Cynthia St. Aubin does a fantastic job in writing this supernatural mystery book, I really enjoyed the way the characters and world were presented and developed. It was everything that I wanted in a opening chapter and was glad it was everything that I was looking for and am excited for more in this world. It uses the genre perfectly and had that feel that I was looking for and was glad it was so well done. It was a great first entry in the Tails from the Alpha Art Gallery series and left me wanting more.

This was a really fun read. It was easy to get into the story, and like Hanna the main character. It also included an quirky bunch of side characters that created the feeling you get when watching a comedy with a bunch of oddballs that make life interesting. The majority of this book was light on the paranormal elements, but it sets up the future books in the series well. It is a bit silly at times, and ends on a cliffhanger, but you get invested enough in the characters that you'll be left wanting to know more, and read the next book. At least, that's the way I felt, and normally cliffhangers aggravate me to no end.

I had a ton of fun reading this. Part rom-com, part cozy mystery, we find recently divorced Hannah, desperately in need of a job to keep not only herself and her cats housed and fed. She ends up working for Mark Abernathy as an organizer, which is absolutely needed. I loved Hannah's quirky personality and how she says whatever comes to mind, also the love she has for her cats makes her a girl after my own heart.
I loved the mystery, which had some great twists and turns, and I loved the characters that had me laughing out loud.
I read this in one sitting, and can't wait to read the next book.

Rating: 2.5

Love Bites is a book that worked for me in parts and not in others. I enjoyed the quirky aspects and characters that we are introduced to in Love Bites. Like many first books in series, a lot of time is spent on introducing characters and the surrounds they find themselves. I did like the introduction of possible werewolves making it a bit supernatural, but not too in your face supernatural. The way the supernatural elements were introduced though make this novel very predictable, at least it did for me. What didn't work for me were the sex scenes. I normally love some sex scenes in a novel, but these just felt forced and didn't flow with the overall story, at least not how they were presented. I don't know if I'm invested enough, at least right now, to continue with this series.

If you like the Finlay Donovan series and/or are looking for a cozy supernatural mystery romance, I would recommend giving these a shot.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

Love Bites by Cynthia St. Aubin was an absolute delight! I actually picked it up because Ilona Andrews recommended it in their newsletter, promising “a funny, light paranormal romantic comedy with medium heat and very little angst.” And that’s exactly what it delivered.

Hanna, freshly divorced and in debt, lands a job at an art gallery with the swoony and mysterious Mark Abernathy. Their banter and dynamic reminded me a little of Barrons and Mac from the Fever series—only far more lighthearted and cheeky. Of course, there’s also Detective James Morrison, who’s investigating a string of murders tied to the gallery…which may or may not point directly to Hanna’s enigmatic new boss.

The book is equal parts paranormal rom-com and cozy murder mystery, with plenty of humor, a bit of adventure, and a quirky cast of side characters (including Hanna’s cats, who just about stole the show). Hanna herself is sharp, witty, and instantly lovable, and the supporting characters all brought their own charm and chaos to the story.

The pacing was fast, the writing clever, and I flew through it in one sitting. It’s exactly the kind of low-angst, funny paranormal romp you want when you need a breather between heavier reads. I’m definitely continuing this series!

Recommended for: fans of Practical Magic, light paranormal mysteries, and anyone who loves their romance with a side of murder and sass.

Hanna Harvey needs a job so her cats will stop eyeing her up for snackability. She fudges a bit on her resume (we've all been there) and fakes her way through an interview with gorgeous art gallery owner Mark Abernathy for an assistant job. Thrilled to get the job, she is less thrilled when her boss' exes seem to start turning up dead and Detective James Morrison (I admit, I snickered every time I saw his name on the page) is determined to arrest Mark for murder.

Okay, I loved this! It's a quick read and I'm very happy that it's the start of a series. Funny without contorting the characters and plot just for laughs, I'd recommend this for adults, it is a bit spicy.

Looking forward to book two later this year!

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Love Bites (Tales from the Alpha Art Gallery, Book 1) by Cynthia St. Aubin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 290
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Original Release Date: Dec. 17, 2024
Paperback Release Date: Sep. 9, 2025
🥳#HappyPubDay!🎉

Newly divorced Hanna Harvey just got a new job as an assistant to gallery owner Mark Abernathy. Hard at work putting her organizational skills to good use all while trying not to swoon over her hunky new boss, she slowly starts noticing some quirky behaviors in her boss and everyone connected with the art gallery.

I can tell this is going to be a new favorite series of mine. It’s fun, sexy, and full of exciting supernatural goings-on. And all five books in the series are free with #KindleUnlimited.

Thank you, @CynthiaStAubin and @TorBooks for my free @NetGalley copy.

Oooh this was fun! Romantic suspense that kept me reading and laughing and then stressed at the end. There is so much humor in this book and I loved the FMC so much that it could have been about anything. But then when more is revealed... bam I was hooked and could not stop reading. The writing is so easy to read and sweeps you away. The characters are funny and tender and steamy! I already cannot wait to see what comes next after that dramatic reveal!

𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

This book had me asking the real questions in life like why do I keep finding books with cats in them, and when will I stop? Spoiler: can’t stop won’t stop. Especially not when the main character refers to hers as “feline life partners.” That alone had me sold and I will be using that from now on.

This book is the perfect mix of snark, supernatural mystery, and romantic tension. Hanna was the perfect blend of awkward-yet-endearing energy and she had me wheezing with laughter at her internal commentary.

The MMCs were fiiine. Yes, plural. Why choose? Cynthia St. Aubin clearly said you can have murder, mayhem, AND a buffet of attractive men and honestly, she delivered.

The ending had me gasp out loud dramatically because I need answers NOW. If I didn’t already have other ARCs waiting, I would be inhaling the sequel immediately.

It’s been a long time since a book gave me Assistant to the Villain vibes, but this scratched that itch in the best way (oh yes, the itch right behind the ear).

This book didn’t just make me laugh. It reminded me why I love reading quirky, chaotic, sharp-witted mysteries. I’m feeling bitey.

The first in a fun, paranormal cozy mystery series that features an art-loving, young cat lady who talks herself into a job at an art gallery but finds herself roped into a murder mystery when the women her boss has been dating start dying and the hot detective fears she might be next. I loved the strong, snarky FMC, the mystery kept me guessing, the romance was cute and there was a great cast of quirky side characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this re-release by a new to me author.

Cute, funny, somewhat unhinged. I had so much fun with this! Hannah is barely hanging on, and if she can land a job at this gallery she just might get her life back on track. Fancy cat food for the fur babies, exotic cheeses! There’s just one thing. Her new boss might be a murderer… or possibly a werewolf. In any case, Hannah’s got bills to pay and cats to feed and she’s not about to let this opportunity slip away.

This was a fun, lighthearted read with a cast of silly, endearing characters. It has a cozy mystery vibes with a touch of the paranormal and is just slightly horror-adjacent. Lest you think it’s all chill vibes the climax is seriously intense. And did I mention unhinged? Definitely unhinged. This is the first book in a series and I’ll absolutely be picking up the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. This review was written voluntarily.

Love Bites is the first installment in the Tails from the Alpha Art Gallery series, a fun, lighthearted paranormal mystery romcom that made for a delightful fall read. With a charming lead in Hanna and a cast of interesting, and entertaining side characters, the story blends humor, mystery, and action in a way that keeps things engaging throughout. The plot is cute, the pacing brisk, and the touch of humor adds just the right amount of charm to round it all out.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

Love Bites is an urban fantasy set in our modern world where things like vampire and werewolves are things of myth and legend, that is what Hanna believes until she gets a new job as an assistant to a handsome and mysterious art gallery owner. Hanna is a recent divorce and though life has gotten her down in the romance and finance department, things seem to be looking up with two handsome men (her new boss and a cop) seemingly interested in her as well as the gallery providing a steady pay check.

I enjoyed Hanna's snarky worldview and the cute interactions between her and her cats who are more children than pets. This is not a subtle novel, this a fun, over the top romp. The ending has an exciting cliffhanger which leads in to the next book in the Tails from the Alpha Art Gallery Mystery Series, Love Sucks. which will be out soon.

This novel was a quick and fun read! It was humorous, mysterious and lighthearted. It also came with adventure! This was my first time reading a book that was written by this author and I was pleasantly impressed! I will definitely be reading more books from her. It came with lovable and witty characters, especially the protagonist Hanna! I felt that out of all the characters, she was my favorite. However, I really enjoyed the other characters in this book as well!

It was fun getting to know each of them and humor they came with. I felt that the side characters in this story stood out as well. This novel is both a mix of plot and character driven. Hanna’s cats in this novel really made me laugh! This came with an interesting mystery and memorable characters. I found it to be addictive, especially with the paranormal element it had. It is beautifully written, easy to read and well structured! Overall, I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars!

I think fans of the movie “Practical Magic” would absolutely love reading this! Content warnings include sexual content, death and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Cynthia St. Aubin and Tor Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book’s new edition is expected to be published on September 9, 2025!

To be quite honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and author, but I was willing to give it a go. I am so darn glad I was granted access to this title! I was drawn straight into the book, and it didn’t let me go until the end. Hanna, Mark, and James kept me laughing and gasping the whole book through. And, boy, does Hanna have a huge decision to make…well, actually a couple of them. I loved, loved this series starter, and I’ve already started the next book in the series. Give this book a try! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

If you are Looking for books that have the following:

-cozy mystery vibes
-paranormal stuff
-romantic component
-diverse or independent

Be sure to pick up Love Bites by Cynthia St. Auburn! It broke my reading slump with ease and promises to be an incredible series. I can’t wait to continue on to the next book!

Thank you so much @torpublishinggroup for my advanced review copy. I loved it so much!

Love Bites is out 9/9/25

Here are some addition recs I got for cozy romantic paranormal mysteries!

🐺 The Lone Wolf Cafe by @authorsydneywilder

⚰️ What Happened on Roslyn Street by @lavendellebooks

💫 Welcome to Halfling House by @victoriavassallo

🫀A Lab Rats Guide to Fated Love by @asdojie

🎵 A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by @tiawilliamswrites

I'm not sure what to make of this book. I've seen it referred to a paranormal romance, but besides some serious (cringey) lusting and a one-night stand, I don't see where it fits that description. I pushed through, but I was bored and confused. It seemed like everything had to be tied up in the last 20 pages, which is kind of frustrating. It was like not much happened otherwise. If I hadn't received this as an ARC, I would have DNF'd it.

Love Bites by Cynthia St. Aubin is a fun, funny, paranormal romance about a recently divorced art history grad student investigating the dark secret of her new boss at the art gallery.

This is a super fun, lighthearted novel with just enough spice and snark to make it interesting. I love the author’s writing style and cannot wait to delve into the rest of the series.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me for my review.

Fun little novel with a spunky main character. The whole werewolf thing doesn't become apparent to her until very late in this book, although there are a number of clues leading up to that point. Light read.