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The Gingerbread Bakery: The brand-new enemies to lovers cozy romance for 2025 from the international No 1 best-selling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café (Dream Harbor) (Book 5)

The highly anticipated new Dream Harbor romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café!

'All the makings of a top tier Hallmark movie that happens to include a nice dash of spice'--People on the Dream Harbor series

'If you like steamy, small-town romance, then global bestselling author Laurie Gilmore should definitely be your go-to'--Fabulous Magazine

Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

❄️❄️❄️❄️

As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she's locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It's easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan's wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

  • Enemies to lovers
  • Found family
  • Small Town
  • Forced Proximity
Readers love Laurie Gilmore

'The atmosphere of the small town of Dream Harbor envelops you from the very first pages: snow-covered streets, the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, and a sense of community that only exists in a close-knit and friendly community' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming break from reality' Publishers Weekly

'Gilmore's take on the 'enemies to lovers' trope is a real treat' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely loved this small town, cosy romantic and very steamy novel just as much as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Perfect for reading in the evening with a little fire going' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I enjoyed this so much! Completely heartwarming and unputdownable, the steamy scenes were a bonus' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'[This] gave me everything I needed from an easy read and was the perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear to put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Just the perfect amount of sugar and spice... a literal dream to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BUY THE BOOK

Published Sep 16, 2025

384 pages

Average rating: 8.38

26 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Emlan
Oct 15, 2025
9/10 stars
Enjoyable read, almost as good as Logan and Jeanie’s. Nice to finally know Mac and Annie’s history. Loads of cameos in this one.
daph_78
Nov 14, 2025
4/10 stars
2.5, idk it needed more angst or something.
Also Mac never hated her so i am not sure if it’s true enemies to lovers
Svolk3
Oct 21, 2025
10/10 stars
Loved it! This is my favorite series! I will say I miss the original audiobook narrator though. The two that did this one made for a hard listen..
Mxteez_
Oct 01, 2025
10/10 stars
Love yes yes yes
Gail_71
Sep 26, 2025
8/10 stars
In the series's latest instalment, Laurie Gilmore once again demonstrates her exceptional talent for depicting the complexities of love. The character Mac resonates deeply with readers through his longing and frustrations, delivering a powerful message about the importance of following one’s instincts and desires. His journey encourages readers to seek fulfilment, even when faced with divergent paths. Having encountered elements of the characters’ dynamics in previous books, I entered this story with predilections but was pleasantly surprised by the reveals and 'then' chapters. This led to a more balanced view of the situation, allowing me to appreciate perspective, forgiveness, and accountability themes. I particularly connected with Annie, whose tendency to hold grudges mirrored my own, making her reactions relatable. Overall, this book continues to be an enjoyable addition to the series.

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