The Cinnamon Spice Inn By Harper Graham
DING DING DING! Finally! A cute, cozy, and adorable romance book that wasn’t corny and tried to include too many tropes, which makes my head spin. I would like to start by saying that this book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Cinnamon Spice Inn is your perfect blend of the warm fuzzies mixed with the frustration of two lovers who can’t ever seem to be on the same page. Now, don’t run off! The miscommunication trope has been overdone for a few years now, and I totally get not enjoying it. However, I can confidently say that Harper did a very good job of keeping it entertaining and having me subtly yelling at the book every now and then. I will say that I loved the characters and was rooting for both of them the whole time. I think that’s why I didn’t mind the miscommunication trope throughout the book, because of how likable the characters were. I also want to applaud Harper for making the male main character not an anger-fueled beast that hates women, definitely a change from most “cozy” romance books out there.
Ok! Let’s turn our fireplaces on (I know it’s still summer, just do it, ok.) Get your pumpkin spice lattes, apple crisp pastries, and your favorite blanket, and let’s book a room at the Cinnamon Spice Inn. We follow the main character, Maddison. Small town born and raised, with a loving family, knew grief at a young age. She lost her mother while she was in college and relied heavily on the nostalgia of the Inn to keep her company. After the funeral of her mother, Maddison left for New York and didn’t look back. She built a name for herself in the culinary world by becoming a very well-known food critic and editor. She loved her life in New York and the friends that she made along the way. Especially her best friend Jo, who has kept her company and been a shoulder to cry on when her mother died. One busy New York-filled day, Maddison left work with plans to begin her weekend. When she arrived at her apartment, there was a letter waiting for her at the doorstep. Stating that the family-owned “Cinnamon Spice Inn” needs help and asking Maddison to consider coming back home to aid her grandmother and father. It didn’t take much for Maddie to pack a bag and head north. The night that she got there, she expected to see the front porch decorated in the iconic festive decor, only to find an empty porch with molded leaves sticking to the flaking paint. She opened the front door to the Inn, waiting for the cinnamon spice and pumpkin scents to flood her nose, but all she got was the scent of damp, wet, musty carpet. She was confused as to why her grandmother or father didn’t keep up with her late mother’s decoration schedule, as it was a leading cause of tourist booking rooms. Every year, tourists come searching for the fall coziness and bright orange and red colors. She could tell there was something seriously wrong.
Maddie stepped foot into the kitchen and was quickly wrapped in a warm hug by her father and grandmother. After catching up for a while, she finally got settled in, unpacked her bags, and started reading her latest novel. As the night went on, the storm outside grew bigger and bigger until she heard a loud crash coming from the den. She quickly got up and peeked outside her room to see a massive tree in her living room. Her father met her outside, making sure Maddison was ok. She asked her dad who could fix this roof that won’t put us in even more debt? Her father called the one and only contractor in the city, Zack. The same Zack that Maddison left to pursue a career in New York, the same Zack she saw flirting at a bar on their anniversary day, the same Zack that she always loved and never forgot about. She quickly realized that she’s going to have to figure out how to be in the same room with Zack, without falling for him… again. The Inn needs a large remodel and fixings, and it’s all going to be done by Zack. Can she hold on to her feelings, or will she go back into Zack’s arms? Will Zack even open himself up to her again?
Well, needless to say, this book was a five-star read, after two, three-star books. I can confidently say this pulled me out of a very dark road towards a very long reading slump. I felt like I was in Maddison’s hometown, sipping apple crisp lattes, and reading a book in the local coffee shop, while snacking on apple butter-filled pastries. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends… not so much family, as it does have a 3/5 spice rating. But, if you’re into that, then by all means. I’m not generally one for romance novels; however, this book was the perfect exception. I am extremely excited to see what Harper has in store for Liam and Cassidy!
