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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Intro/synopsis:
“The Cinnamon Spice Inn” had total fall vibes from the pumpkin festivals to the cinnamon buns, apple butter and all things fall baked goods. I really loved Zach as a golden retriever MMC even though he kept pulling Madison closer only to push her away and he struggled to communicated with her. Madison is back in town after having left for an internship in New York, breaking up with Zach and not coming back to town for six years. She is trying to save the inn after her mother passed and her father left it in disrepair. Zach is the handyman helping her but will he help her to see that this is where she truly belongs? Or will the pull of the big city be too much for her?
My thoughts:
The miscommunication trope was strong in this book. As much as I loved Zach, the fall vibes and all the secondary characters, Madison as a character was a bit love/hate for me. I really liked her chemistry with Zach and how she was with other characters but her one foot out the door, ghosting Zach and refusal to talk things through at the end was something I really struggled with. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the plot and I will certainly look for book two, hoping it doesn’t have a second chance romance because I need a break from that trope after the last two reads.
The Cinnamon Spice Inn had the potential to be a cute, cosy autumn romance, but the execution fell a little flat for me.
Madison and Zach were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, but when she left Maple Falls for a career in New York their relationship came to an abrupt end after a huge miscommunication. A few years later, Madison receives a mysterious letter urging her to return home because her family’s inn is in trouble. She rushes back without hesitation and, of course, Zach is still in town. It is immediately obvious they still have a spark and their connection may not be just a thing of the past…
My biggest struggle with this book was the sheer amount of miscommunication. It drove the conflict from beginning to end, and after a while it felt repetitive and frustrating. I found myself wanting to scream at the characters and tell them to just TALK TO EACH OTHER!
That said, I did enjoy the small town setting of Maple Falls and the townsfolk. Unfortunately, the constant cycle of misunderstandings overshadowed the charm and made the story less enjoyable for me overall.
2.5⭐️
Madison and Zach were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, but when she left Maple Falls for a career in New York their relationship came to an abrupt end after a huge miscommunication. A few years later, Madison receives a mysterious letter urging her to return home because her family’s inn is in trouble. She rushes back without hesitation and, of course, Zach is still in town. It is immediately obvious they still have a spark and their connection may not be just a thing of the past…
My biggest struggle with this book was the sheer amount of miscommunication. It drove the conflict from beginning to end, and after a while it felt repetitive and frustrating. I found myself wanting to scream at the characters and tell them to just TALK TO EACH OTHER!
That said, I did enjoy the small town setting of Maple Falls and the townsfolk. Unfortunately, the constant cycle of misunderstandings overshadowed the charm and made the story less enjoyable for me overall.
2.5⭐️
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I saw the cover of this book and knew immediately what I was going to get. Can confirm, my assumptions were correct and I was treated to a cosy, low stakes romance in a quaint and idyllic setting.
I am a sucker for a second chance romance so I was immediately invested in Zach and Madison and wanted them to get past themselves and their history and do the damn thing. Of course, they did indeed do the damn thing and the spice kicked in pretty quickly. Of course, Zach didn't own any clothing other than flannel shirts and of course Madison was battling with her city girl vs quite town girl dilemma. Did I enjoy it even though it was predictable? Yes, yes I did.
I loved the setting of this story. I would like to book a stay at the cinnamon spice inn and I'd like to sit down for a cinnamon bun with Madison's Grandma. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but if you look at this and immediately see a cosy romance that you want to get comfy with and lose yourself in, you won't be disappointed. Go for it!
I am a sucker for a second chance romance so I was immediately invested in Zach and Madison and wanted them to get past themselves and their history and do the damn thing. Of course, they did indeed do the damn thing and the spice kicked in pretty quickly. Of course, Zach didn't own any clothing other than flannel shirts and of course Madison was battling with her city girl vs quite town girl dilemma. Did I enjoy it even though it was predictable? Yes, yes I did.
I loved the setting of this story. I would like to book a stay at the cinnamon spice inn and I'd like to sit down for a cinnamon bun with Madison's Grandma. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but if you look at this and immediately see a cosy romance that you want to get comfy with and lose yourself in, you won't be disappointed. Go for it!
This is Book 1 in the Maple Falls series and is definitely a heartwarming one!
Having received a mysterious note from someone saying she has to help save The Cinnamon Spice Inn, Madison returns home from the city to see what was going on.
There she meets, a blast from her past who just keeps on popping up!
Madison is a great character and I enjoyed watching her slowly and seamlessly integrate back into her home again.
Zach is also a great character and I enjoyed watching these two dance arpund each other at the start due to their history. It was great to see them both slowly come back together!
The story itself is autumnal and cosy, all you would expect from a book named The Cinnamon Spice Inn.
I also loved how we had a mystery weaving its way through the story. Madison wasn't the only one to receive a letter... so who is the mystery letter writer?
The reveal actually made me cry 😆.
This is a lovely book and perfect for the autumn season coming up!
Having received a mysterious note from someone saying she has to help save The Cinnamon Spice Inn, Madison returns home from the city to see what was going on.
There she meets, a blast from her past who just keeps on popping up!
Madison is a great character and I enjoyed watching her slowly and seamlessly integrate back into her home again.
Zach is also a great character and I enjoyed watching these two dance arpund each other at the start due to their history. It was great to see them both slowly come back together!
The story itself is autumnal and cosy, all you would expect from a book named The Cinnamon Spice Inn.
I also loved how we had a mystery weaving its way through the story. Madison wasn't the only one to receive a letter... so who is the mystery letter writer?
The reveal actually made me cry 😆.
This is a lovely book and perfect for the autumn season coming up!
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was a cute cozy fall audiobook. It gave Gilmore Girl vibes. A perfect story to start the fall season.
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
First, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArc of this book. I’m a growing fan of seasonal cosy romances, and as excited to get the chance to read this book.
The Cinnamon Spiced Inn is a dual POV, about second chances amid a small town Inn’s preparation for a grand reopening. It is, effectively, a Hallmark movie in a book.
Unfortunately for me, it was one of the Hallmark movies I did not like. Grammatically and structurally, the book was solid. There was a little repetition and quite a few extra passages that weren’t needed and could have been edited out, but nothing awful.
My main issue with this book is that everything was very obvious. I know it’s normal in these books to be able to work out who the main love interests are (even more when it’s POV from both characters) but there was no attempt at tension or a build up of romance. Every other thought was each character had was about each other, and it was the same thoughts repeated over and over again.
Ultimately it is a second chance romance based entirely on miscommunication from 6 years earlier, with repeated misunderstandings happening again and again within the main plot. It definitely isn’t enemies to lovers, as it’s clear these 2 are still in love from the beginning (which makes it very unrealistic they would have lasted 6 years with no attempts of contact at all).
There isn’t really any plot progression that doesn’t involve the main 2 characters avoiding each other in some way, and most of the side characters are introduced to either poke at their ‘relationship’ or to clearly set them up to be main characters in the rest of the series. And as a final note - I really did not like the male main character. I think he was meant to be all grumpy and mysterious but just came across as sullen and miserable.
The one thing I really enjoyed about this book was the very Autumnal vibes. Made me want to cuddle up under blankets with a hot chocolate, which isn’t easy when you’re actually reading the book on a Thai beach. Having said that, I always wonder how the towns in these books survive the 9 months of the year it isn’t Autumn, when the entire livelihood seems to be based on Halloween activities!
I wish wish wish wish I enjoyed this book more. And honestly I wish this book was better than it is.
Vibes (or the idea of) were there, seasonal cosiness sort of as well, I loved the small town and the secondary characters, but nothing was keeping me connected to the story nor to the FMC and MMC and their romance.
Things were not engaging, I was not rooting for them, and I am not interested in finding out what happens (especially not after reading some reviews).
I knew it would be an uphill battle for me as I do not like second chance romances, but there was nothing for me in the romance to enjoy.
The story / writing style was not for me– it felt rushed, there was a lack of atmosphere and ambiance, and when I noticed I kept thinking about other things than the story, I thought it was time to stop reading and go with another book.
I had high hopes for this book and was ready to make this into my new personality (as I have done with the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore). Too bad!!
Half a star for the amazing cover.
2.5 stars rounded down.
DNF @ 32%.
(I will probably buy this book if I see it for 3 pounds at the Works, because that cover!!!! Lovely. Here is to hoping!)
Vibes (or the idea of) were there, seasonal cosiness sort of as well, I loved the small town and the secondary characters, but nothing was keeping me connected to the story nor to the FMC and MMC and their romance.
Things were not engaging, I was not rooting for them, and I am not interested in finding out what happens (especially not after reading some reviews).
I knew it would be an uphill battle for me as I do not like second chance romances, but there was nothing for me in the romance to enjoy.
The story / writing style was not for me– it felt rushed, there was a lack of atmosphere and ambiance, and when I noticed I kept thinking about other things than the story, I thought it was time to stop reading and go with another book.
I had high hopes for this book and was ready to make this into my new personality (as I have done with the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore). Too bad!!
Half a star for the amazing cover.
2.5 stars rounded down.
DNF @ 32%.
(I will probably buy this book if I see it for 3 pounds at the Works, because that cover!!!! Lovely. Here is to hoping!)
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham is a cozy, heartwarming small-town romance perfect for fall reading. The author’s vivid descriptions of the Maple Falls setting and seasonal dishes envelop readers in a warm, festive atmosphere. I enjoyed the charming community and the second-chance romance between Madison and Zach, which brought plenty of tension and chemistry.
However, the frequent miscommunication between the leads introduced some frustration and slowed the story’s emotional momentum, which made me lower my rating from 4 to 3.5 stars. Despite this, the book remains a delightful escape filled with autumnal charm and comforting vibes, ideal for readers who love gentle, spicy romances with community spirit.
Recommended to anyone seeking a seasonal, comforting read with a touch of spice and a lot of heart.
However, the frequent miscommunication between the leads introduced some frustration and slowed the story’s emotional momentum, which made me lower my rating from 4 to 3.5 stars. Despite this, the book remains a delightful escape filled with autumnal charm and comforting vibes, ideal for readers who love gentle, spicy romances with community spirit.
Recommended to anyone seeking a seasonal, comforting read with a touch of spice and a lot of heart.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We definitely got small town vibes and steamy romance!
However, I must admit that as much as I enjoyed the premises of this book it just fel flat for me. I felt like the whole book was just miscommunication after miscommunication and due to this the romance was constantly doing a hot and cold cycle. I also thought the plot was quite predictable and honestly I feel like the story and plot about the inn were more interesting and would have loved to read more about it.
I liked the characters in this book and it gave me Gilmore Girl vibes which I liked. I do admit that due to there being so many characters we only got a general vibe from it was difficult to remember who was who since they didnt feel like separate characters.
Also due to constant miscommunication I feel like there was very little character growth throughout the book. However, there was some growth in the last chapters which was nice!
All in all I enjoyed reading this book and felt like the book and plot definitely had potential, I just felt like it didn't quite reach it.
However, I must admit that as much as I enjoyed the premises of this book it just fel flat for me. I felt like the whole book was just miscommunication after miscommunication and due to this the romance was constantly doing a hot and cold cycle. I also thought the plot was quite predictable and honestly I feel like the story and plot about the inn were more interesting and would have loved to read more about it.
I liked the characters in this book and it gave me Gilmore Girl vibes which I liked. I do admit that due to there being so many characters we only got a general vibe from it was difficult to remember who was who since they didnt feel like separate characters.
Also due to constant miscommunication I feel like there was very little character growth throughout the book. However, there was some growth in the last chapters which was nice!
All in all I enjoyed reading this book and felt like the book and plot definitely had potential, I just felt like it didn't quite reach it.