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Fall in love with the brand new spring romance set in Dream Harbor, from the bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
‘A charming break from reality’ Publishers Weekly
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?
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romantic mystery with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes
Fall in love with the brand new spring romance set in Dream Harbor, from the bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
‘A charming break from reality’ Publishers Weekly
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?
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romantic mystery with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes
This book kicks off with one of the boldest setups I’ve ever read—a one-night stand that turns into an eight-day survival story at sea. Lexi and Zeke, total strangers, find themselves adrift on a houseboat with no land in sight and a rescue seagull named Eugene for comic relief. From forced proximity to emotional unraveling, their time at sea is tense, chaotic, and unexpectedly tender.
Lexi and Zeke weren’t instant favourites, but they grew on me. Their baggage and backstories emerged gradually, and while neither was particularly charming at first, I was rooting for them by the halfway mark. O’Leary does a fantastic job portraying PTSD and emotional healing in the "After" sections—something not often tackled in romances. Plus, the continuation of their story back on land added depth, even when it got frustrating.
The pacing? Mostly brilliant, especially early on when I couldn’t put it down. But the middle dragged a little, and the third-act breakup—based on miscommunication—really tested my patience. It felt out of character for O’Leary and didn’t quite land emotionally. I also wasn’t sold on the twist or the epilogue, both of which felt too neat for such a wild journey.
Still, *Swept Away* is one of the most unique romances I’ve read in ages—funny, heartfelt, and absolutely immersive. Not my favourite O’Leary (I prefer *The No-Show* and *The Flatshare*), but I admire her willingness to experiment. Shoutout to Eugene the seagull—he deserved more page time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Recommended for fans of survival fiction with a romantic twist, lovers of emotional depth, and anyone curious about what happens when two strangers are thrown into chaos—and slowly find each other in the mess.
One tiny TW for workplace harassment, but I think it was handled well.
Where do I even start? This book was just UHG. Perfection.
To be fair, I basically knew it would be. I've been looking forward to it for ages, and I knew I'd love it - but I didn't know if LOVE it this much.
This book is littered with all the things us nerds and geeks adore - references to our favourite shows, books, games and all sorts. As a person who has always adored boardgames and card games, I felt this book was written for me. I now desperately want to find a group of friends who would be willing to come to game nights all the time, any volunteers? (Although I've always wanted that to be fair)
Something that stood out for me about this book were the characters. I felt they were really well written - not just out main characters, but their friends too. I could've kept spending time with them for many more pages and been at ease.
The slow-burn, steamy (but not too spicy) romance was perfect for me. An upgrade from the clean YA I'm used to reading, but not too spicy that I'm uncomfortable (like a few other adult romances I've tried 🤣)
Not too much, not too little, but just right!
Also, seeing as Shameez is the Queen of Banter, we HAVE to talk about just how brilliant the banter in this story is. Top tier. Truly.
As I said in my stories the other day, I'd recommend this to anyone and everyone that will listen. Having said that, it is perfect for those who love a great, low-spice, slow-burn, kinda enemies to lovers, romance, as well as all the nerdy and geeky references we need in life.
Basically? Please. Please go read this now.
A quiet yet searing exploration of womanhood, food, and self-acceptance set against the backdrop of a true crime case that’s almost incidental. Butter is more character study than thriller—anchored by Rika Machida’s slow, introspective transformation through her strange, treacherous relationship with murder suspect Manako Kajii.
Yuzuki’s prose (via Polly Barton’s translation) simmers, especially when describing food, but can feel heavy and stretched in parts. Themes of fatphobia, loneliness, and misogyny are stark and repetitive, though intentionally so. The emotional payoff—Rika’s found family and evolution—felt deeply satisfying, even if the journey there demanded patience.
Don’t expect edge-of-your-seat crime drama, but if you appreciate literary fiction with feminist bite and a side of beef stew, this is worth the read. Just maybe keep some butter on hand.
Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Reading this book was like going on a road trip of self discovery with an old friend. The honesty and vulnerability in Patti's story with it's easy, relaxed style of story telling made me want to keep turning the pages. The workbook is an absolute priceless gem and as I worked through it I found myself on my own road trip of purpose and connection, without leaving the comfort of my own home. A perfect read for all who seek that connection and purpose, this book promises that and delivers it in spades.
