Tome Thursday: A Familiar Fantasy

 

Hello everyone!

 

I come to you with a very special offering today.

 

So as you know if you've been paying attention to this blog, Hermione Moon (aka Serenity Woods) has been writing witchy romances with a hint of mystery for the past year or so.

 

She's also amazing enough to offer a completely stand-alone, unrelated novella to those of you who subscribe to her newsletter, the link to which you can find right here.

 

It's really only a handful of pages long, but quality does not count for quantity where Ms Moon is concerned, let me tell you.

 

This one could very well have been a full length novel for what it tells and teaches us, and I honestly loved it the moment I got my hands on it.

 

It's one of those stories that really stick with you, even if they're short.

 

But that's how it used to work with all the stories our grandmother's told us! And A Familiar Fantasy is basically just that.

Tome Thursday: On the Stroke of Midlife

 

Hello everyone!

 

As the weather starts getting warmer (though looking at you, random snowstorm, to GO AWAY) I usually start picking up books that reflect that, but when I woke up one morning and saw an email from my all-time favourite author about a new series she's about to launch into the ether, I gave a little fangirl squeal.

 

Okay, a big fangirl squeal LOL.

 

Serenity Woods has basically won me over with her wonderful writing, lovely characters, and the best part of all, PEOPLE COMMUNICATING LIKE THE ADULTS THEY ARE, not just running off at the first sign of trouble.

 

So naturally, if she says there's something new on the horizon, I'm going to sit up and pay attention.

 

For the past year or so, maybe a little more, she's also been writing as Hermione Moon, and her genre were cozy paranormal romance mysteries, which is what she returned to for the time being.

 

After all, there can never be enough of mystery and romance!

On the Stroke of Midlife is the first book in her new Moonlight Moonshine series, and this is what it's about.

Tome Thursday: 'Twas the Knight Before Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

With how 2020 is going I feel like we all need a little something to cheer us up - and with Christmas season starting next week, it's safe to say that there will probably be a lot of watches of the Grinch and Night Before Christmas and stuff like that.

 

Also, yes, I consider all of December Christmas season, basically.

 

I will be doubly considering it this year given everything.

 

Fingers crossed we at least get to spend the holiday with our loved ones if nothing else - at this point I don't even need a big party or anything, just the chance to be able to see my sister and decorate Christmas trees with her!

 

But before we can even move anywhere close to THAT, it's time for a book review, and if I'm this excited about it, you know what time it is.

 

Serenity Woods is easily my all-time favourite contemporary author, and her work under pen-name Hermione Moon is right up at there at the top with the rest.

 

So have those brooms ready as we take flight in 'Twas the Knight Before Christmas!

 

The Avalon Café Mysteries (Booktober)

 

"With Arthur by my side, I can face anything life cares to throw at me."

 

 

For any of you reading my Thursday book posts, you'll probably recognize this title. Serenity Woods adopted a new pen name in Hermione Moon and started publishing cozy witch mysteries from The Avalon Café series about kitchen witch Gwen, who just so happens to give a home to a suit of armour in her coffee shop that it turns out houses none other but the spirit of Arthur! Yes, THAT Arthur. Together with Merlin the loyal labradoodle, the trio then proceed to unravel murders and mysteries happening in their sleepy little town of Glastonbury, and just in case you're wondering - yes, Gwen IS the reincarnation of Guinevere. So really, what better way to spend your fall afternoons than by reading about King Arthur and his lady-love?

 

Gwen Young runs The Avalon Cafe in Glastonbury, England, and solves murders with a psychic Labradoodle called Merlin and a boyfriend who only materializes when she’s in trouble. Well, every girl needs a knight in shining armour! Join Gwen, Arthur, and the rest of their friends as they solve mysteries and murders, and fall in love along the way!

(from Goodreads)

 

xx

*image not mine

 

The Lost Legion (Booktober)

The Bourne Trilogy (Booktober)

Becoming Mrs. Lewis (Booktober)

Lord John Grey (Booktober)

The Last Wish (Booktober)

The Inheritance Cycle (Booktober)

His Dark Materials (Booktober)

The White Queen (Booktober)

The Thorn Birds (Booktober)

The Bourbon Kings (Booktober)

Cop of the Year (Booktober)

Nefertiti (Booktober)

Timeline (Booktober)

The Murder at the Vicarage (Booktober)

Persuasion (Booktober)

The Longest Ride (Booktober)

Midnight Sun (Booktober)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Booktober)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Booktober)

Atlantis (Booktober)

Origin (Booktober)

Quo Vadis (Booktober)

Death on the Nile (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

Tome Thursday: Her Wedding Knight

Hello everyone!

You know what they say - when you find something that works, stick to it!

As you may or may not have noticed, Serenity Woods has been publishing some cozy mysteries for the last little while under the name Hermione Moon, and her main characters are Gwen and Arthur.

If those names ring any bells at all for you, well, I'm here to tell you why.

It's because they're ACTUALLY King Arthur and Guinevere.

Well, okay, he's not the king - he says so himself - but that's how we modern folk know him.

But there's one more book int this series to look at now and here I am with the review of it for tonight - I haven't had the chance to read it a second time yet because of some real life issues, HOWEVER, I can honestly say that if you've enjoyed the series so far, this one won't disappoint either.

It has our favourite crime-solving duo, stunning locations, more than enough intrigue to keep you going, and a little unveiling at the end that had me grinning like a Jack-o-Lantern.

So, without further ado: Her Wedding Knight!

Tome Thursday: A Knight to Remember

Hello everyone!

I am, once again, back with yet another Hermione Moon book - or should I say yet another FANTASTIC Hermione Moon book.

Because I'm loving this series. I really am.

To bits and beyond, because COME ON. Arthur and Gwen? How could you NOT love them??

If you haven't been paying attention to this blog, I'm sure you may have noticed the books as they were being published. And if not, well, this is an ideal chance to catch up, since we're headed into some pretty interesting territory now!

You thought this was going to be an easygoing, cozy witch mystery, did you?

I did too.

And then Hermione Moon went and turned everything on its head with this last book she just released, which I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of.

So be sure to pay attention, because A Knight to Remember is a book you can't afford to miss!

Tome Thursday: A Knight on the Town

Hello everyone!

I'm back with another review from Hermione Moon, aka the author who is bringing us the lovely kitchen witch stories that hold more than a dusting of romance, and a speck of mystery along the way.

Also, there's the labradoodle (I think the dog breed was changed from the first to the second books, BUT the cuteness of said dog has not), who can honestly steal the show.

I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying these stories, and they're short enough to be able to read in one sitting and one afternoon only; me personally? I've read this second one at least two times by now since graciously receiving an ARC, and I have to admit that I'll probably be reading it again sooner rather than later.

There's something to be said about charming heroes and magical heroines, after all, not to mention when they have psychic dogs to help them along their quest.

And if you know that the Holy Grail is included, but not exactly in the way you think, then you'll probably be able to tell this is, indeed, a whole lot of fun.

A Knight on the Town, here we come!

Tome Thursday: One Dark and Stormy Knight

Hello everyone!

As promised last week, I'm returning with the actual first book in Serenity Woods' new series, The Avalon Café. She's publishing these under the name Hermione Moon, but if you've read any of her contemporary novels at all, you'll know the kind of writing you can anticipate!

Last week, we tuned in to this new, magical world of potential reincarnation and King Arthur, or, alright Arthur Dux Bellorum, since he doesn't like to be called 'king'.

We were introduced via a canine companion, because every witch needs her familiar, right? Right.

That said, it was only a novella and didn't give us much to sink our teeth into, but this one, ooooh this one is grand.

Have you ever read anything by Agatha Christie? This isn't quite as morbid as the Queen of Mystery can make it, but it's got the same general idea AND it's also happening in the UK, which is another nod to Ms Christie if you ask me.

And although there's no egg-shaped headed, mustachioed detective mincing about, I'm pretty sure Hercule Poirot would be quite proud of the sleuthing done in this one.

Without further ado, let's can my blabbering about, and go right into One Dark and Stormy Knight.

Tome Thursday: Every Dog Has His Day

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you guys, but the weather is definitely looking up on my end, which is SUCH a relief after all the insane dips back down below zero. It's April now, can it please start getting warmer?

Not that we can take full advantage of it yet - quarantine is still in effect, after all, and there will be a little something about it at the very tail end of this blog post, something fun, so stay tuned - but EVENTUALLY even this has to pass, right? And we'll be able to head out and actually soak up all the rays of sunshine, both real and the ones from our friends and family.

Until then, however, we have to keep entertained in different ways.

As you know, I tend to read pretty much anything and everything that I can get my hands on, with a couple notable exceptions that I won't be going into tonight. So if I get asked to come along on an exciting new adventure, you bet I'm going to say yes!

Serenity Woods being pretty much my favourite contemporary author of all time, it was a no-brainer to check out her new, witchy works.

Published under the name of 'Hermine Moon', these begin with Every Dog Has His Day.