Love Bites by Cynthia St. Aubin

Quirky, Snarky, and Just a Little Bloody

Love Bites is the first book in Cynthia St. Aubin’s Tales from the Alpha Art Gallery series, and it’s a delightfully offbeat blend of cozy mystery, paranormal romance, and snarky humor. Hanna Harvey is recently divorced, running low on funds, and determined to rebuild her life—preferably without disappointing her three cats or her cheese habit. A little creative résumé work lands her a job at the Alpha Art Gallery, and while it’s the perfect chance to work in a field she loves, her boss Mark Abernathy comes with a suspiciously long list of dead lady friends.

Hanna’s sass and gumption won me over right away. She’s a bit of a hot mess, but in a way that feels relatable. The resident artists are an absolute riot, adding a constant undercurrent of humor to the murder investigation. There’s even a hint of a love triangle between Mark, the dangerously charming gallery owner, and Detective James Morrison, the homicide cop who’s far too appealing for someone warning her she might be next on the killer’s list.

The mystery unfolds at a slightly slower pace than I expected, but it kept me guessing, and the cliffhanger ending makes me glad book two is already waiting on my shelf. I would have loved even a small peek into Detective Morrison’s perspective, but that’s more wishful thinking than a complaint.

A fun, fast read perfect for fans of paranormal cozies with plenty of humor and heart.