“The Strawberry Patch Pancake House” is the latest novel in the Dream Harbor romantic series. It follows the once prestigious chef Archer as he stumbles into his new life as a single dad and cook at a pancake house. Unable to find balance in his new world, Archer takes on the equally unstable Iris to be his new nanny. Unsure of each other at first and their new situation, Iris and Archer find that change might not be all the bad, especially if it comes with a bit of blossoming new love.

I found Gilmore’s voice getting stronger and stronger with each novel in the series and with this latest book, the characters felt so engaging, genuine, and incredibly romantic. I loved how she utilized the romantic trope of forced proximity in a unique way and the blending of the older characters in with the new. Highly recommend to anyone wanting a bit of a romantic escape. 🍓🥞✨

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is such a cozy and heartwarming book! It’s the perfect mix of small town charm and slow burn romance with a hint of mystery. The story follows Archer, a single dad and chef who finds himself running a pancake restaurant in Dream Harbor, along with Iris, who has never been able to hold down a job but somehow ends up as his live in nanny. Their relationship builds slowly, but it’s so worth the wait! This book is sweet, comforting, and full of characters you’ll wish were real. Perfect for a quick weekend read!

I'll say it again like I did with the others in the Dream Harbor series to date: Laurie Gilmore is striking gold. I have to start out by being very honest. For some reason I totally glossed over the fact that Iris is a young adult in The Christmas Tree Farm - I thought she was an older lady ((*face palm*)) - then I saw the blurb for this book and I said to myself "now, wait a minute".

Iris is a unique character and I feel a kinship with her. I was expecting daddy issues galore in this forced-ish proximity single-dad story but was very happily surprised that that was hardly the case. Iris feels human. She stumbles, she doubts herself, she cares deeply. And Archer...so headstrong, determined, dedicated...I, like Iris, found myself practically in instant-love with Archer. Did not know that I love a single dad trope but I do! Their chemistry and attraction was maple syrup sweet. Throw in Olive and you get some very funny, very adorable, sometimes heart squeezing/teary eyed moments through the innocence of a child.

This is another hit - another comfort read - and I'm waiting on pins and needles for The Gingerbread Bakery!!!!!!

Thank you Harper360, Laurie Gilmore, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Laurie Gilmore doesnt miss with these books. I absolutely loved Iris and Archer's story. Cannot wait for Annie's next. Might have to convince my bookclub to read this one soon. Thanks NetGalley and Harper 360

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is a sweet and cozy romance perfect for a weekend escape. Archer and Iris's slow-burn relationship is heartwarming, and the small-town charm of Dream Harbor makes the story even more inviting. With lovable characters, a touch of mystery, and a charming forced-proximity trope, this book is a delightful read for romance fans! 🍓🥞✨

Longer review coming soon! Absolutely loved my first Dream Harbor book even though it’s #4 - I will definitely be reading the others!! Loved the single dad hot chef trope - Archer is hot - Iris is humorous and so full of youth and Olive will wrap you around her finger!!! Strawberries are always in season with this wonderful 5 star book!

I loved being back in Dream Harbor and Archer and Iris’ love story was perfection! I’m not usually a fan of the single dad trope and didn’t expect to love this one the way I did. Side note, I love how the fictional book club actually discusses the single dad trope in the book.This book was everything I expected from Laurie Gilmore - a cozy romance set in a dreamy small town with some steamy scenes. She is the queen of writing ‘hallmark after dark’ novels and I am already dying for the next one so we can finally get Annie and Mac’s story!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. When an ambitious chef finds out he has a daughter and her mother recently died, he leaves his beloved position in France and moves to Dream Harbor. He hires Iris, a local woman who is losing her apartment and needs the live in nanny position. His traumatized daughter will not speak to him and he works so hard to gain her acceptance. Iris has no experience as a nanny but bonds quickly with little Olive and her father. The romance is sweet and passionate. As with all the books in this series, the sense of community is wonderfully heartwarming.

4 stars everyone. I think this may be my favorite of the Dream Harbor Series so far. I was an absolute feral creature for Archer. The absolute adoration for his daughter and the bond between him and Iris is uncanny. This is so much more than a single dad x nanny romance. This has everything. There is so much emotion, understanding, growth, and mutual respect in this. The tension between Iris and Archer was intense. I couldn't wait for the two of them to finally give into their feelings for one another. It did not disappoint.

This was my favorite of all the Dream Harbor series! I loved Iris and Archer’s love story. Olive was a sweet and cute little girl and I loved her spunk and personality. I can NOT wait to read Annie and Mac’s story next!!

Omg I love love this book, the found family troupe, the spice is chef kiss and the love between the two main characters really develops so much for them and they always needed each other no matter what others had told them. Laurie Gilmore never disappoint and I can’t wait for the last book in the series. Thank you for letting me experience this book once again

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
by Laurie Gilmore


I still can’t believe I received an eARC of this book! How can you not fall in love with Dream Harbor? I want to pack my bags and head to the pancake house. Two different people with two different lives, are they meant to be?? I really like Iris and Archer. I love cute cozy romantic mysteries. I could put this one down! I really enjoy Laurie’s writing!

Tropes:

👨‍💼single dad
🛌 one bed
🏡 found family
🐌 slow burn
⭐️ forced proximity

Big thanks to NetGalley, Laurie and Harper 360 for the eARC! I truly feel so lucky to have gotten an eARC! This one of my favorite series!! I can’t wait for the next book!

Publication Date: March 18th 2025
Rating: 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

#NetGalley #TheStrawberryPatchPancakeHouse

What an absolute wirlwind of a book.. it will have you feeling happy, anxious, sad, and relieved. Sometimes all at once!! I just adore the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore, so when this book was announced I was THRILLED to get my hands on it. This one is more… dimensional? As it involves a familial relationship as well as the “typical” Dream Harbor intimate relationship. And I absolutely love how it came together. Blending the two “worlds” into something beautiful, and not letting either relationship overshadow or take away from the other relationship. But letting both bloom and have their own spotlight. (Familial relationship with child *versus* intimate relationship with lover)

Archer, a world class chef, finds himself in Dream Harbor after a fling from the past passes away, leaving him custody of a daughter (Olive) he didn’t know existed. Iris, a local woman, is desperate for a job so she takes the live in nanny position.

The 4th in the series, and it was my favorite so far. The writing is getting better and the storylines have more depth. It was awesome to watch both Archer and Iris grow as people, and always amazing when past couples make appearances!

THE STRAWBERRY PATCH PANCAKE HOUSE ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5. Archer has a big life, striving for a Michelin star, a world trained chef. When he finds out he fathered a girl 5 years ago, and her mom has passed, he moves to Dream Harbor to be with her. Iris is still finding her footing in life, and needs a job, so the mayor suggests she be his nanny. You know where this goes. It was a cute book, not my favorite on the series. A small town romance, that you can see a mile away, and you are there to enjoy the ride. I honestly just wanted a bit more of the townspeople in this one! The Dream Harbor fan fare can be my fav part. Overall, a quick enjoyable cozy read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Tropes
* Single Dad
* Forced Proximity
* Slow Burn
* Found Family

If you’re in the mood to read a small town cozy romance story with a HEA you will like this.
You’ll fall in love with this cute small town atmosphere and the characters.
It’s the 4th book and a new romance in Dream Harbor. If you’ve read the other books in this series you enjoy this one also.
Overall it’s a heartwarming addition to the Dream Harbor series however it can be read as a standalone also

We are back for another cozy love story in the sleepy town of Dream Harbor.

I do have to admit I have a love/hate relationship with this series. First, this series has been all over the place. I really loved Hazel & Noah’s story, but the last book I was not a fan. So expectations were not high going in. Also side note learn from my mistakes I did no research ahead of time so I thought this was finally Mac & Annie’s book. Was definitely a tad disappointed when I realized this was Iris & Archers book. Now did I grow to throughly love Archer & Iris, yes I did. But it took me a hot minute to get into their story and let me tell you once I did I was hooked.

Now the only reason I didn’t give this a 5 star is because I am not a parent, nor do I plan on ever being a parent. And this book felt like a love letter to parenting. Which there’s nothing wrong with. I just found the situations both characters were in challenging to relate too. However, Laurie Gilmore writing style is easy to follow and you can’t help but fall in love with everyone. I loved seeing our past book characters making cameos and I loved watching Archer & Iris relationship growth and development. And out of the series by far this is my second favorite.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It’s a fun, quick easy read that anyone could enjoy. I will definitely also be continuing on with this series. Big thank you to NetGalley & Harper 360 for providing me and arc to read and review.

Just like the red of the books in this series I love this book I never thought that the plot twist trope would be my favorite part of the book I just love this book

Love this cozy Hallmark movie type book series! I want to live in Dream Harbor. This newest book is perfect for a cozy spring reading day.

This was such a cute book! I absolutely love single dad/nanny romances and this one did not disappoint. Iris and Archer are incredibly sweet together. They have a slow burn but it's definitely worth the wait. And little Olive has my heart. This series just keeps getting better and better. If you like cozy small town romance you'll love this book. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

You know those cozy days where you put on your favorite clothing, make a cup of tea, order some comfort food (Thai for me!), and put on your favorite show (Buffy-that may age me)? That’s what these books feel like. They are cozy and comfortable and just needed some days.

These are my guilty pleasure and therefore I’m giving 5 Star for how it makes me happy and content.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake house follows some new comers to the neighborhood after a tragic accident leaves a 5 year old girl, Olive, with the need for a home. That home comes in the form of her dad, a Parisian Chef, that didn’t know she existed prior to the loss of her mom. He moves across the world to Dream Harbor unsure how to raise a kid, put his Michelin Star dreams on hold, and find new job.

Luckily, Iris, the local swim/yoga teacher, is in need of a new job. And one that comes as a live in nanny is ideal for her financial hardship. She just didn’t expect a smoking hot dad!

This one was just as cute at the other series. Although Cinnamon Bun and Christmas Tree are still my favorites. This one was different with new characters and the storyline around a little girl. It still had all the cozy vibes and makes that small town vibe a dream.

Come curl up with this new edition to Dream Harbor and be ready to want to make some pancakes.

Thanks @Netgalley and @HarperCollinsPublishers for the advanced digital ARC

This is my first book by Laurie Gilmore, but it won’t be my last. In fact, I did not realize this book was number 4 in the Dream Harbor series. So, to answer your question, yes it can be read as a stand alone. I loved it so much, I already have purchased the others in the series. The book is filled with all of the emotions. A really nice family story with a surprise kid, romance, food and sex all taking place in a small town where everyone knows your business.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsPublisher, #Harper360, #LaurieGilmore and #TheStrawberryPatchPancakeHouse for the advance copy for my honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book! This entire series is just so yummy! Laurie Gilmore literally knows how to write a yummy MMC!

A single-dad romance, which is usually my least favorite trope, where Archer comes to town all the way from culinary heaven in Paris to small town head chef at a diner. Not exactly in his plans.

Iris, our fun and flighty FMC, needs a job and a place to stay so of course there’s no reason to not take the live-in nanny position that Archer needs filled. Their attraction is instant and the slow burn and build-up is just delicious. Archer can play in my strawberry patch anytime! 😘

This book gets a 3/5 for spice. I love her spice scenes.

Highly recommend if you’ve been enjoying this series as thoroughly as I have!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Laurie Gilmore and publishers for this opportunity!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is number 4 in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore. I've enjoyed each offering in the series. Characters show up in other books but reading them out of order won't make these books any less enjoyable. The Dream Harbor series are cozy romance books with a bit of spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

I have read all the books in this series and they get better each time, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is my favorite! I loved Archer and Iris! Their story had fun banter and very raw emotions for both character. Olive may have stole the show a few times because she is adorable! Laurie Gilmore did an excellence job on with the single dad trope.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the 4th book in the Dream Harbor series and dare I say my new favorite. Although I can't wait for the next one. Like the rest of the series, this book gives tons of cozy reading Hallmark'esque vibes with the added spice. I do feel like as the series progresses the books get better and better.

🍓 Single Dad
🍓 Forced Proximity
🍓 Slow Burn
🍓 Found Family
🍓 Small Town
🍓 Dual POV
🍓 A bit of grumpy x sunshine
🍓 other secret tropes I won't name to not spoil anything

In this book we follow the POV's of Archer, the single dad who just found out he has a child, and Iris, the nanny who desperately needs a job but isn't a fan of children because they are "sticky".

Archer has recently moved to the town of Dream Harbor to meet and hopefully gain full custody over his child Olive. He just moved from Paris and left his dream of becoming a Michelin star chef on pause after learning he had a child whose mother recently passed in an accident. His plan is to stick around only as long as possible and then take Olive and head back to Paris. Working at a local diner and not making great impressions with the locals Archer realizes he has his work cut out for him with more than just bonding with Olive than he thought.

Iris, a local yoga and water aerobics instructor who is desperately needing a job to keep her apartment decides to listen to one of her ladies opinions from class and decides to interview for a nanny position. The only problem is, she doesn't like children. But after hearing its a paid live in position her mind was made up, even if it was for the grumpy man she spilled smoothies on.

Reader be warned however, Olive is adorable but some things she says left me all in my feelings. This was such a good book and I'm so happy that the series is continuing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I liked the latest installment in the Dream Harbor series, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House. Iris has lived in Dream Harbor her whole life and loves it, but she can't seem to make any romance last or keep a job for very long. In short, she is has a commitment phobia, probably because she was raised by a single mom who never had a long term relationship. Enter Archer, who recently found out that he's a dad to a five year old in Dream Harbor. He had no idea about Olive, his daughter, but when Olive's mother dies, he is summoned from his dream job as a chef in a Paris restaurant, to meet her and be approved for custody. His plan is to satisfy the courts that he can be a good father, and whisk Olive back to Paris with him. While in Dream Harbor, he works as a chef in a café, known for it's pancakes. He also needs a live in nanny and hires Iris. Will Iris and Archer change their plans and start a family in Dream Harbor? As usual, there are town meetings, book club meetings, and nosy townsfolk. The Laurie Gilmore series is a comfort read, and perfect for these long winter days. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ebook galley to review.

Thank you Harper 360 for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: A renowned chef and single dad reluctantly moves to a small town to run a pancake restaurant, where an unlikely nanny with a restless spirit might just become the missing piece in his life—with a little matchmaking help from his daughter.

My review: This may be my favorite of the four books so far! I loved the mix of tropes, and it delivered everything I expected from a cozy small-town romance—warmth, charm, and just the right amount of steam. A delightful read that perfectly balances heart and heat!

Genres/Themes: Fiction / Romance - Romantic Comedy / Romance - Workplace / Romance - Contemporary

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is scheduled for publication on March 18, 2025, by Harper 360.

Gilmore's books make you smile and Strawberry Patch Pancake House definitely did that.

This time around we have the single dad trope and nanny trope. I loved how Archer was so devoted to his daughter. Who doesn't love when a man is a great dad, especially when he's just learning of said daughter's existence? Olive was adorable. I really liked Iris's bond with both Olive and Archer. Iris and Archer had fantastic chemistry which stirred some great tension due to all the forced proximity. I really enjoyed their relationship. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic works well here with these two. The romance was sweet but also felt mature (they are adults after all). Plus the steamy scenes were well worth the wait!

This book was so cozy and lighthearted. I needed something to uplift my mood and this book achieved that. Would recommend if you like a Hallmark after dark vibe.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. I’m not usually a big fan of single dad romances but this one was just so cute and heartwarming. I fell in love with Iris and Olive right alongside Archer. I also loved the peek of Annie and Gus for the next book. This book helped me recover from a book slump by being an easy and fun read. I plan to buy this whole series.

I think this has got to be my favorite book in this series!! Olive was adorable and really was the star of this book.
Archer was an interesting character who is supposedly a world renowned chef but when it comes to pancakes..... he could use some help to calm down his nerves. Iris was a cutie pie and i related so much with her throughout this book it was honestly pretty funny! The romance was definitely a slow burn and the tension and heart eyes they gave each other were adorable. These books are like a warm hug on a rainy day and i just love this little town so much!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the chance to read this ARC.

This book had me squealing and kicking my feet the whole time! I will admit, I am not a fan of the single dad trope or the dad + nanny trope, but this book completely surprised me. Archer is doing great at being a dad for someone who never planned on it, and I thought Iris was completely relatable. I loved watching their relationship grow, and how they didn't just do whatever they wanted when they wanted to and considered long term effects. More characters should be this way in romance books, it feels more realistic! I love how Archer became less grumpy as the book went on, and Olive seems like a really adorable little kid that I would actually want to hang out with in person. Laurie Gilmore hasn't disappointed me yet, her books are cozy and comfort in the best way. I just loved this!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House was super cute! I really enjoyed it. I know that it is a part of a series, but I didn’t feel lost reading this without reading the others prior. I will be going back to read the others ASAP. Dream Harbor is the coziest town, and this book makes me wish I lived in a similar town. I did get a small ick when Archer was cooking without a shirt on, no one wants bacon grease splattering their chest. Besides that, I really loved this book, and would recommend it, especially for those that have read the others or are looking for that small town, singe dad, nanny love story! Can’t wait to read the past and future books!

If you are looking for a fresh small town romance complete with a Chef (Archer) just in from Paris and an authentic first time nanny and seniors’ exercise instructor (Iris) with just the right amount of nosy townspeople…that would be everyone…then, this is the book for you. I loved this feel good story that was believable and creative at the same time. Having grown up in a small town, I enjoyed reading about this one and its quirky characters. Ms. Gilmore did a wonderful job developing the story line. Thank you to Ms. Gilmore, NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the opportunity to review this delightful book!

While I haven't read the first 3 books in this series, I now understand what the hype is all about. In this 4th book, Archer arrives in town to assume custody of the 5 year old daughter that he never knew about. Her mother has died in an accident and the father she has never met comes to begin a relationship with her. Archer is a trained chef, coming from Paris, and takes over as chef at the local diner. Iris is hired to be Olive's nanny while Archer runs the breakfast and lunch shifts. You can correctly assume what transpires next!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

I’ve loved the Dream Harbor series since I read the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. What I love most about the books is the deep connections the characters have both with each other, but also with the community and the town as a whole. In this story though, I wasn’t as invested in those relationships. Jeannie and Hazel were barely mentioned and Annie was completely left out, which really disappointed me. We didn’t get any Noah, Mac or Logan, which I really missed. I did enjoy Iris backstory and the addition of Olive was a really cute twist on the other books.

While the romance was fun and steamy, I did inwardly cringe every time I read “yes chef” in a sec scene. Please no more. Overall, I will definitely continue this series, mostly to finally get a story on Annie and Mac!

Thank you to Laurie Gilmore, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is my new favorite by Laurie Gilmore. Well written and lovable characters. Fast read and will give you all the feels!
Thank you NG for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this book and the whole series
Definitely recommend. It you love small town cozy vibes this book is for you ✨️ it won't disappoint.

4 Stars – Sweet, Cozy, and Heartwarming!

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is pure small-town charm with the perfect blend of romance and feel-good vibes. Archer, the swoony single dad and talented chef, stole my heart, and his relationship with his daughter Olive was just too cute! Iris was such a relatable character—flawed but loveable—and watching her grow into her role as a nanny (while falling for Archer) was the ultimate slow-burn treat.

The forced proximity trope worked so well here, especially with Archer’s accidental topless cooking moments—hello, tension! Plus, the found family dynamic in Dream Harbor added a cozy layer that made the whole story feel like a warm hug.

If you love single dad romances, small-town settings, and sweet slow burns with a sprinkle of mystery, you’ll devour this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the arc of this book. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is the fourth book in the Dream Harbor series. This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the rest of the series. I love this series. This book is a cozy small town romance telling the story of local Iris and Archer who moves to Dream Harbor to raise his daughter Olive. I would have liked to see a little more of the Dream Harbor residents in this book and for it to be longer to accommodate for that. This book does have a small amount of spice but it fits the story. I read this book in two sittings. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I have my fingers crossed that it will be about Annie and Mac.

4.5 stars!!!! I ATE THIS UP!!!! truly another stellar book in this series and honestly this one has probably gone to the top of my list. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters.

the grumpy single dad who didn't know he had a whole daughter b/c the mom felt like he deserved more? my goodness. i cannot. watching archer and olive go around each other and eventually love each other was heartwarming, it was everything. this story made me laugh, cry, swoon, fan myself ;) it was just really the perfect single dad/nanny trope.

these two characters were perfect and i loved every second of them. they are probably so far truly my favorite couple in the series. their story was so beautiful and seamless and everything i needed and wanted in this story.

also the book club? yall are the best. pls send me to a small cute cozy town where there is a fun book club, because i want IN!!

big thank you netgalley and harper 360 for the arc!! i am even more obsessed with this town and these people than i was at book 1. i cant wait to see where it goes from here!!!

These books are so cozy. They’re like a hug. The town in this series reminds me so much of Stars Hollow. I love it.

This book was just as sweet & spicy as the other books from this series.

This was the perfect small town romance to read during spring.

There is a trope that happens near the end that some people might not like, but I personally didn’t mind it.

The epilogue was the sweetest and the perfect way to end the couple’s storyline.

i’ve been obsessed with the dream harbor series since book one and it just keeps getting BETTER.

main character archer was in paris making all his chef dreams come true when he found out that he was going to be a dad…to a 5 year old…in the states. aka his cooking career was over for the time being. archer had no idea about his daughter but her mother had listed him on the birth certificate so she was his whether he liked it or not.

life must go on so archer went to dream harbor, got a job, and hired a nanny to watch olive while he worked. the new nanny, iris, instantly clicked with olive. they were like two peas in a pod and their relationship was too cute for words. iris lived with them and they quickly found a cozy routine. the found family aspect in this book was TOP-NOTCH.

archer and iris started catching feelings but she never really wanted marriage or kids and unfortunately with archer, both those things would be on the line so it seemed there would be only one safe solution — leaving.

this was easily my favorite dream harbor book so far and i can’t wait to see what’s to come in book five later this year!

This book was cute and very light read. I see why people love this series because it's very charming. This is a single-dad romance where the dad is just getting custody of his daughter because the mother passes away. He is a renowned chef who moved to Dream Harbor to run the pancake restaurant. He meets the fmc when she offers to be his child's nanny and as they spend more time together they have to fight the attraction.

I liked seeing the relationship between the MCS and the kid grow especially since it started rocky. The found family tight-knit town was also very nice to read. This book was steamy and for some reason, I wasn't expecting that but I enjoyed the scenes. Overall a good read and I'm going to go back and read the rest of the series. Thanks to the publisher for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Small-town romance
- Single dad romance
- Nanny fmc
- Chef mmc
- Steamy romance

why did it take me so long to read this series? i started the first and loved it so much that i immediately read the 2nd and 3rd and then realized this one was on netgalley and HAD TO HAVE IT. im suddenly saying yes chef in my sleep. i loveeeeed noah and his competency and iris was so fun, they seemed like a great pairing and i wanted more of their little family with olive. how am i supposed to wait until september for mac and annies story???

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore is a heartwarming, charming read that took me on an unforgettable emotional journey. From the very first page, I was captivated by the lovable characters, each with their own quirks and depth that made the story so engaging.

At the heart of the book is Archer, a strict and career-driven head chef who makes the life-altering decision to leave his high-end career in Paris when he learns he’s the father of a four-year-old girl, Olive. His transformation from a disciplined, work-focused man to a tender, loving father is nothing short of beautiful. I loved seeing Archer evolve throughout the story as he navigates fatherhood and learns the true meaning of family. What really struck me was how his initially rigid demeanor quickly gave way to a gentle, caring side that was hard to resist.

Iris, the quirky and delightful female lead, was the perfect counterpart to Archer. As Olive’s nanny, she brought a much-needed spark to their lives, but her role in their world became so much more than that. Her unique blend of charm and humor made her an essential "ingredient" to the story. Watching Iris and Archer slowly bond, their connection felt so natural and warm. I loved how their relationship developed, moving from strangers to a real, functional family.

The single dad trope was done beautifully here, and I appreciated the depth of emotion that Laurie Gilmore infused into the narrative. The found-family aspect was another highlight — Archer, Iris, and Olive quickly became an unshakeable trio, each offering the other the support they needed in different ways. The result was a story full of love, growth, and a sense of belonging that left me with a smile on my face long after I finished the book.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a lovely story about unexpected changes, and the importance of family in all its forms. Whether you’re a fan of heartwarming romance or love stories about personal growth, this one’s a gem that’s hard to put down!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this! Dream Harbor books are just so cute and cozy 🥰 I loved this one and found Olive to be the sweetest 🥹💖 I always liked Iris and I loved reading this! I can’t wait for book 5 to come out 🤩

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper 360 and Laurie Gilmore for giving me an ARC of this wonderful book! It was on my 2025 read list and I couldn’t be happier to be given an advanced copy!

I have read the other books in this series and this is on par with the rest. If you enjoyed the other books then you will like this as well. Even if you didn’t like some of the first ones I’d still recommend this book. I loved Archer and Iris, they were a great couple and the banter was great. Very swoon-worthy. These books are cozy romances with low stakes. The setting is adorable and half the fun. I love this town. I highly recommend this book, it’s so cute!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

When Iris needs a job during the off-season at the Christmas Tree farm, she never expects for nannying to be the answer. But when Archer finds out he is a dad to an adorable 5-year-old girl and needs help while he is busy trying to make pancakes that appease the town, he find he can't do it on his own. The solution of hiring Iris seems to be a solid one, even though neither one of them have any idea how to raise a child.
Filled with both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, this continuation of the Dream Harbor series is a must-read for fans of the charming residents. If you already love Dream Harbor, you’ll fall even more in love with this latest installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the digital ARC!

I swear every book in this series gets better. I don't usually like books with kids but sweet little Olive just stole my heart from the beginning. I had a hard time with the third act and had to sit with it for a while before writing my review, because it almost impacted it, but overall the rest of the book made up for my frustrations with the third act breakup. I just hate those. Archer was so patient with Iris and I think they both had good character growth in the end, so that definitely made up for it.