Mix a little supernatural into a humorous romance = Love Bites. There were times I laughed when Hanna shared her inner thoughts. As she struggles to rebuild her life after a divorce = the new job as an assistance at an art gallery is more than meets the eye. As a cat mom = her interactions with hers felt very familiar! Fast paced and funny. I am curious about what trouble Hanna gets into next and sexual tension with her boss, Mark Abernathy.

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley!

Love Bites totally stole my heart with its perfect mix of snark, mystery, and supernatural fun. The writing sparkles with humor and wit, making the darker moments feel balanced and engaging. Though, what really hooked me was the blend of quirky characters, sharp dialogue, and that irresistible vibe of danger lurking just beneath the surface. I’m completely invested and eagerly awaiting the continuation of the series.

It’s incredibly funny and well-written and I can only recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick 280-page, fun paranormal romance with some murder mystery. I‘m not sure how many books are in this series but I‘m definitely continuing with the next book!

After a messy divorce, Hanna Harvey is living in a tiny apartment with her three cats and rapidly diminishing bank account. When she's hired to be an assistant to a hunky gallery owner, she can't believe her luck. The gallery and offices are a mess, so she's exited to put her art history background and organizational skills to use. Then it's brought to her attention that her boss was the last person seen with a number of women who were later found brutally murdered. While Hanna can't believe he would be a violent killer, she can't help but notice some unusual things surrounding her boss and the gallery. The police detective investigating the murders is also easy on the eyes, so Hanna will have to keep her wits about her and her libido in check while she tries to figure out if she's really in danger.

I really loved this book! The quirky characters and funny dialogue really made the pages fly by! I'm glad to see this is the first book in a series because I'm looking forward to reading more of Hanna's adventures!

The title for this book totally threw me off and I went in expecting love...and some reciprocal biting.

I got neither but was instead taken on a journey of someone unknowingly being hunted and protected. Things didn't really start making sense to me until about 50% in the book. I was constantly thrown off by our FMC's train of thought that quickly went from suspicious to horny in seconds. Girl, pick a lane. Since this book was just setting up the foundation for the big reveal and future shenanigans, I feel like I can't really comment on the series until I read more. Like Hanna, will Abernethy answer any of my questions?

Also, will we get to see her shift into wolf form and finally shag her boss/protector? Looking forward to where this series goes in the next one. Thanks to Tor for the DRC and for traditionally publishing this and putting the series on my radar.

This is a great mystery with a snarky witty protagonist, I found this extremely entertaining and I was hooked from the beginning, love this authors writing style

I am terrible at mysteries. I honestly along with the main character Hanna was not sure that the murders that were following in the wake of her boss Abernathy was not the work of a serial killer or if Abernathy was a serial killer. Hanna is divorced, cat mom of three, and was in desperate need of a job when she got one at Abernathy's art gallery as his assistant. Then there are the murders, there were several murders that happen in close proximity to her boss. I thoroughly enjoyed his mystery, Hanna is a delight, the mystery surrounding Abernathy is engaging and there's alot going on.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced paranormal romantic comedy with a side of murder and mystery, Cynthia St. Aubin’s “Love Bites” might just be your new favorite escape. The first in the Tails from the Alpha Art Gallery series, it serves up a delicious cocktail of humor, heat, and homicide, anchored by a heroine who’s got more sass than sense—but in the most endearing way.

Meet Hanna Harvey: recently divorced, broke, and armed with an art history degree that hasn’t exactly opened doors. Desperate for work (and a change of scenery), she lands a job as an assistant at a bizarre but charming art gallery run by the enigmatic—and extremely attractive—Mark Abernathy. He’s handsome, brooding, and totally offbeat: no phone, no computer, and a wardrobe full of ruined, muddy clothing. Something’s definitely off.

Enter Detective James Morrison: also handsome, also interested in Hanna, and definitely suspicious of Abernathy—especially after a string of murders involving Abernathy’s past flames puts him at the top of the suspect list. As Hanna gets pulled deeper into this supernatural whodunit, she finds herself juggling two hot love interests, three beloved cats, and one very messy murder mystery.

Hanna is a delightfully snarky narrator with a quick wit and a relatable voice. Her banter with both Abernathy and Morrison is sharp and fun—even if it sometimes strays into “no one talks like that” territory. But hey, realism takes a backseat to fun here, and honestly? It works.

The side characters are scene-stealers. From the chaotic group of eccentric artists to Hanna’s sassy cats (yes, they have actual personalities), the supporting cast brings color and charm to every page. Special shoutout to Steven, who is my favorite for a reason.

This is urban fantasy-light with murder mystery and romance all mixed in. There's a slow unraveling of supernatural elements, an ongoing whodunit, and romantic tension that reads more like flirty sitcom banter than angst. It’s a quick, easy read with solid pacing—perfect for a binge. While some moments feel rushed or too convenient (like both love interests being immediately smitten with Hanna), the cliffhanger ending delivers just enough intrigue to have you clicking "buy" on book two.

Hanna lands a dream job with suspicious ease, and the way both Abernathy and Morrison fall for her stretches believability. There’s definite wish fulfillment energy here, which some readers will love and others might side-eye. A lot of the plot’s conflict could have been cleared up if Abernathy was even mildly more forthcoming. Mysterious is sexy—but complete silence while women around you are turning up dead? Not so much.

Overall, “Love Bites” is the kind of book that knows exactly what it is—a fun, fast paranormal mystery-rom-com—and fully embraces its chaotic charm. It’s light on angst, medium on heat, and high on laughs. The story sets up a promising series with murder, magic, and mayhem waiting just around the corner. If you enjoy books that don’t take themselves too seriously but still deliver sharp writing and engaging mysteries, this one’s worth a bite.

🎨 Content Warnings: murder, mild gore, sexual content, themes of divorce and betrayal.
📚 Verdict: A clever and quirky start to a binge-worthy paranormal mystery series. You’ll laugh, you’ll guess, and you’ll probably end up buying the sequel.