Title: THE STRAWBERRY PATCH PANCAKE HOUSE
Author: Laurie Gilmore
ISBN: 9780008713348
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 361
Source: Private Copy – Gift
As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.
Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it’s suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.
Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless… Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?
Official Summary
20 November 2025
Yes, I am still reading this series. This is the fourth book in the series, and each one has been a gift. I asked for these books because I liked the covers and wanted to add them to my bookshelf. Now I must admit that I am a little hooked. Romance is not my thing, and generally I avoid the genre – but this series has proven to be a nice ‘palate cleanser’.
If you’re in the mood for a story that feels like stepping into a cosy small-town hug, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House delivers exactly that. Laurie Gilmore has a real talent for creating charming settings and lovable characters, and this book is no exception. Dream Harbor is the kind of place you want to move to immediately—preferably with a plate of pancakes waiting.
Archer stole my heart from the start. A world-famous chef turned small-town pancake maestro is already a great setup, but add in his devotion to his daughter, Olive, and he becomes impossibly endearing. His need for community and stability gives the story a solid emotional core.
Then comes Iris—sweet, chaotic, unsure Iris—who’s never stayed in a job long enough to settle, let alone moved in with her employer. Watching her step so far outside her comfort zone was one of the highlights for me. Her relationship with Olive is genuinely heart-melting, and her chemistry with Archer? Instant, simmering, and impossible to ignore… especially when he has a habit of cooking shirtless across the hall.
What I really enjoyed is how their romance grows slowly and naturally, with both characters wrestling with self-doubt, fear of change, and that fine line between professional and personal feelings. The banter is adorable, the moments of tension are delicious, and the emotional beats feel authentic without ever dragging the story down.
This is a feel-good, low-angst romance full of charm, comfort, and irresistible pancake-house vibes. If you love small-town stories with found-family warmth, a swoony single-dad hero, and a heroine finding her place in the world, this is a delightful read you won’t want to put down.
Also By Laurie Gilmore
THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFÉ
When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.
Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.
Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm or her pumpkin spice lattes…
THE CINNAMON BUN BOOK STORE
When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can’t understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.
Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!
Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…
THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.
Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor, taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.
After a run-in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.
Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.
But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questionning why she refused help in the first place..
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Laurie Gilmore is a No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller and a USA Today bestseller who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cosy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Café, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.
She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing.
Yes, I know this is not what you expect to find on the blog. If anything, this is what I claim not to read. I blame my fellow bookstagrammers who posted pretty pictures of these books, and now I am left feeling silly for being hooked. These books are silly and light-hearted, an entertaining break between all my dark, twisty reads.
Not to worry, my next blog post will be a thriller again. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
