Don't Hex and Drive was SO MUCH FUN! It was my first paranormal mystery romance and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the genre! Isadora and Devraj are loveable, swoonworthy characters and their chemistry truly is off the charts! I loved the plot Juliette weaved, and I loved the romance even more. She made Devraj Kumar the PERFECT book boyfriend, and for someone who is a serious advocate for sexy biting in vampire books, I really appreciated the well-written explicit sex scenes! Juliette's writing is so much fun, I devoured this book in a matter of hours and I'm left with this yearning and longing for more (more books from her, more about her set of side characters and more vampire lovers for myself). 

Im so grateful I came across her book on Netgalley and I'm so excited to read the first book in this series now! Thankyou so much for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Juliette is absolutely killing it with this series and if you liked Wolf Gone Wild, book 1 in the Stay a Spell series, be ready fall in love with Don't Hex and Drive. And it currently falls as my favorite so far.

Isadora Savoie, I'm pretty sure she's my spirit animal ... person? I like to consider myself an ambivert, but my introvert ways are pretty similar to Isadora's, so I related to her a lot. Plus, I envied her escape to her a greenhouse, I want that. Knowing how much of an introvert that she is, how was the ever so swoony and outgoing hero, Devraj, going to win Isadora over?!

I'm not going to say much about the hero, he's a treat that you'll totally be obsessed with. And with vampires being my favorite, pretty much a win with me ;-)

Juliette definitely gives us the perfect balance, bringing in her older fans and newer ones into her world. I'm so hooked and I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this one. Loved this book sooooo much and I'm ready for the next one!

4.5/5 ⭐

Don't Hex and Drive is the second book in Juliette Cross' Stay a Spell series. It can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. This one follows shy introverted witch Isadora while she works alongside devastatingly handsome and powerful Stygorn vampire Devraj to catch the culprits who have been abducted females from the neighborhood. Isadora starts out being exasperated with Devraj's presence but the more she gets to know him the more her heart starts to care. But can she risk letting herself fall for an outgoing vampire who spends his life moving from one place to another.

This was a fun story even with its less than happy plot line of girls being kidnapped. Isadora and Devraj have a unique and absurd meet cute in the beginning. An opposites attract story. Isadora who is painfully shy, introverted, and spends her free time in her garden and visiting an animal shelter. Devraj is a former Bollywood star with a huge personality who oozes sex appeal and is talented in the kitchen. It was entertaining to watch Isadora try and resist his charm and Devrak rile up Isadora.

Between the hunt got the kidnappers and the erotic steamy intimate scenes between Isadora and Devraj there was never a dull moment. I can't wait for the next book in the series and for another Savoie sister to meet her match.

What a fun and romantic story about witches and vampires! I loved the sisterhood that Isadora grew up with and continues to embrace. Dev is an interesting character with tons of charisma and intrigue. I want to know more about other characters but it appears I will have to be patient and wait for more stories to come. This is the second in this series and there’s room for more stories to evolve.

the second book in the stay a spell series finds us following a newer to us savoie sister. isadora was out of town during the events of wolf gone wild. i'd been kind of rooting for violet and nico, or jules and ruben, but they will probably be last because there's so much history there that is worth building up. anyway, don't hex and drive kicks off with a meet-disaster when devraj (our super special vampire hero, he's a stygorn and that means he's like super strong and has enhanced abilities) crashes his car into isadora's bike. 

isadora is a conduit, and her abilities are mostly focused on healing. devraj happens to be in town to investigate some missing girls. and it's inevitable that isadora gets looped into the case. 

i really enjoyed the interplay between isadora and devraj. from the get-go it was pretty clear that they were uniquely well-suited. it just took some time for isadora to get on board too. 

this was just another delightful entry in this series, and i'm happy to report that violet and nico are coming up next. 

**don't hex and drive will publish on september 8, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/juliette cross in exchange for my honest review.

I've wanted to watch or read something paranormal for a while and this was a pleasant venture into more fall like books. I thought this was a rom com and while it does have it's funny moments, it's more of a mystery. There's women that are disappearing and the vampires and witches are determined to find the culprit(s). I love the world building, there's grims, witches, vampires, werewolves, all congregated in New Orleans. It was fun to see them all working together. I also liked how there is an emphasis on being supernatural but also have different cultural backgrounds. Our hero is a former Bollywood star that is also a stealthy vampire and the heroine a witch from New Orleans. This is definitely a slow build of a story with some angst involved but at a fast pace. Both are determined to rescue the girls and as they keep being thrown together, they discover their chemistry can't be ignored. This can be read as a standalone, I haven't read any of the others in the series and can't wait to dive in for more.

Don’t Hex and Drive is the second book in the Stay a Spell series by Juliette Cross. This book follows conduit witch Isadora Savoie and famous vampire Devraj.

Isadora is a character that proves that just because someone’s an introvert it doesn’t mean they’re shy. She’s strong-willed, brave, and stands up for herself and her family. Devraj is an interesting character and I liked that we got some of his backstory and how a job he’d done in the past was tied into events from the first book in the series.

The romance in this book has an enemies to lovers feel after their first meeting but then it’s more about Devraj trying to win over Isadora. Once that happens the sparks fly!

We got to see more of Jules (the oldest Savoie sister and Enforcer for all New Orleans supernaturals) and Ruben (Master Vampire of New Orleans) in this book and a few hints were dropped about their relationship history which has only made me want a book with them as the main characters even more.

The types of supernatural in this series are Witch, Werewolf, Vampire and Grim. There’s still a lot of mystery around the Grims at the moment but I’m hoping that Henry and Clara get their own book soon so that we’ll be able to learn more about the way the Grims operate.

I gave Don’t Hex and Drive 4/5 stars  and am already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

I did notice a couple of small errors in this book but understand that it’s a review copy and I’m sure they won’t make it into the final version.

Now posted on my goodreads acoount too.

I was really excited to read this one, having enjoyed the first book in the series so when I saw it was on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it.
I'm truly attached to the cast of characters and the world and I wish there were 10 more books in the series.

That said, this book had some flaws I could not overlook, the first major one was the hero, he's the reason I gave the book 3 stars, he was just too controlling and pushy with the heroine, his behavior made me uncomfortable especially in the first half, it got a little better in the second half but that's mostly because the heroine did all he wanted her to. So, yes, their relationship could've been healthier.
I also wasn't sure about the Indian representation, it felt like it was based a little too much on stereotypes but I can't say for sure as I'm not Indian, I did talk to an Indian reviewer who read the book but she didn't have any complaints about it, maybe it was just me, either way I was glad this book had sensitivity readers, those are really important when we write about other cultures.
What I loved about the hero: he was an ex Bollywood actor, that was a big yes, he was also inspired by Ranveer Singh, Huge Yes.

Now about the heroine, I liked her more than Evie, Isadora was more relatable, with her phobia of driving and cars and her love of nature and animals, definitely reminded me of myself. She was too passive at times, more like a doll than a person and that's the main flaw about her character. Moreover, I think the hero did everything wrong with her, the heroine said she had social anxiety (even though that's not really explored) and let me tell you, following her and appearing everywhere she went was not what he should have done to get her to like him or date him.

The best thing about this book? The steamy scenes, some of the best scenes I've ever read, definitely in my top 5, even though I liked the ones in the first book more, these too were just great.

Overall the story was enjoyable (could definitely use a little less heteronormativity), I liked the plot, even if I found it a bit weak towards the ending, the conflict was resolved a bit too quickly and abruptly.

Despite the flaws, I'm absolutely gonna read the following books, I'm just too attached to the Savoie sisters!

Oh my gosh!  I absolutely LOVED Devraj and Isadora!  This couple lit my kindle on fire and kept me turning pages as quickly as possible.  

Isadora was down to earth, sweet, caring and loyal to those she loved, but she did not want to get involved with the Stygorn who seemed to be everywhere.  But as they work together to find a group of missing girls, she decides maybe just a taste of him would be okay.  I loved how she hooked Devraj right from the start and inadvertently kept him dangling.

Devraj quickly became protective and possessive of the witch that called to him.  Even as he’s planning a temporary stay, he’s falling deeper.  He had such a great sense of humor and the way he won Isadora over was fun and sexy.  

This is a fast read with pretty low angst but lots of steam.  The drama is related to the mystery and it does amp up quite a bit as it begins to unravel.  I loved seeing characters we’ve previously met as well as catching the carrot that’s dangling for us regarding the next book.  I can’t express how much I adore this world Ms. Cross has created!  I’m already eager to get the next book, and the next, and the next!

An introverted (not hermit, don’t use that word!) witch bumps into a vampire warrior trying to track down a few of his kind who are abducting girls. Devraj reluctantly ropes Isadora into his investigation and sparks fly between the two. 

Didn’t even realize this was a series until I looked a little further on goodreads, but such a cute book. Gotta catch up on the first one & cannot wait for more!

The sexy sequel to Wolf Gone Wild, Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross is another can't-put-this-book-down gem! The first book brings together one of the Savoie witch sisters with a werewolf, and in the sequel we get a taste of another Savoie beauty and a vampire hinted at in the previous book. Can the quiet, blundering girl finally open up and find a safe place in the bronzed, strong arms of a Bollywood star? Is there more to the suave, fanged hero than meets the eye?

Cross delivered another steamy tale that is as exciting as the previous book yet distinctly different. I couldn't pick a favorite if you paid me to. Both books contain alpha males who lust and love strong, intelligent heroines--but they each have unique obstacles and drama, unique smutty scenes, and unique connections between the couples. 

I adored Evie and Mateo from Wolf Gone Wild so much that I didn't think I could love another pair, but Cross absolutely delivered! While Evie is an endearing, silly heroine anyone can love, I found the awkward, introverted Isadora overwhelmingly relatable. I have shared her doubts in men and in myself. I have shared her anxieties over social situations and making friends. Cross' vampire hero of the story is unexpectedly complicated and deep, and aside from the wonderful story, I frequently reflected on how impressive Devraj's character was written. He's believable, and their one-true-pairing and happy ending were tied up nicely. I adored the Hindu culture and food she mixed into the story!

Beyond the steamy scenes we can't get enough of from Juliette Cross, she wound in a compelling drama narrative, supernatural lore, and New Orleans culture. Is it possible for a series to have it all? I will definitely "stay for a spell" in desperate anticipation for the next book which the author revealed will center on Violet and Nico. *shivers* Yay!

OMG!  How has this fantastic little series passed me by?  I have slapped myself appropriately and have added book 1 to my TBR!

Isadora's magic isn't exactly the stuff of legends.  She concentrates more on being a conduit and sharing good vibes with the little lost souls at the rescue charity. She literally bumps into a hottie when he almost runs her over on her bike.  He takes her home and soon after they discover they are going to be neighbours!

Devraj is a Stygorn, think Vampire Warrior, he usually goes where the trouble is and as such has been pretty rootless.  He made a name for himself in Bollywood, not exactly hiding under the radar!
New Orleans has a problem and magic users are going missing.  Devraj has been drafted in to help. 

Devraj initially wants to get Isadora into the nearest bed but he soon knows there is more this witch than a one-and-done.  She cannot be less interested in his fame, money, or celebrity status.  She is making him work for her interest, a true novelty for him. Isador may be a bit timid and shy and a true introvert but that doesn't make her 2 dimensional.  She has quirks and flaws and really grabbed my imagination. 

All of the Savoie sisters are great characters, especially mouth-of-a-sailor Violet.  Jules has Ruben dancing to her tune as she ignores her existence as much as she can!  Henry the Grim (and IT tech geek) looks like he will be a really interesting character too. 

Can't wait for more!

*note: spoilers in final paragraph (from first half of book)

This book started out fine, if super campy. Devraj, a vampire, hits Isadora, a witch, with his car, and she instantly hates him for being an irresponsible driver - and also because he's exactly what she'd expect from a powerful vampire, and she tends to dislike vampires. She finds out he's also a Bollywood actor and a high-ranking vampire - basically an assassin - and that he's in town to figure out why young women have been disappearing. There's a lot going on from early in the plot, as a paranormal spy romance.

I had two major issues with this. First, the world-building is lack-luster - there was just *a lot* of detail crammed in, but a lot of the detail felt either forced or unnecessary. The information was just presented in bulky paragraphs, so it felt clunky, instead of being worked into the storytelling.

Second, and this is a spoiler - Devraj is hunting down what turns out to be a blood trafficking ring, which is a lot heavier of a topic than I was expecting from the description. Hunting a possible serial killer may not seem better than hunting traffickers as a plot device, but making the major plot of the book center on young women continually being sold and used made this way, way too much for me to handle emotionally. Additionally, Isadora goes with Devraj to interrogate someone involved in the trafficking ring, and it was difficult to read what boiled down to a light torture scene.

Don't Hex and Drive is a fun twist of Fantasy, Romance, and Crime Drama. Davraj, a Stygorn vampire (yield from some of the most ancient and powerful in the vampire bloodline) whose known for his Bollywood acting carrier and being one the the most desirable men/vampires, joins forces to find the head honcho do an underground trade of women kidnapped and used as blood hosts to vampires. While working along side his friend Reuben, Davraj accidentally has a little run in... with his car, and one tall glass of witch. Isodra despises people in general, especially those who lack the proper skill of safe driving. As a conduit and dog lover, she loves to help use her powers for growth and healing, but finds herself wrapped into the investigation with Devraj to find the missing girls.
Devraj is sweet, flirty, and ready to steal the heart of Isadora, but Isadora will fit him with everything she has.

This book was very funny and all around enjoyable. The mix of crime and romance was fun and easily intriguing although if I'm honest I was living for the moments Devraj and Isadora were together.

What I struggled with a bit was the fantasy part. I love the genre and tend to read very detail rich novels, and I just kept wondering... ok a witch and a vampire.... what happens when she ages? does she not age? they can have kids then? what happens then? I just wanted a little bit more development there since it seems the folklore idea behind vampires changes drastically in each book. Some they sparkle... some they can't go in the sun at all. Some I guess survive on blood and never die but otherwise can do everything humans do?

Overall really enjoyed this light hearted tale!

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into romance stories and literary fiction however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different.

Isadora is pretty damn anxious, so she's content living a quiet life with her plants and animals. Devraj has traveled the world doing his duties as a Stygorn, but he's longing for a place to call home. Then he arrives in NOLA with his Bollywood-star good looks, his big personality, and unique Stygorn powers to hunt for the vampires that are snatching girls off the street. He needs Isadora's help to find them, which is a good thing for Devraj because he's crushing on Isadora, but a bad thing for her because she's trying her hardest to resist him. 

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this one was an amazing follow up; it's sweet, it's funny, and just the right amount of smutty. If you like paranormal contemporary romances that are fairly light-hearted, this is the perfect series to pick up. According to the back of the book, we're getting Nico and Violet's romance next (was kinda hoping we're figure out the deal between Ruben and Jules), so I'm looking forward to summer of 2021!

I loved this book!! I didn't realize that it was the second book in a series so now I'm so excited to start reading the first one!
Isadora Savoie is a very introverted witch. She likes to stick to what she knows: working in her greenhouse and visiting dogs at the local animal shelter. Then comes Devraj Kumar, who quite literally knocks her off her feet. Devraj, a powerful Stygorn vampire, has been called into town to help solve a crime involving missing human girls. The two make a powerful team on the case, but will the growing feelings between them evolve into something more?
I really loved Isadora and Devraj. They had some great banter, and I really liked how Isadora was able to start to feel confident with Devraj. Being with him didn't suddenly turn her into an extrovert, but it was obvious that she was comfortable with him. It was basically introvert plus extrovert = chaos.
There was definitely some hating to dating happening here, mixed with some forced proximity. I mean, Devraj really just showed up everywhere. It was a bit much, in my opinion, but I'm sure their supernatural social circles are quite small. 
I will say, I found the "deny your feelings at all costs" storyline went on a bit too long. I just wanted them to talk!! But overall, I just really loved their story. I think they were super complimentary to each other and also quite steamy. 

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Title: Don't Hex and Drive
Author: Juliette Cross 
Genre: Adult / NA / Paranormal Romance 
Standalone or Series: Series #2
Published Date: 8th September 2020
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Rating: 🌶🌶🌶

The second book in Stay a Spell Series featuring the love lives of the Savoie Sisters and their happy ever afters.

This was such a captivating paranormal romance - with the perfect blend or urban fantasy (my favourite kind of book)!

This story follows the witch Isadora and the vampire Devraj.

At first I was a little frustrated that this book wouldn't be following Jules or Violet as hoped, but Isadora did not let me down!

The chemistry between Isadora and Devraj was *chef's kisses*

The steamy scenes were on the leg slapping level I now rate my love scenes by. Devraj was utterly dreamy and I couldn't relate to Isadora more! 

This is the perfect series for fans of Suzanne Wright and I'm so glad I've discovered Juliette's books!

Downside... looks like I have to wait a year for Violet and Nico's story - Witches get Stitches, but I have plenty of books to catch up on from Juliette!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me a copy for an honest review.

This review will be posted on my Instagram account on 8th August - HKLovesbooks 

Posted review to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3459728475

Posted review to Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2470644708?source

*I will also post on Amazon on release day*

Don’t Hex and Drive is book two in the Stay a Spell series by Juliette Cross.  In this book, we are going to focus on the quietest Savoie sister, Isadora and a very sexy vampire who has his sights set on her.

Isadora Savoie will tell you she’s not a hermit, she’s just introverted.  Her sisters are all outgoing, but she prefers to stay in the background, working in her greenhouse, using her flowers and herbs to make healing balms and teas.  Isadora and her sisters are witches, all powerful.  Isadora is a conduit, she can heal.  Her other passion is visiting the adorable pets who reside at the town’s animal shelter.  She loves spending time there and giving the dogs just a touch of her magic to heal their bodies and souls. 

Devraj Kumar is a three hundred year old, powerful Stygorn vampire, one of an elite group of vampires with very strong abilities.  Recently, four young women have disappeared in their city and a vampire is suspected as the culprit.  Devraj was asked by his good friend and leader of the vampires in New Orleans, Ruben, to help solve the girls’ disappearances.  

Devraj moves frequently from job to job where his special abilities are needed.  He’s never had anything make him question his life, although secretly he does long for a real home, friends, and maybe even love.  As soon as he sees the shy, quiet Isadora, he is intrigued.  Something draws him to her, makes him want to know her, to try to draw her out.  He can’t seem to stop thinking about her, finding ways to cross paths with her.  But then when he finally gets a taste of her, there’s no going back.  She’s his.  She just doesn’t know it yet.

“There’d been a lot of things that made my pulse quicken over the ages, but a woman’s smile hadn’t been one of them.  Till now.”

As Devraj works to get to know Isadora better, a beautiful thing happens, she gains confidence, she finds there are some things about herself she never really knew.  And there is one thing I need to tell you here.  When these two finally get together, they…are…HOT!!!  I might even venture to say that the scenes when these two are together might just be the hottest I’ve read in any of this author’s books!  I don’t know if it was their strong connection, Juliette’s beautiful writing, or just the way they made me feel.  But there was some serious swooning happening here!

“You don’t want the world to see too much of you.  But I see you.”
“What do you see?”
“A lovely woman who knows the meaning of humility and kindness and true beauty.”

Devraj is determined to win Isadora’s heart.  But Isadora knows that when the case is solved, Devraj will move on, it’s what he does.  Can she just live in the moment, enjoy him while she can?  Or is it too much of a risk to her heart?  

“She hid from the world, doing her good deeds without the need for notice or praise.  I wanted her more with each passing minute.”

I loved this so much.  The relationship between these two builds slowly, and at the same time, they are working on finding and saving the four missing girls and taking down the vampires responsible.  We also get to know the other sisters even better in this.  I particularly enjoy the ongoing chemistry between Ruben and Isadora’s sister, Jules.  This is such a fun, smexy, swoony series and I am so looking forward to the next book.

“This woman.  Her body.  Her soul.  I wanted it all.”

Isadora Savoie is not comfortable around people. She prefers plants and animals. She is happy to remain in the shadow of her sisters but reluctantly gets roped into solving the mystery of missing neighborhood women. She is paired with a flashy, sexy vampire who is also determined to find them before it's too late. 

Isadora is an antisocial woman who loves to stay in the background. I could relate with her because of this. Her conduit abilities were very interesting, especially the written aspect part of it. I do wish we had seen more of her abilities throughout the book but she isn’t flashy like her sisters so that makes sense. I did have one major issue with her which is something that I personally don't like to see in romances. She went on dates while dealing with her feelings for Devraj. This is something that I know happens in real life, but it's something that really bothers me. Probably because this is something I would never do. 

Devraj Kumar is a Stygon, a legendary vampire warrior, and a former Bollywood star. Devraj was charming, flirty, and a fun character. While these two are the complete opposites they worked. He really pulls Isadora out of her shell. I really liked him. He was a very unique vampire. 

I really enjoyed the side characters in this one. I like all the Savoie sisters. I seriously can’t  wait for Jules and Ruben’s story because I know it's going to be a good one. Overall this was a great sequel and I can’t wait to read the next book. 

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*