Secrets by Starlight (Moon Garden Mysteries, #1)

I always knew I'd inherit Covett House. But the timing couldn't be worse.
My divorce is still fresh. I'm not even forty. Quite. The last thing I need is pressure to step right into the life Nanna made for herself in Crescent Bay. What do I need with an 1888 Victorian mansion in a tiny northern California coastal town? I live by myself now.
But I'm not alone here. There are those half-heard whispers in the night, the reappearance of Nanna's lost cat...and then there's the murder.
Cherise Tillson died on the floor of the Museum of the Odd and Wondrous, the most eccentric piece of my inheritance, the day after I got to town. But why did she have my name on her person? And what was she doing in the museum at night?
To clear my name – and my way out of this small town – I need answers.
Nanna's secrets are more than I bargained for when the cat's antics reveal an old, ornate key. The key to a hidden garden in the woods behind Covett House, where pale blooms glow under the waxing moon. Where the creatures are strangely attentive. And a dryad waits to give me a piece of her mind.
The moon garden threatens what little is left of the life I knew.
But discovering midlife magic has made me bold. Or maybe that's all the strong coffee I'm currently running on.
Either way, I'll make a better life with this second chance.
Welcome to the Moon Garden Mysteries paranormal cozy mystery series, a magical blend of paranormal women's fiction and cozy mystery for those who believe forty marks a new beginning, cats can talk (and you'd better listen), and when you're guarding a fae portal, chocolate is a girl's best friend.

J.R. Pearse Nelson is a fantasy and romance writer who has authored more than 20 novels. She hails from Oregon, USA, where she lives with her husband, two teens, and two dogs among the plentiful trees and clouds of the Pacific Northwest. J.R. weaves tales rooted in mythology, bringing legend to life in modern-day settings and fantasy realms. When not writing, you can find her making magic in the kitchen and enjoying long walks or "rambles" outdoors. J.R.'s books include the Moon Garden Mysteries paranormal cozy series, the Aeon Society fantasy romance series, and the Water Rites fantasy trilogy.
You can connect with J.R. and learn more about her fiction at her website. Visit jrpearsenelson.com.