I just finished the second instalment of the Dream Harbour series by Laurie Gilmore, “The Cinnamon Bun Book Store”. The first book, “The Pumpkin Spice Cafe”, was such an adorable story and totally hit home for me that I couldn’t resist reading the next book. It was a fun and adorable read for a Saturday with an iced coffee!

As always, spoilers ahead, continue at your own risk!

This book follows book store manager, Hazel Kelly, who is two months away from her thirtieth birthday and is feeling as though she has not achieved much in her life, especially the idea of fun. That is until she discovers that someone has been leaving defaced books in the romance section, specifically highlighted sentences that remind Hazel of particular moments in her life. She tries to ignore it, but ends up drunk in a blueberry garden as a result of her first clue. Then queue in the love interest! Noah is a local fisherman tour guide during the summer, a bar tender during the winter, and a playboy for tourists year round. That is until Hazel catches his eye, he’s been systematically buying romance novels from her store in an attempt to get her attention, while also expanding his romantic notions based on her recommendations.

Hazel tells him about the books, thinking it was him but Noah denies any involvement. Instead, he offers to help her follow the clues from the books and have a summer of fun before she hits her thirty year old milestone. Noah believes that she asked him because he knows how to have casual fun, based entirely on his reputation as the tourist playboy, but Noah soon realises that this summer will not end in casual fun but perhaps with his own broken heart. Little does he know, Hazel is also facing this concern, no matter how much she tries to convince herself that it will never happen. Such a typical romance, but it was just so adorable to read! Let’s not forget the spice for those of you who love that in a romance, nothing too kinky but definitely spicy.

Anyways, the romance aside. Hazel and Noah embark on all sorts of adventures around the town based on her book clues: the beach, the carnival, sailing etc. and not to mention the amusing interactions between them and the other small town characters. I have to say, Laurie Gilmore has an amazing talent for developing and showing relationships between characters, she makes it so real and relatable. I think that’s what I love about this series the most, how real the relationships are.

If you are after a fun loving small town romance, I highly recommend the Dream harbour series.

Happy Reading!