In this latest charming, romantic story, the author will enchant readers with this story. I love all of Ms. Tagg’s books and this one is another hit! I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series! This book is not just charming in its description of its setting, but in the relationships that are formed throughout the book. For those who like a mystery, readers will be taken on a journey to discover what really happened to Maggie’s granddaughter. I can’t say enough about this book and how good it was! I highly recommend this book and know readers will not be disappointed! This book has it all- romance, a mystery, a charming setting, and will make readers feel like they belong with this family. This story also is a great example that families can be made up of many people without be related by blood.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

This is book one in a new series, set on a blueberry farm in small town Maine, with well developed, likeable characters and an adorable romance, what’s not to like? This was a perfect fall read and I look forward to reading the next instalment.

Melissa Tagg is a great author, but this is my least favorite book by her so far. It took a while for the book to hook me and then it ended on a cliffhanger. I liked the book enough that I'll read the rest of the series.

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley--all opinions are my own.

“Autumn by the Sea” by Melissa Tagg

“And oh, how Sydney wanted to believe it in that moment. Wanted to believe the answer to every question she’d ever had, the fulfillment of every longing she’d ever harbored, was right here in this house by the sea.”

A promising start to a new series set in a small coastal town that will tug at your heart. “Autumn by the Sea” draws out the feel of finding a place to call home while focusing on the hope of a better future. There are many layers to this story that is wrapped in a mystery. It took me a bit to get involved in the storyline, but I think it was due to the grief and sadness of how the characters come together. However, once I did, I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to getting to know this family more through the series.

“Maybe she was here because God had led her here. Laid a path for her feet and whispered for her to walk. Maybe He hadn’t forgotten her, after all.”

The meet cute between Sydney Rose and Neil was surprising and fun. Their romance was sweet and I loved how they were drawn together. The depth of the other characters really has me hoping for all their happy endings as the story continues. The mystery has me intrigued as to how it will unfold, too. I’m excited to read the next book in the series and hoping to connect more with the characters of this town.

“Sometimes a feeling is just a feeling. Other times it’s truth wrapped in undeniable knowing.”

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are given honestly.

Heartrending and hilarious by turns, this visit to Muir Farm felt (appropriately!) like going home to visit family. Three (adoptive) siblings juggling a struggling blueberry farm, two antique stores, and a law office--and the woman whose love knit them all together… This introduction to the Muir family and their secrets has me excited to read more from Melissa Tagg's Muir Harbor series!

Maggie's letters sprinkled throughout the book give Autumn by the Sea a lovely epistolary feel (and I'm a fan of all things epistolary). But what made this book extra-special were the themes of adoption and foster families, along with the heroine's search for her own family history.

(Thanks to NetGalley for this chance to review another enjoyable read from Melissa Tagg!)

Sit back and allow yourself to be whisked away to the tiny coastal village of Muir Harbor!
What I loved:
The characters—what a brilliant cast! Even the less-endearing characters were interesting and multi-dimensional, and the most loveable ones still had their fair share of flaws.
The setting—a blueberry farm in Maine overlooking the sea. Need I say more? Not convinced? I’ll say this: I first fell in love with Maine when I read Whose Waves These Are. Melissa Tagg has just confirmed that I absolutely need to visit Maine at least once in my life (although if it’s as charming in real life as it is in Autumn by the Sea, then once might not be enough).
The humour—this book was just so fun! Although there were several serious and emotional themes going on, the tone of the story as a whole remained light, with humour threaded throughout expertly.
The emotions—so well balanced with the afore-mentioned humour. The story was neither overly light and fluffy, nor heavy and dark. The more serious scenes pushed through at just the right moments and the emotional impact of each felt organic and genuine. So well written—nothing contrived or unrealistic. None of the melodramatic overreactions that have somehow become a norm in contemporary romance. No, these characters faced serious issues and handled them reasonably, further endearing themselves to me in the process.
The romance—adorable! All the warm fuzzy feelings! I love nothing more than watching romance bud between two people who just deserve that HEA so much! The pacing was perfect, fitting in with the other aspects of the plot, but never being eclipsed completely.
The mystery—just a light dash that kept me glued to the page. While this is by no means a suspense nor a mystery novel, I did enjoy the underlying threads of intrigue that promise to continue in the next books.
And speaking of the next books, I cannot wait for A Seaside Wonder to release (Book 2)! I absolutely loved this book and hope to return to Muir Harbor soon.

(Note: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)

Sydney has been searching and dreaming of the life she could have had if she had not been given away as a child. This leads to her searching and hiring an investigator to find her family. She discovers they are from Maine and she finally gets to meet some of the family she thought she lost. There are secrets and scandal that may be more then she bargained for.

Fun and funny with a slow romance, and oh my good gracious, such a strong family bond. I loved the twists in the plot that kept me guessing, but also the setting: a cottage on a Maine blueberry farm in autumn. Just so many delightful elements for a cozy read with a bit of mystery.

**I received this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley. All words and opinions here are mine alone. As always.

Melissa has done it yet again! She has created a town that has enough intrigue and mystery that you want to stay and find out more about the people who live there and their stories. I am excited for book 2 and can’t wait to go back and visit. I highly recommend this book.

**I was given an ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review. These words are mine and mine alone.

Right from page one, I was drawn into this story and found myself not being able to put it down! Each and every character was wonderfully written and unique and I wanted to know more about this interesting found family of Maggie's--- and the secrets of their pasts. And boy were there many secrets to unfold in this one. With each turn of the page, I found myself really uncertain of which way things might go... and more and more curious to find out. Even when the story ended, there were still some questions left for the next book in the series that kept me wanting more... in the best way possible!

Beyond the mystery, I absolutely loved the chemistry between Neil and Sydney as well... it jumped right off the pages, and I look forward to seeing them again in future books too. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic story and a great start to the series. I truly cannot wait to read more!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

The worst thing about this book is that the subsequent books in the series aren’t out yet!! I loved this book SO MUCH. Each character was fascinating in their own unique way—and so well developed!! I love a book with characters that seem like someone I could walk up to and meet in real life, and that’s certainly how these felt. The setting was so rich and wonderful—it made for a DELIGHT of a fall read. And I enjoyed the mystery and romance to the fullest. I especially loved the sweet spot at the end with a certain character’s name situation.

I was immediately drawn into this new book by Melissa Tagg and can't wait for the next in this series! I feel like it is reminiscent of Irene Hannon's Hope Harbor series so if you're a fan of those books, I think you'll really love Autumn by the Sea as well. Muir Farm and all of its occupants were so inviting. It made me feel like it's a place I'd love to visit.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Published 28 September 2021.

Story Line: 4 Stars
Depth: 4 Stars
Faith: 3 Stars
Love Story: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Autumn by the Sea captured our attention before we even opened the book! The author, the title, and cover drew us in.

We have become big fans of author Melissa Tagg, and her writing just keeps getting better with each book. We thoroughly enjoyed the setting, pace, and mystery in this new series. Her characters grow on the reader quickly, and give us much to look forward to as the rest of the series is released. Melissa weaves different layers into the plot so engaging the book kept us turning pages long into the night.

What caught us off guard - different from Melissa's previous books - was the ongoing mystery will seemingly take more than one book to solve! Therefore we eagerly wait for the next in the series. While we may have preferred a stronger faith aspect to be woven in a little more, we would highly recommend this book to others.

I love this new series! Neil and Sydney’s story was heartwarming. I enjoyed the family dynamics and can’t wait to read the next books. With just a little bit of mystery, faith and love - it’s a keeper. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. Loved being an early reader

4.5 STARS

Ah, another whimsical contemporary romance from Melissa Tagg. She really is one of the best in that category! Autumn by the Sea has that same Stars Hollow-ey feel as her other books, with quirky townspeople (I’m looking at you, Patti Brighton-Smythe), a dreamy seaside home, and a slightly-grumpy, flannel-wearing hero.

Add a mystery to those charming qualities, and you’ve got a recipe for a great start to this newest series. Especially with that mystery element that isn’t resolved in this one. A Seaside Wonder will be on my reading list as soon as it’s released so I can figure out what’s up with Indi’s fiancé and what the next step will be with all those unanswered questions at the end of this one.

The only parts that gave me a little pause was the two-week time frame for romance (but that just might be a little cynicism on my part coming out) and the age of Sydney’s foster brother (I thought he was a teenager, and then he turned out to be twenty-seven, I think.) Still, it’s a fun, page-turning story, and I did love the family dynamics between Maggie, Neil, Indi, and Lilian.

If you like contemporary romance in a vacation-quality setting with an endearing family, you need to read this one.

*I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

*I’ll be posting to my IG (@courtneyballingerbooks on 10-1-21.)

I have read a lot of great books this year and this book moves easily into the top three. I have been a fan of Melissa Tagg for a while so I knew I was going to love the book but I still wasn’t prepared for all it’s wonderfulness. I got right into the book without any problems even though I will admit that a few details escaped for a little bit. The storyline just flowed and drew me in, keeping me engaged straight to the end. The characters are wonderful which is great because this is the first book in a series. Each character was given the perfect amount of attention to be introduced to them, get to know them, understand them and look forward to seeing them again. The main characters and their story was also great. Their journey through the book was realistic and enjoyable. I also look forward to their continued story as this series progresses.

Rating 4.5

I love it when the story within is even more beautiful than the cover.

I still have a few Melissa Tagg novels to read, but to date, this one is probably the best I’ve read. Small town setting, a very close family, mysteries and a great romance.

Some loves take months or years to blossom. But some blow in like a storm over the sea, so fast and furious and wonderful it about bowls you over.

I just loved the Muir family who grew via circumstances and adoption. Maggie was a sweet motherly/grandmotherly figure and so wise. I enjoyed the letters she wrote to Robert and I feel there is still so much to be revealed to the readers.

Lilian and Indi was great secondary characters and I’m hoping that Lilian’s story will be an enemy to love one!

Sydney and Neil - I loved them as individual characters and even more together. Sydney’s quest to find answers about her parents and where she belongs was emotional but captivating. Neil with is quiet strength to protect and provide for everyone, but yet with his own hurts and dreams will make lots of readers love him.

The mystery thread in the plot is new for me with this author, but she should definitely continue! I was intrigued, confused, hopeful along with Sydney and at the end frustrated because I want to know what Maggie remembered!!!

And the teaser at the end makes me want to read Indi’s story now!!!!!

Fall in love with a collection of people who are related but not really related. Sydney Rose discovers something she didn’t know she was looking for. This contemporary romance has intrigue, red herrings, and riddles that kept me guessing. It’s one of those books I couldn’t decide if I wanted to rush to the finish or savor the story as long as possible. (Rush it was because I was to impatient to know how it would all unfold) After reading the teaser for the next book, I can’t wait for my next installment of these endearing characters.

"Autumn by the Sea" takes us to Maine for a delightful fall read with a cast of characters you will love!

Sydney lives in Chicago, and has no biological family or any idea of who she is or where she came from.  When a private detective arrives and tells her she may be his client's granddaughter, she dares to hope for a family and a place to call home.  

Neil's adopted family is close, and he loves running their blueberry farm and caring for the property, even with its frustrations. When Sydney arrives, he's certain she will be another "not the granddaughter" who will break Maggie's heart... again.

In the prologue, Maggie's haunting letter tells of a life full of tragedy and heartache and draws you in immediately. Her search for her lost granddaughter has led to multiple disappointments, but she refuses to give up hope.

I've read most of Melissa's books, and the new Muir Harbor series is on track to become my favorites! I "just one more chapter"ed my way through the last third of the book and stayed up past 1 AM finishing it. Those who may have only read some of her earliest works will enjoy how her character development and story crafting has matured. You will love spending time with Sydney, Neil, and Maggie in Muir Harbor! 

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to pre-read and review this delightful book!

Autumn By The Sea by Melissa Tagg is the start of a new contemporary romance series. This was my first book by this author, and I have to say it will not be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this story of hope and what it means to love and be a family.
This book has quite an interesting premise, and it’s what drew me in from the beginning. Sydney, a former foster child, is surprised one autumn morning by a visit from a private investigator, hired by a woman, Maggie, who is searching for her long lost granddaughter. She’s offered the opportunity to spend two weeks with the woman, and her grown children, on their blueberry farm in Maine, expense-free. Sydney is encouraged by friends to go, to take this adventure, and find out if she truly is related to Maggie. She nervously goes, and gets to know the family and the farm. I enjoyed the descriptions of the farm - I’m ready to pack my bags and head up to New England for a while myself! I also enjoyed getting to know Maggie’s children, who were adopted, and have some strong opinions of Maggie’s search for her missing granddaughter. Amidst that, Sydney struggles at first to settle in, but they worked past it. While she’s there some odd things occur around the farm. This mystery added to the plot, and I enjoyed it. Sydney even falls in love, though she is hesitant to admit it at first; it was not what she had planned on for this trip. I definitely enjoyed this part of the story (I’m a huge romantic). Though quick, it did seem realistic. This was a fun read that touched on some heavier topics rather well. The story was well-written, too. I really enjoyed it, I am happily recommending it to friends! I can’t wait to revisit the characters and charming Maine town in book two!
Here’s one of my favorite quotes:
“I think Maggie would say that’s what love does. It keeps hoping even when the answers don’t come easily. It invites strangers in. It doesn’t give up. Love keeps searching.”