Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

If you're craving a warm, fall-flavored romance with a touch of nostalgia and emotional depth, The Cinnamon Spice Inn delivers. Set in a charming small town where everyone knows your business—and secretly hopes you’ll rekindle things with your ex—it’s the kind of story that wraps around you like your favorite sweater.

The dynamic between Madison and Zach is full of tension, banter, and slow-burn goodness. Watching them dance around their feelings while trying (and failing) not to fall back in love was both heartwarming and frustrating in the best way. That said, the miscommunication trope runs wild here—so prepare for a few "just talk to each other!" moments. A lot of them, actually.

Still, I stayed invested. The emotional undercurrents, the mystery of the letters, and the truth behind Madison’s dad potentially selling the inn gave the story a compelling backbone. Everything tied together in a way that felt genuinely heartfelt.

Fans of second-chance love stories, cozy autumn settings, and small-town charm will find a lot to enjoy here.

If you're looking for a cosy autumnal read to enjoy by the fireplace with some hot chocolate, then this is the ideal book. I always devour small town romances because they always feel so warm and inviting; this book was no different. Whilst reading, I could picture myself staying at the inn, walking around the lake and enjoying delicious bakes at the cafe.

At the beginning, we meet Madison who has received a letter asking that she comes back to the Cinnamon Spice Inn, where she was raised. Currently living in New York, she decides to take a few weeks to help out back home, despite avoiding the place in recent years. On her first evening, a storm causes a maple tree to crash through the rough of the inn. While she is determined to hire a contractor herself, Madison's Gram had other ideas and instead enlists Zach to help out, Madison's first love and ex-boyfriend. Madison and Zach ended on bad terms due to her being pulled to New York and some misunderstandings in between. Their chemistry is undeniable and staying apart proves difficult. However, Madison's city life is calling her and she must decide whether she chooses to stay with Zach or returns to her life as a successful food reviewer.

I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC of this book. I enjoyed reading this book and I very much hope to return to the town with future releases.

Lovely cosy book with great autumnal vibes. Madison and Zach's love story was really sweet, and I loved the way they came back together. At times I found the backstory and thoughts of the characters quite repetitive, but I was still very invested in them and their happily ever after. I'd happily live in Maple Falls!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc!
I’m a sucker for small town vibes and an autumn-themed cozy read, but this wasn’t for me. While it’s a quick and digestible read, this just wasn’t for me. I DNF due to frustration with a lot of telling versus showing, and I loathe the miscommunication trope

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is the perfect read to kick off the Fall season. The town of Maple Falls gives off all the cozy vibes. The FMC is a small-town girl who left her hometown for several years to follow her dreams in New York City. After receiving a mysterious letter, she decides to go back home to help her family renovate their family inn. Once she arrives back in town, Madison runs into several people from her past including her ex-boyfriend, Zach, and her best friend who happens to be Zach’s sister. This book is full of heartache, loss, hope, and healing. If you’re looking for slow burn, second chance romance and small-town vibes pick this book up!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one pretty early on. The writing felt like it needed a lot more editing—so much so that I struggled to get through the first two chapters. The biggest issue for me was the overuse of the main character’s name, Madison. I swear, her name is mentioned what feels like 50 times in the first chapter alone.

As a reader, I want to feel trusted. If the story is in third person and we’re clearly following one character, there’s no need to use their name in every single sentence. It becomes repetitive and distracting, pulling me out of the story instead of pulling me in. Pronouns exist for a reason—and using “she” or “her” wouldn’t have confused anyone.

I wanted to love this cozy setup, but if the writing continued in that same pattern, I knew I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the book. For that reason, I had to put it down.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a great book that you would want to add to your fall / Autumn TBR list and read on a chilly night next to the fire pit with some hot coco and a cozy blanket! It does have a good fall setting in a small-town that gives out that Fall / Autumn vibe. The writing style was easy to read and had a good pace. The childhood lovers Mads and Zach getting their second chance at love was so cute I just wish there was better communication between them. I do love that the story ends with a HEA! I do recommend.

Thank you to NetGally and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this title!

⭐️⭐️

This one was a bit of a struggle for me.

I will start off by saying, the premise is very cute. Very fall, autumn small town vibes which is fun. Lots of endearing small town characters. Lots of descriptions of delicious pastries.

However, the pacing and writing often felt uneven and choppy. There’s a lot of telling instead of showing, with lengthy scene descriptions that I didn’t feel particularly invested in. While the setting is cozy, the descriptions didn’t quite pay off for me.

The romance hinges on a big miscommunication early on, which is resolved surprisingly quickly after all the build-up. Then, almost immediately, a second miscommunication takes its place and stalls the romance again. It was frustrating, especially since the conflict could’ve been solved with a single honest conversation. Both characters are stubborn, which didn’t help, and it made it hard to root for them as a couple. There is then a THIRD situation that isn’t quite a miscommunication, but causes Madison to hardcore avoid Zach. This felt frustrating and felt like she didn’t have any growth in this area as a character.

Although this is technically a second chance romance, the dynamic felt more like insta-lust than emotional reconnection. The characters rarely engage in meaningful conversations, and most of their development happens through inner monologues rather than shared moments. The one exception was the storm scene, which offered a glimpse of genuine emotional connection that I liked. Otherwise, Madison’s constant avoidance made her hard to like, and when she finally does communicate to Zach, it jumps straight to sex in a way that didn’t feel earned. Zach forgives and accepts her too easily, which made the resolution feel flat.

Liam was by far the most likeable and emotionally grounded character. He and Kit were the only side characters who really stood out. The rest blurred together, and I found it hard to stay invested in their storylines.

Overall, The Cinnamon Spice Inn had a charming premise but didn’t quite stick the landing for me. Too much internal drama, not enough authentic connection.

This was a warm hug wrapped in all the small town fall goodness. I already want more. This story had me wanting to snuggle on the back porch around a fire while sipping a warm cup of coffee (a cinnamon bun wouldn't hurt either.) I loved falling into the town and that I was able to get to know multiple townspeople and not just the FMC and MMC. The small mystery had me guessing until the very end. I am never a fan of the 3rd act breakup angst, so I usually fly through those pages. I already want more of the main couple and the rest of the town. I was pleasantly surprised with how much inclusivity was included in this cozy (but spicy) romance. I found myself wanting to savor all the cozy feels that this book provided. The author did such a great job of painting the town's sights, smells and overall feel through her words. I felt like I was able to really fall into the book and experience all Maple Falls had to offer. Spice 2.5/5 (with plot and storytelling being the main focus)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this one. It’s the perfect autumn/cozy season, second chance, small town romance. Everything about this was cosy, cinnamon rolls, toffee apples, maple trees and lakes; this book was literally made to be read, sat by a window watching the leaves fall from the trees with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket.

The setting was perfect, the small town trope is my absolute favourite- especially for cosy season reads. I really liked a lot of the characters and loved the banter between them. I also liked that the book had a small mystery aspect too it which just made it a lot more interesting. I did feel the fmc was quite annoying towards the end of the book and I felt like she took the mmc for granted.

📝 Enemies to lovers (kinda)
🎃 Close proximity (not forced but… pushed?)
🍂 Small town
📝 Second chance
🎃 Childhood sweethearts
🍂 Slow burn
📝 Third person dual POV

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (rounded up)

If you want a slow burn, tension-filled, “will they, won’t they,” autumn nostalgia type of romance, look no further. Madison and Zach are childhood sweethearts from a small town who drift apart due to circumstances including Madison moving to the Big Apple. But their paths cross again when Madison comes back home to save her family’s inn, and neither of them can resist the pull to be together (although they definitely try).

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book. Wondering who wrote the letters helped tie the whole story together for me, and kept me interested throughout, especially when the miscommunication between Madison and Zach was getting to be a little much for me. The way the mystery resolved was satisfying, and that’s all I’ll say without giving anything else away about it 😉

The writing itself took a minute or two to find its stride. It’s a bit choppy at first, the author does a lot more telling than showing, and the ratio of narration to dialogue is out of balance for my liking. However, it does find its stride and balance out as we settle into the story. It ends up being quite an enjoyable read, despite a rocky start.

A few things I enjoyed:
• the map!
• Gram — such a character
• how the stage was set for the next book in the series

“It’s what I do. I show up when people need me.”

“Madison could feel it deep down, deeper than all the scars and years apart. She was falling in love with him all over again. No walls. No running away. No excuses. Just that terrifying, beautiful feeling of being cracked wide open.”

“You're allowed to have something for yourself, Madison. This inn will still be here tomorrow.”

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy of this book! Receiving a free advanced copy of this book did not influence my opinions or the content of my review.

Thanks NetGalley/Bookouture for the eARC

I was really looking forward to reading this for the cosy Autumn vibes, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.

From what I did read, it seemed too similar to The Pumpkin Spice cafe for my liking, and while I expected possibly some similarities, we’ve been there, done that.

The enemies to lovers trope also didn’t really work when they’re already thinking about each other about 3 chapters in, the enemies part seems to have already happened before the book, and I think we needed more of that for it to work.

Oh my goodness--I just adored this book.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is the first book in the Maple Falls series, and I already know I will be reading the rest of the series as they come out. This debut follows Madison, a NYC food writer that grew up in the cozy small town of Maple Falls, and Zach, a handyman who's strongly rooted in the culture of the town. When Madison receives an anonymous letter that her family's inn was in trouble, she rushes home to see how she can help. Enter: a storm, a damaged roof, and her ex (town handyman Zach) that she never really moved on from.

Y'all. The YEARNING. I love a slow burn, yearning second-chance romance. The miscommunication between the two protagonists had me giggling, yelling at the pages, and cheering them on from the sidelines. What surprised me (in the best way) was the family storyline in this book. The end (no spoilers, duh) had me fully crying and also smiling at the same time. I'm so smitten with not only the two main characters, but the quirky side characters we meet along the way.

And the food descriptions!!! My mouth was watering with every coffee and pastry introduced along the way. I wanted to hunker down with an apple cinnamon latte while reading and light some fall candles while I was at it.

This is the perfect fall read, and will absolutely be at the top of my re-read list every fall.

Well, What can I say about The Cinnamon Spice Inn, except I loved it. As a full on Dark Romance girlie I didn't know how I was going to react to reading this, but I can safely say that Harper Graham did not disappoint.

It was exactly what I needed, a soft, warm, cosy love story. As I was reading this book, it reminded me a lot of Stars Hallow (Gilmore Girls) everyone knows each other, helping where they can and making sure that if a person is in need then those needs are seen too. It was a romantic read, and sentimental at times too. Madison was thoughtful of the life she'd left behind to go to the Big Apple, and live out her dreams of becoming a food critic, which Zach (her one and only love) stayed back in Maple Falls. There are misunderstandings a long the way and a "will they, won't they" vibe too.

There are some spicy scenes but not in your face, it's more sensual and makes you think more about what's happening in the moment, which I loved. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea but I love this kind of suspenseful romance. The emotions that Madison and her family go through due to the passing of her Mother leave you with a lump in your throat, or at least it did with me. The suspense of finding out who was sending the letters all over town was always niggling away in the back of my head, trying to figure who it is as you meet more characters. When you find out it was Edith (Madison's Grams) all along it all makes sense. Her Mother had left instructions for Edith for when the time was right.

All in all, this book was a good read. I would recommend it to anyone who is look for something soft and warm to read. A palette cleanser if will. Cannot wait for book 2. I only rated it 4 stars because I wanted more of Zach & Madison, but perhaps I'm being greedy.......Well done Harper.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn was the perfect cozy ‘Hallmark’ story! The previous tags on this book were not entirely accurate - I would never consider this an ‘enemies to lovers’ and instead would consider it a ‘rekindled love’.

Madison and Zach are both from the same small town, and rekindle their connection when Madison returns home at 26 (maybe 27?) to help her family Inn. Her primary focus is ensuring the Cinnamon Spice Inn is back to its former glory. I had a bit of a hard time liking the FMC as she was very inconsistent and refused to communicate with anyone. Not herself, her friends, her dad, or even Zach.

If you love cozy, low-risk love stories, and autumn themes, this is the perfect story for you!

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC and I am leaving this review willingly.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher, for giving me an opportunity to read this arc! For the most part, I really did enjoy this story. It was cute and sugary sweet at times. However, I wanted to climb into the book and shake Madison and Zach. I really need them to talk each other. Just a one on one heart to heart. The miscommunication felt like it shaved years off my sanity. The supporting characters were such a hoot.

omg this is absolute perfection, especially if read in the Fall with a cozy, warm drink by a fire!!!! 5/5 stars!!!

This was a strong start to the Maple Falls series, it had that romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the genre and character development. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and how everyone felt like real people. I thought the plot was everything that I was looking for and was glad it was so well done and left me wanting to read more. Harper Graham has a strong writing style and was able to create a great romance novel.

I received an ARC of the Cinnamon Spice Inn.

A very cozy, very sweet read. While it had many of the same vibes as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe but I enjoyed it even more! The characters were well developed and relatable, it felt like the perfect book to start making it feel like fall.

It is an easy, quick read. A perfect romance book for the cozy reader (or if you need a break from fantasy / deeper readers this book is great for it!)

It was a heartwarming read and I look forward to the next part of the series!

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham. This is my first book that I have read by her and I really enjoyed it. Great development of characters and wonderful descriptions. I loved it. Makes you want to curl up and continue to flip the pages until you’re done! Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for this Arc. This is my honest review.