A witch not afraid to let her nerd flag fly and a werewolf under a terrible spell combine to make this fabulous paranormal rom com.
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Set in sultry New Orleans, Wolf Gone Wild introduces readers to the Savoie sisters, a coven of very powerful and very helpful witches. Mateo, a cinnamon roll in an alpha male’s body, comes to the sisters for help breaking a devastating hex. From there, Juliette Cross spins a tale that is sweet, sexy, and sometimes very scary with a cast of new characters that delight and charm (just as witches should). I did not want this story to end, and I already can’t wait to dive back into this world!

This book was incredibly good, the humor, the romance and the plot was just a really fun read. Some parts i i just wanted to nudge the characters along a bit but thats usually how i know im invested. Really hoping the second in the series is about jules and ruben 🤞. Quick read with a HEA. Book kindly given as an ARC.

>Mateo hasn't been able to eat his wolf out to play, and Alpha is so restless. Somehow, they've gotten hexed. Enter Evie, his only chance of lifting the hex. One sexy and compassionate witch that makes Mateo and his wolf Alpha hot and bothered. What could go wrong?

I love the banter between Mateo and Alpha. Alpha lives inside Mateo's head and so it's safe to say that Mateo is in his own special kind of hell having that voice in his head, telling him to do all sorts of bad thing...

This book is equal parts funny and romantic. I liked Evie who was a strong female character both as a woman and as a witch. I liked her compassion and understanding. But the show stealer was Mateo/Alpha. This book is everything I hoped it would be, quirky and cute, romantic and sexy.

I also love love love all of Evie's family. Each witch is genuinely different. I liked how they bickered and loved each other. It reminded me of my family and my close friends. Only the ones you love know how to push your buttons.

The story is fast paced but don't get me wrong, the romance is front and center. And can we talk about the cover?? I don't know Juliette Cross but the cover gods have blessed you. It's a beautiful cover for this snarky and romanic paranormal romance. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I love a new series as it brings promises of more to come.
This brings the Witchy Savoire Sisters to us & focuses on Evie who meets up with Mateo the super sexy werewolf with a problem.
We get to meet the other sisters who all have different Witching strengths & sets up a number of potential future stories!
Mateo brings with him his wolf Alpha who has his own issues that Mateo has to battle but I really enjoy that we read Alpha’s point of view in addition to Evie & Mateo. Mateo was super sexy, Alpha was outrageous & Evie a darling but had great strengths she just needed to realise. The storyline was easy to follow & a lot of fun with the various banter throughout. This was a great first book which I can highly recommend & I can’t wait to see what happens with the other sisters.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC in exchange for an easily given honest review.

Mateo is a werewolf who cannot shift. Evil is a witch who was hired to help him fix the hex put in him. Even though he can’t change, Mateo still hears his alter ego, Alpha, inside his head. He hears him often enough that he can’t think straight. When he realizes that Evie calms Alpha and makes him quiet, Mateo gets her to agree to spend a certain amount of time each day with him. The more time they spend together, the more in lust they become. With the help of three out of her five sisters and some other supernaturals, Evie does all she can to solve his problem before her heart becomes too attached.
Holy hell was this story good! I’m so excited that this is going to be a series that I can hardly contain myself.. With five sisters to go and cousins as well, this has so much potential to be an epic series. I truly enjoyed this book. Ms. Cross does put a few different spins on supernaturals such as life span but hey, it works. Great story!

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title Wolf Gone Wild (Stay a Spell #1)

Author Juliette Cross

Description from Amazon

What’s the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf? Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he’s cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.

​Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven–no werewolves. They’re known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls into the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she’s ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules.

​What Evie doesn’t know is that Mateo’s wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she’s in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her.

Release Date January 14, 2020

Initial Thoughts

Ok, ok, ok. I fully admit that applying for a new book on NetGalley during crunch time was not my best idea. But this book looked so good! I had to apply. I had no idea that I’d be approved within the hour (but, I’m really glad I was!)

Some Things I Liked

NOLA. Yes, it’s a somewhat cliché setting for a book about witches, vampires, and werewolves. But, aren’t all clichés born of some truth? NOLA was the perfect setting here and, it wasn’t overbearing. I loved the subtle reminders of the city’s rich history without being IN YOUR FACE with references.
STAR. WARS. REFERENCES. Seriously, I can’t even. This is a book blog, so I don’t talk much about my deep, deep love of all things Star Wars, but it’s ever present in my life. I absolutely adored how much Evie loved the franchise, and I loved that Mateo found it so endearing.
Venom vibes. Venom was by no means an Oscar-worthy film. Hell, I probably wouldn’t have seen it if I wasn’t an AMC A-List member (and it was basically free), but, I did enjoy the Venom-style conversations that Mateo had with Alpha. I really enjoyed the banter between Mateo and Alpha as well as both of their interactions with Evie.

Series Value

I loved all of the minor characters in this book, especially Evie’s sisters. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Savoie family (and I’m secretly hoping that it’s a Jules-centric story). I will absolutely continue with this series.

Final Thoughts

This might be a record for turnaround time on a NetGalley book for me. I was approved for this book this afternoon and it’s already read, reviewed, and submitted on NetGalley. I really loved it and it was such a fun read. I definitely plan on continuing with the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith – if you liked the magic and curses elements in Wolf Gone Wild, give this book a try.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – if you liked the supernatural elements in this story, witches, demons, etc., give the All Souls trilogy a try.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin – once again, if you liked the witches element, do yourself a favor and read this new release by Shelby Mahurin. It’s seasonal, perfect, and has multiple POVs.

⭐⭐⭐

Liked:
Sooo many characters and storylines to explore. This novel is clearly setting up a series (with 6 Savoie sisters, probably more than a trilogy!). Fortunately, the backstories of the other characters added to the story instead of a weird non sequiter to set up a different book, as other authors have done.

I really loved the relationships of the Savoie sisters. It's caring and natural. I did like both (all 3?) Main characters.. Evie and Mateo/Alpha (Mateo's inner 🐺) Alpha and his side comments are pretty funny and his internal arguments with Mateo are just what all of do when people annoy us every day.

The progression of Evie and Mateo's relationship is really sweet and developed. They move from being strangers to something Mateo needs, to friends and beyond. Their bonding over each other's interests is delightfully real.

I liked the mystery element of solving the hex puzzle behind Mateo's curse... It was a background running story for most of the novel, but allowed for some fun hijinx for characters to get up to.

Didn't like:
Everyone in this book is white. Ok, Mateo is Spanish, but this is a wypipo book. In New Orleans. Annoying.

Red flag behavior by Mateo...Non consensual intimate touching being "hot"; No protection sex. Ew. Not here for that.

No real difference in their POVs... The story is told first person, with Evie and Mateo switching off every few chapters. The two characters did not really have a unique voice when narrating the story.

Overall, I liked this book and would read on in the series.


#WolfGoneWild #NetGalley

While the book has mature content, I thought the love story was well developed and very sweet at times. The plot does take a back seat to the romance but I think the romance in this case makes up for it.

What a great new direction for Juliette Cross’s new series! I love the New Orleans setting and the newest cast of characters. Witches, werewolves, vampires and other paranormal creatures form the basis of the Stay a Spell series. The Savoie sisters are the head of the witches coven of New Orleans and Mateo Cruz, a werewolf with a problem that only Evie Savoie, known hex breaker, can help him with. Nerds and geeks be prepared to get your thrill on as this romantic comedy hits some fun high notes.

What an absolute joy this was to read! Juliette is one of my favorite paranormal authors out there and once she announced her new series with some witches and a shifter, I was here for all of it. When it comes to shifters, wolves are definitely one of my favorites to read about. Throw in a witch, you've got a lethal combination that I'm bound to enjoy.

There's only ever been one other series where I've read with a shifter, who has a conversation with their wolf. And let me tell you, that was one of my favorite things about this book! Mateo and his wolf, Alpha, are having the most hilarious conversations throughout the entire book.

Evie, Evie, Evie... I loved her character so much! Well I loved just about every involved in Wolf Gone Wild. But Evie was just a genuinely nice person and someone who could recognize the good in anyone.

I thought the world building was great and we're already seeing all the potential characters in the next book. So I'm pretty eager to see who it's going to be about.

Compared to other shifter series I've read, it definitely didn't have that tone that you'd normally see. But in my mind, it kept this world fresh and Juliette gave us something different to crave!

Such a fun read that all shifter romance lovers should get their hands on!

Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross is the first book in the Stay a Spell series and it was such a delightful read! Mateo Cruz is not your typical werewolf. He doesn't run with a pack; he's an introverted loner instead! Mateo thinks he was cursed by a witch because he's been unable to shift for the past 3 months. What's even crazier is that his inner wolf has taken residence in his head, always pushing him to act on his primal urges — violence and/or sex. It's getting harder and harder for Mateo to keep his inner wolf on a tight leash, so he decides to ask Evie Savoie, a hex-breaking witch, for help. Evie and her sisters don't deal with werewolves, but they're willing to make an exception for Mateo who is absolutely desperate for help.

Evie and Mateo's story is a sweet, funny, and steamy friends to lovers romance. They are so freaking cute together. Evie's easygoing and quirky nature and Mateo's quiet intensity make them perfect for each other. Mateo was surprisingly a beta hero (a clueless one at that LOL)! But his inner wolf...well, his inner wolf is a dirty Alpha through and through. His internal commentaries were absolutely hilarious and the highlight of this book! I guess you could say that Mateo is a beta in the streets, but an alpha in sheets. The perfect combination, if you ask me. Along with the adorable romance, the hero and heroine, along with her sisters, work together to find out who cursed Mateo, why, and how to break the curse so that Mateo is not overtaken by his inner wolf.

This book has a completely different tone from Juliette Cross's Dominion series. Wolf Gone Wild does have its serious moments, but it's definitely more lighthearted in tone. And the characters are a lot quirkier, with snappy and hilarious dialogues. The bright and fun cover matches the tone and feel of the story perfectly! I love the setting of New Orleans where the story takes place. I just love the overall feeling and atmosphere of the book. It brought me back to the days when I used to be obsessed with Charmed and W.I.T.C.H. I am obsessed with the entire set of characters. We are given hints about potential future couples and I call dibs on a certain sexy ass vamp!! I am DYING for more of him. It's gonna be hard to wait for the rest of this series.

I really liked this book! I liked the buildup between Mateo and Evie's relationship. I also enjoyed how Alpha did play a role, as well as being a good addition for comedic effect. The pacing was well done, although I wish the end sequence was made a little longer It seemed to end abruptly and was also extremely predictable.

Mateo Cruz is many things including a sculptor, very nice but loner kind of guy, and a werewolf living under a curse that is making his life a misery. Since Mateo has been unable to shift for months, his other snarly half is driving him wild with a constant growly running commentary. Mateo’s wolf, Alpha, has absolutely no filter especially when it comes to witch Evie Savoie. One of five sisters living in New Orleans, Evie’s special talent is hex breaking and Mateo needs her skills desperately, but that is not all he wants from her.

Evie loves her sisters with all their different talents and abilities, but living in a house with other witchy women is not easy. She and her Savoie family run several businesses including a bar where she meets Mateo. The firm rule in Evie’s house is no werewolves because they are unstable, dangerous, and very unpredictable. Evie decides to help Mateo because she cannot abide his suffering as well as being drawn to this compelling man. Though being a very talented and powerful witch, Evie is a multifaceted mix of geeky pop culture fandom by way of being a comics aficionado and Star Wars major fangirl.

Ms. Cross has created a fun supernatural world peopled with several kinds of paranormal groups who make NOLA an even quirkier place. They live among humans in plain site; however this being the spooky and mystical Crescent City, Evie and her folks fit right in. First in the Stay A Spell series, this a is a fun read that will please fans of the genre. This story is a slow burn romance for sure, my main criticism being the relationship development between Mateo and Evie is a bit too angsty and drawn out; however, I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Mateo is a werewolf who is unable to shift and Evie is a witch with a specialty in hexes. There's lots of snark and laugh out loud moments especially when Mateo's spirit wolf, Alpha, wants to give advice and directions. Evie is quirky and geeky with a love of super hero comic books and Star Wars and she can't say no to those in need. Even when the someone is a werewolf and her sister Jules has forbidden her sisters to get involved with their kind.

Lots of great humour, romance and secondary characters. I'm really looking forward to the next stories in the series. Jules and Ruben maybe? Plus there's Violet and Clara and two other sisters that we didn't get to know in this book.

Wolf Gone Wild is book one in Stay A Spell series by Juliette Cross. This is a brand new series by Ms. Cross and it’s different from her previous work in that it’s more light-hearted and fun. Not as intense or deep as her previous work.

Evie Savoie is a talented curse/hex breaker. She works at her sisters bar/restaurant and also her other sisters book shop. She’s a well rounded women who is full of life, but also has some insecurity’s about her art work; which her x-boyfriend put into her head.

Mateo Cruz and his wolf side Alpha. Cruz has always had control over Alpha, but something is blocking him from shifting and now things are getting out of control. He thinks someone has cursed him. He’s a loner and a wonderful metal worker.

The Savoie sisters. We meet several of them since the witches are a close nit family. Each has their own personalities, issues, and specialties with magic. I had fun meeting the Savoie sisters and look forward to more.

As for Mateo and Evie their romance was a slow build. Evie has always been told to stay away from werewolves and Mateo has this issue with shifting, so both are hesitant at first. We slowly see them moving out of their comfort zones and as they spend time together, they form a bond, a friendship which becomes more.

The romance was just ok. The novel was enjoyable and light-hearted. I liked the monologue of Alpha and how he drove Cruz a little crazy with his thoughts. It add humor. As to why Cruz can’t shift, well that mystery surprised me. I never guessed who it was and when it was reviled; I was like really. I had no indication it was that person.

Wolf Gone Wild is a fun, cute, and magical read.

Rated: 3 Stars

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Juliette Cross via NetGalley with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Wow! I really really enjoyed this one. This is the first time I have found myself having SO much in common with a book character before. Evie was fun and powerful but down to earth at the same time. I enjoyed the banter between her and Matteo a lot and Matteo was totally swoon-worthy!

Can’t wait for the next one.

I think Juliette Cross will be my next favorite author! She can write about Angels and Demons, Vampires and Fairytales and now about Werewolfs and Witches. And the stories are all awesome! Mateo Cruz is a werewolf with a problem: he hasn't been able to shift for 3 months now and his Alpha is ready to break out of control. The conversations going on in his head with his Alpha are hilarious! But Mateo knows that if he doesn't get some help, his violent Alpha will take over and start killing people.
So he turns to the powerful Savoie sisters. They are the most powerful witches in the neighborhood. But the witches normally don't do business with werewolves. Evie doesn't know why her eldest sister Jules doesn't want them to be involved with werewolves. However, when she looks into Mateo's haunted eyes, she knows she has to help him break his hex.
So, together they try to find out who has bind Mateo's wolf. And while doing so, the Alpha puts in his two cents every other sentence. And usually with some dirty comment (LOL). Evie's sisters: Clara, Violet and Jules are also trying to help. And while searching for the answer, we also get glimpses into the lives of the sisters. So, why is Violet acting all weird when Mateo's cousin Nico comes to help out Mateo? And what is this weird tension between Jules and Ruben the mighty vampire who helps them find the book of hexes. Find out for yourself if they are able to release Alpha. Fun, witty and loveable! Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next story will be about Violet or Jules, because I really want to know what is happening there...

Wolf Gone Wild is book one in a brand new series by Juliette Cross, Stay A Spell. This is a new to me author and I loved the PNR world she created.

There are a lot of PNR books out there, so it is hard to make your book stand out and one way of doing that is creating a good and interesting world. Juliette Cross id that. I enjoyed how the power in New Orleans was divided.

The characters are well rounded and are easy to tell apart. each sister has her own distinct look and personality. Evie and Mateo had great chemistry and all the Alpha talk made me laugh out loud.

I recommend this book.

I'm a little confused by this book. I think that the central idea was great, and that's what caught my attention. But there were some issues here and there. So, I'm going to break it down in I liked and what I didn't enjoy so much:

Loved:
The cover! It's truly gorgeous and gives you a beautiful magical vibe.
The central idea of having a different personality (wolf) in the MC's head.

Really liked:
Evie as a character, New Orleans as a background and the funny and sweet side of Mateo.

Not a fan:
Weird pacing, dialogues didn't click and felt a bit flat. I was never too concerned, too preoccupied or too invested. Also, the modern references to TV shows and very contemporary topics blurred this magical reality that I was in.

Overall, it was a fun and interesting book that has the potential to better explore its world and its characters.

This story is over the top with the snark and man does it work out well!! I loved every second of it and man do I need a finished copy. If you love the Vampire Diaries then I would totally check this one out. Even if you aren't I would still read it!! I you love witches and werewolves etc. With humor and romance this book was a total hit!! Great pacing and characters and I can't wait for the next one.