It was so fun to return to the Stay a Spell crew with this second generation story. Honestly I spent most of this book smiling because I so enjoyed being back in this world and seeing characters I loved. Celine and Ronan's romance was fairly low angst and it was easy to root for them, as a couple and as individuals. Ronan's character arc was particularly satisfying. I will note that if you aren't already familiar with this paranormal world things could potentially be confusing; reading at least the first book in the original series before diving into this one is probably the best way to go. But overall this was a great time and I'm excited to see what will come next.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Unfortunately, this Next Generation story just wasn't for me. Too much insta-love, not enough plot. The world building relied too heavily on the previous series, when I think that you should be able to come into a new romance series like this (even if it's related to another one) with no prior knowledge and still enjoy it. I found Cici really boring, when I think she could have been interesting if her character was explored more deeply. Ronan was fine, at least he had an interesting back story and struggles.
There was barely a plot. The fighting plot line could have been fun or at least interesting if it had held more of a place in the story. Unfortunately, it was very much a back burner plot line, which ruined the build of tension that should have led to the climax. Instead, this part felt like it came out of nowhere and not in a fun, unexpected way. It felt very out of place.
If you don't like fated mates or insta-love, don't pick this one up. If you adored the first series, you might enjoy seeing those characters again briefly. Or like me, you might get weirded out reading about a character who was a baby the last time you encountered them, being eaten out in the ear shot of a bunch of guys she knows. To each their own.

I am SUCH a big fan of Juliette Cross' Stay a Spell series, and was so excited that she's writing another set in the same world. This story follows werewolf Ronan Reed, who has a troubled past after a traumatic event and is newly in New Orleans trying to make it in the werewolf cage fighting circuit alongside Aura witch Celine Cruz (Mateo and Evie from Wolf Gone Wild's daughter) whose own troubled past has left her with an overprotective family and a desire to help others with anxiety. After meeting and falling into immediate insta lust/love, the two work well together as Ronan starts to forge a new path in New Orleans.

I will admit going in I didn't realize we'd be following the first series character's children. While this is the start of a new series, I would definitely recommend reading at least Wolf Gone Wild in order to get the most enjoyment out of this book (Mateo, never stop Mateo-ing). While insta love isn't my favorite trope, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it almost entirely in one sitting. This gave the same feelings as the first series, which is a lot of fun with just a little bit of intense action towards the end. I'm already excited for potential MCs based on who we met in this first installment and can't wait to get a physical copy of this to add to my collection!

oh this was TOO much fun!!! i loved everything from this whimsical world to our absolutely adorable mc’s. the chemistry was palpable ya’ll, i’m not gonna lie the romance had me wrapped around their little finger…and the smut? holy frijoles i was notttt expecting that (and it was a pleasant surprise 🙂‍↕️) if you need a food fantasy fix, may i interest you in THIS bad boy?!

Rated 4.5 rounded up.

It was so nice to come back to the Stay a Spell world in a new series. I feel like this is a good book to reintroduce us to the characters, especially since it is focusing on Mateo and Evie's daughter. I will say if you haven't read the Stay a Spell series you will probably not super enjoy the book, but it's a fun and cozy fantasy series so you should give it a shot.

I have a soft spot for characters that have already done a lot of the work needed to better themselves, like Celine's stuff with her ex. And then on top of that Ronan deciding to do the therapy thing after his uncle tells him he should? Love men appreciating the benefits of therapy and not getting weird about it.

Fated mates has never been a favourite trope of mine but for some reason it has never bothered me with Juliette Cross' books and I think it's the cozy vibe of the series that makes it seem less intense and weird than other book relationships. I almost wish the book was a little longer because I felt like there were some aspects of the book that weren't explored well enough for me. The fighting, for example, could have been more of the story. Like I don't know if it's just me but it felt weird that they were only fighting the one group over and over again, especially the reigning champs. I was just questioning where the other fighters were the whole book. I know that the one group ended up being important but that was also a little weird to me and felt shoehorned in. Yes, they were assholes but them becoming Evil seemed out of nowhere to me so I think we either needed more of the fighting stuff to flesh that out or less with a different twist at the end.

But, all-in-all, it was a great addition to the universe and I'm very excited to see what comes next. If we're following the pattern of the original series it might be Samara, but I would personally love a Joaquin (and maybe Ty??) book next. Whoever it is I'm looking forward to it.

This book was so fun and quick-paced that I couldn’t help but read it in one sitting. It’s been a while since I’ve read a romantasy set in our world and I really loved this one. It was like a contemporary romance with the supernatural woven in in a way that kept it light and easy to grasp the worldbuilding. There was an instant spark with Celine and Ronan being mates, but I actually felt like their tension and connection was built up really well and it didn’t fall into the traps of instalove. I think this is a book that’ll be a hit on TikTok, deservedly so.

I hate to do this but I will not be finishing this book. It will be a DNF for me. I just can not get into the story or connected to the characters and i'm not a fan of instalove. I'm sure there will be so many who love this story and the plotline

I was so excited when I found out this was second generation Stay a Spell characters! I loved going back and revisiting this world that I fell in love with. I loved the connection and chemistry between Celine and Ronan. This story was emotional, sweet, cute and romantic. And although this was instalove, I honestly didn't mind it. I like how this set up more books in the series and I can't wait to read them all!

“The things you say”

Ow my heart.
As an already big fan of the Stay a spell series I was delighted to see a next gen series start and to get Celine’s Story.

Ronan tough but reliable is a genuinely beautifully written character. Yes he’s a fighter with a tough upbringing but he’s dominant without being aggressive or overly macho. The way his relationships with both Celine, his family and found family were built up in this narrative was so enjoyable to read.

And Celine the previously anxious and over protected sister in a house full of werewolves. It was refreshing to read her immediately assert herself in so many different avenues of her life as well as overcoming elements of her own traumas through her budding relationship but not because of it.

As always Juliette Cross writes fantastic chemistry and I’m already itching to see who is coming up for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley for this early read! Unfortunately this was a „DNF” for me because the smut got a little to repetitive and predictable. This made the book a bit cheesy for me.

I loved Celine and Ronan’s love story. If I could add more - I’d have loved for Ronan to do more with his artwork, but ultimately this was a cute & sexy story! Thank you for the arc- attached is my fuller review on Goodreads!

This was a sweet spin-off of the Stay a Spell series, focused on one of the triplets. It was fun to see all the kids grown up, but to someone who hadn’t read the original series, it won’t have the same charm. The story focuses around Ronan, a werewolf cage fighter, and his journey to become champion. His relationship with his mate was very smooth sailing, and most of the problems they faced didn’t actually cause any difficulty. I felt this lacked some of the complexity that made the original series so wonderful. However, Juliette Cross does a wonderful job of writing emotional healing and personal growth, and this book had plenty of that, focusing on anxiety and PTSD.

For a light urban fantasy, this is a fine read.

I just wish there was a lot less alpha male energy. I understand how this author is working with werewolves but I find the actual application of this established world lacking in the plot.

There's a lot more said than shown here and it really hurts the plot. Reminding the reader constantly about relationship dynamics established are what brings what could've easily been a four star read down to a three. Celine has that overbearing cloud of protective males around her but there is nothing actually done to prove it to readers. We hear over and over about it but it isn't until past the 40% mark that we actually see activity with it.

Bad boy werewolf Ronan Reed moves to Louisiana to escape his troubled past, only to be captivated by Celine Cruz, a compassionate Aura witch with a knack for healing broken souls. As their forbidden romance heats up, Ronan’s dangerous world threatens to tear them apart, forcing him to protect the woman who’s become his greatest weakness.

A Rebel Without Claws is the first book in the Southern Charm series and features the second generation of the Stay a Spell universe. This story focuses on Celine (Evie and Mateo’s daughter) and her love interest, Ronan (Shane’s nephew). It was so much fun revisiting New Orleans, reconnecting with beloved characters from Stay a Spell series, and meeting the next generation. I enjoyed Celine’s interactions with her brothers and cousins as well as getting to know Ronan and witnessing his personal growth and development throughout the story. Some of the most touching moments were Ronan’s therapy sessions which added depth to his character. It was also heartwarming to see him embark on a journey of self-discovery, build a stronger relationship with his Uncle Shane, and find a sense of home with newfound friends. In terms of Celine and Ronan’s relationship, it developed too quickly and I wasn’t a fan of the instalove. However, I did enjoy other aspects of the book and found it to be a quick and engaging read. Now I can’t wait to see what other characters will have their stories told in future books of the series!

Ronan Reed has moved to New Orleans at the invitation of his Uncle Shane. It's a new start, and an opportunity to participate in the legal werewolf cage fighting in Louisiana. But his dormant wolf sits up when Ronan smells sweet Celine Cruz for the first time.

Celine is an Aura witch and an art counselor. As they start dating, the two of them must work through their issues and history to build a relationship to last.

Why I started this book: Love a good pun and a paranormal romance...

Why I finished it: Spin off series can be tricky, as it is always a trade off in how much detail to the previous series you should include. Cross went light into the back story, world building and if we are honest other than the fated mates trope, light into the paranormal aspects too. This is a lovely story of true love encouraging you to follow your dreams and work through your issues with counseling. Not what I was expecting at all but still a good story.

〰.✦my thoughts:

i haven't read the stay in spell series so this is my first impression of this universe and characters. i thought the world building was under developed and i couldn't get a feel of the place at all. there's all these different creatures; vampires, warlocks, wolfs, witches but none of them were ever fully explained or expanded on. plot was simple and predictable with ending that felt a little rushed.

my main issue was the insta-lust/love romance which isn't for me. they see each other for the first time and become obsessed straight away. timeline was unclear but it all felt very fast paced with them declaring their love for each in a short amount of time. that being said i did find them cute together and there was some wholesome moments. i was disappointed there was no kn0tting but i understand some people might prefer that.

i enjoy PNR but for me this book was missing that magical feeling.

This is a super fun spinoff of the Stay a Spell series! I really enjoyed this and can't wait for more from this new series!

Juliette is a fantastic writer and I absolutely adored her Stay A Spell series and this is just absolutely perfect.

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the Stay a Spell series and was super excited for the next generation spinoff, but this story fell a bit flat for me. I think having read the Stay a Spell series hindered my impression of this story. It read like the author was trying too hard to make this book both similar and different from Wolf Gone Wild and it hurt the overall story. I loved getting the flashes to the characters from the original series and getting introduced to all their kids who will hopefully get their stories soon, but the insta-love wasn't for me. While I adore the fated mates trope, the insta-love of this book wasn't ideal and since the passage of time in this book wasn't explained it was hard to tell how long Celine and Ronan knew each other. I also thought the whole old fashioned caveman thing with all the men being overly protective has been overdone and could've been toned down a lot. I'll for sure keep reading this series, but this one wasn't my favorite.

I'm really excited for the start of this new series in the Stay a Spell world. I loved both Ronan and Celine and can't wait to see what the other characters get up to.