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Bedknobs and Broomsticks #2
I Buried a Witch
Something old, something new, something borrowed…something blacker than the darkest night.
Cosmo Saville adores his new husband, but his little white lies—and some very black magic—are about to bring his fairytale romance to an end. Someone is killing San Francisco’s spellcasters—and the only person Cosmo can turn to—the man who so recently swore to love and cherish him—isn’t taking his phone calls.
The only magic Police Commissioner John Joseph Galbraith believes in is true love. Discovering he’s married to a witch—a witch with something alarmingly like magical powers—is nearly as bad as discovering the man he loved tricked and deceived him. John shoulders the pain of betrayal and packs his bags. But when he learns Cosmo is in the crosshairs of a mysterious and murderous plot, he knows he must do everything in his mortal power to protect him.
Cosmo Saville adores his new husband, but his little white lies—and some very black magic—are about to bring his fairytale romance to an end. Someone is killing San Francisco’s spellcasters—and the only person Cosmo can turn to—the man who so recently swore to love and cherish him—isn’t taking his phone calls.
The only magic Police Commissioner John Joseph Galbraith believes in is true love. Discovering he’s married to a witch—a witch with something alarmingly like magical powers—is nearly as bad as discovering the man he loved tricked and deceived him. John shoulders the pain of betrayal and packs his bags. But when he learns Cosmo is in the crosshairs of a mysterious and murderous plot, he knows he must do everything in his mortal power to protect him.
246 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2019
119 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
209 books5,416 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 190 reviews
May 18, 2020
Still 3 Stars
Whelp.
I’m not sure what to think of this series.
There were things I continued to enjoy about this, and there were definitely things I did not.
The main issue I have is that I cannot call this a romance. I simply cannot wrap my head around Cosmo and John’s love story. Their dynamic, their reasons for being with each other, and mainly, John’s entire disagreeable personality, all failed in spite of the hard efforts of Lanyon to convince me otherwise.
What I continue to like though, is the alternate universe Lanyon has created, a complicated world of witches and their deeply rooted rules and seemingly self importance that is bound to attract many an enemy. That was interesting and compelling, and despite the fact that for every fascinating reveal, there was a side character that was just as unlikeable and aggravating, know too, that the initial mystery from Mainly by Moonlight still remains unresolved.
Regardless of my personal issues, I read this quickly, the pace was fast, the storyline obviously pulling me along keeping my attention, while vexing me so so much. It’s too late to stop now as the 3rd book is on the horizon of being released. I’ve started down this rabbit hole, I’m just not sure if I like where I’m going.
*just bewildered*
Whelp.
I’m not sure what to think of this series.
There were things I continued to enjoy about this, and there were definitely things I did not.
The main issue I have is that I cannot call this a romance. I simply cannot wrap my head around Cosmo and John’s love story. Their dynamic, their reasons for being with each other, and mainly, John’s entire disagreeable personality, all failed in spite of the hard efforts of Lanyon to convince me otherwise.
What I continue to like though, is the alternate universe Lanyon has created, a complicated world of witches and their deeply rooted rules and seemingly self importance that is bound to attract many an enemy. That was interesting and compelling, and despite the fact that for every fascinating reveal, there was a side character that was just as unlikeable and aggravating, know too, that the initial mystery from Mainly by Moonlight still remains unresolved.
Regardless of my personal issues, I read this quickly, the pace was fast, the storyline obviously pulling me along keeping my attention, while vexing me so so much. It’s too late to stop now as the 3rd book is on the horizon of being released. I’ve started down this rabbit hole, I’m just not sure if I like where I’m going.
*just bewildered*
February 6, 2020
John is a jerk.
Cosmo is a ninny.
And the middle third of the book was a pure hate-read for me.
In parallel with this, I was reading something truly awesome, and when I needed a breather from its intensity I’d pick this up again — otherwise, it would likely have been a DNF. Certainly if it hadn’t had Josh Lanyon’s name on it, it would have been a DNF. Hell, the first book would have been a DNF.
But.
I trusted that the MCs were problematic and their relationship a total mess not because it was the work of an author who couldn’t get their act together — but because Josh wanted it that way, and was going to take it to interesting places.
So, was my trust rewarded?
No.
It was mildly interesting to watch John & Cosmo's relationship circle the drain, but the oomph and intensity I'd hoped for from these two people who'd behaved so badly to each other never showed up on-page. It was partly a characterization issue -- John in particular was leaden and lackluster -- and partly due to the inherently faulty foundation the story was built on.
Characters and premise -- those were the two weak spots that ruined my ability to enjoy this series. Not that there weren't also a slew of niggles and annoyances, of various proportions. But it all boiled down to:
1. The premise. The two weeks that were in no way shape or form believable in book 1 don’t magically (heh) become more believable here. In fact, further clarification of the timeline in the first chapter made it all even less believable, even more outrageous, and I almost DNF’d on the spot. The impossibly compressed timeline made it impossible for me to believe in their love.
2. The characters. Two books in, and I do not give a rat’s ass about any of them. Not a single one. Let them all die, it’s fine with me.
Oh well. It's not realistic to expect every book or series an author produces to be a winner. What can I do but shrug and move on.
Cosmo is a ninny.
And the middle third of the book was a pure hate-read for me.
In parallel with this, I was reading something truly awesome, and when I needed a breather from its intensity I’d pick this up again — otherwise, it would likely have been a DNF. Certainly if it hadn’t had Josh Lanyon’s name on it, it would have been a DNF. Hell, the first book would have been a DNF.
But.
I trusted that the MCs were problematic and their relationship a total mess not because it was the work of an author who couldn’t get their act together — but because Josh wanted it that way, and was going to take it to interesting places.
So, was my trust rewarded?
No.
It was mildly interesting to watch John & Cosmo's relationship circle the drain, but the oomph and intensity I'd hoped for from these two people who'd behaved so badly to each other never showed up on-page. It was partly a characterization issue -- John in particular was leaden and lackluster -- and partly due to the inherently faulty foundation the story was built on.
Characters and premise -- those were the two weak spots that ruined my ability to enjoy this series. Not that there weren't also a slew of niggles and annoyances, of various proportions. But it all boiled down to:
1. The premise. The two weeks that were in no way shape or form believable in book 1 don’t magically (heh) become more believable here. In fact, further clarification of the timeline in the first chapter made it all even less believable, even more outrageous, and I almost DNF’d on the spot. The impossibly compressed timeline made it impossible for me to believe in their love.
2. The characters. Two books in, and I do not give a rat’s ass about any of them. Not a single one. Let them all die, it’s fine with me.
Oh well. It's not realistic to expect every book or series an author produces to be a winner. What can I do but shrug and move on.
Read
January 8, 2020Really loving writing these characters and this world. So much so, that I think after this three-book arc ends, I'm going to go ahead and continue the series--although I don't know that the following three books will be a tight arc like the first three. There are so many things I want to explore in this world and with these characters.
Anyway, next up: BELL, BOOK AND SCANDAL.
Anyway, next up: BELL, BOOK AND SCANDAL.
December 15, 2019
2.5 Stars (rounded up because I’m feeling that generous Christmas spirit)
In this sequel to Mainly by Moonlight, we dive back into the magic-related murder and mystery with Cosmo, an antiques dealer and secret witch who has just returned from his honeymoon with Police Commissioner John, only to discover that members of the local Wiccan community are being killed off in gruesome and ritualistic ways.
Like in book one, John makes it abundantly clear that his new husband (who he’s now known for a total of four weeks) has no right to meddle in police investigations. But what’s Cosmo to do when he believes he knows more than the police do, considering his witchy insights into the players involved and the possible motives.
Once again, Cosmo’s magical nature, paired with his determination to help keep his secret community safe, gets him smack dab into trouble with local law enforcement, namely his domineering, close-minded husband.
Shit really hits the fan when Cosmo’s secret comes to light, causing John to react negatively (surprise, surprise!), questioning every single second of his admittedly short relationship with Cosmo.
As Cosmo scrambles to make things right in his tenuous relationship, he also can’t help but continue to seek answers to a multitude of mysterious, magic-related questions he now has, including, but not limited to, solving the current witch killings, working out who killed his nemesis in book one, and identifying who is involved in this newly discovered magical prevention society.
This story is developing a complicated and complex set of mystery components. Unfortunately, I’m mostly just confused by what’s going on now, rather than intrigued by it. It’s almost too much happening, with little resolve, especially considering we’re now two books in. Then again, the resolution, whenever it comes, may be so masterful that I’ll forgive a lot of my earlier issues. I guess we’ll see.
What I doubt I’ll ever forgive (or like) is John and his treatment of Cosmo. This guy is an absolute pig and I cannot for the life of me understand how he’s meant to be an appealing love interest, to Cosmo or to readers. I would honestly rather this just be a witchy mystery story with zero love interest than this guy be who we’re meant to swoon over. He’s arrogant, overbearing, emotionally abusive, mean, vindictive, bossy AF... I could go on. I don’t find a single thing about this guy appealing and I have no idea what Cosmo sees in him. We get told over and over how in love they are, but I haven’t seen a single shred of evidence to support that claim. It simply makes no sense to me. Truthfully, my disdain for this guy is the reason my ratings continue to drop.
Even though his feelings for John baffle me, I like Cosmo well enough. I was particularly impressed when he started standing up for himself in the second half of the story, not letting bully John dictate his life, trying to quell Cosmo’s very nature like an utter asshole. Sheesh! But I do hope Cosmo solves all the mysteries that continue to build around him and that somehow, he finds himself in a relationship that is loving, supportive and equal — whether that’s with John or not, at this point I don’t even care.
In this sequel to Mainly by Moonlight, we dive back into the magic-related murder and mystery with Cosmo, an antiques dealer and secret witch who has just returned from his honeymoon with Police Commissioner John, only to discover that members of the local Wiccan community are being killed off in gruesome and ritualistic ways.
Like in book one, John makes it abundantly clear that his new husband (who he’s now known for a total of four weeks) has no right to meddle in police investigations. But what’s Cosmo to do when he believes he knows more than the police do, considering his witchy insights into the players involved and the possible motives.
Once again, Cosmo’s magical nature, paired with his determination to help keep his secret community safe, gets him smack dab into trouble with local law enforcement, namely his domineering, close-minded husband.
Shit really hits the fan when Cosmo’s secret comes to light, causing John to react negatively (surprise, surprise!), questioning every single second of his admittedly short relationship with Cosmo.
As Cosmo scrambles to make things right in his tenuous relationship, he also can’t help but continue to seek answers to a multitude of mysterious, magic-related questions he now has, including, but not limited to, solving the current witch killings, working out who killed his nemesis in book one, and identifying who is involved in this newly discovered magical prevention society.
This story is developing a complicated and complex set of mystery components. Unfortunately, I’m mostly just confused by what’s going on now, rather than intrigued by it. It’s almost too much happening, with little resolve, especially considering we’re now two books in. Then again, the resolution, whenever it comes, may be so masterful that I’ll forgive a lot of my earlier issues. I guess we’ll see.
What I doubt I’ll ever forgive (or like) is John and his treatment of Cosmo. This guy is an absolute pig and I cannot for the life of me understand how he’s meant to be an appealing love interest, to Cosmo or to readers. I would honestly rather this just be a witchy mystery story with zero love interest than this guy be who we’re meant to swoon over. He’s arrogant, overbearing, emotionally abusive, mean, vindictive, bossy AF... I could go on. I don’t find a single thing about this guy appealing and I have no idea what Cosmo sees in him. We get told over and over how in love they are, but I haven’t seen a single shred of evidence to support that claim. It simply makes no sense to me. Truthfully, my disdain for this guy is the reason my ratings continue to drop.
Even though his feelings for John baffle me, I like Cosmo well enough. I was particularly impressed when he started standing up for himself in the second half of the story, not letting bully John dictate his life, trying to quell Cosmo’s very nature like an utter asshole. Sheesh! But I do hope Cosmo solves all the mysteries that continue to build around him and that somehow, he finds himself in a relationship that is loving, supportive and equal — whether that’s with John or not, at this point I don’t even care.
March 30, 2021
As with book 1, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery enough to want to know what happens next.
I like Cosmo. He is a sweet and fun character, though I wish he stood up for himself more. I still haven't warmed up to John. He seems very closed off and cold on the outside and he can be very selfish and condescending toward Cosmo. Hopefully there will be some improvement in his character in the next book.
The audiobook was excellent. I really enjoyed Kale William's narration.
I like Cosmo. He is a sweet and fun character, though I wish he stood up for himself more. I still haven't warmed up to John. He seems very closed off and cold on the outside and he can be very selfish and condescending toward Cosmo. Hopefully there will be some improvement in his character in the next book.
The audiobook was excellent. I really enjoyed Kale William's narration.
February 20, 2020
This review contains spoilers for Bk. 1
The second book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series picks up right where the first one left off.
After Ciara tries to kill Cosmo because she thought he killed Seamus, Cosmo and new husband John go on honeymoon to Scotland. They come back to San Fransisco to continue settling in and it's not exactly smooth sailing.
Meanwhile, Cosmo is certain that Ciara didn't kill Seamus and had nothing to do with putting Rex in a coma. But no one, not even his husband, will listen to him. What's a Craftsman left to do?
The mystery in this isn't as fleshed out as Lanyon's earlier works. The world building is delightful and not overbearing. The books leaves us with tantalizing questions...
I can't wait for book 3.
The second book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series picks up right where the first one left off.
After Ciara tries to kill Cosmo because she thought he killed Seamus, Cosmo and new husband John go on honeymoon to Scotland. They come back to San Fransisco to continue settling in and it's not exactly smooth sailing.
Meanwhile, Cosmo is certain that Ciara didn't kill Seamus and had nothing to do with putting Rex in a coma. But no one, not even his husband, will listen to him. What's a Craftsman left to do?
The mystery in this isn't as fleshed out as Lanyon's earlier works. The world building is delightful and not overbearing. The books leaves us with tantalizing questions...
I can't wait for book 3.
July 12, 2023
I swear nobody can write as great relationship angst as JL! Alll the freaking feels! At the beginning I was so afraid that the author makes Cos a doormat, but no! Of course not, I loved how he stood up for himself, all the heartbreak and sadness but Cos still didn’t let bully himself. I enjoyed the case too! The sex scenes are still so-so’ at best but with all the things going on, in this book it wasn’t disappointing.
Jump to the next!
Jump to the next!
April 4, 2021
"Mainly by Moonlight," the first book in Josh Lanyon's new Bedknobs and Broomsticks series was more of a whirlwind introduction to the unlikely marriage between stoic police commissioner John and glittery antique store owner / cocktail cupcake creater Cosmo. In between magical spells and a murder, Cosmo blythly ignores the warning signs that perhaps wedding John without full disclosure is not going to turn out well.
As "I Buried a Witch" progresses, it becomes a case of that traditional adage "Marry in haste, repent in leisure" as their marriage goes off the rails, and Cosmo realizes he has no one to blame but himself. It's a more mature feel to this book - less frivilous and more hard reality about love NOT conquering all. We get more insight into John as well:
Lanyon keeps our interest in the ongoing murder investigations, while amping up the relationship between Cos and John, giving it more texture and depth. I'm looking forward to the third book in this series and give "I Buried a Witch" 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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As "I Buried a Witch" progresses, it becomes a case of that traditional adage "Marry in haste, repent in leisure" as their marriage goes off the rails, and Cosmo realizes he has no one to blame but himself. It's a more mature feel to this book - less frivilous and more hard reality about love NOT conquering all. We get more insight into John as well:
The ability to negotiate a hard bargain is the ability to walk away from a bad deal. John - it was right there in the fierce lines of his face, in the steely gleam of his eyes - was prepared - always prepared - to walk away. I was not. Could not even contemplate it. Not then. In those four minutes I learned more about him than I'd learned in four weeks ...As Cos comes to an epiphany about his relationship, the underlying murder mystery continues and deepens as a possible serial killer called The Witch Killer is introduced, who may be connected to the Reitherman murder from "Mainly by Moonlight." And while the murder cauldron is boiling away, there is plenty of steam between John and Cos, with several scenes illustrating why their unlikely relationship works so well ... at least in bed.
Lanyon keeps our interest in the ongoing murder investigations, while amping up the relationship between Cos and John, giving it more texture and depth. I'm looking forward to the third book in this series and give "I Buried a Witch" 4.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
April 14, 2021
2,5 stars
It’s not often that I find it difficult to like BOTH MCs in a book.
John is still a bully and a controlling douchebag. He’s possibly one of the most unsympathetic characters I’ve come across. I gasped in horror when he was quite happy to demand something impossible from Cosmo if he wanted to have him back, with this just being one situation where his treatment of Cosmo is more than lacking.
At least it was somewhat gratifying to see Cosmo growing a pair of balls midway into the book and standing up to John. Although he is the one easier to like out of the two, his deference to John and his constant, to-me-incomprehensible ‘but I love him so much’ started grating on my nerves at one point, particularly as I still have no clue when, how and why this big love of theirs happened.
Sex seems to be the only thing that glues them together on some level.
So book 2 was no improvement on the first one, I’m afraid.
Not even mentioning Cosmo’s totally pointless ‘meddling’ in a criminal investigation. And the rest of the rather confusing plot. Lots of additional side characters are thrown at us, lots of information, most of it going seemingly nowhere. I do hope it all gels together in book 3 (if I decide to go there), but this time I was left high and dry with lots of WTF now? on my lips.
The author claims she had lots of fun writing this, and I’m happy for her, but I’m sorry to say it wasn’t as much fun reading it. Yes, there are lots of good ideas and interesting scenarios here, but it feels they are thrown together randomly with no real red line. And the lack of real feels between the MCs and their lacklustre relationship doesn’t help either.
Apart from Adrien English I’m not a particular fan of Josh Lanyon anyway, and this series consolidates that her writing is simply not for me.
It’s not often that I find it difficult to like BOTH MCs in a book.
John is still a bully and a controlling douchebag. He’s possibly one of the most unsympathetic characters I’ve come across. I gasped in horror when he was quite happy to demand something impossible from Cosmo if he wanted to have him back, with this just being one situation where his treatment of Cosmo is more than lacking.
At least it was somewhat gratifying to see Cosmo growing a pair of balls midway into the book and standing up to John. Although he is the one easier to like out of the two, his deference to John and his constant, to-me-incomprehensible ‘but I love him so much’ started grating on my nerves at one point, particularly as I still have no clue when, how and why this big love of theirs happened.
Sex seems to be the only thing that glues them together on some level.
So book 2 was no improvement on the first one, I’m afraid.
Not even mentioning Cosmo’s totally pointless ‘meddling’ in a criminal investigation. And the rest of the rather confusing plot. Lots of additional side characters are thrown at us, lots of information, most of it going seemingly nowhere. I do hope it all gels together in book 3 (if I decide to go there), but this time I was left high and dry with lots of WTF now? on my lips.
The author claims she had lots of fun writing this, and I’m happy for her, but I’m sorry to say it wasn’t as much fun reading it. Yes, there are lots of good ideas and interesting scenarios here, but it feels they are thrown together randomly with no real red line. And the lack of real feels between the MCs and their lacklustre relationship doesn’t help either.
Apart from Adrien English I’m not a particular fan of Josh Lanyon anyway, and this series consolidates that her writing is simply not for me.
January 10, 2020
3.75 stars
Book 2 is where the inevitable happens.
Cosmo and John have absolutely adored each other for the four weeks they’ve been together. They went from complete strangers, to faincés, to husbands, and even managed a successful honeymoon in Scotland.
But the residual effects of magic and the first glow of love can only last so long before the cracks in the relationship begin showing.
I acknowledged in my review of the first book that the relationship is ridiculous and very shaky. That’s still true.
However, what’s also still true - there’s just something about the trainwreck of John and Cosmo that just works. Despite all the warning bells, I can’t help but root for them!
Because while their feelings for each other might be a bit mixed up and erratic, there’s very clearly a strong base there. It might not have been the healthiest set-up, but it doesn’t take too much effort to believe that Cosmo and John really are meant to be together.
In book 2, the two men have to learn to actually live together. And that doesn’t just mean the big things (like John’s police career and Cosmo’s witchcraft), but the more mundane things like personality.
On personality, I have to say - John’s a tool. Very much so a “my way or the highway” type of person. His behaviour left a bad taste in my mouth a few times, regardless of Cosmo’s dishonesty about the Craft.
Did I still want them to work things out? Yes - but with a serious attitude change on John’s part!
Cosmo and John’s relationship is driven by the murder mystery. It made for an interesting dynamic. Every twist and turn in the mystery was mirrored by a less-than-ideal change to Cosmo and John’s relationship.
A serial killer’s wreaking havoc among San Francisco’s spellcaster community, and Cosmo firmly sticks his foot into John’s territory.
I won’t reveal anything about the plot, other than to say it was very entertaining. I really enjoyed seeing more of the Craft and Cosmo’s secretive world.
The book ends on a bit of an uncertain note - the mystery is solved for the most part, but John and Cosmo still have a lot of work ahead of them if they’re going to make things work.
And I’m all on board for book 3! If you’re looking for a fun MM paranormal series, give Bedknobs and Broomsticks a try.
Book 2 is where the inevitable happens.
Cosmo and John have absolutely adored each other for the four weeks they’ve been together. They went from complete strangers, to faincés, to husbands, and even managed a successful honeymoon in Scotland.
But the residual effects of magic and the first glow of love can only last so long before the cracks in the relationship begin showing.
I acknowledged in my review of the first book that the relationship is ridiculous and very shaky. That’s still true.
However, what’s also still true - there’s just something about the trainwreck of John and Cosmo that just works. Despite all the warning bells, I can’t help but root for them!
Because while their feelings for each other might be a bit mixed up and erratic, there’s very clearly a strong base there. It might not have been the healthiest set-up, but it doesn’t take too much effort to believe that Cosmo and John really are meant to be together.
In book 2, the two men have to learn to actually live together. And that doesn’t just mean the big things (like John’s police career and Cosmo’s witchcraft), but the more mundane things like personality.
On personality, I have to say - John’s a tool. Very much so a “my way or the highway” type of person. His behaviour left a bad taste in my mouth a few times, regardless of Cosmo’s dishonesty about the Craft.
Did I still want them to work things out? Yes - but with a serious attitude change on John’s part!
Cosmo and John’s relationship is driven by the murder mystery. It made for an interesting dynamic. Every twist and turn in the mystery was mirrored by a less-than-ideal change to Cosmo and John’s relationship.
A serial killer’s wreaking havoc among San Francisco’s spellcaster community, and Cosmo firmly sticks his foot into John’s territory.
I won’t reveal anything about the plot, other than to say it was very entertaining. I really enjoyed seeing more of the Craft and Cosmo’s secretive world.
The book ends on a bit of an uncertain note - the mystery is solved for the most part, but John and Cosmo still have a lot of work ahead of them if they’re going to make things work.
And I’m all on board for book 3! If you’re looking for a fun MM paranormal series, give Bedknobs and Broomsticks a try.
July 8, 2021
The push and pull of Cosmo & John's marriage, the light and the earth bound forms are so intricately woven into the mystery of the Wiccans suspicious murders. I was drawn back towards the complications of their marriage and Cosmo's layered doubts of John 's feelings towards him and their marriage. Lanyon,s ability to weave a suspenseful tale is exquisite and masterful. I loved this book and was so sad to realise that I was at 89% 😔 and therefore nearing the end of the book. It was definitely worth the wait of an extra month, to read such a finely written and wonderful book. I have to say, that although it is written from Cosmo's viewpoint, John is an infuriating excellent foil as his partner. Cannot wait for the next one and so very sad it's a trilogy.
March 5, 2020
Spectacular!
I absolutely love - love this series! Wonderful characters, creative *magical* plots, hot romancin’, and beautifully written, as all of Josh Lanyon’s stories are.
Cosmo is a total doll, and John is all the good things a Lanyon dreamboat should be. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these guys.
Performed by Kale Williams, I adore what he brings to these characters in the audio version of I Buried a Witch. His smooth, sensual voice is perfect for the romantic scenes, and the light-hearted delivery of Cosmo is just perfect for this cutie.
It’s a wonderful story, made even better in audio.
I received a copy of I Buried a Witch from NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review
I absolutely love - love this series! Wonderful characters, creative *magical* plots, hot romancin’, and beautifully written, as all of Josh Lanyon’s stories are.
Cosmo is a total doll, and John is all the good things a Lanyon dreamboat should be. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these guys.
Performed by Kale Williams, I adore what he brings to these characters in the audio version of I Buried a Witch. His smooth, sensual voice is perfect for the romantic scenes, and the light-hearted delivery of Cosmo is just perfect for this cutie.
It’s a wonderful story, made even better in audio.
I received a copy of I Buried a Witch from NetGalley for the purpose of my honest review
December 1, 2019
As with Mainly by Moonlight, I wrestled with rating this book. I may do a full review later on, but for now here's a quick and dirty list of what worked for me and what didn't. Spoilers are all in spoiler tags.
Likes:
- Cosmo - he's a kindhearted witch with a bright personality and an interesting voice. I adored him and want to see him get the happily ever after he deserves.
-
- Josh Lanyon's writing, which sucked me in. I read I Buried a Witch in one sitting and can't believe how fast the pages flew by.
Dislikes:
- John. He's judgmental, unyielding, domineering, and occasionally condescending toward Cosmo.
- Cosmo ceding all the power in their relationship because he's afraid of losing John.
- The foundations of the romance were shaky to begin with and the more I saw of John the more the fine cracks in the romance developed into dangerous faults. A non-spoiler example: John decides they're going to put a pool in the backyard. Cosmo objects because he's terrified of water. Rather than asking him why or showing any interest in his feelings at all, John dismisses Cosmo and declares they're getting a pool and he wants Cosmo to deal with the contractor.
-
Neutral:
- The mystery involving who was murdering Wiccans was interesting, if understated
- The ongoing mystery plus some witch politics are also interesting (I know I keep using that word, but it really fits this story and it's part of why I rated it as high as I did), but there are a lot of threads to be tied up in the third book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
All in all, I Buried a Witch is an engaging second installment to the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series. Josh Lanyon's writing is as addictive as ever (which bumped this rating up one star for me), but as this really feels like part 2 of 3 of a larger book, I'm waiting to see what happens in Bell, Book and Scandal before I can decide how I feel about Cosmo's journey as a whole. The fact that the romance is so deeply flawed is interesting, so long as the love story is ultimately resolved in a satisfying manner. I'm optimistic and I hope Cosmo comes into his own and John becomes a husband worthy of him.
Likes:
- Cosmo - he's a kindhearted witch with a bright personality and an interesting voice. I adored him and want to see him get the happily ever after he deserves.
-
- Josh Lanyon's writing, which sucked me in. I read I Buried a Witch in one sitting and can't believe how fast the pages flew by.
Dislikes:
- John. He's judgmental, unyielding, domineering, and occasionally condescending toward Cosmo.
- Cosmo ceding all the power in their relationship because he's afraid of losing John.
- The foundations of the romance were shaky to begin with and the more I saw of John the more the fine cracks in the romance developed into dangerous faults. A non-spoiler example: John decides they're going to put a pool in the backyard. Cosmo objects because he's terrified of water. Rather than asking him why or showing any interest in his feelings at all, John dismisses Cosmo and declares they're getting a pool and he wants Cosmo to deal with the contractor.
-
Neutral:
- The mystery involving who was murdering Wiccans was interesting, if understated
- The ongoing mystery plus some witch politics are also interesting (I know I keep using that word, but it really fits this story and it's part of why I rated it as high as I did), but there are a lot of threads to be tied up in the third book. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
All in all, I Buried a Witch is an engaging second installment to the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series. Josh Lanyon's writing is as addictive as ever (which bumped this rating up one star for me), but as this really feels like part 2 of 3 of a larger book, I'm waiting to see what happens in Bell, Book and Scandal before I can decide how I feel about Cosmo's journey as a whole. The fact that the romance is so deeply flawed is interesting, so long as the love story is ultimately resolved in a satisfying manner. I'm optimistic and I hope Cosmo comes into his own and John becomes a husband worthy of him.
August 13, 2024
2024 audio
I really need to add this series to my annual re-read list. AND get the rest of the books in audio. Library only has books 1 & 2, darn it. Oh well. LOVED IT!
2021 ebook review
Okay, I remember this now. I had all the highlights, but forgot several of the in between details, like John staying with his bodyguard after the blowup with Cos, and things with Oliver, and haha, who the killer was. So I guess what I mean when I say I remembered the highlights is I remember Cos, John, and Jinx are in the book, and magic secrets are revealed. 😆😆😆😆
This is a, I was going to say nice, but John isn't nice. He's an asshole. Below review still very true. So this is a not so nice installment with promise (hope?) of no assholery in the 3rd book.
2019 ebook review
A complimentary copy was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this better than the first book. This is a much fluffier story than JL's traditional library.
I Buried a Witch is about Cos trying to get John to forgive him, and at the same time help him solve a murder. Cos is kind of a doormat with John; John always gets his way and Cos doesn't feel like he can say no. I don't get that. Cos wants John, and it looks like he wants him any way he can get him, even if that means denying parts of himself. It looked like Cos was developing a backbone and was going to give John the what's what of their relationship dynamic, but sadly that didn't happen.
I did enjoy this and am excited to read the next book because now certain things have happened, I want to see how John reacts. :D I do recommend this but caution you it isn't going to be what you expect.
I really need to add this series to my annual re-read list. AND get the rest of the books in audio. Library only has books 1 & 2, darn it. Oh well. LOVED IT!
2021 ebook review
Okay, I remember this now. I had all the highlights, but forgot several of the in between details, like John staying with his bodyguard after the blowup with Cos, and things with Oliver, and haha, who the killer was. So I guess what I mean when I say I remembered the highlights is I remember Cos, John, and Jinx are in the book, and magic secrets are revealed. 😆😆😆😆
This is a, I was going to say nice, but John isn't nice. He's an asshole. Below review still very true. So this is a not so nice installment with promise (hope?) of no assholery in the 3rd book.
2019 ebook review
A complimentary copy was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this better than the first book. This is a much fluffier story than JL's traditional library.
I Buried a Witch is about Cos trying to get John to forgive him, and at the same time help him solve a murder. Cos is kind of a doormat with John; John always gets his way and Cos doesn't feel like he can say no. I don't get that. Cos wants John, and it looks like he wants him any way he can get him, even if that means denying parts of himself. It looked like Cos was developing a backbone and was going to give John the what's what of their relationship dynamic, but sadly that didn't happen.
I did enjoy this and am excited to read the next book because now certain things have happened, I want to see how John reacts. :D I do recommend this but caution you it isn't going to be what you expect.
August 15, 2021
2.5 stars. It's a little hard for me to say this, but this series just isn't working for me. The writing is good and, as always, I love Josh's sense of humor, but the story is just not my thing, which is disappointing for me because normally I love Josh's books. You can't win them all, as they say. I find Cosmo annoying and John is actively unlikeable and very unpleasant. The awkward (non-)romance has felt a little icky and bewildering from the beginning and I really want them to break up, which is not really the best feeling to have while reading a romance series. I am not invested in this story, so I am not planning on reading the third book. Sad face. :(
April 18, 2022
I liked this one much better than the first book. Full review to come.
April 7, 2025
Something old, something new, something borrowed…something blacker than the darkest night.
This is the 2nd book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series set in and around San Francisco that features the witch and antique dealer, Cosmo Saville and his husband, John Joseph Galbraith, the Police Commissioner. This series needs to be read in order, since there are over-lapping storylines. The previous book actually raised more questions than it answered, so if you haven’t read book one, Mainly by Moonlight, you’ll be a bit lost if you start with this one; and also, there will be spoilers.
Book #1, Mainly by Moonlight introduced us to the world of "the Craft", as Cosmo and his fellow witches refer to themselves, and to its hierarchy. Cosmo is fairly high up in the order, since he's the son of the witch who is next in line to be "Crone", or the "Chief Witch". Cosmo is preparing to marry the man he’s fallen head-over-heels in love with in just a few short weeks, and to say that the "Chief Witch" is not at all happy about her son’s decision to marry "just an ordinary mortal" would be the most massive understatement of the year! She then tells Cosmo that John is just under a love-spell; to which Cosmo becomes furious and loudly and firmly insists that the spell be lifted immediately, if not sooner, even if it does mean that there’s a chance that he’ll lose John, the man that is the "love of his life". As the day of the wedding draws closer, Cosmo is relieved to discover that John doesn’t want to call everything off, even though Cosmo can’t ignore the little changes that have started to take place in their relationship. He’s so deeply in love that he carelessly ignores all those warning signs; the ones that are telling him that perhaps entering into a marriage without having told John the truth about himself, was perhaps not the best idea he's ever had.
At the beginning of this story...book #2, Cosmo and John have returned home from their honeymoon in Scotland and are starting to settle into their new home. Sadly, however, it’s not long before things between the newlyweds become rather strained and Cosmo is forced to admit that he has no-one but himself to blame for the mounting tension between them. He then discovers that several members of the local Wiccan community have been murdered in a verity of very gruesome ways, and he wants to be allowed to help with the investigation. His knowledge of Wiccan customs, together with his "witchy" insights and understanding of the possible motives should surely make him the best person to provide the information the police will need; however, John makes it very clear, that in no uncertain terms, that Cosmo is NEVER going to be anywhere near that investigation. When has Cosmo ever listened to or followed reason? He's having none of John's nonsense, and when, during a heated argument, Cosmos does what he's been avoiding...he tells John the truth about himself. John is shocked...stunned... and much more than merely furious at Cosmos's deception...so, in spite of still loving Cosmos, John packs his bags and leaves.
Cosmo is of course, devastated but he's certainly not ready to give up on his marriage, even though John refuses to see or speak to him. He tries to find a way to repair the damage, while he continues to look for solutions to the various "magical problems" that surround him. Who is the "Witch Killer" and how are they connected to the murder from the first book, that of Seamus Reitherman? Who is responsible for the hit-and-run that almost killed his friend? But worse yet...who is now trying to kill him?
Combined with some of the questions left over from the first book, there’s a lot now to solve, and clearly some of these questions won’t be answered until the final in this 3-part series. Above all else, would Josh Lanyon actually allow our newlyweds to suffer this separation? I really, really want Cosmos and John back together and happy.
This is the 2nd book in the Bedknobs and Broomsticks series set in and around San Francisco that features the witch and antique dealer, Cosmo Saville and his husband, John Joseph Galbraith, the Police Commissioner. This series needs to be read in order, since there are over-lapping storylines. The previous book actually raised more questions than it answered, so if you haven’t read book one, Mainly by Moonlight, you’ll be a bit lost if you start with this one; and also, there will be spoilers.
Book #1, Mainly by Moonlight introduced us to the world of "the Craft", as Cosmo and his fellow witches refer to themselves, and to its hierarchy. Cosmo is fairly high up in the order, since he's the son of the witch who is next in line to be "Crone", or the "Chief Witch". Cosmo is preparing to marry the man he’s fallen head-over-heels in love with in just a few short weeks, and to say that the "Chief Witch" is not at all happy about her son’s decision to marry "just an ordinary mortal" would be the most massive understatement of the year! She then tells Cosmo that John is just under a love-spell; to which Cosmo becomes furious and loudly and firmly insists that the spell be lifted immediately, if not sooner, even if it does mean that there’s a chance that he’ll lose John, the man that is the "love of his life". As the day of the wedding draws closer, Cosmo is relieved to discover that John doesn’t want to call everything off, even though Cosmo can’t ignore the little changes that have started to take place in their relationship. He’s so deeply in love that he carelessly ignores all those warning signs; the ones that are telling him that perhaps entering into a marriage without having told John the truth about himself, was perhaps not the best idea he's ever had.
At the beginning of this story...book #2, Cosmo and John have returned home from their honeymoon in Scotland and are starting to settle into their new home. Sadly, however, it’s not long before things between the newlyweds become rather strained and Cosmo is forced to admit that he has no-one but himself to blame for the mounting tension between them. He then discovers that several members of the local Wiccan community have been murdered in a verity of very gruesome ways, and he wants to be allowed to help with the investigation. His knowledge of Wiccan customs, together with his "witchy" insights and understanding of the possible motives should surely make him the best person to provide the information the police will need; however, John makes it very clear, that in no uncertain terms, that Cosmo is NEVER going to be anywhere near that investigation. When has Cosmo ever listened to or followed reason? He's having none of John's nonsense, and when, during a heated argument, Cosmos does what he's been avoiding...he tells John the truth about himself. John is shocked...stunned... and much more than merely furious at Cosmos's deception...so, in spite of still loving Cosmos, John packs his bags and leaves.
Cosmo is of course, devastated but he's certainly not ready to give up on his marriage, even though John refuses to see or speak to him. He tries to find a way to repair the damage, while he continues to look for solutions to the various "magical problems" that surround him. Who is the "Witch Killer" and how are they connected to the murder from the first book, that of Seamus Reitherman? Who is responsible for the hit-and-run that almost killed his friend? But worse yet...who is now trying to kill him?
Combined with some of the questions left over from the first book, there’s a lot now to solve, and clearly some of these questions won’t be answered until the final in this 3-part series. Above all else, would Josh Lanyon actually allow our newlyweds to suffer this separation? I really, really want Cosmos and John back together and happy.
January 2, 2020
4.5 stars
January 1, 2020
Josh wrote this?
I finished and will say only three stars. Loved Cos but John did not redeem himself.
Cos told him he was afraid of water did not want a pool. John told him to basically to suck it up they are getting a pool. That in nutshell is why I hated John in this book.
I finished and will say only three stars. Loved Cos but John did not redeem himself.
Cos told him he was afraid of water did not want a pool. John told him to basically to suck it up they are getting a pool. That in nutshell is why I hated John in this book.
August 9, 2020
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2020/02/25/...
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
March 27, 2020
I Buried a Witch (Bedknobs and Broomsticks 2)
By Josh Lanyon
Just Joshin Publishing Inc., 2019
Five stars
“It wasn’t that I didn’t have faith in the Goddess. It’s that I knew only too well, sometimes the Goddess answers no.”
John Galbraith, first gay police commissioner of San Francisco, and his new husband, Cosmo Saville, are barely back from their Scottish honeymoon when things start to go awry. More awry.
As always, Lanyon is a charming, stylish writer, able to let us dig inside the heads of her characters and really understand them. Written from Cosmo’s perspective, we get the clearest picture of the twenty-nine-year-old’s dilemma, as the scion of the most powerful witch family in the world, who is trying to live a normal, mortal life (yes, there are strong echoes of “Bewitched” in this). Cosmo is witty and smart, but his heart is as great as his beauty. John Galbraith, sixteen years his senior, is not exactly humorless, but he is far different from the unlikely target of his affections. The crux of this book’s storyline is not the grisly murders that punctuate the plot, nor even the stark moment when Cosmo reveals his truth to a shocked and horrified John. The heart of the matter is Cosmo’s discovery that, by rushing into marriage with John under what amounted to inadvertent false premises, he has cheated himself out of full participation in a partnership with the man he loves. The dawning of that truth in Cosmo’s mind forces him to decide what, after all, is most important to him.
None of the characters in this book are really unimportant, and each of them is crisply defined – which is particularly important because they will have lives beyond the pages of this episode in the series. Lanyon’s care with secondary characters is delicate and intentional. We wonder what role Ambrose, Cosmo’s supposed apprentice, is supposed to play. Joan, John’s kid sister, known as Jinx, becomes more interesting than ever in this second volume – but her story remains incomplete. Most mysterious of all is Valenti Garibaldi, who Lanyon manages to present as both sinister and clueless. Clearly the author has something in store for her – but not quite yet.
In the end, is it Cosmo and John who matter. Cosmo is torn between pride in his family’s legacy and his desire to be simply a normal man married to the man he loves. He is proud of his cooking and of his antique shop’s success. John is smart and powerful and honest, and he is torn between his unexpected love for a flighty younger man, and the desire for control generated by his own demons and prejudices. Unlike Samantha and Darren in the 1960s television series I so loved as an adolescent, neither of these men is a buffoon; nor is Cosmo’s mother Estelle the kind of camp figure that made Endora so popular. There is dignity here, in spite of the sometimes farcical action. Even when Cosmo, at a moment of emotional crisis, quotes from “The Wizard of Oz,” he does so in a way that is almost heartbreaking.
“What a world, what a world. Who would have thought that you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?”
Gosh, these first two books would make a marvelous Netflix series. One can always dream. And I’ve pre-ordered book three already.
By Josh Lanyon
Just Joshin Publishing Inc., 2019
Five stars
“It wasn’t that I didn’t have faith in the Goddess. It’s that I knew only too well, sometimes the Goddess answers no.”
John Galbraith, first gay police commissioner of San Francisco, and his new husband, Cosmo Saville, are barely back from their Scottish honeymoon when things start to go awry. More awry.
As always, Lanyon is a charming, stylish writer, able to let us dig inside the heads of her characters and really understand them. Written from Cosmo’s perspective, we get the clearest picture of the twenty-nine-year-old’s dilemma, as the scion of the most powerful witch family in the world, who is trying to live a normal, mortal life (yes, there are strong echoes of “Bewitched” in this). Cosmo is witty and smart, but his heart is as great as his beauty. John Galbraith, sixteen years his senior, is not exactly humorless, but he is far different from the unlikely target of his affections. The crux of this book’s storyline is not the grisly murders that punctuate the plot, nor even the stark moment when Cosmo reveals his truth to a shocked and horrified John. The heart of the matter is Cosmo’s discovery that, by rushing into marriage with John under what amounted to inadvertent false premises, he has cheated himself out of full participation in a partnership with the man he loves. The dawning of that truth in Cosmo’s mind forces him to decide what, after all, is most important to him.
None of the characters in this book are really unimportant, and each of them is crisply defined – which is particularly important because they will have lives beyond the pages of this episode in the series. Lanyon’s care with secondary characters is delicate and intentional. We wonder what role Ambrose, Cosmo’s supposed apprentice, is supposed to play. Joan, John’s kid sister, known as Jinx, becomes more interesting than ever in this second volume – but her story remains incomplete. Most mysterious of all is Valenti Garibaldi, who Lanyon manages to present as both sinister and clueless. Clearly the author has something in store for her – but not quite yet.
In the end, is it Cosmo and John who matter. Cosmo is torn between pride in his family’s legacy and his desire to be simply a normal man married to the man he loves. He is proud of his cooking and of his antique shop’s success. John is smart and powerful and honest, and he is torn between his unexpected love for a flighty younger man, and the desire for control generated by his own demons and prejudices. Unlike Samantha and Darren in the 1960s television series I so loved as an adolescent, neither of these men is a buffoon; nor is Cosmo’s mother Estelle the kind of camp figure that made Endora so popular. There is dignity here, in spite of the sometimes farcical action. Even when Cosmo, at a moment of emotional crisis, quotes from “The Wizard of Oz,” he does so in a way that is almost heartbreaking.
“What a world, what a world. Who would have thought that you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?”
Gosh, these first two books would make a marvelous Netflix series. One can always dream. And I’ve pre-ordered book three already.
December 31, 2019
I don’t get John. He’s such a unpleasant human being, more so than Jake. I’m confused by his behaviors. Talk about inconsistency, he is the inconsistent one, not Cosmo. One minute he was a prick, next minute he was a passionate lover again. And he dared to demand Cosmo giving up his magic in exchange for what? Getting back with him?? Well, I know in a fiction everything is planned so this is probably nothing. But in reality, it is a recipe for domestic violence.
April 11, 2024
I've given this a B+ for narration and a B for content at AudioGals.
I Buried a Witch is book two in Josh Lanyon’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks series, and it picks up just a couple of weeks after the events of book one, Mainly by Moonlight. Because all three books are linked by an overarching plot, it’s fairly safe to say that this one doesn’t really work as a standalone. The author does include a bit of backstory and information about book one, but I think listeners will be best served by listening to the books in order so as to get the full picture.
Mainly by Moonlight introduced us to Cosmo Saville, antiques dealer and witch, and his fiancé John Galbraith, the newly appointed Police Commissioner for San Francisco. The story kicks off when Cosmo finds a business rival dead at his shop and after that it’s an almost non-stop few days of mayhem when one of Cosmo’s friends is left in a coma following a hit-and-run, one of his oldest friends disappears, he learns of the existence of a secret society that threatens the existence of the Craft (as witches are known) – and to top it all, someone tries to kill him on his wedding day. Oh, and there’s just one other problem that could put paid to the life he’s looking forward to building with the man he loves. Cosmo hasn’t told John he’s a witch. Oops.
When I Buried a Witch opens, Cosmo and John have just returned from their honeymoon in Scotland, and are still basking in newlywedded bliss. They haven’t been back a day before Cosmo discovers that several members of the local wiccan community have been murdered in various gruesome ways and suggests to John that he be allowed to help with the investigation into what’s going on. Cosmo’s knowledge of wiccan beliefs and customs (coupled with his own witchy insight and understanding of possible motives) could be invaluable – but John shuts him down immediately and makes it clear he won’t tolerate Cosmo becoming involved. But Cosmo can’t just sit by while his magical ‘cousins’ are murdered, and this, coupled with his determination keep his secret community safe while he tries to identify the person responsible for the murder of Seamus in book one and work out who may be involved in the Society for the Prevention of Magic in the Mortal Realm (SPMMR) very quickly lands him in hot water with John. During an argument in which John once again demands Cosmo’s absolute obedience over the matter of the investigation, Cosmo finally tells him the truth, and John, furious at being lied to and suspicious now of everything about their relationship, packs his bags and leaves that night.
Devastated, but refusing to give up on his marriage quite yet, Cosmo tries to find a way to repair the damage at the same time as he continues to search for answers to all the magical problems surrounding him – which continue to mount up. What is the exact nature of the threat posed by the SPMMR? Who is killing the local wiccans? And more to the point, who is trying to kill Cosmo? The author has a lot of plates spinning and we don’t get any answers here; we have to wait for book three, Bell, Book and Scandal for that.
I continue to enjoy the intriguing alternate universe Josh Lanyon has created, a world in which witches and their complex hierarchy and ages-old rules secretly co-exist alongside everyday ‘mortals’ (as Craft term non-magical humans). Ms. Lanyon has recently indicated that she intends to extend the series beyond this trilogy, so I hope to learn more about Craft society in due course. I also like Cosmo a lot, even though he doesn’t always listen to good advice and makes some poor decisions. He’s kind, funny and good-hearted and I really want him to get the HEA he so longs for, but I can’t deny that I’m still somewhat baffled as to what he sees in John, who is still something of an enigma. I’m hanging in because I trust the author to turn it around in book three; and because in spite of John’s ‘my way or the highway’ attitude, there’s something real between them beneath it all, and I genuinely believe that Cosmo loves John – even if I’m not sure why – which is enough for me to be invested in them finding their way as a couple.
Possibly my favourite part of the story was Cosmo finally realising that by lying to John, he’d handed him all the power in the relationship –
The ability to negotiate a hard bargain is the ability to walk away from a bad deal. John – it was right there in the fierce lines of his face, in the steely gleam of his eyes – was prepared – always prepared – to walk away. I was not. Could not even contemplate it.
– and that if they’re ever going to make a go of things, that imbalance must be addressed. Actually, I found a greater appreciation for the troubled romance when listening than I did when I read the book on its initial release. The contrast between the Cosmo of book one – so focused on being in love that he blithely ignores the warning signs of trouble ahead – and book two – admitting that he’s got no-one to blame but himself for what happened and then setting out to save his marriage, but not at any cost – is well done, and the more self-aware Cosmo added an element of maturity and realism to the story. He has to stop trying to be someone he’s not and start to assert himself; and once that happened, I started to see glimmers of hope for them, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
Kale Williams returns to the narrator’s chair for this instalment, and once again delivers an accomplished and enjoyable performance. His portrayal of Cosmo is a real highlight; he has so thoroughly captured the character’s quirky charm and humour that I can’t imagine anyone else in the role (so to speak) and his is the voice I hear in my head when I read the books. He adopts a deeper, slightly clipped tone for John, which works particularly well to depict a man used to command and who is obviously used to keeping his emotions well under wraps. There are some intense scenes in this story, and Mr. Williams gets right to the heart of them, skilfully conveying the hurt and disappointment felt by Cosmo and John during the argument that leads to their break-up, and the raw poignancy of the later scenes in Paris when they believe that perhaps they’re beyond reconciliation. Most of the secondary cast members – John’s sister, his mother, Cosmo’s mother and friends etc. – appeared in the first book and are portrayed consistently and clearly differentiated so there’s no confusion as to who is speaking at any one time.
In spite of my criticisms, I enjoyed I Buried a Witch and am sure that anyone who enjoyed Mainly by Moonlight will enjoy it as well. Kale Williams’ engaging performance is an excellent argument for experiencing this series in audio, and I’m looking forward to the release of Bell, Book and Candle in the near future.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
I Buried a Witch is book two in Josh Lanyon’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks series, and it picks up just a couple of weeks after the events of book one, Mainly by Moonlight. Because all three books are linked by an overarching plot, it’s fairly safe to say that this one doesn’t really work as a standalone. The author does include a bit of backstory and information about book one, but I think listeners will be best served by listening to the books in order so as to get the full picture.
Mainly by Moonlight introduced us to Cosmo Saville, antiques dealer and witch, and his fiancé John Galbraith, the newly appointed Police Commissioner for San Francisco. The story kicks off when Cosmo finds a business rival dead at his shop and after that it’s an almost non-stop few days of mayhem when one of Cosmo’s friends is left in a coma following a hit-and-run, one of his oldest friends disappears, he learns of the existence of a secret society that threatens the existence of the Craft (as witches are known) – and to top it all, someone tries to kill him on his wedding day. Oh, and there’s just one other problem that could put paid to the life he’s looking forward to building with the man he loves. Cosmo hasn’t told John he’s a witch. Oops.
When I Buried a Witch opens, Cosmo and John have just returned from their honeymoon in Scotland, and are still basking in newlywedded bliss. They haven’t been back a day before Cosmo discovers that several members of the local wiccan community have been murdered in various gruesome ways and suggests to John that he be allowed to help with the investigation into what’s going on. Cosmo’s knowledge of wiccan beliefs and customs (coupled with his own witchy insight and understanding of possible motives) could be invaluable – but John shuts him down immediately and makes it clear he won’t tolerate Cosmo becoming involved. But Cosmo can’t just sit by while his magical ‘cousins’ are murdered, and this, coupled with his determination keep his secret community safe while he tries to identify the person responsible for the murder of Seamus in book one and work out who may be involved in the Society for the Prevention of Magic in the Mortal Realm (SPMMR) very quickly lands him in hot water with John. During an argument in which John once again demands Cosmo’s absolute obedience over the matter of the investigation, Cosmo finally tells him the truth, and John, furious at being lied to and suspicious now of everything about their relationship, packs his bags and leaves that night.
Devastated, but refusing to give up on his marriage quite yet, Cosmo tries to find a way to repair the damage at the same time as he continues to search for answers to all the magical problems surrounding him – which continue to mount up. What is the exact nature of the threat posed by the SPMMR? Who is killing the local wiccans? And more to the point, who is trying to kill Cosmo? The author has a lot of plates spinning and we don’t get any answers here; we have to wait for book three, Bell, Book and Scandal for that.
I continue to enjoy the intriguing alternate universe Josh Lanyon has created, a world in which witches and their complex hierarchy and ages-old rules secretly co-exist alongside everyday ‘mortals’ (as Craft term non-magical humans). Ms. Lanyon has recently indicated that she intends to extend the series beyond this trilogy, so I hope to learn more about Craft society in due course. I also like Cosmo a lot, even though he doesn’t always listen to good advice and makes some poor decisions. He’s kind, funny and good-hearted and I really want him to get the HEA he so longs for, but I can’t deny that I’m still somewhat baffled as to what he sees in John, who is still something of an enigma. I’m hanging in because I trust the author to turn it around in book three; and because in spite of John’s ‘my way or the highway’ attitude, there’s something real between them beneath it all, and I genuinely believe that Cosmo loves John – even if I’m not sure why – which is enough for me to be invested in them finding their way as a couple.
Possibly my favourite part of the story was Cosmo finally realising that by lying to John, he’d handed him all the power in the relationship –
The ability to negotiate a hard bargain is the ability to walk away from a bad deal. John – it was right there in the fierce lines of his face, in the steely gleam of his eyes – was prepared – always prepared – to walk away. I was not. Could not even contemplate it.
– and that if they’re ever going to make a go of things, that imbalance must be addressed. Actually, I found a greater appreciation for the troubled romance when listening than I did when I read the book on its initial release. The contrast between the Cosmo of book one – so focused on being in love that he blithely ignores the warning signs of trouble ahead – and book two – admitting that he’s got no-one to blame but himself for what happened and then setting out to save his marriage, but not at any cost – is well done, and the more self-aware Cosmo added an element of maturity and realism to the story. He has to stop trying to be someone he’s not and start to assert himself; and once that happened, I started to see glimmers of hope for them, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
Kale Williams returns to the narrator’s chair for this instalment, and once again delivers an accomplished and enjoyable performance. His portrayal of Cosmo is a real highlight; he has so thoroughly captured the character’s quirky charm and humour that I can’t imagine anyone else in the role (so to speak) and his is the voice I hear in my head when I read the books. He adopts a deeper, slightly clipped tone for John, which works particularly well to depict a man used to command and who is obviously used to keeping his emotions well under wraps. There are some intense scenes in this story, and Mr. Williams gets right to the heart of them, skilfully conveying the hurt and disappointment felt by Cosmo and John during the argument that leads to their break-up, and the raw poignancy of the later scenes in Paris when they believe that perhaps they’re beyond reconciliation. Most of the secondary cast members – John’s sister, his mother, Cosmo’s mother and friends etc. – appeared in the first book and are portrayed consistently and clearly differentiated so there’s no confusion as to who is speaking at any one time.
In spite of my criticisms, I enjoyed I Buried a Witch and am sure that anyone who enjoyed Mainly by Moonlight will enjoy it as well. Kale Williams’ engaging performance is an excellent argument for experiencing this series in audio, and I’m looking forward to the release of Bell, Book and Candle in the near future.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
March 23, 2020
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I Buried a Witch is the middle book in Josh Lanyon’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks trilogy, a series of fantasy/mystery/romance novels set in and around San Francisco and featuring witch and antiques dealer Cosmo Saville and his husband, John Joseph Galbraith, the Commissioner of Police.
The books don’t really stand alone as there’s an overarching storyline, (and the previous book raised more questions than it answered!) so if you haven’t read book one, Mainly by Moonlight , then you’ll be a bit lost if you start here; and it also means there will be spoilers in this review.
Mainly by Moonlight introduced readers to the world of the Craft (as Cosmo and his fellow witches refer to themselves) and its hierarchy; Cosmo is pretty high up in the pecking order, being the son of the witch next in line to be Crone (chief witch!), the Duchesse d’Abracadantès. Cosmo is preparing to marry the man he’s fallen head-over-heels in love with in just a few short weeks, and to say that the duchesse is not at all happy about her son’s decision to marry an ordinary mortal would be a massive understatement. She drops a bombshell when she tells Cosmo that John is under a love-spell; Cosmo is furious and insists that the spell be lifted immediately, even if it does mean that there’s a chance he’ll lose the love of his life.
While Cosmo is looking for signs that John is falling out of love with him, he’s also dealing with a number of troubling incidents ranging from the murder of a business rival to the sudden disappearance of one of his oldest friends, to another close friend being put into a coma following a hit-and-run, and to top it all, discovers the existence of a secret organisation whose activities threaten the entire Craft. As the day of the wedding draws closer, Cosmo is relieved to discover that John doesn’t want to call it off, even though Cosmo can’t ignore the subtle changes that have started to take place in their relationship. He’s so deeply in love that he carelessly ignores the warning signs that perhaps entering into marriage without having told John the truth about himself is not the best idea.
At the beginning of I Buried a Witch, Cosmo and John return home from their honeymoon in Scotland and are starting to settle into their new home. Sadly, however, it’s not long before things between the newlyweds become strained and Cosmo is forced to admit that he has no-one but himself to blame for the tension between them. When he discovers that several members of the local Wiccan community have been murdered in various gruesome ways, Cosmo wants to be allowed to help with the investigation; his knowledge of Wiccan customs, together with his witchy insight and understanding of possible motives surely make him the person best placed to provide the sort of information the police will need, but John makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he doesn’t want Cosmo going anywhere near the investigation. Cosmo, of course, is having none of it, and the shit hits the fan when, during an argument, he tells John the truth about himself.
John, utterly stunned and furious at the deception, packs his bags and leaves that night.
Cosmo is devastated but not ready to give up on his marriage quite yet, even though John refuses to see or speak to him. While he tries to find a way to repair the damage, Cosmo can’t help continuing to look for solutions to the various magical conundrums that surround him. Who is the so-called Witch Killer and how are they connected to the murder (in book one) of Seamus Reitherman? Who is responsible for the hit-and-run that almost killed his friend? And worse, who is trying to kill him? Combined with some of the questions left over from the first book, there’s a lot to unravel here, and clearly some of these questions won’t be answered until the final book in the series, Bell, Book and Scandal.
I continue to like Cosmo as a character; he’s made mistakes and doesn’t always listen to good advice, but he’s smart and funny and kind-hearted, and I really want him to get the HEA he wants and deserves. The trouble is that at the moment, I’m not convinced that John is the man for him. In my review of Mainly by Moonlight, I said I recognised hints that there was more to John than meets the eye; the fact that he seemed able to deflect much of Cosmo’s magic appeared to be important, and I was eager to find out why, but the reason given here – if it’s the real reason – is almost an afterthought and does nothing to shed light on John’s character. In fact, he continues to be overbearing and dismissive of Cosmo; the scene in which John expects Cosmo to deal with the contractors coming to build a pool at the back of their house when Cosmo has said, explicitly, that he’s terrified of water and doesn’t want a pool left me wondering (again) what on earth Cosmo sees in him. But then, John will do or say something that indicates he really does care a great deal for Cosmo, and I’m rooting for them to find their way back to one another. In fact, there’s something of an epiphany for Cosmo when he finally realises that theirs has never been a relationship between equals and that if they’re to have any chance at a future together, he must stop trying to be someone he’s not and start to assert himself – and most importantly, be himself.
I dithered a bit when it came to assigning a final grade for this book. I was caught up in the story and in spite of my reservations about John, I ended up really wanting him and Cosmo to work out their differences and make a fresh start. But then perhaps that’s a testament to the author’s skill; she’s created two very different characters in John and Cosmo, and in spite of the fact that one of them is much easier to like than the other – I usually find it difficult to enjoy a romance in which I feel one character doesn’t really deserve the other – has written them and their relationship in a way that has me wanting things to work out for them. I might not love John, but I believe, honestly and truly, that Cosmo does – and that makes me at least want to like him. So it’s a low-level recommendation from me for I Buried a Witch; I’m invested enough to want to see all the mystery elements brought to a conclusion and to see how John and Cosmo are able to come back from their separation and make their tentative reunion into something solid, so I’ll be picking up the final book in the trilogy when it’s released in the Spring.
I Buried a Witch is the middle book in Josh Lanyon’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks trilogy, a series of fantasy/mystery/romance novels set in and around San Francisco and featuring witch and antiques dealer Cosmo Saville and his husband, John Joseph Galbraith, the Commissioner of Police.
The books don’t really stand alone as there’s an overarching storyline, (and the previous book raised more questions than it answered!) so if you haven’t read book one, Mainly by Moonlight , then you’ll be a bit lost if you start here; and it also means there will be spoilers in this review.
Mainly by Moonlight introduced readers to the world of the Craft (as Cosmo and his fellow witches refer to themselves) and its hierarchy; Cosmo is pretty high up in the pecking order, being the son of the witch next in line to be Crone (chief witch!), the Duchesse d’Abracadantès. Cosmo is preparing to marry the man he’s fallen head-over-heels in love with in just a few short weeks, and to say that the duchesse is not at all happy about her son’s decision to marry an ordinary mortal would be a massive understatement. She drops a bombshell when she tells Cosmo that John is under a love-spell; Cosmo is furious and insists that the spell be lifted immediately, even if it does mean that there’s a chance he’ll lose the love of his life.
While Cosmo is looking for signs that John is falling out of love with him, he’s also dealing with a number of troubling incidents ranging from the murder of a business rival to the sudden disappearance of one of his oldest friends, to another close friend being put into a coma following a hit-and-run, and to top it all, discovers the existence of a secret organisation whose activities threaten the entire Craft. As the day of the wedding draws closer, Cosmo is relieved to discover that John doesn’t want to call it off, even though Cosmo can’t ignore the subtle changes that have started to take place in their relationship. He’s so deeply in love that he carelessly ignores the warning signs that perhaps entering into marriage without having told John the truth about himself is not the best idea.
At the beginning of I Buried a Witch, Cosmo and John return home from their honeymoon in Scotland and are starting to settle into their new home. Sadly, however, it’s not long before things between the newlyweds become strained and Cosmo is forced to admit that he has no-one but himself to blame for the tension between them. When he discovers that several members of the local Wiccan community have been murdered in various gruesome ways, Cosmo wants to be allowed to help with the investigation; his knowledge of Wiccan customs, together with his witchy insight and understanding of possible motives surely make him the person best placed to provide the sort of information the police will need, but John makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he doesn’t want Cosmo going anywhere near the investigation. Cosmo, of course, is having none of it, and the shit hits the fan when, during an argument, he tells John the truth about himself.
John, utterly stunned and furious at the deception, packs his bags and leaves that night.
Cosmo is devastated but not ready to give up on his marriage quite yet, even though John refuses to see or speak to him. While he tries to find a way to repair the damage, Cosmo can’t help continuing to look for solutions to the various magical conundrums that surround him. Who is the so-called Witch Killer and how are they connected to the murder (in book one) of Seamus Reitherman? Who is responsible for the hit-and-run that almost killed his friend? And worse, who is trying to kill him? Combined with some of the questions left over from the first book, there’s a lot to unravel here, and clearly some of these questions won’t be answered until the final book in the series, Bell, Book and Scandal.
I continue to like Cosmo as a character; he’s made mistakes and doesn’t always listen to good advice, but he’s smart and funny and kind-hearted, and I really want him to get the HEA he wants and deserves. The trouble is that at the moment, I’m not convinced that John is the man for him. In my review of Mainly by Moonlight, I said I recognised hints that there was more to John than meets the eye; the fact that he seemed able to deflect much of Cosmo’s magic appeared to be important, and I was eager to find out why, but the reason given here – if it’s the real reason – is almost an afterthought and does nothing to shed light on John’s character. In fact, he continues to be overbearing and dismissive of Cosmo; the scene in which John expects Cosmo to deal with the contractors coming to build a pool at the back of their house when Cosmo has said, explicitly, that he’s terrified of water and doesn’t want a pool left me wondering (again) what on earth Cosmo sees in him. But then, John will do or say something that indicates he really does care a great deal for Cosmo, and I’m rooting for them to find their way back to one another. In fact, there’s something of an epiphany for Cosmo when he finally realises that theirs has never been a relationship between equals and that if they’re to have any chance at a future together, he must stop trying to be someone he’s not and start to assert himself – and most importantly, be himself.
I dithered a bit when it came to assigning a final grade for this book. I was caught up in the story and in spite of my reservations about John, I ended up really wanting him and Cosmo to work out their differences and make a fresh start. But then perhaps that’s a testament to the author’s skill; she’s created two very different characters in John and Cosmo, and in spite of the fact that one of them is much easier to like than the other – I usually find it difficult to enjoy a romance in which I feel one character doesn’t really deserve the other – has written them and their relationship in a way that has me wanting things to work out for them. I might not love John, but I believe, honestly and truly, that Cosmo does – and that makes me at least want to like him. So it’s a low-level recommendation from me for I Buried a Witch; I’m invested enough to want to see all the mystery elements brought to a conclusion and to see how John and Cosmo are able to come back from their separation and make their tentative reunion into something solid, so I’ll be picking up the final book in the trilogy when it’s released in the Spring.
December 8, 2019
3.5 stars. I liked it more than the first book in the series, but I still have issues with it.
I really liked that Cosmo realized how unhealthy the relationship between him and John is. They're not equals, they don't know each other, and all they have is a love based on lust they can't explain. They had an actual conversation after Cosmo finally had enough and stood up for himself (which was awesome), and I thought this would finally be the turning point where they re-assess their relationship and spend some time apart to see what they want.
But...
Cosmo's worries were brushed aside a bit too easily for me. John just shows up in his usual alpha fashion and... I don't know, it still feels like he doesn't get it or values Cosmo's feelings. He still demands things and orders Cosmo around in his pushy way without making any concessions himself, and I thought that was a bit of a shame.
All in all, it's an ok series for me, and I'm still hoping the next book will be the one where they finally work things out and end up on equal footing.
It has fun lines and bickering, the mystery was ok (although it's still not solved 100%), and I really like Cosmo and his quirky family and friends.
*I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really liked that Cosmo realized how unhealthy the relationship between him and John is. They're not equals, they don't know each other, and all they have is a love based on lust they can't explain. They had an actual conversation after Cosmo finally had enough and stood up for himself (which was awesome), and I thought this would finally be the turning point where they re-assess their relationship and spend some time apart to see what they want.
But...
Cosmo's worries were brushed aside a bit too easily for me. John just shows up in his usual alpha fashion and... I don't know, it still feels like he doesn't get it or values Cosmo's feelings. He still demands things and orders Cosmo around in his pushy way without making any concessions himself, and I thought that was a bit of a shame.
All in all, it's an ok series for me, and I'm still hoping the next book will be the one where they finally work things out and end up on equal footing.
It has fun lines and bickering, the mystery was ok (although it's still not solved 100%), and I really like Cosmo and his quirky family and friends.
*I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 30, 2024
Part of the Bedknobs and Broomsticks Series and must be read in order:
January 30, 2024
I felt like this book was not as exciting as the last one, but really focused more on the reality of love relationships. The need to build an equal partnership, and acceptance for love to really work. Theirs was a whirlwind, where neither reached that point before marriage. And I really believe we will see growth in John, cause Cosmo is going whip him off his pedestal.
As for the mysteries, and yes, there is more than one going on, they intrigue me. Overall, I still love this...it’s all part of the series, not a standalone.
As for the mysteries, and yes, there is more than one going on, they intrigue me. Overall, I still love this...it’s all part of the series, not a standalone.
May 27, 2020
This book is just as incoherent and messy as the first one, but I'm still reading them so really, who's the fool here?
August 21, 2023
Audiobook review
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
This is my second time reading this book and the first time as an audiobook. I am definitely enjoying this series even more in audio due to Kale Williams. He really is such a great narrator.
I really hate John. Why is Cosmo so in love with him? I know he feels guilty about keeping his secret so that makes him bend easily to John’s will but John is so selfish. He wants a swimming pool and after hearing that Cosmo not only can’t swim but is deathly afraid of water he still shrugs it off like it’s no big deal. What a jerk! Cosmos friend Andy says it more than once: Cosmo makes all the compromises in their relationship. He also thinks of Cosmo as his “wife”, making sure he’s the perfect host for his important cocktail party. He’s so misogynistic it isn’t funny! Then John has the nerve to ask Cosmo to never use magic again? Ugh! But it’s ok for John to want to have sex with Cosmo because he can’t stay away from him. Thinking with his dick, not caring what it is doing to Cosmo.
I don’t remember much about the next book so I can’t remember if I like John any better. I’ll soon find out!
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
This is my second time reading this book and the first time as an audiobook. I am definitely enjoying this series even more in audio due to Kale Williams. He really is such a great narrator.
I really hate John. Why is Cosmo so in love with him? I know he feels guilty about keeping his secret so that makes him bend easily to John’s will but John is so selfish. He wants a swimming pool and after hearing that Cosmo not only can’t swim but is deathly afraid of water he still shrugs it off like it’s no big deal. What a jerk! Cosmos friend Andy says it more than once: Cosmo makes all the compromises in their relationship. He also thinks of Cosmo as his “wife”, making sure he’s the perfect host for his important cocktail party. He’s so misogynistic it isn’t funny! Then John has the nerve to ask Cosmo to never use magic again? Ugh! But it’s ok for John to want to have sex with Cosmo because he can’t stay away from him. Thinking with his dick, not caring what it is doing to Cosmo.
I don’t remember much about the next book so I can’t remember if I like John any better. I’ll soon find out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2023
My heart couldn't keep up! A few murders, and a pit fall of epic proportions. I forget...why was uncle trapped in the mirror? Dang it, I'm going to have to reread book 1 or forage on and hope the dilemma is revealed.
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