an optimist and I loved the relatable bits and pieces we got of her life style and how she tried to mesh it with grumpy Archer until they finally hit the ground running. This is a slow burn, it almost had to be, but it sweet and lovely and truly every time I read a Laurie Gilmore book, I feel like I’m in a hallmark movie, and that’s the biggest compliment in my eyes!

My goodness, this was absolutely adorable. Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this book.

Archer Baer is in a new town…meeting his five year old daughter, Olive for the very first time. She was a surprise he wasn’t sure he was ready for but he was there to see it through.

Iris Fraiser is in a pickle. She happens to fall into a nanny job for the hot new chef in town. But what she wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with both little girl and her daddy. Iris’s character had me laughing a lot. Shes exactly what Olive and Archer need. We follow along as these two start crossing lines and the kitchen gets steamy!

I loved it! Highly recommended.

Laurie Gilmore does it again with The Strawberry Patch Pancake House! This was such a cozy, small-town romance with just the right amount of steam. It follows a newly single dad and a free-spirited woman who can’t seem to find her path, and it’s packed with some classic tropes—grumpy-sunshine, single dad, and surprise pregnancy.

Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of some of these elements, but Gilmore’s writing totally won me over. The domestic moments were sweet without being boring, and the chemistry between the leads had plenty of tension to keep things interesting. It’s that perfect mix of heartwarming and spicy that makes for such a fun read.

If you love small-town romances with a little extra heat, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book. Hands down my favorite out of the whole series but the first one is definitely another favorite of mine. I hope the series continues and they keep getting better and better. I love how they all connect with each other.

Archer is a new hot shot chef in town who is a single dad to a daughter named Olive. He didn’t even know he had a daughter until Olive’s mother passed away. The mayor suggests that Archer hires a nanny and that’s when Iris comes into their life. I just adore the whole relationship between Archer, Olive and Iris. Nobody can replace Olive’s mother but Iris is trying to hard and it’s really sweet.

I received this book for free from netgalley and publisher in return for my honest opinion.

I love the charm of Dream Harbor and it's inhabitants, and this book was still great to read, but it wasn't as endearing as the previous books. It was really on the third act that didn't work for me... (spoilers hidden on Goodreads) I would have absolutely devoured this book if not for that storyline, but I had to walk away for a hot minute to regroup before finishing. I still enjoyed the relationship and the humor; I did especially enjoy the book club talking about the single dad trope in a book about a single dad.

I felt like Archer did not fit in with the folks in Dream Harbor. He is a world renowned chef and finds himself employed at the local diner. Over time, his character really grew on me, especially when he was trying so hard to be a good dad to Olive. Olive was such a cute and endearing character, and the relationship between her and Archer felt genuine, even though it took her some time to come around.

The romance between Archer and Iris was sweet, but it was also a bit predictable. However, I found iris’ character to be unlikable for the most part. She seemed very immature and not ready to take on the role of being someone’s mother. She can’t even keep a job.

Overall, it was a pleasant read, but it didn’t quite wow me. It’s a good pick if you’re in the mood for a light, feel-good story, but I didn’t find it as fresh or exciting as the other books in the series. Still, fans of small-town romances might enjoy it!

I loved this book. Archer and Iris are my favorite couple. The chemistry between the two is fabulous and the book has just the right amount of slow burn and spice to keep you engaged. Love the family / blended family aspect as well. This is my favorite one in the series so far.

I’ve grown to love books written by Laurie
Her writing just keeps getting better and better throughout the whole series.
A book that is definitely a must read for 2025

Every now and then I feel like reading pure fluff and being under the weather for several days had me feeling down so I decided to grab something that would be a light escape. This small town, forced proximity romance did the trick. If you miss the town of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) Dream Harbor is worth checking out.

Archer is a single father who only found out about his five-year-old daughter Olive after her mother’s death. He was a hot shot chef living in France, but he dropped everything once he knew he had a child that needed him.

Iris is a free spirit who never considered having a serious relationship much less children. She only agrees to take a job as Olive’s nanny because her back is against the wall financially. Iris is a yoga and water aerobics instructor and has a lot of elderly clientele. I liked her relationship with these older ladies and seeing her interact with them brought a smile to my face. She also has a way with Olive that’s heartwarming and funny.

Don’t let the cutesy cover fool you, the spicy scenes are plentiful. So take that into consideration according to your personal preferences. I have never in my life seen so many variations of pancake recipes in my life. Don’t read on an empty stomach.

I got up and made a huge stack of pancakes first thing this morning 🥞 😋 so the family was glad I stayed up last night to finish this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an Advance Reading Copy for review. These are my unbiased opinions.

You came for an easy read. You stayed for strawberry pancakes.

This read was all the cozy small town strife we have come to love from Laurie. Quickly forgiving and easily romanced, we are learning to love all the ways we come into families, and that's a lesson worth learning.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore. In this book, we follow the lives of Iris and Archer as they figure out and learn about themselves and one another. As the series is interconnected, there are many cameos from previous characters in this small-town romance, and readers are able to see more life being brought into the world of Dream Harbor.

I’m a bit of a sucker for small-town romances and like the other novels in the series, I was suckered in. It’s really fun meeting the new characters/couples but also checking in and seeing where previous couples are doing in their relationships. Iris and Archer’s relationship is very different from the others because he is a single father. I love the portrayal of his daughter and how she behaves around him; if anything, it’s like a reflection of how the rest of the town think and behave around him too.

Iris and Archer’s characters also feel very different because they both have to come to terms with themselves. While there are elements of found family and supportive friends, much of the work they have to do is individual. The amount of internal work, change, and growth is fairly balanced and reflective of moments we have in real life. I appreciate how this is played out between the characters and how it runs throughout the novel.

Overall, I was excited to return to Dream Harbor and to see the continuation of shenanigans of the townspeople and the people they love. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins360, and Laurie Gilmore for gifting me the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I love a good single dad & nanny trope, and this one has a deeper addition. The way the Dream Harbor series is written, they can each be read as the perfect seasonal standalone.

The character development of both Iris and Archer were done amazingly. The added character of Olive really helped see the grief stages of a child, while their whole world changes. I was so happy to return to Dream Harbor and get a glimpse back into our other characters lives as well.

In my opinion the books in this series always have the perfect amount of spice and story. I don’t feel overwhelmed with either. I can’t wait to jump back in when the next book in the series is released.

Is Dream Harbor real? If so, I want to go for a visit!!

This book was so stinking sweet! The fact that the father and daughter's names are Archer and Olive made me smile every time I read them.

A Paris-based chef secure in being a bachelor forever, on the hunt for the Michelin Star, has his entire world upended when he learns that he has a daughter and must leave Paris to claim custody of her. He goes from perfectly plating Filet Mignon to struggling to make a decent stack of pancakes, from being a lady's man to wanting to be a lady's man.

This book is laced with emotion: fear, love, uncertainty, pride, stubbornness, and courage, all mixed with excellently placed humor, banter, a box of Bisquick, and a dash of spice.

I loved everything about this book; I literally could not put it down, and I was sad when it was over.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper 360, and Laurie Gilmore for allowing me to read the ARC of this cozy small-town novel.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.