The Harvest Moon🌘 –by– Joshua Ian

On the night of a harvest moon, in the shadow of Mabon, Malcolm comes across a quaint village tucked away in the forest. It seems the perfect spot for a weary traveller to lay his head, and maybe find a little company. But there is dark magic afoot, and lots of local gossip swirls around the seductive titian-haired weaver, Daniel. All Malcolm seeks is a night’s pleasure. He never suspected he would have to worry about losing his life. Or his heart.

This novelette is about 13,000 words in length and the first entry in the Darkly Enchanted Romance Series.

About This Series

Historical romance with a paranormal edge! The Darkly Enchanted Romance series takes its inspiration from mythology, fairytales, folklore, and legend to give you sweet and sultry romances with just a touch of spookiness. Witches, ghosts, and mythical creatures – you know never what you might fall in love with in these enchanted stories.

( Darkly Enchanted Romance #1)

Title: The Harvest Moon

Series: Darkly Enchanted Romance #1

Author: Joshua Ian

Publisher: Moody Boxfan Books

Format: e-book

Release Date: 9/23/2019

Genre/ Trope/ Themes(s): MM Historical Romance; Paranormal; Rescue; Hurt/ Comfort; HEA

Pages: 60 p.

SteaMMy Swordplay: non-explicit (fade to Black)⚔

Sharonica-Stars: 4.00✨

MMy Thoughts and Review:

This Lil Novie was completely unexpected, and I must confess, I totally got this one for that gorgeous cover. Even without the hunk (man I completely just told my age with that word didn’t I) on the cover, it is beautiful with all the colors…it just drew me in. The “pretty as a picture” guy on the front was just icing.

I also grab books off lists because of keywords. It is very VERY rare for me to read a blurb. Because this one ticked a few of my favorite keyword boxes: gay, paranormal, historical, I had to read it. I also liked that it was a “New to Me” author. So all those things add up to one awesome book reading recipe in the making.

This was a little mystery wrapped in legend, superstition, and fear. However, behind every one of those things is a spark of truth that gives them life. The same holds in this story, where the villagers stay in their cups and close to their hearths each time the Harvest Moon hangs low in the sky.

For Malcolm, a gentleman passing through, it all means nothing. Malcolm and other men like him know what it means to hide certain sides of themselves in the shadows, lest be named a monster himself. In the shadows outside the tavern is where Malcolm meets the beautiful young weaver, who lives in the forest near the village, Daniel. Malcolm has no idea just how much his life is about to change…neither does the young weaver.

I loved reading this story as it was almost lyrical in its wording and pacing. The author took his time in setting the world around the tale, then he released the characters to drive the story forward. I was taken back to 1830’s England in Fall, and I saw the colors, smelled the spices and herbs in the air, and felt chilled as the story whirled around me.

I will be saving this to read again when Autumn returns to us and brings with her the spooky loveliness of all things wickedly legendary.