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.”

A perfect read to snuggle up with on a cold autumn day! Sprinkled with hints of romance, an unsolved mystery, and set at a blueberry farm on the picturesque coast of Maine, it checks all the boxes for fans of contemporary, inspirational romances. A young woman searches for answers to her true identity and family of origin.
"...Maggie would say that's what love does. It keeps hoping even when answers don't come easily."

This first book in the Muir Harbor series was intriguing as the clues to the mystery are slowly revealed, and the Muir family is introduced. The use of letters to tell Maggie's backstory was interesting. She had an inspiring legacy of taking in foster children and orphans, creating her own loving family. Extending that acceptance and love to Sydney, who craved answers to her own origins, was a good example of Christ-like love. The parable of the lost sheep was a perfect parallel to her story. The main characters had me hoping for a happy ending to their search and budding romance. A dangling thread of the backstory has me looking forward to the next installment in this charming series.
Recommend! 4.5 stars

Autumn by the Sea, by Melissa Tagg, opens with Sydney Rose running for her life on the streets of Chicago. She has no idea a private investigator is hunting her down to inform her that her grandmother is actually searching for her!

Margaret Muir is hoping that Sydney is her missing granddaughter; however, details at her home seem to be complicating this introduction. Neil MacKean has doubts about the validity of Sydney’s place in their lives. Neil was brought from Scotland as a young boy and added to Maggie’s family. Now he is fully imbedded in Maine with plans to successfully manage the family farm. But more importantly to protect Maggie from any potential harm!

Shortly after Sydney’s arrival she realizes that this home, filled with family and love, is a place of which she had always dreamed. Just as it feels like the pieces are finally coming together and Sydney learns the truth of her birth, a face from her past comes upon the scene and may destroy all that has been accomplished!

Wow!! I love Melissa Tagg! There is nothing of hers that I haven’t loved and this was no exception! I was a BIG fan of the setting of this story and the characters. The mystery involving Maggie and Sydney kept me guessing and intrigued but the love story…so good

This is about family, that includes fostering, adoption, or having a child that has lived with you, and you weren't able to adopt. It is also about a woman who has been searching for her granddaughter. She thinks she may have found her when they find Sydney, and when she comes to the farm, they really don't have much to go on, so the family tries to figure it out. This will take you on a ride that will be exhilarating, intriguing, keeps you wondering, and will have you feeling like you are in a whirlwind, that just keeps adding things to make it get better and better.
When I got to the end of the book, everything just seemed to fall into place, everyone seemed to be able to see things a little clearer, and although some things didn't work out the way they hoped, they could see that things worked out the way it was supposed to for all of them.
This is my first Melissa Tagg book, and I received an ARC from Larkspur Press through NetGalley.

Neil McKean has watched his unofficially-adopted mother hunting desperately for her long lost grand-daughter for years, without success, but constantly getting up her hopes when a possible candidate turns up. When the investigator finds Sydney Rose and sends her to visit, he's initially hostile but struggles to fight the attraction between them. Sydney is longing for family but far from certain this family is hers - and certainly none of the younger members are welcoming her. But nothing is simple: the farm is having money troubles, Neil has his own secret plans, someone seems to be watching the farm for some reason, and Sydney's foster brother has got himself in trouble. Will Sydney find the family she's always wanted? And will Neil's attempts to make the farm a success achieve their aim - or lose him all he's worked for?

This was a delightful start to a new series and I'm eager to revisit Muir Harbor as soon as possible. The characters really felt like real people with real problems, cares and joys, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. The setting was also beautiful, and the plot expertly crafted to flow perfectly. I wanted to mention something I particularly enjoyed, but found as I thought back over the book that there were too many things to list - not to mention some being spoilers. So instead, I'll just say that this was a delightful and satisfying story, and one that I would highly recommend!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I have read all of Melissa Tagg's books. She is one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed her past series, and I was excited to see this book has something new and special. The story takes place in a beautiful waterfront town in Maine. The characters are likable and interesting. This story is mainly about 5 individuals who have been abandoned or left behind by those who should have loved and cared for them but find healing as they come together to form a new family. Sydney, Neil, and Maggie are the main characters of this book, while there are several other minor characters that will make several fun sequels. Sydney and Neil have great chemistry and keep the story fun and the pages turning to see how they will work out their individual stories to write a story together.

Oftentimes, characters in romance fiction get super flaky. I was relieved to see the characters in this series at least voice their conflicts quickly, not stew in them for 4 chapters. There are several mysteries within the main story. Not every mystery gets solved in this book. So the intrigue continues!

I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series!

It's really hard to write this review without gushing. I finished it almost a month ago, but life got in the way. All it took to remember how I feel about it was pulling up the description, and then the giddy feelings bubbled up all over again. I've ready every single Melissa Tagg book published, and let me tell you, I think this is her absolute best yet. Never thought she'd top Maple Valley, TBH, but Muir Harbor instantly shot right up there.

The story world is beautiful, and as always, the characters are wonderfully complex. I'm a sucker for a difficult (ahem, tragic) back story, and boy does she deliver. Between the letters from Maggie to the mystery to the romance, there's not a single element that could be changed to make this book more wonderful than it already is. I absolutely canNOT WAIT to dive back into Muir Harbor and figure out the rest of Maggie's complicated history and memories just as soon as Ms. Tagg can get them written.

Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this wonderful book. All of my gushing is done of my own free will without expectation or requirement. Highly recommend.

Sydney has always been curious about her biological family and when a private investigator finds her and tells her that she may be the long lost granddaughter of a woman named Maggie Muir, she decides to visit her farm in Maine. You will
have to read the book to see how her visit goes and what she learns.
What I really loved about this book is that adoption is a key point and reminds readers that family is not always connected by blood and that’s okay. Love makes a family.
The suspense, kept me longing for more until the very end and when I got to the end, I wanted the next book.

I graciously received and advance e-copy from Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Autumn by the Sea is another delicious contemporary romance by one of all-time favourite authors. Seriously. Melissa Tagg never disappoints.

Autumn by the Sea is the perfect blend of mystery, romance, longing for family and meant to be. The characters just worm their way into your heart. The setting is rugged and charming. And that meet cute?!!?? Seriously?!? So cute.

Sydney Rose has only ever wanted a family and somewhere to belong. Maybe that’s why when a stranger approaches her and tells her that he thinks she’s the long-lost granddaughter of Margaret Muir, Sydney Rose jumps on a plane to Maine to discover if maybe, just maybe, she has a family after all. Sydney was not expecting the charming, if a little in need of some love, house on the coast, or Maggie, with her heart so welcoming and so hurt by the past. Nor was Sydney expecting Maggie’s three adopted adult children who are not exactly excited to see Sydney. Just it only takes days for Sydney to feel at home. If she and Neil, Maggie’s eldest adopted and the one holding Muir Farm together, can uncover the truth of the past, maybe Sydney could stay and find her place to belong.

Autumn by the Sea is truly a delightful novel. I really enjoyed the mix of mystery in the book. Not only is Sydney trying to uncover the truth of her heritage, mystery surrounds Maggie’s daughter’s disappearance, as well as the strange occurrences around the farm that have Neil worried.

The romance between Neil and Sydney is incredibly touching. They are not quite enemies to lovers, but they don’t have the smoothest start. Once they get past their initial meeting (beat that meet-cute, I dare you), Neil doesn’t hide his dislike of Sydney’s appearance in his life. He has enough to worry about. But as Sydney learns more about the farm and everything that Neil is doing to keep his family afloat, Sydney’s admiration for him shines through and it isn’t long before they are seeing where things lead between them. Theirs is a very short courtship, but it works. Maybe it’s the depth of what they share with each other or just the Melissa Tagg’s ability to bring them both to the page and bring their chemistry and connection to life that it makes everything so believable.

There is a lot more to the story than just the romance and the mystery behind Sydney’s family. Neil’s siblings, relationships and even Maggie herself have secrets and more hurt in their past to sort out. The teaser at the end has me just desperate for the next book and I sense that a certain family legacy story is going to resurface.

Another beautiful book to savour, perfect for contemporary romance fans who love books with lots of heart.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I could see this being turned into a tv drama miniseries. You’ve got location (Maine blueberry farm), plenty of family dynamics at play, and an overreaching mystery that’s going to have you coming back for the next book (or, you know, episode of someone agree with me about the miniseries thing).

This is a wonderful start to a new series by Melissa Tagg. Autumn by the Sea has everything I look for when I pick up one of her novels: undeniable chemistry between the hero and heroine, a cast of well-developed, loveable characters and a unique small-town setting.
Melissa adds an element of mystery to this one, which is quite intriguing. I loved Maggie and her adopted children, their devotion to one another and loyalty to Maggie and the farm. Neil and Sydney are magic together and I swooned numerous times as their romance developed.
There's an epistolary element to this story that kind of threw me, and I got a little bogged down in the middle as the pacing slowed. However, things pick up quickly and I was fully engrossed in the third act. It's been a long time since I read a novel that ends with key elements unresolved. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Thankfully, there's a sneak peek of the next book provided and the wait is short for its arrival.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

Autumn by the sea by Melissa Tagg
Sydney Rose abandoned as a child always wondered who her parents where. When a detective came looking for her, he thinks it's Maggie Muir's granddaughter after many false searches could she be the one. He persuades her to come with him to Maine and met Maggie and her adopted family. Maggie's daughter dies and only recently she founds out she had a daughter., could Sydney be her? Neil is one of Maggie's fosterd children . Sydney connects with him and their relationship revolves . I won't give anything away you will have to read to find if Sydney is the one they are looking for.
Many thanks to Netgally for letting me preview this book

I can't... I shouldn't... but I always DO! I know I shouldn't pick up a Melissa Tagg book until the series is near complete because every-single-time I get caught up in these small town communities and I just can't get enough! Autumn by the Sea is just the same. I am SO glad the other books in the series are less than a year apart! Melissa, you have an amazing ability to draw the reader into a story and involve us in their world.

What I love: The characters are real and relatable. The storyline is continuous (flows into the next book and isn't completely wrapped up in this one), plausible, and interesting. Nothing "pops" that "fictive bubble"--it's an all encompassing story that will draw you in and you'll want to spend more time here!

I honestly can't say there's anything I didn't like. I loved every bit of it.

This book is a GEM! Set your calendars for its next Tuesday release date because there is no better way than to usher in the new Fall season than Melissa Tagg's new book, Autumn by the Sea. First of all, I have to say that Tagg is the queen of the meet cute. This book has it all-a redheaded heroine? Blustery, blueberry-ridden Maine? Mystery? A cute Scottish hero? Yes PLEASE. This book is like curling up with a blanket and a nice cup of tea surrounded by autumn leaves falling in a crisp fall breeze. When Sydney Rose finds out that she may be related to the remaining descendent of Muir Harbor, she travels to a picturesque farm on the coast of Maine to meet her potential family. Brimming with humor, small-town charm, intrigue, and hope for belonging, this story is one for the keeper shelf. Tagg weaves together the threads of not one but TWO mysteries and sets the stage for several more romances, and I cannot WAIT for future stories (especially after that Book 2 teaser!). Another must-read book from one of my go-to must-read authors. This review has been shared on my Instagram account on 9/21 at https://www.instagram.com/p/CUHDDwtrY_g/ .

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The above opinions are my own.

Sydney Rose has tried without success to discover why she was placed in foster care and who her real family is. When a private investigator shows up and tells her a woman, who may be her grandmother, has hired him to bring her to Muir Harbor, Sydney sets out on a great adventure. In Muir Harbor she meets Maggie, who spreads love to abandoned children. The overarching theme of the book is how family is more than blood relations. Family starts in the heart. The hero of this book is a swoon-worthy Scot, who knows how to use his faint Scottish accent to its full impact. Neil MacKean is grappling with his own doubts about how much he’s loved. Sydney and Neil are perfect together and watching their romance develop was so much fun. In the end, this story reminds us we have a God we can trust to turn all our heartache into something good. You’ll laugh out loud and probably shed a few tears, but Autumn by the Sea is simply a sweet book about the true meaning of love.

A great book with a gripping storyline and intriguing characters, a new author for me but will definitely be looking out for more, couldn’t put it down.

This is the first of Melissa Tagg's books that I have read,but I am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel as well as other books by Melissa. Autumn by the Sea makes me want to make another visit to the quaint, seaside villages of Maine. Sydney Rose, who was raised in the foster care system, was led to visit Muir Harbor, Maine by an unexpected clue into her past and the possibility of family. This lovely story reminds us that family is created by more than blood, and that bonds of needing, being needed, and love make the strongest of families. Tagg has created characters that will endear themselves to her readers, dialogue that feels genuine, and lessons that are good for tender hearts.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Autumn by the Sea from Larkspur Press via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

A wonderful start for a new series by Melissa Tagg. She has outdone herself on this story. I enjoy her descriptive, expressive writing. I feel like I’m right there in the middle of the story. Excellent book. Melissa Tagg is one of my favorite christian fiction authors. Can hardly wait for book 2 in this series.

I usually stick with romantic comedies, but sometimes I just need something a little more serious; a little different to the norm. Autumn by the Sea by Melissa Tagg was just the change I needed.

This book was fantastic. Of course, I loved the romance storyline, but the mystery storyline is really what dragged me in and caught my attention. The twists and turn as new information was discovered keeps readers hooked. In fact, the mystery was so well written I didn’t expect it to turn out the way it did.

Not only was the mystery element so goo, the characters were great too. Sydney, Neil, Maggie and even Indi and Lilian, are all great characters. There is so much depth and complexity to them all that I just wanted to know more about them all.

I can’t wait for the rest of the series. There is just so much more to learn about the characters and their pasts. And of course, reading the teaser chapter for the next book did not help my patience.

You will not be disappointed by this book. If you’re looking for a book with depth, mystery and romance then this book is for you.