7 cozy fall romance & mystery books to curl up with on chilly nights

by Marina Adair

If you love small town Hallmark movies with a little magic mixed in, this is a perfect series to transition from Halloween into Thanksgiving.

With two other books in the series, The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine and The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice, these stories follow the town legend that a woman in the quaint town of Moonbright, Maine will marry the man she sees reflected in a mirror on Halloween. Each story follows a different couple and is full of humor, a little magic, and just enough spice. This collection is, in a word, whimsical.

by Sarah Graves

🎧 Audiobook

I know not all of us want to spend a fall evening with a gory mystery, especially when you never know if the creaky tree outside your window is really a tree or an axe murderer. This is why cozy mysteries exist!

Following the theme of cozy books set in Maine, this story follows a bakery called the Chocolate Moose. Are you sold yet? While the community is taking down Halloween decorations and preparing for winter, a local celebrity falls to his death during a party. While the boyfriend of the local police chief becomes the main suspect, the owners of Chocolate Moose, Jake and Ellie, find that there may be more ghosts in the closet than meet the eye.

by Melissa Storm

🎧 Audiobook

Sometimes the best part of cozy stories are the furry friends that come with them. In this case, those furry friends just happen to be central to the plot, which is even better! It doesn’t hurt that the story takes place in Anchorage—and Alaska just happens to be on my bucket list.

This story gives us something to look forward to with the onset of spring, for Bridget Moore it’s also the hope that she’s moving forward. With college, a tight work schedule as a vet tech, and volunteering, Bridget is trying her best to stay busy and bury the pain of losing her mother. Enter Bridget’s neighbor, Wesley, and his energetic dogs, and, well, I think you can take it from here.

This is a cozy, hopeful story that teaches us life goes on even after tragedy. Sometimes we just need four-legged friends to remind us of that.

by Julie Anne Lindsey

🎧 Audiobook

No, I promise you, this was not inspired by the 1999 film, Cider House Rules, starring Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron. If it was, I would be wildly confused because these are two very different stories.

Here, autumn in Blossom Valley is in full swing, and with that comes pumpkin patches, Winona Mae Montgomery’s cider shop, and the annual Fall Harvest. Unfortunately, the harvest turns fatal when the owner of the pumpkin patch is found dead in the pickup truck of Winnie Montgomery. Luckily, and coincidentally, solving murders has turned into something of a hobby for Winnie. And on top of everything, there’s her blossoming (pun intended) romance with the town sheriff, Colton. This is everything you could ask for in a down-home cozy story.

by Fern Michaels

If you like some historical fiction with your romance, Fern Michaels has you covered.

With a story of romance that stretches from 19th century London to Australia, we’re introduced to Chelsea Myles. Chelsea performs with her uncle’s theater troupe while he makes money as a pickpocket. She has no other way to survive until fate intervenes and she’s left with enough gold to buy passage to Australia. Of course, she meets a charismatic charmer on the trip to Australia, and they share a brief affair because of a secret that must keep them apart.

This is as dramatic and romantic as you would expect from Fern Michaels, but perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction.

by Leslie Meier

🎧 Audiobook

With Thanksgiving approaching it only seems fitting to include a cozy story about Turkey Trots and… murder? Not exactly what I want to go with my pumpkin pie, but to each their own.

If you’re already a fan of Leslie Meier’s stories, then you know she can trot out a cozy mystery for just about any occasion. Pun intended, again... I’ll stop soon, I promise. All Lucy Stone really wants to look forward to is Thanksgiving and the annual Turkey Trot 5K. So, when she stumbles upon the daughter of a wealthy investor, dead in Blueberry Pond, it throws off her holiday plans. Instead of stuffing and cranberry sauce, she’s thrown into an investigation to find the killer. Personally, I think she drew the short straw.

This is a cozy mystery with some timely commentary that will also get you in the mood for the holidays. And maybe a Turkey Trot, if you’re so inclined.

by Lin Stepp

If you want a more charming and heartwarming story, look no further. We’re also taking a break from cozy stories set in Maine and looking to the Smoky Mountains this time around.

Rhea Dean will never forget the words her childhood sweetheart, Carter Layman, said whenever they parted. Including when he drove off to California with the intent of making a fortune and saving their families and, instead, stayed there and married someone else. Meanwhile, Rhea has been keeping Laurel Springs afloat as best as she can, never planning on seeing Carter return, much less widowed and with a young son.

If you love a second chance story, this will be perfect for a cozy night in. Potentially with a Hallmark movie in the background and a warm mug of tea next to you.