"Autumn by the Sea" by Melissa Tagg - Muir Harbor, book 1

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she's never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who's searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago. If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie's once again caught up in the past, convinced she's finally found her long-lost granddaughter. Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there's something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that's messier than ever. Together, they're pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

I don't read a lot of contemporary fiction, but Melissa Tagg is an author whose books I can't resist. This story lived up to that standard and raised it a level (I need the next book! There's a presumably-series-long mystery that is yet unsolved!).

Given her backlist of books full of adorable and/or hilarious meet-cutes, I have no idea how she always manages to top them--she has so many spectacular ones. But this one really cracked me up. There's plenty of humor (in case you couldn't guess that by my previous comment), but Tagg knows how to write a poignant storyline too. I teared up multiple times; Sydney is simply trying to find her place--trying to find out if she has a family somewhere that actually wants her--but is met with suspicion and hostility by the rest of the Muir clan. It reminded me of the 1997 animated film Anastasia, though subverted in many fun ways.

As aforementioned, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and the one after that! Indi, Lillian, and the dashing private detective all caught my attention--I can't wait to read their stories!

Muir Harbor

1. Autumn by the Sea

2. A Seaside Wonder

3. Wedding at Sea