The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Dream Harbor #2

by Laurie Gilmore

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 needs 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…

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Cozy, Adult

378 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2024

About the author

Laurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, 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. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This got too heavy on spice and further away from being a cute and quirky magical small town romance.

DNF @78% bc I just don't care. These covers. Ugh. They don't fit the vibe. 😒

Also, the title was changed from 'The Bluebell Bookstore' and doesn't even take place in the fall. It takes place in spring/summer. Just a heads up if you're looking for autumnal vibes.


Omg another super cute book for autumn from Laurie Gilmore!

⁀₊➷ Opposites Attract
⁀₊➷ Small Town
⁀₊➷ Forced Proximity
⁀₊➷ He Falls First

My review for ˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ The Pumpkin Spice Café - Book 1.

Sounds perfect for fall! 🍂🍁🌰🥧❤️

[Yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

OKAY THE NAME, THE COVER, THE FIRST BOOK, everything points to this book being cozy/fall vibes. Well color me fucking confused bc this is a summer romance?! Hello?! Book 1 was way way better, this just missed the mark on so many points. The main plot line of the book could’ve been way better, the ending was cute BUT could’ve been better. I’m still pissed abt the fact that this wasn’t a FALL BOOK THAT I WAS EXPECTING

[Emily-Morgan Friar · Rating 1 out of 5]

My favourite part of the book was when it ended

[chan ☆]

i refuse to be a scrooge this time of year, so i'll just leave it at: this was NOT for me

[millena ★ · Rating 1 out of 5]

do you want a perfect fall book with lovable characters and a well developed romance? bad news, you'll keep wanting it bc this one has none of that 💘

[Aly · Rating 2 out of 5]

why would a dad do that

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love when the main plot point is two adults who won’t have a conversation 🙄

[Freya Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooooooooooved this book. Maybe even more than the pumpkin spice café. Deffo had more "spice" in this one but icl I ate it UP😂 so good 10/10. I think I'm in love with Noah oop

[aeryn rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

Hate is known to be strong word...and it would accurately describe my feelings towards this book. I cannot name you one thing that I liked about this book. Maybe the MMC...maybe. But that's not a confident maybe.

Let's start out with the characters, shall we? Hazel. If you're looking for an annoying female character that does nothing but contradict herself, this would be for you. I understand that she's trying to be the "I wAnT tO bE DiffErEnt" kind of people but I honestly could not stand her. I felt like I was reading about a teenager. Speaking of teenager, Noah was the most tolerable thing about this book. I liked his attitude and him as a person, but that's where it ends. The spice in this book was AWFUL. ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. I felt like I was watching sex scenes that were terribly directed and gave you second-hand embarrassment. I also hated the chemistry between Hazel and Noah. I know they have a lot of backstory, but the fact that they kissed like 3 chapters in just...no. Not for me.

The plot itself was completely lackluster. None of it was fleshed out; it was totally surface level. It's not even one of the fluff books that are decent to read. I thought the IDEA of this plot was good, but the EXECUTION was a complete flop.

Overall, this book made me feel like I walked in on something that I wasn't meant to. That is the best way I can describe how this book made me feel. I liked the first one more than this, and for once, I can't say that I can see why people liked this one more. The difference between them is night and day for me. If you liked this one, great! I'm glad you did. But for me? I hated this. You could not pay me to read this book again. Hard pass, thank you very much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've heard this series just gets better and better so I'm excited! Especially since I liked the first one 😌🧡

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're in the mood for a quick and easy read, Hazel and Noah might just do the trick. The chemistry between the two main characters is definitely the highlight – their connection is good and keeps things moving.

The book has all the classic elements of a good romance: sparks flying, tension, and heartwarming moments. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was just... okay. It didn’t leave a lasting impression, and some of the phrases were a bit on the cringy side. Overall, not bad, but it didn’t quite blow me away.

[chloé ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down

my expectations were low for this one, so thankfully i was not disappointed. this was fine.

like the first book, this was a cozy, fluffy read without much substance. i was craving something that didn't require *any* brain power and it certainly delivered on that end.

┏━━━━━❂ what to expect ❂━━━━━┓
❥ fluffy
❥ quick & easy to read
❥ pretty insta-lovey (and insta-lusty)
❥ slight mystery aspect. very unserious
❥ spice
❥ small town vibes
❥ based in late summer (august-september. cover is slightly misleading... it's a warm weather book, for the most part)
❥ slight age gap (fmc is 30, mmc is 25)
❥ interconnected standalone

┏━━━━━❂ eh... ❂━━━━━┓

❥ i don’t enjoy when grown adults can’t have simple conversations about their feelings
❥ some uses of commas are incorrect and it bothers me more than it probably should considering i don't even use capitals in my reviews
❥ why do all the guys need to be known for sleeping with as many women as possible??
❥ i don't ever want to read someone saying "holy crap" during a spice scene ever again. ick unlocked.
❥ lack of emotional depth. mmc had a backstory but it was pretty generic. characters are pretty bland/forgettable overall.

┏━━━━━❂ overall consensus ❂━━━━━┓

❥ it's really no secret that these books aren't revolutionary or written extremely well. BUT this series is fluffy and forgettable and a good time during the few hours that the books take to read.☺️ i'm not invested in these characters at all but i do love me some cozy books on occasion.

❥ i really was here for the vibes and the vibes only. read for the vibes, not for memorability or originality.

will i still read the rest of the series? yes. why? vibes. 🤷🏼‍♀️

☕️🍂🤎🧸 fall tbr jar prompt: book with cozy vibes 🧸🤎🍂☕️

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because what more did one need besides good friends, good books, and the occasional cinnamon bun?”

Hazel has always been the safe friend, the responsible daughter, the dependable bookstore employee. And she has a problem with that (kind of).

"For some people, Hazel assumed, thirty meant an end to the wild and storied days of their twenties ... She'd forgotten to have wild and storied days."

As her birthday looms ever closer, Hazel begins to yearn evermore for an adventure - a last hurrah - to say goodbye to her calm twenties and hello to her...probably still calm thirties.

One day at the bookstore, Hazel spots a book out of place, and what's worse is someone dog-eared page...and highlighted a line.

"Come with me, lass, if you want an adventure."

Noah, the seasonal fishing tour guide of Dream Harbor, is exactly the kind of man who would be up for an adventure and soon Hazel finds herself asking him to join her. Two heads are better than one. Probably.

As clue after clue rolls in, Hazel begins to realize that she doesn't want the summer to end. That perhaps she has found the adventure of a lifetime, and he was right beside her the whole time.

Ohmygosh. I wanted a cinnamon bun book and this one delivered. It was. It totally was. My life is a warm, happy cinnamon bun and I couldn't be more delighted.

I have to admit, I wasn't convinced Laurie Gilmore could pull off a mutual pining book without it being...annoying or frustrating for the reader.

And yet, this one worked so freaking well. I loved watching Hazel and Noah circle each other, every time one of them took a step forward, the other inadvertently took a step back.

The way they danced about each other really made this book shine for me. I couldn't read the words fast enough!!

I also rather enjoyed seeing the town in this story - I know it sounds a bit odd but I'm really invested in Dream Harbor. The zany mayor, the busybody bookclubbers, the nosy townspeople - the attention to the background of the story really made this one shine for me.

I did think things were a little cheesy at times but also, what's a cinnamon bun without a little cream cheese?

All in all, the first one was good - but this one was great!

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

TURNING 30 DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE SUDDENLY TURNED INTO AN UNLOVABLE OLD MAID!! YOUR LIFE DOESN’T END WHEN YOU STOP BEING 20!! I’M LOSING MY MIND!!!!

[Emma.catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for love in a good book? This one brought it ALL and I LOVED it 📚😻

‘Come with me, lass, if you want an adventure.’

👣

After absolutely loving the first book in this series I feel like I have been waiting FOREVER to get my hands on this book and it definitely did not disappoint!

FULL REVIEW 👇🏼

This book focuses of two main characters - Hazel and Noah. Hazel works in the bookstore, she ‘was literally surrounded by amazing stories, books filled with love and adventure and life, but Hazel herself was stuck.’ When the realisation that she is turning 30 in 2 months time coincides with secret messages, Hazel throws herself into a mystery of uncovering clues left for her in books. Lucky for her, Noah just so happens to be up for an adventure…

This wonderfully cozy late summer/autumnal read is told from the POV of both Hazel and Noah. I really enjoy this style of writing as it helps massively improves the characterisation of these two brilliant characters. I loved Hazel and could definitely relate to her character. Noah was also a great addition to this storyline as she definitely needed someone to help her on her way. He was more than happy to help. But he found himself also doing AND FEELING new things…

But he was just her adventure guide until she turned 30…and then what?

I flew through this book, not wanting to put it down and needing to absorb every ounce of goodness from this pure and wholesome storyline.

Look no further for a perfect autumnal read my lovelies, this was so much fun and the added mystery made for an interesting read. Plus it also gave me lots of Gilmore girl’s vibes.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book, but regardless this was an adorable autumn-themed romance! I am really excited for the rest of the books in this series to come out over the next 6 months.

Read my reviews for Laurie Gilmore's books here:
The Pumpkin Spice Café - 3.5 stars
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store - 3 stars
The Christmas Tree Farm - 3 stars

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so adorable! I actually liked it more than book one.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! One of my first five star reads in a while!

Okay, so I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I LOVED IT! Of course it wasn’t the perfect five star read, because no book can be absolutely perfect. But this was so so good and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy, steamy (not too bad), and unproblematic story that’s set in my favorite place in the world, New England.

Now I just might be a bit biased because I was born and raised in New England and still am here, but this was really the perfect setting for this cozy and cute romance. Even though most of it is set in the late summer, it’s still great to read for fall! The way she described a small New England town was actually pretty accurate to me as someone who knows the ins and outs of a small New England town! Maybe it was just a TAD idealistic, but I didn’t care at all.

Hazel was such a darling. She really reminds me of myself and so I honestly loved her. I really liked how she was content where she was and ultimately learned that she didn’t need to change who she was in order for people to think she was fun! She was all along. I adored her. I liked how she felt like a real person with a real life. She had anxieties of her own and needed to get out of her shell and was hesitant at first but she was brave in the end.

Don’t anyone even GET me started on Noah. I love him so much. What a MAN! He loved her the whole time and he was so unproblematic and that’s really rare for me to find a book guy who doesn’t give me the ick. (I’m looking at you Callum Griffin🤢). He knew he was always going to love her and he was just the perfect guy to get her out of her shell. I liked how he actually had some depth. He liked to read, didn’t graduate high school, and had insecurities and anxiety like any other actual man. I liked that! He wasn’t perfect but that’s perfectly okay!

The sides characters were amazing too! HER TWO DADS AND MOM! I was actually mad surprised at the inclusion in this novel. Two gay dads, a mom, and a nonbinary and other gay character! Loved it! Hope one of her LGBTQ+ characters gets their own story. I’d love to read it!!!

I did get a tad bored after the steamy scenes but it wasn’t a bored because I didn’t like the way Gilmore wrote it, I just am not a huge fan of steamy novels unfortunately.

Pick this one up please!!!!

[Snjez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the cover and the title, I expected a cozy fall read. Well, that lovely tree with autumn leaves is very misleading, because the majority of the story takes place in August and it feels very summery, except for the last few chapters towards the end.

As for the story, it took me a while to warm up to Noah and Hazel. It felt too insta-lovey on Hazel's part, while Noah has been pining after her for a long time, which is at odds with his anti-relationship-sleeping-around behaviour.

As the story progressed, I enjoyed it more. I liked the small town vibes and everything book related. Their treasure hunt was kind of fun, though it felt repetitive as neither of them were being honest about how they felt and just kept assuming things. It takes them a really long time to finally communicate, but once they do, it's my favourite part of the book.

The audiobook was quite enjoyable, too.

[Arianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t a fall book so what was the point

[zoë ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ੈ♡˳ rating: three of five stars

ੈ♡˳ summary: the cinnamon bun book store by laurie gilmore is the second cozy romance in the dream harbor series. this story follows hazel, the sweet but self-conscious owner of a small-town bookstore known for her cinnamon buns, and noah, a charming fisherman with a hidden romantic streak. when hazel starts discovering secret messages tucked inside her books, she and noah embark on a scavenger hunt to solve the mystery and along the way, they just might fall for each other.

ੈ♡˳ thoughts: i liked this book more than the first one, but not by a huge margin. the cozy small-town vibes were definitely there (dream harbor feels like a hug in book form), and the idea of solving a bookish mystery together was super cute. hazel and noah were a good pairing, and their dynamic had potential, but honestly? this book just didn’t do enough.

my biggest gripe, and something i’ve noticed across this series and in a lot of romance books lately, is this weird recurring trope of women who just cannot believe a man could possibly want them for anything beyond sex. it’s exhausting. like yes, insecurity is real, but it gets old fast when it becomes the entire foundation of a character's personality. hazel is kind and smart and thoughtful. why does she think noah couldn’t possibly like her?? it took me out of the romance so many times.

that said, the setting was adorable, the side characters were fun, and the scavenger hunt gave the story just enough plot to keep things moving. i didn’t hate this book, and i wouldn’t say it was bad, it just felt like it played it safe and leaned a little too hard on tropes that are already starting to feel tired.

ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ small-town romance
ꕥ opposites attract
ꕥ bookstore setting
ꕥ scavenger hunt mystery
ꕥ cinnamon roll hero

ੈ♡˳ fave quotes:
➼ “he was summer and she was fall. he was adventure and she was comfort.”
➼ “i was prepared to read every damn book in that bookstore just to spend more time with you.”
➼ “maybe she hadn’t needed to change her life, maybe she’d just needed to change how she saw her life. how she saw herself.”

[Flo Camus · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.5⭐] 𝙇𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙣 es una novela romántica escrita por Laurie Gilmore y publicada en 2024. La historia nos presenta a Hazel, una joven librera que un día empieza a encontrar mensajes ocultos en los libros de la tienda donde trabaja. Estos misteriosos códigos la llevan a iniciar una especie de búsqueda del tesoro y, quien se suma a la aventura es Noah, un encantador pescador del pequeño pueblo costero de Dream Harbor que lleva tiempo sintiendo algo por ella. 


Este tipo de libro me encanta porque, sinceramente, a veces lo que uno busca no es una historia cargada de drama, giros inesperados o acción, sino algo que te acompañe con calidez. Un libro que te haga sentir bien, que te dé esa sensación de estar envuelta en una mantita suave con una taza de café humeante. 𝙇𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙣 logra eso: es un cozy romance, feelgood de principio a fin y nunca me sentí estresada ni incómoda mientras lo leía. Al contrario, cada capítulo me dejaba con una sensación de felicidad.

Creo que la clave está en leer este libro sin muchas expectativas. No es una historia que revolucione el género ni que sorprenda con una trama elaborada; más bien, es de esas lecturas que se disfrutan por la atmósfera que crean y por lo simples que resultan. Si uno entra esperando algo profundo o lleno de conflictos intensos, puede que termine decepcionado. Sin embargo, si lo lees con la idea de encontrar una historia ligera y reconfortante, probablemente lo disfrutes más de lo que crees.

Dicho esto, sí tengo un punto negativo que me molestó bastante: el libro transcurre en verano y no en otoño. Parece un detalle menor, pero cuando ves la portada llena de hojas otoñales y te venden la idea de un ambiente cozy con canela, pumpkin spice, rollitos de canela y tardes frescas, choca muchísimo encontrarte con un verano caluroso. Para mí, hubiese funcionado mucho mejor si la historia ocurriera en otoño porque eso la habría vuelto aún más acogedora. En sí, la portada es engañosa y eso le quitó varios puntos en mi valoración.

Respecto a los protagonistas, debo decir que me encanta el tropo he falls first. Siempre disfruto cuando es el hombre quien empieza a sentir algo antes, cuando se muestra coqueto, atento y se dedica a conquistar poco a poco el corazón de la protagonista, Noah me conquistó por eso. Desde el primer tomo ya se podía notar su interés por Hazel, así que me encantó verlo más desarrollado aquí. Su forma de quererla y de mostrarse disponible me pareció muy tierna.

Hazel, por su parte, me sorprendió porque me recordó bastante a mí misma: odia los insectos, no soporta el calor, es buena para quejarse, no le gustan las fiestas ni salir, no hace cosas alocadas, usa anteojos, ama leer todo el día, no disfruta los parques de diversiones y se siente un poco aburrida (en todo eso me vi reflejada). Quizás por eso me emocionó tanto ver cómo Noah se enamora de ella: me dio un poco de esperanza de que alguien también pueda enamorarse de mí, incluso con mis manías y mi forma de ser (sí, soy fatalista y a veces pienso que moriré sola, así que este tipo de romances me tocan muy de cerca).

El ambiente de small town también me gustó mucho. Dream Harbor tiene ese aire acogedor de pueblo costero en el que todos se conocen y me parece lindo que la autora vaya construyendo poco a poco la historia de las distintas personas que viven allí. Eso le da continuidad a la saga y lo hace sentir como una especie de universo cálido al que puedes volver cada vez que quieras algo ligero y donde refugiarte.

La lectura fue rapidísima. Diría que me lo terminé en unas 5 o 6 horas porque es de esos libros que avanzan solos. No tiene grandes complicaciones y cada capítulo te lleva directo al siguiente. Eso lo agradecí, porque a veces necesito justamente un libro así: breve, ágil y bonito, sin demasiada exigencia.

También quiero rescatar algunas frases que me parecieron muy bonitas y que se me quedaron grabadas:
• "Noah oyó su leve suspiro de satisfacción cuando la estrechó contra su cuerpo, y por fin le encontró el sentido a todos esos finales felices que había leído en los libros. Se trataba de aquello. Felices. Para siempre. Se aseguraría de ello."
• "Se dio cuenta de que la amaba y de que probablemente la había amado siempre. Pero, por algún motivo, le había pillado por sorpresa, a pesar de que había sido perfecta desde el principio."
• "Ella lo devolvió a la vida, lo reconstruyó para crear una versión mejor que la original. Y se sentía vivo. Estaba vivo. Era real."
En sí, son frases simples, pero tienen esa ternura que encaja perfectamente con la vibra cozy del libro.

Ahora bien, algo que me entristece es que el tercer libro no esté disponible en español. Tenía muchas ganas de seguir la historia en orden, pero resulta que ya tradujeron el cuarto y no el tercero. No entiendo la lógica detrás de esa decisión editorial, pero bueno, me tocará saltármelo y seguir directamente con el cuarto (que, de hecho, ya empecé).


Finalmente, puedo decir que 𝙇𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙧𝙞́𝙖 𝘾𝙞����𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙣 es un libro bonito, reconfortante y rápido de leer. No es perfecto y, de hecho, tiene varios aspectos que me decepcionaron, como la ambientación veraniega en lugar de otoñal y lo poco ambiciosa que es en cuanto a la trama. Sin embargo, me hizo sentir bien, me dio momentos de ternura y me permitió evadirme por unas horas de la realidad. No es un mal libro, pero tampoco logró enamorarme por completo.

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I was prepared to read every damn book in that bookstore just to spend more time with you.”

Nah, this was too fuckin’ cute! 🥹

Everything about this series has fit my vibe so far. They’re so lighthearted and sweet and funny with enough depth to make me latch on.

4.5 ⭐️

[rachelscourtofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I just finished this book and it was pure swoon!!!

Noah and Hazels story had me smiling like a maniac on the train. They are so sweet and perfect for each other (he chases off seagulls for her).

This is the most wholesome and cutesy story ever and I can’t wait to read more about our lovely Dreamers!

Currently reading the Pumpkin Spice Café and I’m absolutely loving it so far!! But I’m guessing this will be Hazel and Noah’s story, so I’m definitely looking forward to that awkwardness between the two 🩷

[give me books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totalnie się zakochałam.

Fakt że ona jest starsza? Slay queen✨

[Suraya (thesuraya) · Rating 1 out of 5]

was so excited to read this but im left severely disappointed. misleading cover and title. awfully childish writing. painfully cheesy. annoying characters. this feels like a low budget hallmark movie, but full of smut

thought i was gonna get some cute bookshop scenes, but alas...

[Eloise Blaise | Bibliophel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not that it was bad but just wasn’t invested in the main characters themselves or their relationship, but I did appreciate the wider cast of characters and the cozy atmosphere of this book..

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Come with me, lass, if you want an adventure.”

This is the 2nd book in the Dream Harbor series. The first story was called “The Pumpkin Spice Café.” It told the story of Jeanie and Logan. So, even though this book is interconnected with book 1, it still can be read as a stand-alone.

To be honest, I wasn’t attracted to this story because it was the 2nd in the series. What got my attention was the title of the book. (The fact that the story includes a bookstore as a backdrop, is appealing, too!) And, I love the book cover. Look at that scene! Books, and more books, a cat entering the bookstore, and the sweet smell of freshly cooked cinnamon buns. Okay, we obviously can’t smell them, but what is life without a little imagination? After all, isn’t that at least one of the reasons we read?

This book tells the story of Hazel Kelly and Noah. For Hazel who has spent the last 15 years working at the bookstore in Dream Harbor, she is suddenly realizing how much life she hasn’t lived yet. And, how important it is for her to find adventure before her 30th birthday coming up in September.

And, then there is Noah, who came to the town to escape a family business, and do something that suits his style and interest more. What can Noah do for Hazel to help her find the adventure she craves, and perhaps, maybe even help her find him in the process?

And, what better way to add to the characters experience than a tiny mystery. Where quote clues are left in romance novels, through highlighting a specific passage. Who dares to write inside a book shelved for sale? Will these clues give Hazel direction for where her adventure can take her? Still, who is the mystery clue writer? And, were these clues left for Hazel specifically to find? And, will Noah be able to fulfill Hazel’s dreams for change in her life, which may lead to both experiencing a HEA? I know, lots of questions to be answered, right? What better way to peak readers interest about the book!

This is another cute, easy-to-read, slightly spicy and sweet cozy from this author, who knows how to create likable characters readers want to embrace.

[Charlotte Rebecca Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was a nice surprise 🤩 I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as i did 🥰🫶🏼

[Susan Carolynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was low-key giving August by Taylor Swift, and I loved it. For some reason, I thought this would take place during fall, like the first book, but 85% of the book gave small town, east coast summer vibes. A cozy August beach read per say. I liked this one slightly more than the first—both characters were better, and it felt like they had more dimension and depth. This definitely focused more on the characters' developing relationship and was spicier than The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Didn't love the miscommunication at the end, though there were so many cute scenes to make up for that.

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! 🌟
this was such a cute small town romance between a fisherman and a bookseller. i really enjoyed the cozy mystery aspect, and the love proclamation at the end was so sweet. 🥹🍂