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.