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Bedknobs and Broomsticks #1
Mainly by Moonlight
A gay high-society wedding. A stolen book of spells. A love-threatening lie.
Can a witch avoid a murder rap without revealing the supernatural truth?
Cosmo Saville guiltily hides a paranormal secret from his soon-to-be husband. And if he can’t undo a powerful love spell, uncertainty threatens his nuptial magic. But when he’s arrested for allegedly killing a longtime rival, he could spend his honeymoon behind bars…
Police Commissioner John Joseph Galbraith never believed in love until Cosmo came along. Falling head over heels for the elegant antiques dealer is an enchantment he never wants to break. So when all fingers point to Cosmo’s guilt, John races to prove his fiancé’s innocence before they take their vows.
As Cosmo searches for the real killer among the arcane aristocracy, John warns him to leave it to the police. But with an unseen enemy threatening to expose Cosmo’s true nature, the couple’s blissful future could shatter like a broken charm.
Can Cosmo find the lost grimoire, clear his name and keep John’s love alive, or will black magic “rune” their wedding bells?
Mainly by Moonlight is the first book in the sexy Bedknobs and Broomsticks romantic gay mystery series. If you like spell-binding suspense, steamy star-crossed fun, and a dash of paranormal, then you’ll love Josh Lanyon’s charming tale.
Buy Mainly by Moonlight to fall under love’s spell today!252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2019
251 people are currently reading
1180 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
225 books5,420 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
August 2, 2019
Another book I really, *really* wanted to like but... couldn't.
Mostly because we find out in the second chapter than the MC is marrying a dude he met two weeks prior.
And all I can say is:
And the MC is like, nah, it's fine, see, only my fiancé is under a love spell, not me! I'm totes going ahead with the wedding. And I'm like, wait, but:
And he's like, no, really, I removed the love spell from him, it's FINE, it's ethical now, and I'm still all back at:
And he's like, okay, you're just wondering how we managed to pull together a wedding for 100 people that involves two different faith traditions and how we bought a house in SF and had it furnished and a garden built in it in the last two weeks, well, it was magic okay?, and I'm like, yes, I was wondering that, but mostly, I'm like:
Especially one you know fell in love with you under a love spell?????
There was just so much about this book, though, that was cringe-inducing. A short list:
1. Lanyon had one of the MC's friends be non-binary. Okay, fine; Lanyon has some long-standing issues with gender and transphobia [dating back to fandom days], so I was like, great, maybe you've learned something? But then... one and only one of the MC's friends gets killed off, by the bad guy I guess? [the plot didn't make much sense], and you get no points for guessing which one. Arrrgh. REPRESENTATION DOESN'T COUNT WHEN YOU DO THIS.
2. The Love Interest, while I feel bad for him having to fall in love with the MC (both because of the unethical love spell thing and just because I didn't like the MC as a person, nor did the LI seem to), was an aggressive, controlling, verging on abusive, jerk. NOT ROMANTIC THANKS.
3. The sex scenes, due to the issue in 2, were SUPER CREEPY. Affirmative consent is not just a thing for real life, and given that our MC has apparently (you know, in the last two weeks that they've known each other) been very clear that he has a belief in the importance of preserving his virginity by not being penetrated anally by a penis until marriage (although manual penetration of his anus and oral sex of all kinds are fine, but anyway; it's because his magic religion tells him so, oh the levels of WTFness in tis book), why does his fiancé start trying to push him on this issue in the middle of sex, OMG no. He backs off, but there was such a non-con vibe here. WHY ARE THEY GETTING MARRIED.
4. The worldbuilding made NO sense. None. I tried not to worry about it as much as I could, but it was truly just so ill thought out.
5. I don't know who helped Lanyon with the Latin and French, but I'm guessing Google Translate. The French was comprehensible (very English-calque-y, but comprehensible), but... first the MC vouvoyer'ed his cat familiar (I would've thought that familiars should be addressed, definitionally, in the familiar?), and then the MC himself was vousvoyer'ed by his... mother. Nope. And the Latin, omg, so, so wrong. It was pretty impressive how the LI managed to understand it (thanks to "twelve years in a Catholic boys' school," but honestly, very, very few if any Catholic schools actually require Latin anymore still -- many don't even offer it; and uh, altar boys don't learn the Latin mass generally anymore? Not since the 60s? Vatican II and all that? They're probably not even called altar boys anymore), given that it's incomprehensible nonsense: irresistable ego ad te, nolo te resistentibus, id velim facias ([the first word is not a word, but I guess it's a misspelling of] an-irresistible-thing I toward you, I-do-not-want you for-those-resisting, I-would-like it you-might-do], which the LI and Lanyon seem to think means 'I am irresistible to you, you have no wish to resist me, you will do whatever I wish'. Trust me, it doesn't.
Such a pile of 'nope'.
And yet... I may buy the sequel anyway. And that, my friends, is totally on me.
Mostly because we find out in the second chapter than the MC is marrying a dude he met two weeks prior.
And all I can say is:
And the MC is like, nah, it's fine, see, only my fiancé is under a love spell, not me! I'm totes going ahead with the wedding. And I'm like, wait, but:
And he's like, no, really, I removed the love spell from him, it's FINE, it's ethical now, and I'm still all back at:
And he's like, okay, you're just wondering how we managed to pull together a wedding for 100 people that involves two different faith traditions and how we bought a house in SF and had it furnished and a garden built in it in the last two weeks, well, it was magic okay?, and I'm like, yes, I was wondering that, but mostly, I'm like:
Especially one you know fell in love with you under a love spell?????
There was just so much about this book, though, that was cringe-inducing. A short list:
1. Lanyon had one of the MC's friends be non-binary. Okay, fine; Lanyon has some long-standing issues with gender and transphobia [dating back to fandom days], so I was like, great, maybe you've learned something? But then... one and only one of the MC's friends gets killed off, by the bad guy I guess? [the plot didn't make much sense], and you get no points for guessing which one. Arrrgh. REPRESENTATION DOESN'T COUNT WHEN YOU DO THIS.
2. The Love Interest, while I feel bad for him having to fall in love with the MC (both because of the unethical love spell thing and just because I didn't like the MC as a person, nor did the LI seem to), was an aggressive, controlling, verging on abusive, jerk. NOT ROMANTIC THANKS.
3. The sex scenes, due to the issue in 2, were SUPER CREEPY. Affirmative consent is not just a thing for real life, and given that our MC has apparently (you know, in the last two weeks that they've known each other) been very clear that he has a belief in the importance of preserving his virginity by not being penetrated anally by a penis until marriage (although manual penetration of his anus and oral sex of all kinds are fine, but anyway; it's because his magic religion tells him so, oh the levels of WTFness in tis book), why does his fiancé start trying to push him on this issue in the middle of sex, OMG no. He backs off, but there was such a non-con vibe here. WHY ARE THEY GETTING MARRIED.
4. The worldbuilding made NO sense. None. I tried not to worry about it as much as I could, but it was truly just so ill thought out.
5. I don't know who helped Lanyon with the Latin and French, but I'm guessing Google Translate. The French was comprehensible (very English-calque-y, but comprehensible), but... first the MC vouvoyer'ed his cat familiar (I would've thought that familiars should be addressed, definitionally, in the familiar?), and then the MC himself was vousvoyer'ed by his... mother. Nope. And the Latin, omg, so, so wrong. It was pretty impressive how the LI managed to understand it (thanks to "twelve years in a Catholic boys' school," but honestly, very, very few if any Catholic schools actually require Latin anymore still -- many don't even offer it; and uh, altar boys don't learn the Latin mass generally anymore? Not since the 60s? Vatican II and all that? They're probably not even called altar boys anymore), given that it's incomprehensible nonsense: irresistable ego ad te, nolo te resistentibus, id velim facias ([the first word is not a word, but I guess it's a misspelling of] an-irresistible-thing I toward you, I-do-not-want you for-those-resisting, I-would-like it you-might-do], which the LI and Lanyon seem to think means 'I am irresistible to you, you have no wish to resist me, you will do whatever I wish'. Trust me, it doesn't.
Such a pile of 'nope'.
And yet... I may buy the sequel anyway. And that, my friends, is totally on me.
May 18, 2020
3 Stars
First things first. Lanyon is definitely a top author that impresses and vexates me consistently, and I return again and again because no matter what, the writing is always top notch where this was no different on all accounts.
This author's rare foray into an AU that contains magic was quite the draw and it was teasingly complex and interesting - probably the best parts in my opinion. Featuring witch Cosmo, who’s adamant about being nonmagical in the human world but who is absolutely unsuccessful at refraining from what comes naturally to him, gets quite the shock when he’s framed for murder. To make things even more complicated is the fact that he’s engaged to the police commissioner John, with their wedding only days away and who has no idea that real magic exists…. and hence the story begins.
From almost the start, the romance pretty much failed on all fronts, beginning with its genesis to the gradual reveals behind the MC’s feelings to the culmination at the end. The entire set up and how they fell in love and Cosmo’s unadulterated feelings just did not jive with the usual groundedness I’ve come to expect from Lanyon despite the magical setting. The incongruity of it all baffled my brain, constantly taking me out of the story. Having said that though, the premise and small reveals still kept me engaged.
So, yes. This book was a conundrum.
The circumstances surrounding the murder mystery were compelling enough, but be forewarned, like the love connection, things are nebulous, at best setting up multiple plot threads for books to come but with no sense of any concrete answers or real sleuthing accomplished.
Lanyon somehow still kept reeling me back in with all the potential regarding the larger story arc and the magical bits showing just how powerful Cosmo and company are, and that was quite intriguing. As a warning, this basically ends on a cliffhanger with plenty of questions left unanswered.
Overall, in spite of this being more of a miss, Lanyon’s talent shines through regardless, which is a testament to the author’s skill, mostly in driving me to drink and guaranteed to bring me back for more wonderful frustration.
*bewildered applause*
First things first. Lanyon is definitely a top author that impresses and vexates me consistently, and I return again and again because no matter what, the writing is always top notch where this was no different on all accounts.
This author's rare foray into an AU that contains magic was quite the draw and it was teasingly complex and interesting - probably the best parts in my opinion. Featuring witch Cosmo, who’s adamant about being nonmagical in the human world but who is absolutely unsuccessful at refraining from what comes naturally to him, gets quite the shock when he’s framed for murder. To make things even more complicated is the fact that he’s engaged to the police commissioner John, with their wedding only days away and who has no idea that real magic exists…. and hence the story begins.
From almost the start, the romance pretty much failed on all fronts, beginning with its genesis to the gradual reveals behind the MC’s feelings to the culmination at the end. The entire set up and how they fell in love and Cosmo’s unadulterated feelings just did not jive with the usual groundedness I’ve come to expect from Lanyon despite the magical setting. The incongruity of it all baffled my brain, constantly taking me out of the story. Having said that though, the premise and small reveals still kept me engaged.
So, yes. This book was a conundrum.
The circumstances surrounding the murder mystery were compelling enough, but be forewarned, like the love connection, things are nebulous, at best setting up multiple plot threads for books to come but with no sense of any concrete answers or real sleuthing accomplished.
Lanyon somehow still kept reeling me back in with all the potential regarding the larger story arc and the magical bits showing just how powerful Cosmo and company are, and that was quite intriguing. As a warning, this basically ends on a cliffhanger with plenty of questions left unanswered.
Overall, in spite of this being more of a miss, Lanyon’s talent shines through regardless, which is a testament to the author’s skill, mostly in driving me to drink and guaranteed to bring me back for more wonderful frustration.
*bewildered applause*
March 28, 2021
3.5 stars
This one was difficult to rate because the story isn't finished, but I guess for a first book in a series it was very enjoyable.
I liked Cosmo and John, although I think there wasn't much room for any character development here. There were elements to their relationship that didn't seem believable, but that didn't bother me that much. I'm actually really interested to see how things will work out in the next book. Both when it comes to their relationship and the mystery part of the story.
I would give the audiobook 5 stars. Kale Williams was amazing and to be perfectly honest, I did pick up this book because it was narrated by him.
******
Re-read 3/2021
This one was difficult to rate because the story isn't finished, but I guess for a first book in a series it was very enjoyable.
I liked Cosmo and John, although I think there wasn't much room for any character development here. There were elements to their relationship that didn't seem believable, but that didn't bother me that much. I'm actually really interested to see how things will work out in the next book. Both when it comes to their relationship and the mystery part of the story.
I would give the audiobook 5 stars. Kale Williams was amazing and to be perfectly honest, I did pick up this book because it was narrated by him.
******
Re-read 3/2021
December 11, 2019
3 Stars
WARNING: this review may contain mild spoilers.
I love me some magic and I love me some mystery in my books, and I also love me some Lanyon quality storytelling, so this should have been a slam-dunk for sure. But although I enjoyed it, I also came away from this one with more than a handful of quibbles — quibbles that kept me from loving this story the way I was hoping to.
My first issue revolved around to the whole two-week whirlwind romance thing. Love spell or no love spell, this just seemed extremely fast to me, so much so that I couldn’t quite get past it, especially since I didn’t exactly feel any significant connection between Cosmo and John when we did get to witness them on-page together. There was a spark, yes, but for me it simply didn’t ignite into something worthwhile or believable, at least enough for me to buy why two seemingly intelligent and established men would dive into such a hasty union.
This leads me into my second nit-picky problem, which was how heavily deception played a part in this story. Cosmo kept saying how much he was in love with John, but he still had zero intention of sharing with him his witchy truth, ever. Cosmo’s reasons for not wanting to share his world with John didn’t really fly with me either, regardless of the dangers involved. Lies and deceit in relationships, magically motivated or not, really take away a lot of the love story believability for me. Instead of the initial deception helping to extend and build on the story, particularly in relation to the forthcoming sequels, it simply irritated me and hindered me from properly engaging with or rooting for Cosmo and John as a couple, which was a damn shame.
As characters and as a book couple, Cosmo and John have a lot of potential, which I’m hoping develops a great deal in the next story. As for now, both characters have a long way to go to win me over fully.
Cosmo made one too many nonsensical choices for my liking, seemingly disregarding a lot of the important (or potentially important) things that occurred throughout the story. I generally liked the guy — he was quirky and old-worldly, kind of like a less snarky and cynical Kit Holmes — but I was left shaking my head more than once at his decision-making skills, particularly relating to his choice of keeping John in the dark.
And then there was John. I don’t have a good grasp on this guy at all. There were a couple of moments I thought I felt a swoon coming on — I loved his “sweetheart” endearment moments — but then he did or said something that legitimately made me nervous or uncomfortable, especially in relation to his unromantic motivations for wanting to marry Cosmo and in his slightly forceful and impatient treatment of Cosmo in the bedroom. I did, however, like that he still stuck around, even after the love spell was kaput. I was also intrigued as to why John seemed to be semi-immune to magic, which should turn into quite an interesting story development in book two, if given the chance.
Overall, this sounds more dire than it was. As with most of my Lanyon reading, I flew through this in under two days. And also like with most of my Lanyon reading, I think a lot of my enjoyment stemmed from my engagement with the mystery plot, rather than the romance itself. I had a similar reaction when reading both the Holmes and Moriarity series and the Dangerous Ground series, wherein I only truly came to love the couples in around book three and beyond. I’m hoping the same goes here and I become more invested in the relationship element the more I read on.
At the end of the day, I did really like seeing how Lanyon developed a modern but traditionally inspired world of witches and witchcraft. Blending all of that in with her trademark murder-mystery storytelling is certainly something I’ll consider seeing through to the end of this series, as I’m hoping to become more interested in Cosmo and John as their story evolves and becomes more well-rounded.
WARNING: this review may contain mild spoilers.
I love me some magic and I love me some mystery in my books, and I also love me some Lanyon quality storytelling, so this should have been a slam-dunk for sure. But although I enjoyed it, I also came away from this one with more than a handful of quibbles — quibbles that kept me from loving this story the way I was hoping to.
My first issue revolved around to the whole two-week whirlwind romance thing. Love spell or no love spell, this just seemed extremely fast to me, so much so that I couldn’t quite get past it, especially since I didn’t exactly feel any significant connection between Cosmo and John when we did get to witness them on-page together. There was a spark, yes, but for me it simply didn’t ignite into something worthwhile or believable, at least enough for me to buy why two seemingly intelligent and established men would dive into such a hasty union.
This leads me into my second nit-picky problem, which was how heavily deception played a part in this story. Cosmo kept saying how much he was in love with John, but he still had zero intention of sharing with him his witchy truth, ever. Cosmo’s reasons for not wanting to share his world with John didn’t really fly with me either, regardless of the dangers involved. Lies and deceit in relationships, magically motivated or not, really take away a lot of the love story believability for me. Instead of the initial deception helping to extend and build on the story, particularly in relation to the forthcoming sequels, it simply irritated me and hindered me from properly engaging with or rooting for Cosmo and John as a couple, which was a damn shame.
As characters and as a book couple, Cosmo and John have a lot of potential, which I’m hoping develops a great deal in the next story. As for now, both characters have a long way to go to win me over fully.
Cosmo made one too many nonsensical choices for my liking, seemingly disregarding a lot of the important (or potentially important) things that occurred throughout the story. I generally liked the guy — he was quirky and old-worldly, kind of like a less snarky and cynical Kit Holmes — but I was left shaking my head more than once at his decision-making skills, particularly relating to his choice of keeping John in the dark.
And then there was John. I don’t have a good grasp on this guy at all. There were a couple of moments I thought I felt a swoon coming on — I loved his “sweetheart” endearment moments — but then he did or said something that legitimately made me nervous or uncomfortable, especially in relation to his unromantic motivations for wanting to marry Cosmo and in his slightly forceful and impatient treatment of Cosmo in the bedroom. I did, however, like that he still stuck around, even after the love spell was kaput. I was also intrigued as to why John seemed to be semi-immune to magic, which should turn into quite an interesting story development in book two, if given the chance.
Overall, this sounds more dire than it was. As with most of my Lanyon reading, I flew through this in under two days. And also like with most of my Lanyon reading, I think a lot of my enjoyment stemmed from my engagement with the mystery plot, rather than the romance itself. I had a similar reaction when reading both the Holmes and Moriarity series and the Dangerous Ground series, wherein I only truly came to love the couples in around book three and beyond. I’m hoping the same goes here and I become more invested in the relationship element the more I read on.
At the end of the day, I did really like seeing how Lanyon developed a modern but traditionally inspired world of witches and witchcraft. Blending all of that in with her trademark murder-mystery storytelling is certainly something I’ll consider seeing through to the end of this series, as I’m hoping to become more interested in Cosmo and John as their story evolves and becomes more well-rounded.
September 29, 2019
OMG! 😱 OMG! 😱 OMG! 😱 Where do I even begin with this book? First of all, since the moment Josh Lanyon announced about this book and from that blurb, I knew this is soooooo going to be my cuppa. 😍 So I was waiting really impatiently about the release of this book. 😅 But when Josh again announced that the audio is coming very soon after the release of the print, I knew I gotta wait again because I love Josh’s audios even more than I love Josh’s books. ❤️ And boy, was the wait worth it! Yes!!! Yes, it does!!! 🥰 It was EVERYTHING!!! 💜 OMG! I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved Cosmo and John.
Cosmos is a young, fun witch who’s hopelessly in love with his soon to be husband John. And to say Cosmo was at the wrong place at the wrong time would be understatement of the century. He is marrying the police commissioner of San Francisco in 2 days. And now, he’s caught red handed at the place of the murder of his rival at midnight by two police officers who remembered him as the fiancé of their own police commissioner. And to make the matters worse, Cosmo’s family treasure, a very important grimoire which is the reason why he was at the place of the murder in the first place, has gone missing. And if you think misfortune comes alone, Cosmo also found out that his fiancé is actually under a love spell while trying to investigate the murder which he is the sole suspect of. The wedding is in two days and Cosmo isn’t sure whether he’ll end up at the alter or in the jail when it happens. Most importantly, does John really love him with true love or is he merely bewitched under love spell? A murder mystery, a tempestuous romance and a lost grimoire .. Cosmo sure has his hands full.
Again, OMG! 😱 I loooooooooooved this audio sooooooo soooooooo much. 😍 True to Josh’s usual mysteries, I had no idea who was the villain until the very end. Like, completely clueless about who could be the murderer. 😳😅 And that’s what’s so great about Josh Lanyon’s books, full of suspense and thrill and always keeps me at the edge of my seat for the whole book. Considering Josh is a bit stingy with heat in her books, boy, this book was smoking scorching hot!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Granted, there aren’t a lot of heated scenes in the book since the romance between John and Cosmos was really slow burn and sensual and build up until the very climax. But what we get, Josh delivered! 👏 Beautiful, sensual, raw and extremely erotic! 🔥💜 I loved every second of lovely intimate moments between John and Cosmo. 🥰 I love Cosmos character so sooo much. ❤️ Probably, my favorite Josh Lanyon character so far and yes, that’s saying a lot and that’s how much I loved him. 😍 And my, Kale Williams did a terrific, terrific job narrating this story. 👏 I have always loved his narration and performance but boy, every time he speaks French and Latin, I melt a little bit inside and become jelly while listening! 😂 You really don’t need to understand French to know they are extremely sexy! 😉😏 I cant even count the ways this book appeals to me. The nerd in me also loved all about Wicca, Witchcraft and the spells. They were so cool! 😎 And the ending, OMG! 😱 That ending! Couldn’t ask for a better ending. 😍 That’s for sure. I unashamedly listen that ending like 3 times. 😁😅 *sigh* I am so drunk on this ahmazing listen 😌 and I already can’t freaking wait for next book in the series! And yes, I need me more Cosmos and John in my life. 🥰💜😉
5 I love you and only you even with your flaws and imperfections stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating
Story - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cosmos is a young, fun witch who’s hopelessly in love with his soon to be husband John. And to say Cosmo was at the wrong place at the wrong time would be understatement of the century. He is marrying the police commissioner of San Francisco in 2 days. And now, he’s caught red handed at the place of the murder of his rival at midnight by two police officers who remembered him as the fiancé of their own police commissioner. And to make the matters worse, Cosmo’s family treasure, a very important grimoire which is the reason why he was at the place of the murder in the first place, has gone missing. And if you think misfortune comes alone, Cosmo also found out that his fiancé is actually under a love spell while trying to investigate the murder which he is the sole suspect of. The wedding is in two days and Cosmo isn’t sure whether he’ll end up at the alter or in the jail when it happens. Most importantly, does John really love him with true love or is he merely bewitched under love spell? A murder mystery, a tempestuous romance and a lost grimoire .. Cosmo sure has his hands full.
Again, OMG! 😱 I loooooooooooved this audio sooooooo soooooooo much. 😍 True to Josh’s usual mysteries, I had no idea who was the villain until the very end. Like, completely clueless about who could be the murderer. 😳😅 And that’s what’s so great about Josh Lanyon’s books, full of suspense and thrill and always keeps me at the edge of my seat for the whole book. Considering Josh is a bit stingy with heat in her books, boy, this book was smoking scorching hot!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Granted, there aren’t a lot of heated scenes in the book since the romance between John and Cosmos was really slow burn and sensual and build up until the very climax. But what we get, Josh delivered! 👏 Beautiful, sensual, raw and extremely erotic! 🔥💜 I loved every second of lovely intimate moments between John and Cosmo. 🥰 I love Cosmos character so sooo much. ❤️ Probably, my favorite Josh Lanyon character so far and yes, that’s saying a lot and that’s how much I loved him. 😍 And my, Kale Williams did a terrific, terrific job narrating this story. 👏 I have always loved his narration and performance but boy, every time he speaks French and Latin, I melt a little bit inside and become jelly while listening! 😂 You really don’t need to understand French to know they are extremely sexy! 😉😏 I cant even count the ways this book appeals to me. The nerd in me also loved all about Wicca, Witchcraft and the spells. They were so cool! 😎 And the ending, OMG! 😱 That ending! Couldn’t ask for a better ending. 😍 That’s for sure. I unashamedly listen that ending like 3 times. 😁😅 *sigh* I am so drunk on this ahmazing listen 😌 and I already can’t freaking wait for next book in the series! And yes, I need me more Cosmos and John in my life. 🥰💜😉
5 I love you and only you even with your flaws and imperfections stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Audio rating
Story - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall - 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 21, 2019
This was fricking terrible. I can't get my head around this being a Lanyon book.
Stuff I hated:
*Instalove (which you don't see, they're together when the book starts)
*Starts in the middle of an ongoing plot, leaving the reader to scramble to catch up
*The mc's have zero chemistry between each other
*Too many side characters
*I needed to suspend way too much believe (they buy a house, plant a giant garden, plan a wedding and more in two weeks??)
*All the characters were unlikable
*Their entire relationship was based on a lie. A really giant lie.
*The first sex scene was awkward and confusing. You get the impression they've been intimate before but now one mc is freaking out & it's headed to dub-con territory. But.....why? Some jumbled nonsense about no penetrative sex till they're married (which I didn't care for...way too m/f....saving myself for marriage ick) but what was extra weird was that mc1 had not previously told mc2 this. You're getting married. How do you not know something this intimate? ( I'll tell you why....cuz they only knew each other 2 weeks and everything is a lie)
*The writing was purple prosey in places (ie..."I opened to him like the flowers of the white garden yielding to the moon's kiss"
*insert me rolling my eyes back into my head*)
Stuff I loved:
*NOTHING.....I hated every page of it. I had to dnf @ 53% because I couldn't take one more page of this nonsense. I normally don't rate dnf books but I made an exception in this case cuz my hate was so strong.
Stuff I hated:
*Instalove (which you don't see, they're together when the book starts)
*Starts in the middle of an ongoing plot, leaving the reader to scramble to catch up
*The mc's have zero chemistry between each other
*Too many side characters
*I needed to suspend way too much believe (they buy a house, plant a giant garden, plan a wedding and more in two weeks??)
*All the characters were unlikable
*Their entire relationship was based on a lie. A really giant lie.
*The first sex scene was awkward and confusing. You get the impression they've been intimate before but now one mc is freaking out & it's headed to dub-con territory. But.....why? Some jumbled nonsense about no penetrative sex till they're married (which I didn't care for...way too m/f....saving myself for marriage ick) but what was extra weird was that mc1 had not previously told mc2 this. You're getting married. How do you not know something this intimate? ( I'll tell you why....cuz they only knew each other 2 weeks and everything is a lie)
*The writing was purple prosey in places (ie..."I opened to him like the flowers of the white garden yielding to the moon's kiss"
*insert me rolling my eyes back into my head*)
Stuff I loved:
*NOTHING.....I hated every page of it. I had to dnf @ 53% because I couldn't take one more page of this nonsense. I normally don't rate dnf books but I made an exception in this case cuz my hate was so strong.
Want to read
October 3, 2019Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 10/3/19!
August 6, 2021
I sure wish I hadn't already been thoroughly spoiled when I picked this up. But when the blurb of the second book blares out the answer to the Big Suspenseful Question of the first book, well... there goes any possibility of actual suspense. The whole "Will he or won't he?" moral dilemma was a complete wash, because I already knew the answer.
Still, I enjoyed it more than I expected, given that (and given the number of lukewarm reviews from my friends). It's light and frothy for a murder mystery, undemanding, with a completely unconvincing romance — more on that coming up — and it was an easy read. I'm not going to recommend it to anyone, though, because disbelief has to be suspended in far too many different ways during the course of the story.
The biggest Simply Unbelievable Thing is the two weeks. Why, Josh, why? Why not two months, which would at least have moved it out of the realm of flat-out unbelievable into "okay, maybe I can buy it, if I squint sideways and don't pause to think." If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, here are some highlights:
The MCs meet once, briefly and rather unpleasantly. Skip forward a bit (the timeframe wasn't clear to me), and we're supposed to believe that all of the following happens within two weeks:
- They cross paths for a second time.
- They decide they're in love.
- They get engaged.
- They schedule a wedding to take place in (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks.
- Arrangements are made for venue, catering, cake, florist, etc.
- One MC decides to sell his house, puts it on the market, and sells it.
- The MCs go house-hunting, find a house they like, make an offer on it, close on the purchase, and start moving in.
- The new house, and its yard, get all painted, planted, and spiffied up, because it is going to be the venue for the wedding.
- The MC who's a police commissioner makes arrangements to take a couple weeks of vacation in (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks — even though he's brand-new and just started in the job. (Amidst all the craziness, this is the one that really pressed my "You've got to be shitting me!" button. In what world would this be possible?)
- Flights and hotels and touring arrangements etc are booked for a honeymoon abroad on (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks notice.
Again I ask, why? I can more easily believe magic and witches exist than I can believe that all this transpired within two weeks. Plus, the impossibly short timeframe completely torpedoes Cosmo's angsting over how if the wedding falls through, he will be emotionally and psychologically destroyed. His little heart broken, never to be mended. Alas and alack. Boo and hoo. All this over a man he's been in love with for less than two weeks. You know what, Cosmo? I think not.
And I regret to say, there's yet another thing that was impossible for me to swallow — and it wasn't just a matter of a sketchy timeline and dubious logistics, but a major characterization issue. Alas, I've run out of time and energy, so I'm just going to call it quits and wrap things up without opening up that can of worms.
2.5 stars, and I'm rounding up because maybe, just maybe, it's a case of the first of the series being rough around the edges, and things will improve from here on out. I mean, Fatal Shadows is not a work of art, but it's worth reading (and rereading) because it's fundamental to the series. So I'm planning to read the second of this series and hope for the best. Because there was actually something I liked about this — oops, did I forget to mention that, in the midst of all my griping? Silly me. Okay, here's the thing I liked:
The story is full of moral ambiguity, and it makes the characters seem a little shady, a little tarnished, and a little difficult to root for. The dissonance — and novelty — of that, in what's otherwise a rather fluffy bit of stuff, appeals to me.
Still, I enjoyed it more than I expected, given that (and given the number of lukewarm reviews from my friends). It's light and frothy for a murder mystery, undemanding, with a completely unconvincing romance — more on that coming up — and it was an easy read. I'm not going to recommend it to anyone, though, because disbelief has to be suspended in far too many different ways during the course of the story.
The biggest Simply Unbelievable Thing is the two weeks. Why, Josh, why? Why not two months, which would at least have moved it out of the realm of flat-out unbelievable into "okay, maybe I can buy it, if I squint sideways and don't pause to think." If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, here are some highlights:
The MCs meet once, briefly and rather unpleasantly. Skip forward a bit (the timeframe wasn't clear to me), and we're supposed to believe that all of the following happens within two weeks:
- They cross paths for a second time.
- They decide they're in love.
- They get engaged.
- They schedule a wedding to take place in (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks.
- Arrangements are made for venue, catering, cake, florist, etc.
- One MC decides to sell his house, puts it on the market, and sells it.
- The MCs go house-hunting, find a house they like, make an offer on it, close on the purchase, and start moving in.
- The new house, and its yard, get all painted, planted, and spiffied up, because it is going to be the venue for the wedding.
- The MC who's a police commissioner makes arrangements to take a couple weeks of vacation in (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks — even though he's brand-new and just started in the job. (Amidst all the craziness, this is the one that really pressed my "You've got to be shitting me!" button. In what world would this be possible?)
- Flights and hotels and touring arrangements etc are booked for a honeymoon abroad on (what is now LESS THAN) two weeks notice.
Again I ask, why? I can more easily believe magic and witches exist than I can believe that all this transpired within two weeks. Plus, the impossibly short timeframe completely torpedoes Cosmo's angsting over how if the wedding falls through, he will be emotionally and psychologically destroyed. His little heart broken, never to be mended. Alas and alack. Boo and hoo. All this over a man he's been in love with for less than two weeks. You know what, Cosmo? I think not.
And I regret to say, there's yet another thing that was impossible for me to swallow — and it wasn't just a matter of a sketchy timeline and dubious logistics, but a major characterization issue. Alas, I've run out of time and energy, so I'm just going to call it quits and wrap things up without opening up that can of worms.
2.5 stars, and I'm rounding up because maybe, just maybe, it's a case of the first of the series being rough around the edges, and things will improve from here on out. I mean, Fatal Shadows is not a work of art, but it's worth reading (and rereading) because it's fundamental to the series. So I'm planning to read the second of this series and hope for the best. Because there was actually something I liked about this — oops, did I forget to mention that, in the midst of all my griping? Silly me. Okay, here's the thing I liked:
The story is full of moral ambiguity, and it makes the characters seem a little shady, a little tarnished, and a little difficult to root for. The dissonance — and novelty — of that, in what's otherwise a rather fluffy bit of stuff, appeals to me.
Read
October 30, 2019I LOVED writing this. I really lost myself in the world I created (which is, I think, the closest a writer can come to experiencing their work as readers do).
July 10, 2023
Finally!!!!
After I dnfed a handful of books, this pulled me in, and enjoyed it from the beginning till the very end!
This book felt like a fan fiction of the Adrien English series by the author. I’m not joking! Same characters, same personalities, similar plot- except the relationship part!! I had such a good time “revisiting” Adrien and Jake in a different universe! My only disappointment was the underwhelming sex scene. I should change my rating to 5 stars I think… let’s see the next book and I will decide. Anyway the story is interesting, the writing amazing and all the feels! F**k it, this deserves the 5 stars now.
After I dnfed a handful of books, this pulled me in, and enjoyed it from the beginning till the very end!
This book felt like a fan fiction of the Adrien English series by the author. I’m not joking! Same characters, same personalities, similar plot- except the relationship part!! I had such a good time “revisiting” Adrien and Jake in a different universe! My only disappointment was the underwhelming sex scene. I should change my rating to 5 stars I think… let’s see the next book and I will decide. Anyway the story is interesting, the writing amazing and all the feels! F**k it, this deserves the 5 stars now.
November 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this! It was "lighter" than the usual Lanyon, but still had the murder mystery element. I wanted more development of our MCs, so I can't wait for Book 2, when shit will really hit the fan when John finds out about all the magic. No cliffhanger though.
November 20, 2019
Well now. That was THE most frustrating story I've read in a very long time. Probably one of the worst cases of insta❤love ever. I can't believe I finished it. Guess I kept hoping "the issues" would somehow be resolved.
Why didn't I like this book?
I could go on, buy why bother. What a terrible disappointment. The author is better than this. But, honestly, I've liked little the author's written over the past five years. I'd like to say that I'm giving up, but as she wrote my all-time favorite MM romance series (Adrien English Mysteries)... how can I? I will not, however, be continuing this series.
Oh! I almost failed to mention the narrator, Kale Williams, delivered a solid performance.
Why didn't I like this book?
I could go on, buy why bother. What a terrible disappointment. The author is better than this. But, honestly, I've liked little the author's written over the past five years. I'd like to say that I'm giving up, but as she wrote my all-time favorite MM romance series (Adrien English Mysteries)... how can I? I will not, however, be continuing this series.
Oh! I almost failed to mention the narrator, Kale Williams, delivered a solid performance.
August 20, 2019
I expected better.
I struggled here. Really struggled. I had to keep putting it down because of Cosmo being stupid. Then I would try again only to get aggravated and put it back down.
So many lies. You don’t lie to someone you supposedly love, use forget spells on then go ahead with the wedding after finding out your husband to be didn’t even like you until your best friend cast a love spell on him. That’s not even the worst of the lies.
The murder investigation is not close to be solved even if the human police think they have the suspect.
I just want to yell about all the things I dislike about Cosmo & the storyline.
I struggled here. Really struggled. I had to keep putting it down because of Cosmo being stupid. Then I would try again only to get aggravated and put it back down.
So many lies. You don’t lie to someone you supposedly love, use forget spells on then go ahead with the wedding after finding out your husband to be didn’t even like you until your best friend cast a love spell on him. That’s not even the worst of the lies.
The murder investigation is not close to be solved even if the human police think they have the suspect.
I just want to yell about all the things I dislike about Cosmo & the storyline.
October 25, 2019
Different from Josh Lanyon’s usual. While not without its setbacks, it was still an entertaining ride!
Cosmo Saville hides his witch pedigree from his soon-to-be husband, police commissioner John Galbraith. It’s been fairly easy so far, but then they’ve only known each other for a whole two weeks.
However, when a murder and series of mishaps occur right before the wedding, Cosmo and John’s whirlwind fairytale comes crashing down.
I’ll acknowledge the elephant in the room right up front - the two week romance. With very dubious beginnings.
Yes, it was quite ridiculous. Even more so when the truth is revealed. It’s not even entirely clear whether John and Cosmo will be able to pull through until right near the end of the book.
Also, Cosmo’s a bit of a mess. Inconsistent, somewhat neurotic, and seemingly with his head in the clouds.
John, in comparison, is a no-nonsense, gruff, and fairly cantankerous man. But he has a soft side when it comes to Cosmo. He knows something’s off with Cosmo, but he’ll deal.
And yet despite the red flags, I was charmed. Because while ‘Mainly by Moonlight’ is insta-love on steroids, Cosmo and John were just fun.
Plus, the two seem well aware of the limitations - the ones not related to magic - of their relationship. So while they might be fools, they at least know what they’re getting into - for the most part.
A host of secondary characters and Cosmo’s magical background play a central role in the plot. There are magic-wielding French aristocrats, sacred lost objects, backstabbing and intrigue, and near-death experiences.
I was entertained! While the world-building definitely needs more fleshing out, book 1 does a good job at establishing the witchcraft world that Cosmo’s a part of.
There’s clearly more that still needs to be revealed about how all the different pieces fit together, and I’m looking forward to it.
Book 1 ends on uncertain ground. Cosmo and John still have a long road ahead of them, and the secrets of the world of witchcraft are brewing.
I’ve got more questions than answers, and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
Cosmo Saville hides his witch pedigree from his soon-to-be husband, police commissioner John Galbraith. It’s been fairly easy so far, but then they’ve only known each other for a whole two weeks.
However, when a murder and series of mishaps occur right before the wedding, Cosmo and John’s whirlwind fairytale comes crashing down.
I’ll acknowledge the elephant in the room right up front - the two week romance. With very dubious beginnings.
Yes, it was quite ridiculous. Even more so when the truth is revealed. It’s not even entirely clear whether John and Cosmo will be able to pull through until right near the end of the book.
Also, Cosmo’s a bit of a mess. Inconsistent, somewhat neurotic, and seemingly with his head in the clouds.
John, in comparison, is a no-nonsense, gruff, and fairly cantankerous man. But he has a soft side when it comes to Cosmo. He knows something’s off with Cosmo, but he’ll deal.
And yet despite the red flags, I was charmed. Because while ‘Mainly by Moonlight’ is insta-love on steroids, Cosmo and John were just fun.
Plus, the two seem well aware of the limitations - the ones not related to magic - of their relationship. So while they might be fools, they at least know what they’re getting into - for the most part.
A host of secondary characters and Cosmo’s magical background play a central role in the plot. There are magic-wielding French aristocrats, sacred lost objects, backstabbing and intrigue, and near-death experiences.
I was entertained! While the world-building definitely needs more fleshing out, book 1 does a good job at establishing the witchcraft world that Cosmo’s a part of.
There’s clearly more that still needs to be revealed about how all the different pieces fit together, and I’m looking forward to it.
Book 1 ends on uncertain ground. Cosmo and John still have a long road ahead of them, and the secrets of the world of witchcraft are brewing.
I’ve got more questions than answers, and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
September 11, 2021
This is only the first book in this series and I’m sorry to say there is no doubt about it. That is, many threads are not completed. In fact, none of the main threads have ended in this book. Maybe aside from closing a certain chapter in John and Cosmo's relationship. But even in this aspect, there are still many things that will probably happen in the next books.
As a result, I did not feel satisfied with the end of this book. I cannot even call it the end of the story, just the book. Because this is just the beginning of the story. But I'm not sure if this beginning was interesting enough for me to read more books. Maybe one day, but I sure don't feel like I should do it right now. In fact, watching what happened in Cosmo and John's relationship in this book, I fear it will be a very frustrating series.
Already, some of the choices made by Cosmo were frustrating me. I understand why Cosmo is hiding from John who he is, but I'm afraid the further web of lies he will have to create will be quite annoying for me. I don't like this thread and I was hoping that by the end of this book John would know much more about Cosmo.
I'm not entirely sure what their relationship is based on. I mean, I know how it all started for John, but I doubt even Cosmo's feelings for John. They are very different from each other and know each other briefly. And yet they say it's love. It was a bit of a telling not showing case for me.
I am also very dissatisfied with the suspense thread. It looked good at first, but it faded and fell apart fairly quickly. I was expecting something more. I don't know if this idea will be continued in the next books, it looks so, but I still missed some closure in this book. Instead, I just got an explicit invitation to read another book.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the overall idea and I liked the characters. I believe they have great potential. And when I read the next book in this series, and I will probably do it someday, it's mainly to meet them again. Overall, this book was fine, but I was expecting something more.
As a result, I did not feel satisfied with the end of this book. I cannot even call it the end of the story, just the book. Because this is just the beginning of the story. But I'm not sure if this beginning was interesting enough for me to read more books. Maybe one day, but I sure don't feel like I should do it right now. In fact, watching what happened in Cosmo and John's relationship in this book, I fear it will be a very frustrating series.
Already, some of the choices made by Cosmo were frustrating me. I understand why Cosmo is hiding from John who he is, but I'm afraid the further web of lies he will have to create will be quite annoying for me. I don't like this thread and I was hoping that by the end of this book John would know much more about Cosmo.
I'm not entirely sure what their relationship is based on. I mean, I know how it all started for John, but I doubt even Cosmo's feelings for John. They are very different from each other and know each other briefly. And yet they say it's love. It was a bit of a telling not showing case for me.
I am also very dissatisfied with the suspense thread. It looked good at first, but it faded and fell apart fairly quickly. I was expecting something more. I don't know if this idea will be continued in the next books, it looks so, but I still missed some closure in this book. Instead, I just got an explicit invitation to read another book.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the overall idea and I liked the characters. I believe they have great potential. And when I read the next book in this series, and I will probably do it someday, it's mainly to meet them again. Overall, this book was fine, but I was expecting something more.
October 3, 2019
This doesn't "feel" like a Josh Lanyon book, in any way. With the magical aspect, I should have loved it. But too many things felt off.
I didn't get any connection between Cosmo and John , Cosmo was too inconsistent and couldn't stick with either practicing magic or living as a human, too many ends left hanging and are you kidding me, ? O.O Because really.
I feel bad for not loving it, because I love this author, and her books are pretty much an auto-buy on my part. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. And I suppose I will probably read the next, because it is Josh Lanyon. But for me, this one just didn't work.
I didn't get any connection between Cosmo and John , Cosmo was too inconsistent and couldn't stick with either practicing magic or living as a human, too many ends left hanging and are you kidding me, ? O.O Because really.
I feel bad for not loving it, because I love this author, and her books are pretty much an auto-buy on my part. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. And I suppose I will probably read the next, because it is Josh Lanyon. But for me, this one just didn't work.
April 14, 2021
I really liked the idea for the scenario and the plot, and the world-building is great, but …
.) I had a hard time warming to John, who comes across as an overbearing, controlling guy I didn’t really understand. Admittedly, we don’t really know that much about him, which, with a view that this is book 1 in a series, is probably deliberate by the author.
.) I have not the slightest idea why John and Cosmo have decided to marry after knowing each other for only a month. WTH is this all about? They hardly know each other, and their whole ’relationship’ feels weird and wrong, and everything feels way too hurried. I missed a deeper connection, a tangible bond between the two men.
.) How Cosmo can How can he expect to build a life based on such fundamental lies?
So all in all, for me there is a decided lack of romance, and the whole relationship aspect is a muddle. But the story has tickled my interest enough to try book 2.
.) I had a hard time warming to John, who comes across as an overbearing, controlling guy I didn’t really understand. Admittedly, we don’t really know that much about him, which, with a view that this is book 1 in a series, is probably deliberate by the author.
.) I have not the slightest idea why John and Cosmo have decided to marry after knowing each other for only a month. WTH is this all about? They hardly know each other, and their whole ’relationship’ feels weird and wrong, and everything feels way too hurried. I missed a deeper connection, a tangible bond between the two men.
.) How Cosmo can How can he expect to build a life based on such fundamental lies?
So all in all, for me there is a decided lack of romance, and the whole relationship aspect is a muddle. But the story has tickled my interest enough to try book 2.
September 15, 2019
A San Francisco Police Comissioner with a Scottish surname? Check. Coupled with a sexy spouse/fiance considerably younger than him? Check. Murder, mystery and mayhem ensue as they get involved in solving crimes? Yup, another Check. Oh, and the young fiance practices The Craft (Witch, that is) occasionally and has a family of quirky crafty characters. I quickly got a "McMillan & Wife / Bewitched" vibe from this tale, and had to laugh when reading Josh's authors note: "I wanted to write something perhaps a little light and more romantic than I typically do - a cozy, sexy mystery with, er, witches - sort of like Bewitched meets McMillan and Wife meets Josh Lanyon."
Kudos to Lanyon for the seamless world-building that quickly draws us into the realm of witchcraft, with Cosmo Saville being the heir to the esteemed Abracadantes line. After a positively whirlwind romance (fueled by a love spell, unknown to Cosmo), Cosmo finds himself 2 days away from his wedding, embroiled in a magic-related murder mystery and desperately hoping that his fiance John will come to love him on his own. John is way too lightly-fleshed out here, and I'm hoping we get more in-depth character development in the next book in the series as we only get Cosmo's POV throughout. There is an odd-sort of chemistry between the two but we know so little of their background together that it is hard to become invested at this point in their romance.
The book needs another round of editing as there are many mangled sentences, and I must admit that the whole murder/mystery part of this book leaves me a bit ... uninterested, but there was enough of a spark with this unlikely romance, and tantalizing hints that John Galbraith's Scottish heritage may hold some surprises, that I am willing to read the next book in the series I Buried a Witch, very appropriately releasing on Halloween, 2019. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
August 2, 2019
Mainly by Moonlight is a stellar start to a new Josh Lanyon series! I love the new, magical world Lanyon is showing us in this first book of the series. I love the fact that everything wasn't neatly spelled out, that we were left with several unsolved mysteries to look forward to. Overall, reading this book felt like peeling a big onion, layer by layer. Every single page brought out a new surprise, new problem, new exciting aspect, some tears even. At some point in the middle of the story I realized: "OMG, it's not just one onion—it's a full bag of them!!!" :-) There were so many clever details, delicious characters, suspicious occurrences, that my brain literally buzzed with delight. And after finishing the book I still keep trying to connect the dots—dots which keep shimmering and wavering and disappearing into thin air. :-D I love it when a book leaves me feeling like this—when the reading experience is pure joy and when the story makes me ponder for a long time afterward.
I find Cosmo and John being such a perfect imperfect couple. They're from two different worlds, literally, and their characters are different in so many ways, but there're also a few crucial character similarities that will (I hope!) save their relationship. For example, I like how they're both so down-to-earth and prone to problem solving—Cosmo in his own impulsive, wayward way and John in his stoic, pondering way. Also, I'm looking forward to witness the growing curve of their relationship. I mean... oh man, these two have a lot to learn from each other! :-D
Highly recommended!
I find Cosmo and John being such a perfect imperfect couple. They're from two different worlds, literally, and their characters are different in so many ways, but there're also a few crucial character similarities that will (I hope!) save their relationship. For example, I like how they're both so down-to-earth and prone to problem solving—Cosmo in his own impulsive, wayward way and John in his stoic, pondering way. Also, I'm looking forward to witness the growing curve of their relationship. I mean... oh man, these two have a lot to learn from each other! :-D
Highly recommended!
August 9, 2020
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/10/12/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars – that place between like and love
Rating: 3.5 Stars – that place between like and love
March 12, 2025
A gay high-society wedding. A stolen book of spells. A love-threatening lie. Can a witch avoid a murder rap without revealing the supernatural truth?
Josh Lanyon writes some really sweet romances with wonderful characters, but this is the first one that I would put in the "cozy murder mystery" category. It has a hint of magic and a smidgen of insta-love, and two guys that you will root for to the last page and fall in love with in the first.
Cosmo Saville tells us his story. It was like sitting across the table from a friend and listening to them talk about what’s been happening in their life. Sometimes Cosmo gets ahead of himself and has to backtrack to catch us up and fill in all the blanks, but he gives us enough of the facts and necessary details to keep us listening...or in my case, reading. He doesn’t embellish or exaggerate. Our Cosmos has found himself to be the prime suspect in a murder... and the man he’s about to marry a mere two weeks after having met him, just happens to be the Police Commissioner. I had to find out where Cos was going to end up and if he would get his "happy ever after", especially after we learn that John, the commissioner, was under the influence of a Love Spell when he’d popped the question.
Cos and John’s first meeting couldn't, in any way, be called a "love-at-first sight"... it wasn’t even a "lust at first sight" moment, which caused their engagement to be all the more surprising to everyone. Cos feels a great deal of anxiety now since he found out that John may not love him at all but might have only proposed because of a spell he was under at the time. Will they, or won’t they, get married once the spell is broken is a considerable and consistent source of doubt for Cosmo. There are so many questions and even more secrets to overcome as well...not the least being that Cos doesn’t know that John...his now fiancé, John... is a witch...and he is next in line to inherit the throne. John is trying very hard to avoid that. It will take us awhile to find out if he’ll succeed.
This first book in the series has a certain charm to it, and it leaves just enough loose ends for the next book to explore and fill in, including more mysteries to solve. There are plenty of characters to get to know also, including John. There’s just something about him that makes him a little different from the other unmagical folks. John and Cosmo are both still "work-in-progress"... but their future happiness appears have a good chance.
If you’re expecting a gritty, hardboiled murder mystery here, you’re in for a big disappointment. If you need all the answers to be answered in the first book of a series, guess what? disappointed again. "Mainly by Moonlight" is an opener and an invitation to further explore the magic and to gain some insight into the characters, not to mention there is still the need to catch a killer. Different than Josh's usual fare but very enjoyable. Book 2 in the series is "I Buried a Witch" and Book 3 is "Bell, Book and Scandal".... which I just happen to have...so I'll be back.
Josh Lanyon writes some really sweet romances with wonderful characters, but this is the first one that I would put in the "cozy murder mystery" category. It has a hint of magic and a smidgen of insta-love, and two guys that you will root for to the last page and fall in love with in the first.
Cosmo Saville tells us his story. It was like sitting across the table from a friend and listening to them talk about what’s been happening in their life. Sometimes Cosmo gets ahead of himself and has to backtrack to catch us up and fill in all the blanks, but he gives us enough of the facts and necessary details to keep us listening...or in my case, reading. He doesn’t embellish or exaggerate. Our Cosmos has found himself to be the prime suspect in a murder... and the man he’s about to marry a mere two weeks after having met him, just happens to be the Police Commissioner. I had to find out where Cos was going to end up and if he would get his "happy ever after", especially after we learn that John, the commissioner, was under the influence of a Love Spell when he’d popped the question.
Cos and John’s first meeting couldn't, in any way, be called a "love-at-first sight"... it wasn’t even a "lust at first sight" moment, which caused their engagement to be all the more surprising to everyone. Cos feels a great deal of anxiety now since he found out that John may not love him at all but might have only proposed because of a spell he was under at the time. Will they, or won’t they, get married once the spell is broken is a considerable and consistent source of doubt for Cosmo. There are so many questions and even more secrets to overcome as well...not the least being that Cos doesn’t know that John...his now fiancé, John... is a witch...and he is next in line to inherit the throne. John is trying very hard to avoid that. It will take us awhile to find out if he’ll succeed.
This first book in the series has a certain charm to it, and it leaves just enough loose ends for the next book to explore and fill in, including more mysteries to solve. There are plenty of characters to get to know also, including John. There’s just something about him that makes him a little different from the other unmagical folks. John and Cosmo are both still "work-in-progress"... but their future happiness appears have a good chance.
If you’re expecting a gritty, hardboiled murder mystery here, you’re in for a big disappointment. If you need all the answers to be answered in the first book of a series, guess what? disappointed again. "Mainly by Moonlight" is an opener and an invitation to further explore the magic and to gain some insight into the characters, not to mention there is still the need to catch a killer. Different than Josh's usual fare but very enjoyable. Book 2 in the series is "I Buried a Witch" and Book 3 is "Bell, Book and Scandal".... which I just happen to have...so I'll be back.
August 16, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Stepping outside her usual genre here, author Josh Lanyon delves into the fantasy world of witches and warlocks, with a dash of mystery on the side. Mainly by Moonlight is the beginning of a new series and so go in expecting that there are some loose threads left dangling in this fast-moving novel. With some great side characters and some unfinished business that could still spell danger for Cosmo, this story leaves more questions than it does answers, but that’s just fine for the important ones, such as whether John’s feelings for Cosmo are really genuine, do get revealed in the end.
What worked so well in this story was the idea that Cosmo never really deviated from his decision not to take the easy road that his magical abilities would have afforded him. Instead, he was willing to push that life aside in order to be with John, which made an early revelation about their mutual attraction so devastating for Cosmo and the reader. The author kept everyone guessing right up to the end and that made for a pearl-clutching kind of drama that blended seamlessly with the mystery element of who exactly killed Cosmo’s archenemy and was after Cosmo as well. Establishing this new world where magic was such a part of the fabric of daily life, but where humans were unaware of it being used, was done very well. We were introduced to key players in this paranormal world and the hierarchy of the magic wielding beings who inhabited it while being entertained by a cast of characters both human and magical that kept me invested in the story that unfolded.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Stepping outside her usual genre here, author Josh Lanyon delves into the fantasy world of witches and warlocks, with a dash of mystery on the side. Mainly by Moonlight is the beginning of a new series and so go in expecting that there are some loose threads left dangling in this fast-moving novel. With some great side characters and some unfinished business that could still spell danger for Cosmo, this story leaves more questions than it does answers, but that’s just fine for the important ones, such as whether John’s feelings for Cosmo are really genuine, do get revealed in the end.
What worked so well in this story was the idea that Cosmo never really deviated from his decision not to take the easy road that his magical abilities would have afforded him. Instead, he was willing to push that life aside in order to be with John, which made an early revelation about their mutual attraction so devastating for Cosmo and the reader. The author kept everyone guessing right up to the end and that made for a pearl-clutching kind of drama that blended seamlessly with the mystery element of who exactly killed Cosmo’s archenemy and was after Cosmo as well. Establishing this new world where magic was such a part of the fabric of daily life, but where humans were unaware of it being used, was done very well. We were introduced to key players in this paranormal world and the hierarchy of the magic wielding beings who inhabited it while being entertained by a cast of characters both human and magical that kept me invested in the story that unfolded.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
December 8, 2019
Holy Smokes - what a
spectacular
story! The characters are fantastic for sure, but this storyline is amazing. I'm all a-shiver with the possibilities of where Josh is going to go with this one and I can not wait to read I Burried a Witch!
Fantastic in audio, Kale Williams' portrayal of Cosmo is perfection - he totally nails this one. Williams captures Cosmo's sweetness and his charm, how he opens his heart to John, his friends, and everyone he meets... what a wonderful character.
I enjoyed every moment of Mainly by Moonlight... the romance between John and Cosmo (when he finds out about the love spell I got so choked up I almost cried). The secrets John's keeping (and I'm sure he's got a ton up his sleeve), the sister Jinx and the witches who show up at the end, and I love how this story rolls into the next episode.
Wonderful!
an audiobook copy of Mainly by Moonlight was provided by the narrator for the purpose of my reivew
Fantastic in audio, Kale Williams' portrayal of Cosmo is perfection - he totally nails this one. Williams captures Cosmo's sweetness and his charm, how he opens his heart to John, his friends, and everyone he meets... what a wonderful character.
I enjoyed every moment of Mainly by Moonlight... the romance between John and Cosmo (when he finds out about the love spell I got so choked up I almost cried). The secrets John's keeping (and I'm sure he's got a ton up his sleeve), the sister Jinx and the witches who show up at the end, and I love how this story rolls into the next episode.
Wonderful!
an audiobook copy of Mainly by Moonlight was provided by the narrator for the purpose of my reivew
August 7, 2021
Josh Lanyon who mostly writes angst, now a 2.0 version with insta love troupe did not sit well with me. No doubt she is one of the finest mm writer of current time and I'm a huge sucker for her books but I still prefer the older version better!
This book is insta Love ultra max pro (which btw I'm not a fan of). They are getting married & they know almost nothing about each other, not even their preferences in bed. I found it kinda silly but mostly irritating. For fuck's sake They know each other for only couple a week.
I can't comment on the story or judge it properly as It's not finished yet. So it'd be unfair judging it base off of that. But It's true it was little underwhelming for me.
Off to book 2
[REVIEW TO COME ]
This book is insta Love ultra max pro (which btw I'm not a fan of). They are getting married & they know almost nothing about each other, not even their preferences in bed. I found it kinda silly but mostly irritating. For fuck's sake They know each other for only couple a week.
I can't comment on the story or judge it properly as It's not finished yet. So it'd be unfair judging it base off of that. But It's true it was little underwhelming for me.
Off to book 2
[REVIEW TO COME ]
August 5, 2019
Cosmo is a treat, and the setting is, for lack of a more fitting adjective, enchanting.
John, on the other hand, is impossible for me to like, and I’m not capable of the degree of suspension of disbelief that would make his two-week courtship of Cosmo relatable. Magical interference or not, this goes way out of bounds.
I dig the paranormal intrigue and may read the next book to follow the story, but no part of this is romantic. John is an asshole, and I was extremely disappointed to realize that he was not, in fact, a decoy love interest.
John, on the other hand, is impossible for me to like, and I’m not capable of the degree of suspension of disbelief that would make his two-week courtship of Cosmo relatable. Magical interference or not, this goes way out of bounds.
I dig the paranormal intrigue and may read the next book to follow the story, but no part of this is romantic. John is an asshole, and I was extremely disappointed to realize that he was not, in fact, a decoy love interest.
December 14, 2019
A great start for one out of three. We've just been lead into the story and now we, I, await for more.
Lanyon has obstacles galore all set against our heros, so I'm going to just roll up my sleeves and start jumping along.
October 11, 2019
This was a pretty good read I have read this author before. A gay high-society wedding. A stolen book of spells. A love-threatening lie. Can a witch avoid a murder rap without revealing the supernatural truth? Cosmo Saville guiltily hides a paranormal secret from his soon-to-be husband. Thanks to a powerful love spell, uncertainty threatens his nuptial magic. But when he’s arrested for allegedly killing a longtime rival, he could spend his honeymoon behind bars. Police Commissioner John Joseph Galbraith never believed in love until Cosmo came along. Falling head over heels for the elegant antiques dealer. John races to prove his fiancés innocence before they take their vows. This was a good read with a lot of mystery a genre that I normally don't read. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.
October 16, 2019
I knew it, knew it, knew it. I knew Josh Lanyon could pull this kind of story off. If anyone would be able to write about witches and mystery it was her. This felt kind of cozy, kind of wicked and for sure all kinds of magical. This kicked off my October/Halloweeny reads in the best way! I am a huge fan of witchy reads and this was almost perfect. I loved, loved, loved all the magic. This is my favorite kind of story to read and I would read about witches all day long if I could. All the characters had character and I can’t wait to learn more about, well, everyone!
As I mentioned, as much as I did love, it wasn’t perfect. The true romantic in me hated the setup. The deception, even though it wasn’t malicious, made me a little queasy. When I found out what was done to John I felt horrible and nervous and a little dirty and not the good kind of dirty. Add to that the consequences and how it affected Cosmo and I was done for. I am so unsure and hope that what I think is going to happen is what does happen. I need it to happen that way. The love spell and the not knowing are for sure going to come back and bite Cosmo in the ass. No doubt about it. I’m scared but can’t wait for the truth to come out, it just has to, even if I know it is going to kill me.
The rest though, pretty close to perfection. I know I might be biased, I am for sure a HUGE Fanyon, but this was even more my kind of read than just a normal mystery. There was just so much to love. The descriptions, STEVIE F’N NICKS, the mystery, the romance, the quickness of all of it. I know that there is some real bad stuff on the way but I seriously just can’t wait! Come on Halloween for even more reasons now!
As I mentioned, as much as I did love, it wasn’t perfect. The true romantic in me hated the setup. The deception, even though it wasn’t malicious, made me a little queasy. When I found out what was done to John I felt horrible and nervous and a little dirty and not the good kind of dirty. Add to that the consequences and how it affected Cosmo and I was done for. I am so unsure and hope that what I think is going to happen is what does happen. I need it to happen that way. The love spell and the not knowing are for sure going to come back and bite Cosmo in the ass. No doubt about it. I’m scared but can’t wait for the truth to come out, it just has to, even if I know it is going to kill me.
The rest though, pretty close to perfection. I know I might be biased, I am for sure a HUGE Fanyon, but this was even more my kind of read than just a normal mystery. There was just so much to love. The descriptions, STEVIE F’N NICKS, the mystery, the romance, the quickness of all of it. I know that there is some real bad stuff on the way but I seriously just can’t wait! Come on Halloween for even more reasons now!
November 15, 2019
So, it wasn't quite 4 stars but I couldn't see rounding this down to 3 given how much I loved Kale Williams' performance and the story as a whole. I love it when my favorites authors go outside their typical genre, which also earns them bonus points. (While almost every title is a mystery of some sort, JL has few PNR/Fantasy stories.)
Something about Cosmo definitely reminded me of Adrien (as did John/Jake) but their relationship evolved in a completely different way (which is a Very Good Thing). Started off a bit on the sketchy side, and until other magic seemed to roll off John I was concerned that the wedding was still on given the spell that brought them together. So glad that aspect was woven into the tale and I'm eager to find out how he's practically immune. (Also, it just hit me writing this that the original love spell probably didn't work... so yay! for Tru Wuv.)
The mystery wasn't as strong as I'm used to from JL (my go-to author for whodunits) and I kind of had it figured out relatively early...but something about the resolution seemed unfinished, like there were angles and aspects that weren't wrapped up, so there's gotta be more to come (making it all more complicated). I haven't read the precis for Book 2 yet, although I've already got it on the TBR, so I could be wrong. (JL is an automatic add to the TBR, no blurb necessary. EVER.)
Can't wait for the end of the month!
Something about Cosmo definitely reminded me of Adrien (as did John/Jake) but their relationship evolved in a completely different way (which is a Very Good Thing). Started off a bit on the sketchy side, and until other magic seemed to roll off John I was concerned that the wedding was still on given the spell that brought them together. So glad that aspect was woven into the tale and I'm eager to find out how he's practically immune. (Also, it just hit me writing this that the original love spell probably didn't work... so yay! for Tru Wuv.)
The mystery wasn't as strong as I'm used to from JL (my go-to author for whodunits) and I kind of had it figured out relatively early...but something about the resolution seemed unfinished, like there were angles and aspects that weren't wrapped up, so there's gotta be more to come (making it all more complicated). I haven't read the precis for Book 2 yet, although I've already got it on the TBR, so I could be wrong. (JL is an automatic add to the TBR, no blurb necessary. EVER.)
Can't wait for the end of the month!
August 13, 2024
2024 Audio
Ahh, it's nice to revisit a favorite. Such a unique story for JL (I think).
2021 audio book review
I borrowed the audio from my library and I am so happy! This was just as fun if not more so in audio. Knowing what to expect I wasn't as nervous to read the story this time. Below review still true. Narration was excellent!!
2019 ebook review
Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
This was adorable!! Not nearly as serious and dark as JLs other stories, and I had the best time reading. I need to do a re-read once the entire series is out. I was so nervous reading because I didn't know what would happen and I was kinda scared they wouldn't end up together at the end of book 1. This is a continuous series and I read the blurb for book 2 and yeesh, it sounds drama filled relationship wise.
The snark and banter between the MCs isn't as high as previous series, and their relationship was mostly strained and I wasn't sure why JL decided not to give us their relationship development on page in real time. It did bother me and at the same time it did add to the tension because we as the reader don't know what brought them together so it added to my suspense and nail biting.
I give this 3.5 to 3.75 stars. Re-reads will likely bump that up, especially once I get the audios, one day. 😁
Ahh, it's nice to revisit a favorite. Such a unique story for JL (I think).
2021 audio book review
I borrowed the audio from my library and I am so happy! This was just as fun if not more so in audio. Knowing what to expect I wasn't as nervous to read the story this time. Below review still true. Narration was excellent!!
2019 ebook review
Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
This was adorable!! Not nearly as serious and dark as JLs other stories, and I had the best time reading. I need to do a re-read once the entire series is out. I was so nervous reading because I didn't know what would happen and I was kinda scared they wouldn't end up together at the end of book 1. This is a continuous series and I read the blurb for book 2 and yeesh, it sounds drama filled relationship wise.
The snark and banter between the MCs isn't as high as previous series, and their relationship was mostly strained and I wasn't sure why JL decided not to give us their relationship development on page in real time. It did bother me and at the same time it did add to the tension because we as the reader don't know what brought them together so it added to my suspense and nail biting.
I give this 3.5 to 3.75 stars. Re-reads will likely bump that up, especially once I get the audios, one day. 😁
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