Cemeteries by Moonlight

by Hunter Frost

When a serious bout of writer’s block threatens to delay mystery author Drew Daniels’s newest book, his aunt offers her New Orleans apartment in the heart of the French Quarter as a writing retreat. She neglects to mention that it’s occupied by the enigmatic and sexy Finn Murphy, a cemetery tour guide with a penchant for Victorian attire and a Cajun accent.

A body discovered in an open crypt forces reclusive Drew to deal with Finn’s eccentric group of friends and his underlying attraction to the hot Cajun—despite warnings about Finn’s violent past. Drew might write this stuff, but he’s never had to solve a real-life murder. With a deadline looming and a killer on the loose, this retreat is proving to be anything but helpful for Drew’s novel. Drew can only hope he won’t end up a tragic tale for the Ghostly Legends & Lore, Inc. haunted tour.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2017

About the author

Hunter lost a bet at a blackjack table and begrudgingly traded temperate Southern California for the sweltering heat of Las Vegas. There she resides with an extremely tolerant husband and two cats named after her favorite beverages, Latte and Java.

When she’s not dreaming of returning to coastal living, Hunter works at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from where she recently received her Master’s in British history. In order to appease her muse, she writes the kind of fiction that keeps her sane. She adores romance in all forms, but prefers her stories with two heroes that find their happily-ever-afters with each other.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanna read about a charming writer, a hot Cajun with a delicious tattoo and a murder mystery?

So did I!!

Full review on the blog 04/03/17 and then here on GR.



**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

[Pianka *call me PIU* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love New Orleans and never pass up on anything related to it. The “States of Love” series always captures the beauty and charm of the featured states in every book. This time we get a rich dose of New Orleans in all its enigmatic glory infused with its scary history, marvelous food, a sweet romance and top it all off a MURDER MYSTERY.

The setting of the book is really nice. Finn Murphy is a cemetery tour guide and he definitely knew his history. Throughout the first part of the story as Drew and Finn explore the city, we get a heavy dose of the macabre history of the city of New Orleans. It enhances the entire spooky feel of the book. There is no outright voodoo or magic as such but you will definitely get the feel that the spirits are at work behind the scenes. The time and again appearance of the crow/Marie Laveau, the legendary priestess of voodoo was eerie and lend the slightest touch of paranormal, keeping with the overall unearthly/sinister theme of the city.



The story is not too long and the plot flows very smoothly with the murder taking place within 24 hours of Drew’s arrival in the city. Along with the progress of the murder investigation, we learn more about all the secondary characters/suspects who were a part of Finn’s and the victim’s life. The characters were a quirky and diverse lot and within the short amount of pages the author did a good job in detailing them very nicely.

The murder mystery is not very predictable except the fact that the culprit is someone within Finn’s friend circle. It’s not too exciting but I liked how it played out.

As for the romance, Drew and Finn’s relationship develops fairly fast. Drew is attracted to Finn and vice versa from the very start. Drew’s insecurities due to his Tourettes makes him hide himself from Finn but when his secret comes out Finn accepts Drew, ticks and all. In the midst of pain and suspicion, Finn and Drew connect with boiling passion. There is no relationship development as such but at the end we get an HFN ending which was believable.

I really enjoyed this mystery infused romance a lot. The enigma of New Orleans is present in full force here and I loved every moment of it.



*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffering from writers block, Drew travels to New Orleans to stay at his aunt Celia's apartment and spend a peaceful month writing his latest mystery novel. What he doesn't expect to find is a gorgeous roommate Finn Murphy ... and an actual murder mystery complete with a creepy cemetery, a black crow that may or may not be the spirit of Marie Laveau, the legendary priestess of voodoo, and a quirky cast of suspects.

For a short novella, Cemeteries by Moonlight has an interesting plot and a murder mystery with plenty of suspects and red herrings. And since most of the characters are employed as tour guides for various tours throughout New Orleans, it's a great way for the author to give us loads of information about New Orleans and she really captures the flavor of the Crescent City.

Drew has a mild case of Tourette Syndrome and worried and embarrassed about his tics, he tends to be a loner but throughout the story he has to come out of his shell and I loved the low-angst way Finn responded: "Like he couldn’t care less that my body had a mind of its own." There are two nicely descriptive sex scenes in the book and they are (as Finn would say) quite délicieux and c’est chaud!

My only complaint about this book was that at times it felt a bit slow (too many similar bar scenes or characters yelling at one another), but I enjoyed this book and gave it a solid 4 stars. Plus that cover is gorgeous!

I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Drew comes New Orleans after accepting his aunt’s offer to stay at her apartment in the heart of the French Quarter, in order to help his case of writer’s block. Only to find out that the apartment is currently being rented by Finn Murphy, who works as cemetery history tour guide for Ghostly Legends & Lore, Inc. Finn introduces Drew to his friends – and Drew notices tension between a few of them. Later that day, Finn and Drew discover one of them is murdered…

First of all, I need to give kudos to Hunter Frost for giving me a character with Tourette’s Syndrome. Yes, Drew suffers from TS – tics and all – and I found myself learning about it as I went along. I thought Frost explained TS quite well. For me, it made Drew a more unique character because of it. One thing for sure, this particular trait of Drew will make this novella memorable.

Other than that, I enjoyed both the mystery and the atmosphere of New Orleans. I always think New Orleans as mysterious city. I don’t know if it’s true, because my perception is based on what I see from TV shows or movies. But the idea of voodoo religion and the magic that seems to surround the city makes New Orleans a perfect place for a haunting mystery.

What I wasn’t sure about was both Finn as the love interest and the romance. I found Finn to be quite an enigma. I mean, I didn’t completely understand why he seemed to dislike one of his friends; the one he was completely certain was involved with the murder. Why was Finn so angry with that guy?

I just didn’t get enough feeling to understand who Finn really was. At one point, I wished that Frost reduced the tour guide ‘history lesson’ and focused on Finn’s character development. So I wasn’t completely sure whether I liked Finn for Drew. In addition, timeline wise, this story happened over a few days only. I guess I just wasn’t convinced of the romance between Drew and Finn *shrugs*.



A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls



The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Amy Spector · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I love in a romance.

We get an introverted writer, ghostly tales, an eccentric and beautiful man, and a keep you guessing who-done-it.

Add in the charm of New Orleans, a gorgeous cover, my favorite POV and a sense that something a little supernatural might be at play, and you've pretty much ticked all my perfect book boxes.

From a great—and intriguing—first line to the last page, this is entertaining and hot, and just a hell of a fun read.

My favorite Hunter Frost book so far!

Highly recommended!

How's that for a spoiler-free review?




***

Pre-ordered! Now to wait impatiently!



***

I'm really looking forward to this one coming out!

[Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book that is only 108 pages it took me close to 4 days to finish it. I like giving new authors to me a try. I've never read anything by Hunter Frost and I really loved the cover. I'm usually all for books set in New Orleans. I think books set in this place give the story an extra swagger, and the city has so much history and knowledge involved that I was expecting it to wow me.

It did not move me at all. In fact, it took everything in me to not DNF this book. Besides the copious amounts of details that took away from the story, Drew & Finn were both dull. It didn't mesh well for me. Everything happened to easy for liking. Come on, they do not know each other and they are going to go off and solve a potential murder together. The whole Drew having Tourette's syndrome didn't seem authentic enough for me. I feel like if you are going to give your mc a condition of any kind, then him galvanizing to solve murders without a single tic seems weird. I'm not the know all or be all when it concerns Tourette's syndrome, but I like my books to kinda feel realistic about it and since it wasn't a fantasy book then I expected it to be real.

Finn came off sketchy to me. The nice guy routine is what serial killers do to befriend people into trusting the them. He sometimes seemed genuine and others super aloof. I never got a good read on him. I didn't even bat an eye to him and Drew. Drew blew me with his misguided assumptions. I just never warmed up to the story. I did think the writing was good, and yeah as many damn details that was in it at least some parts of the story I seemed to take to.

This book wasn't for me. Hopefully in the future Frost and I will work out.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title like ‘Cemeteries by Moonlight’ I was expecting a somewhat spooky, maybe even slightly scary story. And yes, I know that I scare easily, so if you like horror, you might not even notice anything particularly frightening. But this novella also gave me a lot more: from the unusual, quirky main characters to the equally uncommon secondary cast members, from the mix of romance and murder mystery to some very amusing interludes, and from the beautiful New Orleans settings to some very well presented information about the city and its inhabitants. Definitely worth a read, and if you’ve never been to New Orleans, I bet this book will make you want to go – or not, if you’re a little more squeamish than average, like me.

Drew is a mystery author in trouble – he has a deadline that is fast approaching but not a single word committed to the page. His aunt offers him her apartment in New Orleans, which Drew believes to be the perfect solution to his writer's block. Except there is one problem: said aunt forgot she already rents the place to a man called Finn who is a cemetery tour guide and works for a company that organizes a variety of slightly creepy tours for tourists. Drew doesn’t quite know what to do, but when Finn offers to let him stay in the guestroom, Drew decides to accept. It isn’t until Finn discovers a dead body in the crypt that is part of his tour that Drew begins to reconsider – maybe he should have gone back home after all.

The atmosphere of this novella is entertainingly disturbing from the very beginning. Drew references Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Birds, then a crow seems to be following him everywhere he goes. All of Finn’s friends from the tour company are slightly weird. The whole setting with all its stories about ghosts, pirates, and historical catastrophes made me look over my shoulders more than once while I was reading. Then the murder happens, people get really weird, and Drew has his hands full solving a real-life mystery, rather than writing about it for once. And while I was able to figure out part of who did it, I didn’t grasp the why until the reveal in the final chapters. Very well done!

If you like mysteries in somewhat creepy settings, if you want to see a mystery writer deal with a real murder, and if you’re looking for a suspenseful yet entertaining read with unusual characters and just a touch of romance, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book – Cemeteries by Moonlight
Author – Hunter Frost
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 108
Cover – Gorgeous!
POV – 1st person, one character
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, Murder


** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine


As my first book by this author – and my first of the States of Love Collection – I was instantly convinced it would be fantastic, because it contained all of my favourite things – MM romance, writer's block, New Orleans, a murder mystery and ghost tours. I was instantly taken back to history books I've read about Edinburgh ghost tours and was thrilled to explore the haunting and so mysterious New Orleans in a similar way.

I wasn't disappointed.

The first line, mentioning Hitchcock's Birds, had me hooked. I'm terrified of birds, but I love to watch them from afar, so the constant appearance of Marie the crow really freaked me out. It didn't help that while I was reading this spooky story all about ghosts and New Orleans Voodoo, I kept hearing unexplained noises in the house. So, thanks for that Frost. I nearly died of fright!

But, saying that, I can only admit that this would never have happened with a poorly written story. The way Frost writes is magnificent. Without going overboard into description, detail or labeling every item, colour and possible one-inch mark of location for the scenery, I still felt completely drawn in. The attention to detail was perfectly balanced with believable storyline, strong, relatable characters and a subtlety that allowed me to create my own image of what New Orleans looked like, without feeling like I'd implanted an image of some caricature in its place. The feeling the words instilled were authentic New Orleans and, I'll admit, I even read the French, Cajun and Creole in a French accent.

I can't say I was shocked – nor can I say I wasn't disappointed – when the strongest, most interesting female of the story was killed, but it was a great piece of writing that still made it feel like a shock, even though I'd anticipated it. (If you read the book, you'll know when I first suspected it.)

The inclusion of our MC, Drew, having Tourette Syndrome was a really nice portrayal of the struggle and coping mechanisms of someone with the syndrome. It was both sympathetic, authentic and didn't make a mockery of Tourette's, even by accident. The syndrome was explained, controlled and explored well throughout the story, though it didn't need to become some third main character to show how severely it affected Drew. His control of the condition was subtle, like so many more important details.

I loved the addition of Voodoo, even when it was only mentioned in passing. With the practice being so commonly associated with New Orleans, it would have felt wrong to avoid it entirely, but it was nice to see that it didn't take the front seat, with a paranormal twist, like so many of the New Orleans stories I've read in the past. Though the story was based in New Orleans, it managed to avoid the hazardous pitfalls of the stereotypes, while exploring the genuine underbelly of its history.

Also, don't be put off by the French. It's usually always explained and the one time it isn't, it was pretty easy for me to guess what it meant (with only rudimentary, and not well retained, high school French lessons). But, if you really want to know, highlight that one quote, Google it and squee like a little girl, like I did, when you realise just what it means.

~

Overall, I could rave about this book forever, but it's probably better that you just go and read it for yourself. It's got murder, intrigue, chemistry off the charts, humour and still manages to handle some pretty serious topics.

There was more heat, action and passion in this story of 108 pages than I've read in books three times its size. If you're looking for a satisfying page-turner, look no further. You found it.

~

Favourite Quote

“The sympathetic look on his handsome face made my gut clench. I wanted to smack him and kiss him all at once for caring about my failings as a writer.”

“It's a shame he's adorable. It would be easy to say no to anyone else. I had just met the guy and he had me under his thumb with those pretty eyes and sexy accent.
And he did bring my beignets.”

“I couldn't believe how smitten I was over a hot, straight, Victorian-dressed man with a penchant for the paranormal.”

“The way Finn's eyes brightened, like the sun breaking through cloudy skies, had to be the sexiest thing I'd ever seen.
“Drew, you should know the way to mon coeur is through my Swiffer.”

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

While I loved the setting and the fact that the MC has Tourette's, the romance didn't quite come together for me.

[Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Drew, he was a sympathetic character, and I appreciated how the author depicted his life living with Tourette's Syndrome. I was less impressed with Finn, although interesting, he had a dark side and a temper, not my favourite. The mystery was also okay. The main star of this show, however, was the city of New Orleans itself, with its rich atmosphere and historic importance.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nicely done Murder/Mystery. The city of New-Orleans contributes beautifully to the special atmosphere of the story. There's a great bunch of interesting and colorful characters here, maybe too many for a novella. I really liked Drew and Finn but I wish the book was longer in order to allow the romantic connection to develop. Other than that it was a very enjoyable read!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into the book but only because their were several characters to keep straight in my head. I loved the New Orleans ambiance, the ghost stories, and especially the interaction between lovers Drew and Finn.
I am definitely excited to see the release of Book 2 of this series.

[Mollien Fote Osterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Cemeteries by Moonlight
Author: Hunter Frost
Series: States of Love Book 1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: January 18, 2017
Genre(s): Male/Male Romance
Page Count: 128 pages
Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

When a serious bout of writer’s block threatens to delay mystery author Drew Daniels’s newest book, his aunt offers her New Orleans apartment in the heart of the French Quarter as a writing retreat. She neglects to mention that it’s occupied by the enigmatic and sexy Finn Murphy, a cemetery tour guide with a penchant for Victorian attire and a Cajun accent.

A body discovered in an open crypt forces reclusive Drew to deal with Finn’s eccentric group of friends and his underlying attraction to the hot Cajun—despite warnings about Finn’s violent past. Drew might write this stuff, but he’s never had to solve a real-life murder. With a deadline looming and a killer on the loose, this retreat is proving to be anything but helpful for Drew’s novel. Drew can only hope he won’t end up a tragic tale for the Ghostly Legends & Lore, Inc. haunted tour.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

Review:
This was a very fast read and a fun one too. The story has a mystery with an intriguing storyline. This is the second book that I have read in the last couple of week that take place in New Orleans. I may have to make it a future destination. This is the first book of a new series that will introduce you to different places across the United States. It looks like each book will have different locations, characters, and romances. I am looking forward to more. The plot of the story is about Drew and his attempt to work on his latest novel. He is suffering from writer’s block among other things. When he gets to the apartment that his aunt told him to stay in he finds it already occupied by an interesting and sexy Finn Murphy. Something that his aunt neglected to tell him. Finn works as a tour hunted guide. He introduces Drew to his eclectic group of friends who also work for the tour company Ghostly Legends & Lore. During one of Finn’s tours, they find the dead body of one of Finn’s co-workers and Finn is one of the suspects. Drew’s novel gets put on hold as he scrambles to find out who the murder is. The chemistry between Finn and Drew is sweet but strained. There are many complications in this short story that drew and Finn must work through. This is a short story that reads quickly. It has an easy flow that captured my interest and kept it throughout the story. Great tense ending that will keep you guessing. Maybe there could have been a little more in the way of character development, but I liked the story just the way it was written. Hope I get the opportunity to read more from this author.
PLOT 5 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 5 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4 Stars



Review Copy of Cemeteries by Moonlight provided by the Dreamspinner Press I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

[Evette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
In this States of Love story we venture into New Orleans, Louisiana. One of my absolute favorite places on Earth! The author is able to bring the mystique and passion of the city to life.

Drew is a great character, reserved due to his Tourette’s, he struggles to find his path. Because the story is told from his first person POV it is difficult to get a true picture of the cast of characters. He throws himself into the drama that surrounds Roz’s death- anything to avoid his writer’s block!

I would have liked more depth in Finn’s character. Other than being handsome I failed to see the connection with Drew. I could see the friendship, but the whole romance portion of their story fell flat for me.

The mystery and it’s quick resolution also left me wanting more. It was all a swirl of whodunit then aha- here’s the killer. This is another aspect that was strange in the whole Drew/Finn romance, because Finn is a decent grown up and treats Drew well it is okay that he may be a killer?? Not to mention his out of control temper??

Fortunately the block ended, love was found and Drew is the lucky (smart) one- he chooses to make NOLA his home.

[Jules Lovestoread · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Likeable MCs...Love the setting...A few mixed feelings on the story itself. But, that cover gets a 10, though!!!!! Review coming soon to www.thenovelapproachreviews.com

[The Novel Approach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ~ First things first…I have serious cover love going on here; AngstyG killed it with this one. The heart of the story is amazingly captured. Gorgeous, eye-catching goodness.

I snapped this one up because of the cover, obviously, but also because I’ve enjoyed Hunter Frost’s past work. I read and reviewed both An Angel in Eyeliner and Courage to Heal and really liked them both—especially Angel. Frost is good at creating memorable characters and backdrops that will hook the reader and reel him or her in. In the case of Cemeteries by Moonlight, for me, it was impossible to resist the allure of New Orleans, or a sexy, tatted Cajun named Finn Murphy.

Finn is the unexpected flatmate Drew Daniels encounters when he arrives at the apartment his aunt owns in New Orleans. She told Drew he could stay there for a few months, but neglected to tell him she already had a renter. Drew is supposed to be finding his muse…getting the words flowing again on his new novel…But, Finn is a serious threat to Drew’s fast approaching deadline. I loved this line:

“I couldn’t believe how smitten I was over a hot, straight, Victorian-dressed man with a penchant for the paranormal.”

It isn’t just Finn’s sex appeal causing the distraction, however. Someone in Finn’s eclectic but close-knit group of friends turns up dead, and Drew gets sucked into the mystery.

There were a lot of good things happening in this book. The characters were interesting, with intriguing and varied backstories. Frost does a decent job depicting Drew’s Tourette’s and his coping mechanisms. I was definitely drawn in by Finn’s story and personality. And, then there’s New Orleans—a character all on her own. I loved every bit of New Orleans lore the author packed in. I wish there had been more.

All of that being said, I did have a few mixed feelings on the story itself. It started out strong but fizzled a bit in the second half. It was also somewhat difficult to grasp all of the relationships and dynamics of Finn’s friend group. They ran hot and cold and, at times, didn’t act at all how you would think friends would act. Finn would go from flat out accusing one of them of murder to just calmly chilling around a table, sharing drinks. Some elements just didn’t quite work.

The end was exciting, the MCs are likeable and, for the most, part I liked Frost’s resolution. But, I do wish the mystery plot had been a bit more fleshed out. It felt like the storyline just got away from her a bit toward the last third of the book. I wanted a little more out of the romance, and even more NOLA—but, it was a solid 3-3.5 star read.

Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach Reviews

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Here’s another story in the States of Love collection, and I found myself transported to Louisiana and New Orleans. Frost gives a great sense of place, and has the perfect foil in Drew, who is just visiting for the month. With Finn’s job as a cemetery tour guide, he effortlessly shared history with Drew. The author painted a picture of the French Quarter of the city, adding details with the ghost stories and Finn’s Cajun flair. I really enjoyed this aspect, and found it wonderfully done.

We also have to well done MCs. I really liked both these guys. The story is told from Drew’s first person POV, and he was a great narrator. Seeing the area, Finn and his friends, and what follows throughout the story through his eyes was the perfect choice. He was a mix of shy and reserved, with savvy and intelligent. So I really enjoyed him, and I liked the connection he had with Finn. Though I felt we didn’t get to know the other MC quite as well, he was a wonderfully fleshed out and imaginative character. I liked his bright personality, his layers, and I liked that he wasn’t shy about sharing himself. Together these guys were especially great, and their chemistry sparked continually.

So in addition to the romance, there’s also a mystery, as someone is murdered. I have to admit, I had a bit harder time with this part. And I think it was because there just wasn’t….enough. Not enough time or enough clues to really connect me to the story. It happens early on, it’s sort of elaborate, and then Finn and Drew decide they need to find out who did it. Ultimately, I just felt that the end result–the reasoning and the murderer–was too simple, but on top of that, I couldn’t quite understand the character’s motivation. The reasons they were doing what they were doing wasn’t entirely clear, and there was a lack of connection to that part for me. It seemed like there was a lot packed in to a short amount of words, and while it wasn’t exactly a bad thing, not everything got the time, attention, and development it needed. While it all made sense on the surface, I would have liked to either see things more deeply explained, or a little less going on.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Mystery author Drew has a serious case of writer's block and decides he needs to get away from his everyday life to get back on track. His aunt offers to let him stay in her empty apartment in New Orleans in the French Quarter. Only, when Drew finally gets there, he finds his aunt forgot to mention that she has a tenant already living in the apartment. Finn is understanding about the confusion and offers to let Drew stay in the second bedroom. Drew is reluctant to stay with Finn due to his health issue, but he relents. Finn works as a cemetery tour guide and enjoys telling the historic stories of the paranormal in his French Cajun accent. He invites Drew to meet him at a local bar when he finishes with his tour for the evening and Drew is introduced to an eccentric group of people. The next day, Finn offers to take Drew on the tour and when they arrive at the cemetery are shocked to find Finn's best friend. Now instead of writing his book, Drew tries to help police solve a murder.

Both characters were interesting and not what you'd normally find in a romance book. Drew has Tourette's and uses weed to control his tics. Finn has a history of assault charges and is quick to temper. There are A LOT of characters introduced in the beginning of the book, and they all come into play in the solving of the murder. The book was full of descriptions of the French Quarter, of the history of the area (whether true history or not, I don't know), and of food in the area. My only wish would have been for this story to be longer to really delve into the character development. There were so many characters that had wonderful, colorful stories and it would have been nice to have learned a little more. I guessed who the murderer was but there was a twist in it that kept me from figuring it all out. Overall, this was an enjoyable murder mystery.

This novella was a quick, whirlwind of a story that overall, I really enjoyed. This is the first time I've read anything from the author, and I look forward to reading more!

Rating: 4 stars

[Jaymie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

Talk about a surprise read. Wow! I absolutely loved Cemeteries by Moonlight and I must say if all Hunter Frost's books are this good, she has a new fan.

Drew is a writer with a dreaded case of writer's block and a manuscript slated for completion by the end of the month. In an attempt to get the mental juice's flowing, his beloved Aunt Celia offers him the use of her New Orleans apartment nestled in the rich and mystical French Quarter. Of course, she forgot to mention one little thing...the apartment is being rented by the very drool-worthy Finn.

Finn is not bothered a bit by his landlord's writer nephew coming to stay in his apartment. In fact, he immediately welcomes Drew into the fold. Introducing him to his friends and taking him on a guided tour of the Quarter. As a tour guide for the historic cemeteries, he has endless knowledge of the famous and spooky people who've walked the city. There are vast amounts of legends he can share and while Drew may not believe in the paranormal or mystical sides to the city, he can't help but be charmed by Finn's storytelling abilities.

When the murder of Finn's beloved friend shocks their small group of friends it seems everyone is a suspect. Finn wants answers and Drew feels the need to find them. Putting to use the sleuthing skills he's honed from his writing, Drew sets out to find the killer. Unfortunately, though the evidence soon points to Finn.

I loved this story. It was different, which is always refreshing and it held my attention from the first page til the end. I liked not only the characters and the story but I found the writing was very well done and flowed flawlessly.

Finn and Drew were both very likable, individually and as a couple. They had good chemistry and I enjoyed the scenes they shared from their first interaction until the very end. It was interesting to read about a character with Tourette's and how it's dealt with.

The whodunnit storyline was great and while at times it seemed obvious who the murderer was, it still kept me guessing. I loved the legends and stories that Finn tells Drew as they walk the streets of the French Quarter. It adds a fun yet spooky feel to the story and had me intrigued about more of the history of the city.

Overall, I absolutely loved the whole feel of Cemeteries by Moonlight and would definitely recommend it.

Great mystery, suspense and romance.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

[Jessie G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Orleans is one of my all time favorite places to visit and I adore the cemetery tours, so I couldn't wait to dive into a book with this subject matter. Unfortunately, for me, it was treated as a handy job—which it was—and lacked much of the flair I've seen on the many tours I've attended. It's a novella, and there's only so much one can stuff into it, so I understand. If we all got what we wished for, a book would never be done, right?

With a deadline looming, Drew retreats to his aunt's home in New Orleans, hoping the change in scenery will inspire his muse. Instead he's faced with Finn, his aunt's tenant (that she conveniently forgot to mention), who's strangely welcome and quite a character. Or so we're told. Without getting his POV, all we have are Drew's impressions of Finn and the ragtag group of friends he brings with him. The whodunit was a good layer, with all the players having some level of motive and less than reliable alibis.

I wanted to like Drew and Finn together, but an extended cast of characters and the mystery left little room for actual romantic connection. More often than not, they were at odds and/or suspicious of one another. Also, Finn had some temper issues that appeared out of the blue, but were never really addressed. The inclusion of Drew's Tourette's was by far the most interesting aspect of this book. For the story length and number of balls being juggled, it was smoothly incorporated to make Drew a complex character to root for. Had the author been able to develop Finn and given him voice, this would have been a completely different read for me.

In the end, I was left wondering why these two men were trying to be a couple when they had no foundation on which to build a future.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um... this had a great premise that wasn't fully developed.

I really liked that the author gives us a character with Tourette's Syndrome; he shows us how it affects his life without going into woe-territory. Drew might not be doing exceedingly well when it comes to his social life but he's an independent adult and a successful writer with a life of his own.

I also enjoyed the way in which New Orleans' atmosphere comes alive. I must confess I got hungry all the time while reading this :P

But! Finn is still the same blank page at the end of the story that he is at the beginning. There is no evolution in his character, we know nothing about why he acts the way he does in regard to those who are supposedly his friends. This, to me at least, makes seeing the romance between him and Drew very difficult.

I also feel that there was a promise of paranormal happenings that never comes really true.

All in all, entertaining. I probably will read more by this author.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded really interesting and with the setting in New Orleans, almost irresistible. There were some good historical tidbits, just like the ones told on some of the walking tours in the French Quarter. Mentions of some of the wonderful cuisine, esp. Cafe Du Monde coffee and beignets, might make a reader's mouth water. Sadly this short book was really a novella and began to focus more on the erotic attraction and action between Drew and Finn and less on the murder mystery. Some of the dialog and descriptions were choppy and not fully developed, which created a bit of a dissatisfactory reading experience. The odd group of friends were mere sketches of characters. Kudos to the author for having a main character with Tourettes Syndrome, defining it beyond the stereotype and explaining how Drew mostly managed his tics.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly wavered on my feelings about this book. At times I was engaged and involved, curious what would happen next. Then in the next chapter I would find that things weren't moving, or taht the actions were uninteresting. It just didn't quite consistently keep me even though I was involved enough to really want to finish it.

Drew has come to New Orleans for a change of place to right his book. Little does he know his Aunt rents her apartment to Finn, who he is very attracted to. But for reasons of cleanliness (seriously?) Drew determines that Finn must be straight and have a girlfriend. This all gets mixed up and thrown out the window when a murder happens amongst Finn's group of friends.

The biggest thing in this story was about the secrets people keep. Drew's condition, and people reaction to it, has made him into essentially a hermit. He can't stand to tell anyone about it and fears it being seen. As he gets involved in trying to solve the murder, mostly through amateur questioning, he finds out that everybody has secrets as well, and some of them are far worse. When both he and Finn can tell each other these dark secrets and are still okay, it begins a relationship.

I was curious about the murder but found the investigation of it sort of uninteresting. Between Finn generally accusing, and Drew following behind to keep things calm, it was a bit lackluster. I was interested in what the reason turned out to be, but even then it is all done in an 'evil guy reveal' ending montage type of thing. In this way the mystery just sort of brought the book down for me.

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
A easy paced, gentle (despite the murder) just like NO itself and despite not knowing the city, I got a feel for it (and an urge to google!).
Drew’s struggle with TS is explained but not over done and his quiet acceptance of both it and how he feels he has to live his life is hard won and sad.
Finn and his cohorts are quirky and a bit odd! Are they in costume or really who they portray. There is a bit of the paranormal feel to them and their doings. Then things get really real with a murder and we get a little mystery too.
Enjoyed!

[Lois - Who Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drew's plan to break through his writer's block with a change of scenery is stopped short when he discovers that Finn is already living in the apartment his aunt offers. It doesn't help that Finn has an adorable accent and tattoos that Drew wants to explore with his tongue. When Drew is thrown head first into a real mystery he decides to try and solve it and quickly discovers that writing mysteries is very different from solving them.

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to think about Cemeteries by Moonlight. As a romance between Drew Daniel and Finn Murphy it was a solid slow developing story, which I liked. Nonetheless something the main murder case didn't add up or if it did, it was boring written.

[Eugenio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been longer and less insta love but overall pleasant

[jaxnsmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it was because it was short, but I felt like I was missing pieces of background that would have given more depth to the book.

[ItsAboutTheBook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review can be read at It's About The Book

Drew has a deadline for his new book but can’t get in the right head space to write at his home. His aunt offers him her place in New Orleans. Which he quickly finds out is occupied by Finn Murphy. A French Creole speaking tour guide who also happens to be extremely sexy. Finn offers his spare room and his friendship. A night out for drinks with Finn’s friends gets him mixed up in a murder mystery. The friends struggle to deal with the death and quickly turn on each other. Drew and Finn give into their attraction despite Drew’s self confidence issues.

When the book started I thought I might really like this. It does capture the New Orleans vibe. The cast of characters were fairly interesting. It is novella length however so things move fairly quickly. I started having problems once the murder took place. Finn was angry at one of the characters and just knew he killed his friend. The reasoning for his anger wasn’t satisfactory for the degree to which Finn takes it. I guess you could explain he’s distraught and overreacts but it didn’t work for me. Initially I found Finn’s character kind of charming but he comes across as dramatic and his authenticity feels forced as the book goes on.

Drew really has no reason to insert himself into this murder mystery but he does and even enlists the help of his father the ex-cop. Drew also frequently ignores the reason he’s gone to New Orleans in the first place. To write! Drew has Tourettes syndrome. His ticks keep him from having much of a social life. He uses it as an excuse to push Finn away at first. Drew doesn’t know much about Finn but he likes him so they hook up. Drew goes from being adamant Finn didn’t kill anyone to accusing him with one little idea planted in his head. I didn’t really care much for the ending either. Ultimately this book was just okay.

[Cee Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

**)3.5 Stars
.•.•*) .•*)
(.• (.•`*Remind me never to visit Cemeteries at Midnight...

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. I don't know why, or what made me choose this book. All I know is that it had been haunting me, (pun intended) for weeks before reading and crying... pick me, choose me... So very Meredith from Grey's Anatomy.

And then I read: "Hitchcock ruined birds for me." and I was in. Secondly, this book takes place in New Orleans (N'awlins) and captured the mystery/suspense of an author with Tourette's Syndrome, who after a bad break developed writer's block and his entanglement with a group who had more secrets than the CIA.

When Drew Daniels needed a change in atmosphere, he escaped to New Orleans, hoping his Aunt's home would draw out some creativity to his writing career. What he did not expect was the sexy and handsome Finn Murphy who ...had such an unusual drawl. Like some sort of Parisian Matthew McConaughey. Then everything changed within the blink of an eye and life as Drew knew it was left spinning on its axis.

Not only was Finn tempting, but he and his friends worked the cemeteries as entertainers/tour guides. They were characters, something Drew had never encountered before. And just when he was getting acclimated to them, a murder occurred, straight out of one of Drew's novels. Finn's close connection to the one killed threw Drew for a loop. It soon began a race to the final where accusations were thrown around, suspicions cast and arrests were made. There were also a lot of French thrown in with no translation(bummer, since I love the language and basically tried to remember all the phrases and words).

A good premise. One which, had it been told through the eyes of more than one person, would have had a more dramatic impact. An okay start to a new series.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Dreamspinner Press
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club