Book Review
I’ve checked – I read the first book of the Dream Harbor stories between November and December 2024. Now, I’m starting what is officially the last book in the series, though we already know another one is coming around May. Am I having a good time? Absolutely. Some might say, “But it’s just a rooo-maaan-ce…” True. I’ll even go a step further: these are romances with zero ambition to be written in flowery, poetic prose. The stories are simple and clear – there’s a girl, there’s a guy, there’s a spark, and at least a few hurdles standing in the way of them just being together. Oh, and of course, there are adult “steam” scenes – they’re spicy but not over the top. You might get a light flush on your cheeks, but you won’t be turning a shocked shade of crimson.
When someone offers you a light, relaxing read, don’t stress that it’s not a literary masterpiece. Just read, breathe, unwind, and lose the guilt over reading something “unambitious.”
Why do I read this? Because it’s the kind of story that clears the mental chaos in my head. And yes, I know – some would say I should be reading poetry in times like these. But with all due respect to the poets out there, I prefer a slightly spicy romance that demands nothing of me. These books give me room to breathe; they let me disconnect from reality, live someone else’s life for a moment, nod over their problems, and think to myself that the world can’t be all bad if a place like Dream Harbor exists, if love can conquer obstacles and good people still rush to the rescue when someone’s in trouble.
The Dream Harbor stories are incredibly “cosy.” In this town, the residents’ biggest flaw is their nosiness and love for gossip; the book club members talk dirty in front of the kids, and the “villain” from the first book has a vendetta against fridges and other appliances. But it’s not like these people don’t have real problems. We have characters escaping burnout, introverts who think they’ve missed their chance at love, and surprised fathers finding out about five-year-old daughters they never knew existed – forcing them to flip their world upside down and trade professional dreams for a quiet life in a house with a garden. The thing is, whenever there’s a problem, there’s also the proverbial “village” standing by – calmly or not so calmly – ready to help. It gives you hope, boosts your mood, and makes the world look a little brighter. That’s another reason I read them: to keep my optimism intact and avoid becoming a bitter woman convinced the world is on the brink of collapse.
And let’s not forget that every volume is like a little battery charged with smiles and laughter. It’s genuinely funny. The dialogues are full of banter, and there are scenes where you simply can’t help but grin.
Do I feel like I’m wasting my time? No. I never consider time wasted if it’s a small brick in the wall of my well-being. And I will never, ever let anyone convince me that reading “just a flighty romance” is some kind of sin against the literary gods. If I know that reading something helps me breathe, I read it. Period. For some, it’s a horror book, because it shrinks their world down to one room, making them forget everything outside and giving them a break from daily stress. For others, it’s historical fiction, because they love the feeling of living in another era, the rustle of silk and the shine of fine china. And if someone finds their absolute mental reset in a complex philosophical treatise – great! Let’s be happy they found a cure for their own “life bumps.” Everyone is different and needs something different to be happy, including in their reading choices.
When we need to breathe, we read what gives us air. We don’t judge others for preferring different stories. If you ever hear that you’re “lesser, dumber, or less sophisticated” because you don’t read certain things, let me remind you: that opinion has zero impact on your worth as a reader, and even less on your worth as a human being! It is, however, a massive red flag waving over the head of the person judging you – it says everything about them and their need to sit on a pedestal. Let them climb up; they’ll fall eventually. It’ll hurt them, while we’ll still be over here reading lovely stories that meet our needs and feeling just fine. Or those treatises – as long as they help us feel better.
Now, let’s get back to Dream Harbor. Below is a list of the titles with a quick recap of what they’re about.
- The Pumpkin Spice Café – Jeanie inherits her aunt’s café, allowing her to escape a corporate job that was fast-tracking her to an early grave. Running a café in a town where the day doesn’t start without coffee and gossip is a challenge. Plus, one of the suppliers turns out to be a handsome but grumpy, introverted farmer.
- The Cinnamon Bun Book Store – Hazel runs a bookstore and one day finds a mysterious message in a book. Is it for her? She doesn’t know, but the cheerful and chaotic Noah turns out to be the perfect partner to help uncover the secret. Hazel is quiet and reserved, Noah is handsome and wild – opposites attract.
- The Christmas Tree Farm – Kira buys a house and a Christmas tree farm, despite hating Christmas. What possessed her? A need to prove something, a desire to find herself. But the radiators don’t work, the place looks nothing like an Instagram photo, and it turns out something (or someone) might be buried on the property. The town sends Bennett to look after Kira and see if any digging is required.
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House – Archer has a plan for his life, and it definitely doesn’t include Dream Harbor. It includes Paris, culinary awards, and his own restaurant. But Archer discovers he has a five-year-old daughter, and when her mother passes away, he becomes a dad overnight. He trades his restaurant for a pancake house and seeks help from Iris, who knows she’s not “nanny material” but can’t say no.
- The Gingerbread Bakery – Annie and Mac have been around since book one, and the sparks have always flown thick and fast. Everyone in town has been saying they should just be a couple and stop bickering. The upcoming wedding of Jeanie and Logan (from book one) forces them to bury the hatchet – what, as you can guess, doesn’t go very smoothly. A classic “enemies to lovers” trope.
- The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (the upcoming volume) – As the name suggests, this one focuses on the local flower shop. The owner has bad luck in love, and rumours start spreading that ordering wedding bouquets from her is a jinx. Then, her ex-fiancé shows up, planning his wedding and looking for a florist. A little white lie – that she’s also in a relationship with a handsome architect – sets off a whole chain of events.
And if you want to know more about career psychology, there’s a post for you:
Aga J. Mackiewicz
for Intensive Chapters
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