From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Mainly by Moonlight (Bedknobs and Broomsticks, #1)

Josh Lanyon

Start date: August 1, 2019

Finish date: August 31, 2019

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

Why we're reading this: This will be our August 2019 read!
[close] This will be our August 2019 read!

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Oct 30, 2019 Josh added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: my-own-work

I 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).

40 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2019 Karen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: magic, opposites-attract, josh-lanyon, beautiful-cover, witches-wizards-sorcerers, antique-dealer-antiquer, family-issues, san-francisco, le-law-enforcement

Mix aspects of “Bewitched” — magic exists, but is hidden from mortals/normals; an unsuspecting partner/spouse with military or law enforcement career; a witch who is resisting “active witch” status, but can’t quite resist taking certain magical shortcuts; and, of course, meddling in-laws — with an m/m romance and murder mystery, then add the MC’s doubts about his fiancée’s true feelings, and you have the recipe for what promises to be a new favorite Josh Lanyon series. Since the story is told fr ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Aug 04, 2019 Lori S. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019_biggerontheinside, mysteries, fantasy, magic-users_psy

I hesitate calling this romance, so I won't despite the overall wedding aspect of this story.

John and Cosmo fall in love a bit too fast, and are getting married two weeks after first meeting. I know people do do this sort of thing in reality, but, when you add in John's initial hostility toward Cosmo, Cosmo's best friend's interference with his fiance (she lays a love spell on John), and the way Cosmo lies his way through their relationship about his magical heritage, among other things, it's ha I hesitate calling this romance, so I won't despite the overall wedding aspect of this story.

John and Cosmo fall in love a bit too fast, and are getting married two weeks after first meeting. I know people do do this sort of thing in reality, but, when you add in John's initial hostility toward Cosmo, Cosmo's best friend's interference with his fiance (she lays a love spell on John), and the way Cosmo lies his way through their relationship about his magical heritage, among other things, it's hard to see how they can be in a happy union. Also, there's the fact that in his cold way, John sees Cosmo as a social-political asset more than a real partner, and, even though they're both proclaiming they love each other, there's a real lack of chemistry; I felt like the whole scenario was being forced from the get-go.

I'm assuming the mystery, which wasn't really solved in this story, will be picked up and carried into the next story. There are a number of threads left dangling, though there isn't a cliff hanger, as the main premise of this particular story, getting to the wedding day, etc., does occur.

I was peeved at Cosmo's lack of real anger at his friend's interference. The love spell not only falsified the feelings between him and John, it threw a lot of doubt into their relationship, making it harder for Cosmo to parse out whether what they had between them was genuine. Instead of censoring Andi, the friend in question, he just shrugs and accepts it instead of seeing it as a real lack of judgement on her part as well as being just plain wrong. What can you do with the friend you've known since kindergarten, right?

There are pop culture references all over this book, from Cosmo's name (Cosmo Topper ) to Bewitched (a witch entering a marriage with a mortal and John calling Cosmo's mother Endora) to Mary Norton's Bedknob and Broomstick (only in reference to the Victorian bedstead and its crystal knobs that initially brings the pair together). The magic is interesting, though I'm hard pressed to see how the magical community manages to keep a lid on things the way some member fling magic around. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 07, 2019 Jax rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, 4-star, lgbtq

A great start for this charming new series. As is often the case with Lanyon couples, I loved the POV MC and am somewhat conflicted about his romantic partner. No doubt John will be everything Cosmo sees in him, but I enjoy the tension of wondering whether he’s worthy of our young witch. Book 2 is due on Halloween so thankfully we have only a short wait for more.

Note: Can anyone fill me in on this item in the author's note at the end? (view spoiler) ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2019 Sandra (Waiting For Wentworth) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really liked this! Lanyon gave me the perfect blend of whirlwind romance and murder mystery in this first installment. There was a lot going on in a very short period of time, so the story held my attention and made this a quick read. I didn't want to stop reading until I found out what was going on. This is the first part of a continuing story, so the end of the book was really just a stopping point. I'm so glad the rest of this series will be releasing soon because I don't think I could wait ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 07, 2019 Didi rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, m-m, series, paranormal-shifter-supernatural, fantasy-fairy-tale-magic, mystery-suspense-thriller, men-in-uniform-law-enforcement, lqbtqia

A new series from one of my long time favorite authors. Of course I’m on board for the ride. Yet I found this start to “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” not too appealing a read as I expected it to be. Not to be nitpicky but Cosmo who’s supposedly a witch with quite a power - two years somewhat abstaining notwithstanding - was such scatterbrained doormat to the love interest. I guess it’s a personal preference, but Cosmo and John’s relationship struck me as imbalance and that didn’t endear either chara ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2019 Erika rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, mystery

Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story was a fun and light start to a new series. Even though there was a murder and a mystery, the main story was focused on Cosmos and John's relationship and will they actually be getting married? Considering they've only known each other two weeks and it started with a love spell, it is a real concern. Nevermind the fact Cosmos is hiding that he's got magical tendencies (even though he's no longer practicing) ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2019 Emily G rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, gay-male, fiction, murder-mystery, kindle, supernatural, books-2019

Gay romance supernatural stories are a guilty pleasure of mine so I fully expected to love this book, but I didn’t. The reason? Cosmo and his life choices.

I will list the things I didn’t understand:

1) Marrying someone after being together two weeks and being extremely insecure about the depth of your fiancé’s feelings for you.

2) Not letting your fiancé know that you are a witch and magic exists. (I definitely couldn’t understand not telling him when you find out your fiancé is only with you in ...more

Like · see review