The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a warm, cozy romance that feels like wrapping yourself in a blanket with a pumpkin spice latte in hand. Harper Graham delivers a charming small-town second-chance love story full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of spice.

I loved Madison as a heroine—torn between her big-city life and her roots in Maple Falls, she’s relatable in her stubbornness and vulnerability. Zach is the perfect counterbalance: gruff, loyal, and completely undone by Madison’s return. Their banter had me grinning, and the simmering tension between them made their chemistry irresistible.

The inn itself is practically a character, and the Halloween setting adds the perfect dash of autumn magic. Watching Madison and Zach bicker, rebuild, and slowly open themselves back up to love was deeply satisfying.

If you enjoy small-town settings, second-chance romance, and a sprinkle of seasonal charm, The Cinnamon Spice Inn is the perfect cozy read for fall.

This was a cute cozy read! I love these autumnal reads especially as the summer cools off. I can not wait to pick the next in the series of Maple Falls. I gave it 3 stars because it was a good book but nothing spectacular stood out to me. The spicy scenes were pretty good as well so I can not complain there! I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a great job at making the characters feel real.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Graham, the narrators Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis, and finally Bookouture publishing for allowing to listen and review this book.

This was a fun and easy read and they had plenty of connection, and spice - what they lacked - FRUSTRATINGLY SO - was the lack of communication and jumping to conclusions continued to be an issue from the start to the end of the book. It was lovely and fun. I went between listening and reading - thank you netgalley for letting me enjoy and review.

Harper Graham perfectly balances heart, humor, and heat, making you root for Madison as she fights to save her family’s inn—and for Zach, the rugged handyman who might just still hold the key to her heart. The Halloween setting adds a festive, magical touch, making this the perfect fall read.

What a PERFECT way to kick off my fall reading!

You've got small town romance, best friend's brother, second-chance romance, and add in a family run inn that's falling apart?? I am SAT and ready.

If you want a cozy romance read that ALSO gives fall vibes - then you should definitely pick this up.

Thanks to Netgalley for the Audio copy of The Cinnamon Spice Inn.

I've rated 3 Stars.
Was the perfect filler book. All the autumnal vibes, small town romance. The usual Hallmark mood.

Miscommunication trope not my favourite but written well.

The audio book was narrated well.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham is a cozy, small-town second chance romance with all the fall vibes you could want. Madison, a food writer, returns to her hometown to save her family’s inn, only to be thrown back into the path of her ex, Zach, the handyman who still knows exactly how to get under her skin.
I loved the autumn setting, the cozy inn, and the small town charm. The descriptions of fall activities and the Halloween opening made it feel like a place I’d love to visit. Madison and Zach’s second chance romance was sweet, and their chemistry definitely grew as the story went on.
That said, the beginning was a little slow, and the miscommunication between the characters dragged things out more than I liked. Still, the audiobook narration really brought the story to life. A cozy, heartwarming read for anyone who loves fall, small towns, and second chances!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

This author did an amazing job of describing a small town autumn. I felt like I was dropped right into the middle of a Gilmore Girls episode. This was the equivalent of an autumn Hallmark movie. The relationship between Madison and Zach was cute but felt a bit rushed and the miscommunication became very frustrating at times. Overall this was a cute and cozy autumn romance.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn will knock you out with the fall vibes that are packed into every chapter. I read the ebook and audio book and honestly, I hope the paperback is scratch and sniff cause it will only add to it 😅 🍁 🍃🍂

I mostly enjoyed the story, but didn’t connect with the characters as much as I like to. It was overall a little too cheesy, not in a terrible way, really, but like it could be a Hallmark movie I’d find comforting to have on each fall in the background to usher in the season. Focus on the vibes, not the plot.

Ultimately I’m happy for more authors to get on the small town Gilmore Girls inspo bandwagon.

No issues with the narration, so I’d recommend the audiobook!

3.25 stars

Oof.....I was so sure I was going to love this one - a fall setting in a small midwestern town and a second chance romance. Sign me up. I did enjoy the setting of this book, and I loved some of the secondary characters. But the relationship between Madison and Zach was painful to read about by the end of the book. This goes way beyond miscommunication - it is straight up absent or terrible communication. The couple does not learn any lessons from the past, and yet they magically keep rediscovering they love each other (which apparently in this book means they just have great sex). This didn't have the typical HEA that I love because at no point did I think that these characters would last long term after the story ends. I'm not sure if I will pick up the next book in the series or not.

Constructive Criticism won't be posting this

There’s a lot of potential in this story, the fall atmosphere is beautifully written, and the cozy small-town vibes are spot on, but the execution didn’t work for me.
The biggest issue is the pacing. There’s too much internal monologue, too many repetitive thoughts, and too many jumps back into the past. The main conflicts are introduced early but then restated repeatedly through nearly 40% of the book without moving the story forward. It creates a slow burn that never feels present, because so much of it lives in memories instead of in real-time character interaction.
 
A dual narrative with Zac’s perspective would have really helped balance things out and given the story more dimension. Madison’s constant inner dialogue becomes overwhelming, and without his voice, it feels one-sided and stagnant.
 
Because of this, the romance falls flat. The steamy scenes feel awkward because there’s no foundation of meaningful interaction leading up to them. If they’ve barely spoken, why are they suddenly intimate? It doesn’t feel earned. Similarly, the tropes—enemies to lovers, second chance romance- are either underdeveloped or muddled. They don’t land because there’s not enough real connection shown on the page.
 
By the time the story picks up, around 65%, it’s too little too late. The writing improves, and the cozy fall atmosphere really shines, but the lack of consistent character interaction makes it hard to connect with the romance or even root for it. I found myself knowing the townspeople better than the main couple.
 
The cover, blurb, and tropes had me excited to read this, but the story is too wordy and leans heavily on telling rather than showing. Madison’s petty personality, the overdone miscommunication, and the absence of real romantic progression made this one a struggle for me. Overall, I’d give it 2 stars.

Review will be posted

Omg, I can’t tell you how excited I am to review this book. I was able to get approved to review it in audiobook form from a NetGalley arc. I am leaving an honest review
 
We begin the book with Madison, who is back in her childhood home, The Cinnamon Spice Inn. She found a strange letter under the pillow. Oh, I love the scent descriptions they bring right into the autumn vibes. Madison loves a good puzzle, and the writer of the letter is the best one for her to solve. She drops it all in the big city and goes back to Maple Falls, her hometown.
 
This book is set in the Midwest, and the thunderstorm descriptions must be my favorite thing so far.  She is organized and has a big idea to fix up the Inn and get back to the big city. She is a popular food writer and can totally do this. Madison is strong and confident, high-maintenance, and has an overactive imagination, but she might get a little overreactive to certain situations.
 
Oh, this gets deeper as her dad’s guy is the last person she wants to see, her ex-Zac. They have a history of childhood sweethearts, best friends, and instant attraction. We do get Zac's pov, but the audiobook isn’t dual narrative.  Zac has an emotional reaction to seeing her again. It comes out in an angry tone. He helps people and is a contractor; he cares abundantly for the townspeople and this small town.
 
They have a whole enemies thing going on from the start, with the whole petty comments and barbed banter. They do still have tension, but I’m not sure if it is good or bad. It is sparingly at best, only when they happen to be in any sort of proximity.
 
Oh, the fantasy of Zac is smoking hot. Zac has renovated his family’s heritage home with an apple orchard as well, and now it needs work too. That storm was a doozy and starts us on the path of the storyline, or at least I thought that was what this book was about.
 
Apparently, the Inn is a whole family affair with her grandmother, her father, and Madison. Zac mentions other small-town people by name and profession. Like Liam the pumpkin farmer, Liam’s brother Jackson, who is in the military, they are also connected; many more are mentioned and voiced through the story. I knew the whole town better than I knew the main characters.
 
He is so getting voluntold by his mom to assist The Cinnamon Spice Inn with renovations and live there during it, much to his chagrin. I love the forced proximity; it puts him right in Madison’s path. His mother is very convincing with her arguments and meddling. So, this part is interesting, and I was expecting a typical romance. This is where the book lost me.
 
Miscommunication and unspoken expectations are what sank their past relationships, and Madison has all but abandoned her old friendships along the way. This book leans heavily into a slow burn with plenty of fluff, and while the seasonal atmosphere is charming, the constant back-and-forth feels unnecessary. There are far more memories and reflections than real-time interactions, and while Zac and Maddie clearly share a history, it doesn’t quite present itself on the page early on.
 
The town elders, on the other hand, are a delightful surprise. Their sharp, no-nonsense banter, especially when they rope Madison into a Pumpkin Fest committee meeting, is both comical and entertaining, adding some much-needed spark.
 
The pacing, however, drags. The first portion of the book is weighed down by flashbacks, random encounters, and endless internal monologues. The storm damage set up in the beginning is left hanging while we circle through self-care routines and self-deprecating thoughts. At first, I appreciated the layered backstory, but after several chapters, it began to feel repetitive. Honestly, Madison would benefit more from working through her issues than running from them.
 
When Zac and Madison finally interact, it’s prickly but refreshing, because at least something is happening between them rather than just in their heads. Still, Madison often retreats into cozy nostalgia and grief, and their push-pull dynamic wanting each other, denying it, revisiting old wounds, starts to spin in circles. I swear these two spin around like a tornado.
 
They do eventually talk honestly (helped along by peer pressure and a few drinks), and Zac shines as the genuinely good small-town guy. Their outdoor kiss is smoking hot, but instead of progression, we get more of the same hesitation. The story seems stuck on repeat: memories, reasons they can’t be together, more internal angst. Renovations? Forced proximity? The romance payoff? Still waiting. The character development isn’t there, and it’s stretched thin by too much repetition.
 
I’ll be honest, I struggled. I wanted to love this story, especially with the autumn vibes and small-town charm woven in. But the emotional connection never landed because the characters rarely do anything together. Most of the angst lives in their thoughts, which makes it harder to feel authentic as a reader. The mix of tropes childhood sweethearts, second-chance romance, and enemies-to-lovers creates more confusion than tension.
 
That said, once we hit chapter twenty-one, the writing noticeably improves. The girl talks, the revelations, the real growth. This is where the book finally hooks me. If the story had trimmed down some of the fluff and started stronger, I’d be much more invested.
 
The intimacy that does arrive is steamy, but it feels abrupt, coming without enough interaction to build up to it. Arguments, misunderstandings, heated moments… but still, nothing truly resolves. Madison remains conflicted, torn between Zac, the town’s judgment, and whether long distance could work.
 
By the final chapters, the pace picks up and things become more engaging, but honestly? If I could have skipped from chapters 1–5 straight to 21, I think I would have loved this a lot more.
 
They finally broke the ice, and the pumpkin festival brings out their playful side, but Zac is still very meek. I liked his character a lot more by the end of the book, but I started to be annoyed by Madison.  His voice parts are quick and simple one-liners that you have to focus on to catch the inclination. Happiness looks good on them, but they also steal moments of intimacy in public, which again is awkward. I enjoyed the bidding war.
 
This part of the book is so much better than the beginning; it is like night and day. This is more of what I expected in this autumn romance. But still, nothing is resolved in this story. If only the writing were like this all the way through. But honestly, this book gave me whiplash.

This is the first book in the Maple Falls Series. I loved the cozy fall vibes and the small town charm. Madison and Zach’s second chance romance was sweet, and it was heartwarming to see them reconnect after so many years apart.

Madison is independent and stubborn, while Zach is patient, selfless, and always willing to help her. Watching them slowly break down their walls and rediscover their feelings was a highlight. The autumn setting, seasonal activities, and the inn itself made the story feel like a place I could actually visit.

Listening to the audiobook brought the story to life. Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis were perfect as the narrators, giving both characters personality and depth. They made the romance feel real and added charm to the small town atmosphere.

The story is predictable and the miscommunications were frustrating at times, but it is a light, cozy romance that delivers what it promises. This is a great read or listen if you enjoy small town settings, second chance romance, and a relaxing fall vibe.

Thank you NetGalley for the adio ARC.

The was a cozy fall, second chance romance romance. The beginning was a little slow for and really had to speed up the audio book and didn't like how the main characters had a such a hard time with communication . I thought the setting was very cozy and came me the feels of a place that I would actually like to visit.
Overall I would recommend this book and will continue the series. If you love fall, small town charm and second chances this book is worth the read.

Started out my seasonal reading with this adorable gem of a book! This is the first book in the Maple Falls series. It had all the fall feels without being too over the top. My only negative was the miscommunication but that’s a me issue. Overall, this was the perfect quick listen to transition into your fall reads! If you love a small town, second chance romance with forced proximity and a cozy vibe… you won’t want to miss this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC copy.

This had amazing autumnal vibes!
It read like a Hallmark movie, cute, sweet, and a little goofy. I just wish the conflict was such blatantly obvious miscommunication, you are both adults just talk things out, don't hide and/or ignore each other.

A really cute Hallmark-esque small town romance with tons of cozy fall vibes!

Madison finds herself out of her busy NYC and back to her small hometown of Maple Falls to try and restore her family's failing Cinnamon Spice Inn. Only, she has to rely on her ex-boyfriend Zach for renovations. Preparing for the Inn's grand reopening on Halloween, Madison has to sort out her feelings for her old hometown and Zach.

This is the quintessential small town romance. Cozy fall vibes are everywhere, from decorations to food to celebrations and weather. It's fall ALL OVER. I enjoyed Madison and Zach as main characters, even if both are pretty typical. Madison falls back in love with her small town, and Zach's only traits are that he's hot, married to his work, and loves Madison a lot. It's total escapist romance and does its job well.

A small town romance. second chance romance. I enjoyed the audiobook that I got to review from NetGalley. The narrator was pleasant to listen to. It was like a Hallmark movie in Autumn and Halloween. But with a little spice.
I wanted to be there and tasting all the foods and drinks that they talked about. Also to smell everything.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review it if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to listen and review it if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review, please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media: The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (X). Thank you.

I love books like this! It’s like Hallmark, but with spice! I listened to this book as an ALC. The narrator was perfect and her voice really fit this book. This was cozy and cute. It was full of my favorite season. Small town romance books are always a quick light read. I do have one complaint—miscommunication! That trope was so strong in this book that I almost stopped reading it. It was so frustrating at some points. Besides that this was a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture audio, and Harper Graham for an advanced reader copy of "The Cinnamon Spice Inn".

Overall, I enjoyed this story, especially the setting of the cute town of Maple Falls. The amount of miscommunication causing issues in this book was a bit annoying. Both Madison and Zach didn't seem to learn from past mistakes, where a conversation could have just cleared up misconceptions. Zach acted quite immature for my taste a few times.

I would definitely like to visit the Cinnamon Spice Inn for the pastries though! I hope Kit gets a book!