Review: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars 

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review 

Archer Baer had just become a father in the most unimaginable way possible. 

Archer is living his dream as a chef in Paris that he has worked so hard for when he gets a call that completely changes his life. It seems five years ago, the restaurant front house woman he had a fling with, got pregnant and never told him. Tragically, she has died in a car accident and with his name on the birth certificate, Archer suddenly finds himself back in the states and in the small town of Dream Harbor trying to raise his young daughter Olive. Iris has always been flighty and doesn't like to settle into things, which makes life exciting but isn't great for her ability to pay rent. Even though she's not the greatest fan of kids, taking on the job of live-in nanny for Archer and Olive, seems like a great summer job. Until the chemistry between boss and nanny gets to be too much. 

He didn't know how to make pancakes, or raise a child, and he certainly didn't know how to say no to Iris Fraser. 

Fourth in the Dream Harbor series, this could still be read as a standalone, as the setting remains the smalltown but you wouldn't have to know the ins and outs of returning characters relationships, readers of the series will enjoy seeing some old friends. Like with all the Harbor books, this had some sweet moments and spicy. If you're a fan of The Bear for the “Yes, chef” tension, this is steeped in it (a bit repetitive at times). Even though there's a baked in power dynamic favoring Archer as the boss and Iris living in his home, he constantly asks for consent and lets Iris call all the shots on how much and how fast. Iris tries to stay away, thinking she could be messing up Archer's chances at getting full custody of Olive after the six month probationary period but while she spends some of the first half thinking about it, she doesn't put up too much of a fight and teases and pushes until they finally crumble and get physical. 

She had every intention of leaving, she really did, but right as she went to turn around, Archer lifted his head. 

Olive had her cute moments and brought some emotion with her and Archer's getting to know you vulnerable relationship and Iris realizing she could not only tolerate kids but like them, Olive anyway. The story was over 350pgs and I have to say the beginning later second half did drag as we “Yes, chef” and “we can't, but touch me!” got dragged out too much, there just didn't seem to be enough tension and angst to keep these two apart for more than 200pgs. 

He didn't know what Iris wanted in the long run, but if there was an inkling of a chance that she wanted him, then he had to take it. 

The ending went a direction that I can't tell felt off and betrayed Iris as a character (there's a little lead in with her evolving relationship with Olive) or if the current real world climate made me personally dissatisfied with it. The majority of the book had Iris not feeling kids were right for her and while she grew to love Olive, it felt somewhat off that in the last 15% she, without much discussion, would decide keeping a baby from a brand new, not even certain relationship, was totally the way to go. I don't know, it just raised some questions for me, but your mileage may vary. Similar to the tone, characterization, and pace of the others in the series, with Archer falling first and trying to play it cool to not scare Iris away and Iris deciding that a life she couldn't fathom before was actually perfect for her, fans of the series will no doubt enjoy this one as much as the others.

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