What an invigorating ride this was. I never knew I wanted a romance between a witch and a Vampire to happen so badly before reading this book.

Don't Hex and Drive is book two in the Stay a Spell series by Juliette Cross.

Opposites attract. In this case, the spell is cast between Devraj, a vampire, Bollywood star, and vampire assassin. Whew! Busy guy. Devraj's counterpart is Isadora, a witch, terrified of cars, and animal lover.

The book started out light and cute, I enjoyed the banter between Devraj and Isadora. There was a large cast of supporting characters (lots of sisters) that was sometimes hard to keep track of, but they kept the tone light, especially at the beginning.

The sexy scenes between Devraj and Isadora were very, very hot and steamy! There was a lot of chemistry in the bedroom but not quite sure it translated well outside the sex scenes. Devraj was way too controlling and not my type of hero.

There are definitely some heavier topics and a few quite grim moments, so the book was much darker than I expected from the blurb and the cover.

There was a lot of unnecessary detail that slowed down the reading. Brand names were dropped quite a bit, and it just took me out of the story.

Overall, if you want a steamy, paranormal spy story, this book may quench your thirst.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are freely given.

This is the second book in the series and I absolutely adored it. Cannot wait for the next one. I would totally recommend this book.

I liked the first book in the Stay a Spell series, but Juliette Cross really gets into her groove in this second book. Set in a paranormal New Orleans, the series centers around the Savoie family, six witch sisters, all with varied powers and strengths. The pairing of the quiet healer Isadora (love that name) with the dashing vampire warrior Devraj seemed like an opposites attract. As things progress, their sweetness, mixed with some seriously sexy spice, was a knockout winner for me. An engaging plot continues over from the first story, along with a great cast of supporting characters. Also, diverse hero for the super win.

Don't Hex and Drive is now my favorite book from Juliette. I look forward to future stories in this world. Especially Jules and Ruben - Juliette, you're killing me with the slow burn for those two, & I suspect you may be saving them for last.

This story was all kinds of fun. Although I did notice that I missed the first book in the series from all the talk of Evie and her werewolf, not having read the first book does not detract from this story at all. Now that I've read this book, I'm definitely going to have to grab a copy of book #1.

I loved Isadora's relationship with her sisters. They're all so different, and sometimes a little abrasive, but they are clearly very close and love each other and support each other.

I enjoyed Devraj's slow transformation from wanderer to someone settled. His was a sad backstory, but he didn't become a brooding and morose cliche of a male character. I appreciated how his many years also gave him better insight into Isadora, and how to work towards gaining her trust.

The writing itself is very well done. The pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat without feeling rushed. The dialogue is in turns fun and snappy, or utterly heartbreaking. I might have liked a bit more description of the setting, but I'm a fan of New Orleans in general so I always want more. (To be honest, I wasn't sure of the setting at first, and it was mentioned in what felt to me as a throwaway line. I think tapping into more of the city's history and ambiance could have added so much to the story. Otherwise, it could have been set in a generic city.)

Overall, I'm looking forward to more from this author; especially in this series.

Don't Hex and Drive is a fun and flirty read with a mystery that brings two characters together. 

The leading lady in Don't Hex and Drive is Isadora Savoie. She is a character that I found myself having a lot in common with, (well expect the witch thing.) She likes dogs, enjoys spending time on her own, doesn't need a man to make her happy and puts her family first. It was lovely to read as she becomes closer to Devraj Kumar, as they break down each other walls and expectations.

One of my favourite elements of Don't Hex and Drive is the magic / supernatural abilities. Isadora is a conduit, she can enhance the growth of plants and heal people and animals. The other witches all have different main abilities. I like that they are different types and not the normal, earth, water, Air and Fire. Also, the different levels of Vampires and their abilities was fun to read. Especial when Devraj Kumar was on the hunt. 

This book is more about the romance between Isadora and Devraj. The missing girls are only a small element of Don't Hex and Drive, the case was interesting, I wish we got more information about the bad guys at the end.

I read Don't Hex and Drive in one night, I loved that it was a quick and easy to read. It great if you want a book to read in a night or want to read in small amounts over a week if you don't have a lot of time. 



Finally, Don't Hex and Drive has;

Smut
Romance
Humour
Mystery
Magic
Werewolves
Vampire
Witches
Grim Reapers
My Rating for Don't Hex and Drive is 4 out of 5.

In the last book in the series, we got a glimpse of Devraj Kumar. He was enlisted by another vampire to help get ahold of a precious book. We learned that he is a Stygorn, a particular type of vampire warrior, who roams the world helping others. Usually for a buttload of money. In this book, we find out pretty early that he is also a Bollywood star. A real people-person. The exact opposite of Isadora Savoie who prefers tending to her gardens and visiting the animals in a nearby shelter. There, she uses her powers as a witch, a Conduit who can convey healing and growth, to work with the animals, making them happy and sometimes extending their lives by a little here and there. So she wants nothing to do with Devraj after he accidentally hits her with his car while she’s on her bike. But he just keeps coming around. And he is so very hard to resist...
Devraj doesn’t want to settle down but a single interaction with Isadora has him struggling with that decision. He knows that he can use her help when a band of vampires start grabbing women off the streets and using them for their own nefarious purposes (almost all is off-page with some description of one woman’s injuries.)
This book, since it was dealing with a slight more realistic issue than the first book, didn’t have as much of the fun of that book. It was still a good book and I might have enjoyed it a bit more if I hadn’t liked the first one so much because of its playfulness. I am really enjoying seeing older heroines though (Isadora is (gasp!) thirty-seven).

Three stars
Follows Wolf Gone Wild
This book come out September 8th
ARC kindly provided by the author and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

DEVRAJ!! Holy hot Stygorn!

Juliette Cross has done it again.
She WOWed me. And then made me fall even more in love with her and her writing. She has just made a spot for herself on my list of Rock Star Authors and will now be an automatic 1-click for me.

HER WORDS ARE MAGIC.

And I’m not just saying that because this book is about beautiful witches and their witchcraft and vampires and their powers. It’s because she pulled me in and then under with her words and with a story so captivating, I didn’t want it to end.

Don’t Hex and Drive is book 2 in the Stay a Spell series. The heroine is Isadora Savoie, the sister of Evie from the first book.

Devraj Kumar is a Stygorn, one of the most powerful vampires...and might I add, the sexiest? HOLY GEEZ. Even his name turns me on. He’s in town to help his good friend Ruben...yet another sexy and charming vampire...and they’re tracking down some girls who have gone missing. After the job is done, he’ll be leaving town, because that’s what he does. He travels from place to place helping out those who need it, then moves on to the next place.

I love Devraj so much.
Go ahead, say his name. It’s wonderful.
And because he’s charming and charismatic and confident and handsome and giving and caring makes him all the more amazing. And he’s also so...confused? He has no idea why Isadora is immune to his charm. Even with the influence of his Glamour power, she couldn’t care less. And that bothers him. So, of course, it intrigues him and makes him try harder.

After he hit her with his car while she was riding her bike...yes, Mr. Sexy Pants was driving too fast...he tried so hard to get her to forgive him. It was his mission. She was making it very hard. So he decides to play a little dirty...and hold Big John captive. Let the games (aka sexual tension) begin!

On the outside, he is handsome, seems a bit arrogant, too confident, definitely very sure of himself. Maybe too sure?
But on the inside, he is more…so much more. As the story is told, the many wonderful and loving sides of Devraj are made known. Slowly brought to the surface by the super shy and naturally beautiful witch, Isadora.

I could feel his love for Isadora.
His patience and perseverance made him all the more attractive.

And the slow burn? SO DELICIOUS.
And their chemistry? FIREWORKS.
But Isadora knew he'd be leaving, so nothing could happen between them.

And there was also so much humor! I had SO MANY smiles while reading this story. Not just from the humor, but also the feel-good, warm fuzzy moments that put little hearts in my eyes. I loved these two together so much.

The way he keeps trying to prove himself to her, to make her see why they should be together. He was doing a fabulous job at convincing ME. And made me feel every single thing.

Not only are the main characters awesome and lovable, but the supporting characters are equally amazing. I felt as if I was watching a movie, full of amazing people who I wanted to be friends and hang out with.

Steamy scenes were so intense and delicious and tingle-inducing and toe-curling.
There was one particular scene, you'll know the one when you read it…BE STILL MY VAGINA.
So powerful and intense and intoxicating made my heart rate speed up.
I wished I would’ve had a Big John of my own. Not even kidding.

That ending? Devraj’s declaration of love?
O.M.G.
The highest of fives to Ms. Cross! SO. GOOD. My smile was soooooo big!

I cannot express enough how much I love this series. I REALLY loved the first book - big time. And this book is just as good, if not more. I am obsessed with this world, I adore these characters, and I am in awe of the author’s talent.

Witty charm and goodness and everything magical made this book an easy 5-star read for me. It consumed me. I was lost in a world of witches and vampires and grims and I never wanted it to end.

Charming vampire and a shy witch? Yes please! Juliette Cross does a brilliant job with her characters and her writing is just wonderful. I loved this book so much!

***5 ‘Arugula’ Stars***

I have to say, if I hadn’t already been making grabby hands at this book, the opening line of the description would have hooked me because I totally get being bad at peopling ~ most will say I’m not, but sometimes peopling doesn’t go all that well ~ and I thoroughly enjoyed adorable awkwardness of Isadora as she collided with the charming and determined Devraj, as well as all the hijinks that always seems to surround the Savoie sisters and anyone who happens to find themselves in their orbit.

I adored Isadora and Devraj. Izzy is an introvert and shy and can be awkward in certain situations where any sort of peopling occurs, but she also has this inner strength that comes out when she feels strongly about something ~ whether it be about people or animals ~ and I couldn’t help but love watching her stubborn side come out to play. Dev is sweet, charming and playful. He’s also quite sneaky and determined and when all of that is combined with a protective streak a mile wide? Well, he’s quite lethal in every way.

Their journey to their HEA was all kinds of awkward, yet swoon worthy fun. I loved Dev’s determination to wiggle his way into Izzy’s world as much as I loved her determination to keep him at arms length or further. But the chemistry between them was undeniable and I loved watching as they both fell, hard, for each other.

I loved diving back into this world. NOLA is one of the places on my bucket list and considering all that is going on, this has been the best way to ‘visit’. The mystery/suspense was done well in this book. It was well thought out and executed and didn’t overshadow Dev and Izzy’s journey, but instead added to it. As for the cast of characters. I tend to have my favorites in any series, but here I’m pretty fascinated with all of them in equal measure, though I am crossing my toes that a certain Grim gets more page time as the series progresses. But as it stands, I loved getting to experience a little of the Jules/Ruben situation and cannot wait to get my hands on Violet and Nico’s book!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

JUST SINK YOUR FANGS INTO THIS MAGICAL ROMANCE BETWEEN A CHARMING VAMPIRE AND A SHY WITCH

“What did I expect from a vampire? An old one, at that. His magic hummed the air, tinged with power and control and the trait I hated most about his kind: Seduction.”

A charismatic vampire and a shy witch with a green thumb make magic in this 2nd book in the Stay A Spell series. Romance crackles, wary hearts come out to play, and supernaturals in human form bewitched me at every turn. The previous book -- Wolf Gone Wild – cast a spell on me, but DON’T HEX AND DRIVE is every bit as infectious and proves hands-down that this exceptionally talented author can magic her way into my heart and mind anytime with enchanting spells and hexes and charms that are both endearingly heartwarming and side-splittingly hilarious. My heart isn’t big enough to hold everything this beguiling series makes me feel.

Scorn and temptation meet head-on between sweet witch Isadora Savoie and glamorous, worldly vampire Devraj Kumar of Indian descent. She’s a conduit and he reeks of power. Actually, an ancient vampire with special powers and purpose that scare her, along with his physical perfection and eerie observational skills. Seriously? A droolworthy mansicle of a vampire with long, sexy hair. Neither one is prepared for the other after she’s accidentally struck by his car while riding her bicycle. A bad start that gets off on the wrong foot, as they both rock each other’s worlds and have no idea how to handle it. Besides, he’s in town temporarily on special assignment involving rogue vampires and abducted girls. His mission is complicated by living next door to Isadora and her eccentric, Bohemian sister witches and their oddball pets that blow up the laugh meter. She’s his unexpected aphrodisiac, and he’s the thorn in her side who keeps invading her life and heart, while making amends for their "meet-uncute". A cautious witch with a heart of gold and a passionate vampire that’s a giver at heart beneath all that glam. The real magic is in their hearts, and it’s supernatural kismet with white flag surrender.

Fangs, spells, and a Big John vibrator make strange bedfellows for this rare, supernatural couple. Devraj and all his earnest charm swept me away, though Isadora and her guarded heart are a tougher sell. The ensemble cast of sister witches and the supernaturals in their midst (friend, foe, or soulmates) are an intriguing mix, blended with a cauldron of warmth, and batches of belly laughs. The supernaturals’ specific roles make them all the more compelling: werewolves, vampires, witches, grims, etc. with unique strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits that were thoroughly bewitching and so befitting their niche in New Orleans' Garden District.

It comes down to world-weary Devraj wanting a real home, and kindhearted Isadora overcoming her many fears (especially men) and opening her heart to the love magic in front of her. In a Pride & Prejudice twist, Devraj underestimates his feelings, and Isadora misjudges Devraj. Their love journey was magical witchcraft all its own with threats of danger and uncertainty sprinkled in. Characters from the previous book and their various types of magic factor prominently in the love match and in the vampire hunt that kept me thoroughly spellbound. All the cute twists on matchmaking, lovemaking, and human foibles of the supernaturals all around the couple had me in stitches. But sexy Devraj and his alluring bag of vampire tricks? … I’d let him bite me any day.

This is a delightful, soul-deep romance that entranced on every level, while filled with ups and downs in the sweet, tender, and frisky uphill climb to love. And the homage ending to an 80s’ iconic film choked me up and put hearts in my eyes. I couldn’t love a book any more if I tried. Pure enchantment and dazzyingly romantic. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

“ I was just waiting for you to figure it out. You don’t want the world to see you. But I see you.”
“No other man would ever compare to my beautiful vampire.”

ARC kindly provided by Victory Editing Netgalley Coop and the author for an honest review

This book kept me up til 1am & I couldn’t be happier!! The PERFECT follow up to a weekend of historicals😍 I mean, after getting a Jane Austen reference within the first chapter I knew I was in for a treat!

Isadora Savoie is biking home with a *particularly* mystical pansy when she’s hit by a hot vampire in a Lamborghini. Despite escaping unscathed (pansy mostly intact), said vampire *insists* on making it up to her somehow, and her typical ploys for evading interactions with others are no match for Devraj Kumar—Bollywood Icon, Famed Stygorn, and new next door neighbor.

I adored this book!! It’s my first from Juliette Cross and her prose is playful, quick, and there were SO many lines I just had to highlight💕 I also *loved* the banter between the Savoie sisters!! It felt just as wild/adoring/blatantly insulting as my conversations with my sister😂 AND THE HERO!!! Devraj was utterly dreamy— totally gone for Isadora from the get go and a verrrry thoughtful lover (those sex scenes are 🔥🔥🔥) Also as someone who’s watched a *lot* of Criminal Minds recently, the story thread where they were hunting down a vamp kidnapping women from bars was really interesting & created a cool contrast with the lighter elements of the book

Imma cut myself off before I gush too much, but this book was INCREDIBLE! It releases on September 1st and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world🥰 Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A ponderer with a passion for pansies and an irrational fear of cars meets a beautiful Stygorn vampire with whiskey brown eyes and Bollywood perfection. Oh, what could go wrong? An *ass over teakettle introduction maybe?

Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross has a cozy cottage/small-town vibe, yet the surroundings still elicit corners of danger. Devraj Kumar has come to town, at the behest of the ever domineering Mateo, to help solve a growing number of missing girl cases. They are in need of help from the Savoie sisters. Isadora being Devraj's most sought after sister.

Its a mixture of chemistry, longing, and mystery that makes Don't Hex and Drive my favorite type of read. It encompasses a sweetness yet, keeps the action running. Cross has such a beautiful way of conveying characters that come across as real. Even in a paranormal setting.

From the meet-cute to the amazingly 80's ending. I loved everything about this.
~Tanja

This was a very enjoyable book...fans of Sookie Stackhouse novels will enjoy this as it's similar. Good character development and a plot that makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next!
Thank You NetGalley and publisher for this title

This was the first Juliette Cross book for me and I was not disappointed. The very beginning of the book did not have the hook that I really like right at the beginning, but as the chapter went along I developed more interest and wanted to see where this book was headed. Perhaps, I should have read book 1 first, but I was intrigued by the description of Isadora because I personally don’t people very well myself.

I was happy that Isadora moved past her initial feelings towards Devraj on a nice timeline. I personally do not want it to be too quick or too slow. Though too slow getting past the issues leaves me feeling irritated. Happily, that was not the case with this book. I was happy with the side intrigue in the story and also liked how the author interwove Isadora’s talents into the investigation. I have characters that I want to see in future books and that is a good sign. I love a series and getting to see a variety of characters find their one.

The sex scenes are steamy without taking over the whole book. They move the story forward and develop the relationship. The characters both respected each other in and out of the bedroom. It was wonderful watching the trust and intimacy grow along with their relationship.

The only downside to this book is the setting of New Orleans. This book could have really been anywhere because the book lacked descriptive text regarding the location. I felt like if you are setting a book in New Orleans then a better description of the locale, culture, and food is needed. This just seemed odd to me. The book was still a good read, but having New Orleans really used as a backdrop could have made this book great. I would totally recommend this book to people who enjoy Marian Keyes, Jane Green and Sophie Kinsella.

Omg im obsessed with them! And possibly addicted to Juliette Cross' writing. And the characters. They are so colorful and fun. And let me tell you the sex scenes are wet dreams come true (there might be a certain scene that's definitely NSFW but definitely panty melting)

I needed this book in my life right now and I had no idea! This series is filling the hole left behind when I finished all the Sookie Stackhouse books. I enjoyed this one much more than the first in the series. I think vampire romance is just my jam. Plus I absolutely love getting to know these Savoie sisters and can't wait for more of their stories.

Isadora is an introvert witch with strong healing powers. She does the books for the family businesses and prefers to spend her time with plants and animals as opposed to people. Devraj is a 300 year old Vampire warrior in town on business. He's fascinated by Isadora and determined to get her to open up to him.

There's a mystery at the heart of this story, missing girls and rogue vampires, that kept me engaged throughout the book. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and I was sad when it was over. The writing is witty and sharp. I highly recommend it for readers of romance.

I loved everything about this story, setting, characters, storyline. It was very entertaining and sweet and looking forward to the other sisters' stories!

Shy and retiring witch Isadora Savoie lives in a house with much rowdier sisters who run businesses in New Orleans. She spends most of her time in the greenhouse preferring to talk with plants rather than people. Her powers as a Conduit allow Isadora to heal those in need including the shelter animals she visits with regularity. When human girls go missing, Isadora get corralled into helping find them even though it involves working with a flashy, Bollywood star, vampire who almost takes her out with his equally ostentatious car while she is riding her bike.

Devrag Kumar’s claims to fame are not only his colorful career but as a Stygorn: a vampire warrior who seeks and destroys the paranormal villains of his kind. Dev has been called into help solve the abductions by the Lord of the Vampires who has close connections to the Savoie sisters. He is everything Isadora is not: flamboyant and charismatic, with a dark and exotic attraction that she has trouble resisting though Dev had a tendency to throw Isa for a tailspin way beyond her comfort zone. The more she avoids Dev, the more he is attracted to her and determined to have a relationship even though he is a serial love’em and leave’em kind of vampire.

Since even vampires have laws about abusing and abducting humans, Dev is determined to stop a what looks to be a blood trafficking ring with the help of his reluctant witch. While they spend time together, he is also determined to unlock Isadora’s secrets realizing that she is more than a passing fancy. Isadora is trying to avoid getting her heart broken figuring this guy is not going to stick around. This tale is an entertaining read for fans of paranormal and slow burn romances. With five sisters of varying talent and skills, each of them adds a quirky and entertaining flavor to this tale as well as their individual stories. This is the second in the Stay a Spell series; however, it can be read as a standalone.

When I realized this was boom number two in a series I got worried but I quickly forgot anything to do with a series and fell into Devraj’s and Isadora’a relationship. The mythology of vampires and witches and werewolves in New Orleans is totally not what I was expecting and a stellar twist on a old trope. There was enough myth behind the differences that it almost felt more realistic.

I do hate that Isadora just assumed Devraj was gonna leave her without ever talking to him about it and why she thought a relationship might be a bad idea, but as expected it all works out in the end.

The secondary mystery plot on this one was a little sparse. Every once in a while it would be mentioned and I would have to try and remember everything about it cause it felt like a lot of time had passed.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this supernatural romance romp and I want to go back and read book 1 asap and I can’t wait for book 3!!