The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is the 4th book (standalone) in the Dream Harbor series. I enjoy these books because they're cozy, pretty predictable, steamy, and sweet.

World-renowned chef Archer never expected to leave his career behind for small-town life, but Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and he needs a stable place to raise his daughter (who he had no idea about), Olive. Meanwhile, Iris has never been great at holding down a job, so when she’s offered a position as Archer’s live-in nanny, she’s tempted to turn it down, especially since her new boss is hot. Archer absolutely does not want to fall for the nanny, and Iris has no intention of setting down, but this is a romance book after all.

I’m not usually drawn to the single-parent trope, but this one worked well within the story. Watching Archer fall in love with his daughter, Olive, while adjusting to small-town life at the diner was a heartwarming journey. With that being said, can we get more steamy books with chefs? I’m absolutely here for that trope.

I also found Iris to be an interesting character. She’s lived in Dream Harbor her whole life but is still seen as flighty. Usually, that label makes me think of someone constantly moving from town to town, but in her case, it meant trying out different ways to make a living. I also appreciated how she was pretty sure she would not enjoy being a nanny and she never wanted children of her own, but how she was eventually open to rethinking her beliefs. It added a unique layer to her character that I enjoyed.

This is a slow-burn romance (about a 2 on the spice scale) with low stakes and all the charm of a small-town love story. If you're a fan of the series, this one won't disappoint.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper 360, for the ARC ebook!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to HarperCollins, Harper360, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Dream Harbor series is one of my all time favorites, so reading this was super exciting and so much fun! This is a perfect read for this time of year—uplifting, sunny, cozy, and spicy. This is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book. It’s set in the cozy and cute town of Dream Harbor, same as the other books in the series, and the main characters from the other books make a few appearances. Such a cute read that’s perfect for spring! 🍓🥞💕

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House centers on Archer, a world-renowned chef and single father to Olive, and Iris, who can’t keep a job for more than a few months and is struggling to make ends meet. When Olive’s mother passed away, Archer discovered he is the father and now has to prove that he would be a good father to get custody. He needs to stay in Dream Harbor because it will help Olive adjust better if she’s in familiar surroundings. Now, Archer has to work as a cook in a pancake house and has to find a nanny to care for Olive while he is at work. Iris, who does not want to get attached to any family, ultimately decides that a rent-free, live-in nanny job is the perfect way to make money. All she has to do is not fall in love with Archer (and Olive) throughout the process, which proves to be a very difficult endeavor.

One of the best things about the Dream Harbor series is how cozy and charming it is—definitely evokes a Gilmore Girls or Hallmark feeling, but with spice. Overall, this was such a wonderful, lighthearted read! Highly recommend! Super excited for the next Dream Harbor book!

Tropes:
- Slow burn
- Small town romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Opposites attract
- Single dad

First off, thank you NetGalley, Harper One publishing, and Laurie Gilmore for the opportunity to read this book. I love the Dream Harbor series and this one might just be my favorite one yet!

Welcome back to Dream Harbor! I loved being reunited with all my favorite characters, and meeting some new ones as well! The single dad trope is not always my favorite, but Laurie really knocked it out of park with this one. Archer was 100% the perfect girl dad for Olive! I loved that we got to see his progression through out the book as he bonded and fell more in love with Olive each chapter. Though he started out as a broody grumpy chef, by the end he was a gooey cinnamon roll MMC and I loved it so much!

We met Iris in Christmas Tree Farm, but we didn’t really get to know her. After this book though, I am a fan! She was the perfect balance for Archer’s broodiness. Her carefree spirit was so fun, but I also loved her growth as well and seeing her fall in love with Olive just as Archer was. The book was definitely a slow burn and I was here for it! The tension between these two was top notch and honestly had me on edge as to when they would get together. It was such a great slow burn!

I loved all the regular cast of characters who were back for this book. I did miss Jeanie & Logan as they were only on it a little bit, but that’s ok! I know they are coming back for book 5!

Thank you again, to NetGalley and the publishers for this book. It was such a honor to read.

When professional chef Archer learns that 1: the woman he had a fling with several years ago has died, and 2: he is the father of her six year old child, he travels to Dream Harbor to take care of his daughter, Olive. He is given a job running the local diner and hires Iris to be Olive’s live-in nanny. Living together and raising Olive lead to a deep attraction between Archer and Iris and a relationship forms.

Spoiler Alert: I hate hate hate surprise accidental pregnancy books in contemporary romance. This is especially true when the woman has clearly stated on page that she does not want kids. Also, excuse me but Iris never even takes a pregnancy test or goes to the doctor to confirm anything, she just feels pregnant and tells everyone she is, and then she must have been because she has a baby at the end. What the actual hell?!?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The most perfect return to Dream Harbor. When Archer’s perfect Parisian life is rocked and he has to come to a quaint little town to meet a child he never knew he had, he doesn’t know how long he’ll last. He never dreamed of being a father, only or getting a Michelin star. When he falls in love with the nanny, his dreams change and he can finally see the appeal of being a Dreamer.

This was the sweetest story ever! Archer and his daughter Olive are absolutely adorable once they warm up to each other, and Iris plays such a big role in that. As Olive’s nanny, she helps bring her out of her shell and strengthen her bond with her father. It’s a tender and heartwarming read with some steamy moments too. It’s a slow burn, but trust me, it’s worth the wait. I absolutely adored Olive, and my heart melted for this trio. I really hope we get an update on them in the next book! Each book can be read as a standalone, and I recommend picking this one up if you love single dad romance, forced proximity, slow burn, found family, and grumpy/sunshine vibes.

Another fun story set in Dream Harbor. I love this series and all the townsfolk!

French chef, Archer, finds out he has a daughter after her mother passes and he moves to Dream Harbor to be with her. Soon he's flipped his entire life upside down - he's a single dad, looking for a nanny, working at the local diner and fighting with the townsfolks about how to make the pancakes. It's a cute story, as he finds Iris to help look after his daughter, Olive. It's funny to see his struggles with the locals hating the changes he's made to their diner and how it eventually turns into the pancake house.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I adore this series! Every book is cozy and romantic. This one was super sweet and I am obsessed iced every single character! This is an easy 5 star! Top tier vibes!

4.5 stars this was SOOO enjoyable! This has gotta be my favorite single dad trope I have read so far, I love Archer, I love Olive, I love Iris, I literally love them all!! I loved seeing Olive open up w/ Archer and see their bond form. I love Dream Harbor its just such a cozy series with such good spice. Now I am on my way to go devour pancakes because it is all I could think of after reading this book!! This is definitely my favorite so far in the Dream Harbor universe!!

I've loved reading the Dream Harbor romance series; this latest one did not disappoint. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, by Laurie Gilmore, is set in a small town, filled with fun characters and relationships, and heated up with a bit of spice! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an advanced e-book reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for the cutest town with Gilmore Girls vibes and love stories - look no further than The Dream Harbor Series by Laurie Gilmore! The Strawberry Patch Pancake House starts off with newly discovered single dad, Archer moving to dream harbor after he find out about the daughter he never knew he had. Sadly he find out due to the mother of the child dying. The accidental meet “cute” between Archer and Iris had me cringing and laughing. I love this series - the characters are so relatable and follow text book definition of small town folks (everyone knows everyone and everything). I really liked the ending especially because it seems to be a second chance especially for both main characters.

Also - it really had me wanting pancakes and a date with a world traveling chef! **foodie for life**

Forever wishing that Dream Harbor was a real place so I could grab a coffee at Jeanie’s cafe, talk books with Hazel before stuffing myself full of pancakes with Iris at the diner, and gossip with Kira and Annie.

I just love this series so much, and every new sweet and swoony romance has been better than the last!

- single dad + nanny
- forced proximity
- small town shenanigans
- found family

If you also loved the preceding three books in this series I’d highly recommend Gilmore’s latest Dream Harbor book. Iris, Archer, and Olive are hard to hate and fit in well within the town. This book will not change your life, but it is a welcomed fluff piece that you cannot put down.

Easter is right around the corner; the snow is melting, the rain is pouring, and the last chilly days are almost over. This is a perfect read for this season—bright and sunny, yet cozy, warm, and sexy. This is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series. I haven't read the others, but they are definitely on my TBR list now. It is a standalone novel set in the cozy town of Dream Harbor, where the other books in the series are set. We get glimpses of the main characters from the other books, but you don't have to read them all to fully enjoy this one. You don't even need to read them in order. It is such an easy, fast-paced, yet slow-burn read! It is also interesting to see how little kids are present in a romance novel; the author's handling of it is amazingly good.

The book is about Archer, a world-renowned chef and single father to Olive. But it is also about Iris, who couldn't hold a job for more than a few months, struggling to make ends meet and pay rent. When Olive's mother passed away, Archer discovered he was the father of a cute five-year-old girl named Olive and now has to prove stability to get custody. He is used to working in fancy kitchens in France and Italy, but now he needs to stay in the small town of Dream Harbor because experts say it will help Olive adjust to her new normal if she is in familiar surroundings. Now, Archer has to work as a cook in a small diner/pancake house. He also needs a nanny to care for Olive while he is at work, trying to please the townspeople who dislike his fancy cooking. Here comes Iris, who does not want to get tangled in this family drama; she hates kids and how sweaty and sticky they always are, but a rent-free, live-in nanny gig is a perfect way to save money. All she has to do is not fall in love with the family, but her new boss cooks in the middle of the night, basically shirtless. How is that fair?!

Overall: All the tropes check out! Found-family, forced proximity, opposites attract, and the single-dad trope. I immediately fell in love with the main characters, Olive, the town, and its people. Highly recommend!

This book is available on March 13, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with a digital advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 🫶

Trigger Warning: kid's mental health, grief, and spicy content

4.75 🌟
Spice: open door

It's always a fantastic time when I return to Dream Harbor. This small town and all its residents have a piece of my heart. Ivy, Archer, & Olive quickly wormed their way in as well. I love a good single dad/nanny romance. The added bonus of Archer being a chef 🤭 gives a new meaning to 'Yes chef'
I wouldn't say their romance was picture perfect. They definitely had some bumps along the way. I enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings. I loved Archers relationship with Olive. It took some time, but that first time she called him, dad melted my dang heart.
Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't often read single dad romance books, but being the next in the series, I had to read this one. Laurie Gilmore did a great job making this both fun and heart-warming, and of course adding a little spice. Archer and Iris' story is full of ups, downs, and the unexpected. When Archer finds out he has a daughter and moves back to the US to be there for her, he doesn't know what to expect. Iris needed a place to live and wasn't looking to changes her ways. Sometimes life has other plans for you. I can't recommend this series enough.

A very sweet story centered around Archer, Olive, and Iris. Archer's life gets thrown a major curveball, and he learns that no matter how hard you try to plan, things will not always go the way you thought. With lots of ups and downs Archer learns to adapt as a new dad to a daughter he never knew he had.
Lots of great characters, fun banter, and a small town setting. Completely hooked from the start.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A charming little love story is the coziest of places. I love Dream Harbor its atmosphere is made for sweet light romances which is exactly what Archer and Iris provide. Their connection was fun and sweet at times and felt clumsy and clueless at others, it’s a slow burn which I enjoyed the forced proximity came off a bit awkward in spots but I felt their tension was written well as was the spice. Olive really was the bright spot in the book for me and kept me going through to the end. She really brought things together and her relationship with Iris was incredibly endearing. I struggled with likable characters in this one, Iris was a bit too bubbly and flighty for me and her inner dialogue and reactions frustrating. Archer while a fitting compliment to Iris I found to be rather cranky and unenjoyable most the book. Together they made sense though and I loved seeing them figure it all out in the end. It’s a quick lighthearted read great for a quiet spring afternoon where you can escape into the beginning of this little family.

I have been completely obsessed with this series since starting The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Each book in this series gets better and better and this one hands down is my favorite one in the series yet!

Tropes:
🥞Single dad
🍓Small town romance
🥞Forced Proximity
🍓Slow Burn
🥞Found Family

I absolutely LOVED the plot and the dynamics between the MCs. This one unexpectedly pulled at my heart strings. I had such a soft spot for Archer and how he stepped up as dad for his newly discovered daughter. The chemistry in this one was so perfect and I loved this town! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and the fact I have to wait is going to be painful! 😂 this one is a must have trophy shelf book series!

***Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 One More Chapter for an e-arc of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore! All thoughts are my own!***

Renowned chef Archer Baer never planned on moving to a small town. But when Archer finds out he has a five year old daughter who needs her father after the death of her mother, he moves to Dream Harbor to raise his daughter. Luckily, the community is more than willing to help him raise his daughter, Olive, and they need a new chef for their beloved diner.

Iris hasn't been able to hold down a job for more than a few months at a time. She finds out that the new chef is looking for a nanny for his daughter. Being behind on her rent and her senior classes doesn't get her very far. Her lack of funds doesn't give her ability to say no, especially finding out it's a live in position. She shudders at the thought of having to take care of a child with little to no qualifications, but she reluctantly agrees in dire need of money.

Archer and Iris start to get used to their new roles in Olive's life, but they might have more in common than they thought, or maybe Olive is just playing match-maker.

As much as I knew I should probably savor this book, I couldn't help but it! Getting to see Iris again after The Christmas Tree Farm was such a delight, especially how close her and Kira got from the previous book. From the first time Iris and Archer meet, I was giggling and kicking my feet! Seeing Archer and Olive blossom throughout this book was so heartwarming to see. I teared up a few times over how wholesome the two of them were. Going from being a chef in Paris, to a single dad trying to do right by his daughter, he took to his new role in life so well. I have a culinary background, so when I found out Archer was a chef, I was so excited to see that added to the series. When Archer cooked for Iris for the first time, introducing ingredients to Olive, I couldn't stop the smile on my face.

I went to see the author at a Q&A event when The Christmas Tree Farm came out, and she mentioned some of the aspects of Olive's character, including her sleepwalking, was based on her own children, which was great to see incorporated into the book.

This is my current favorite book of the Dream Harbor series! This book has my whole heart and is the perfect book for a spring day while eating strawberry pancakes! If you need a warm hug of a book, this is for you!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is available March 18, 2025! Thank you so much again for another opportunity to review a Dream Harbor book!