My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

Two strong willed people meet when fast car encounters slow bicycle. I thoroughly enjoyed the two main characters, and their thought processes as their relationship changes over the span of this book. The author's take on her version of witches and vampires was interesting and a bit refreshing. And it was nice to see that the author's worldbuilding didn't try to keep the various magical species from mingling, socially or romantically.

I do wish that more of the book had been spent on expanding the mystery subplot, as I think that could have brought this author and book into a much wider audience, a la Patricia Briggs.

I will definitely be looking for other books in this series, as well as other books by this author.

5 stars

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Juliette Cross saved me with this ARC. I had fallen into a black vortex of bad books due to my own stupid curiosity and boy; did I pay for it. I dove in this book like someone lost in the Sahara stumbling in an oasis. It made for such a welcome change and I've been waiting for it with bated breath since I finished the first one. I loved the effortless worldbuilding in the first book and I loved returning to it.

Actually, sat down at 2 am googling images and making notes for this the second I finished reading. Was forced to go to sleep by hubby asking what on earth I was doing on the pc in the early morning hours as I was literally nodding off on the keyboard. But I just had to write stuff down, if I could have, I would have stayed up to write this, I was that happy. This book made me so happy that I wanted to sacrifice my sleep, not to read but to write and share my giddiness with you. I think what I love most about these books is that the drama llama doesn't make an appearance. Yes, there was tension and chemistry and push and pull but no unnecessary dragged out drama just for the sake of it.

Isadora is the sweet, quiet, introvert sister in a family of boisterous people. She's shy and giving, happiest in her garden, planting, making herb bundles or at the animal shelter sharing magic and love to the dogs stuck there. Her telekinesis and psychic abilities are weak and even though she is a powerful Conduit and confident in her powers, some times that made her feel frustrated in comparison to her more magically active sisters.

When Devraj knocks her off her bicycle he shocks her out of her safe routine. She doesn't like strangers, feels out of place when she has to interact with people but the accident shoves her right out of her comfort zone and that combined with a gorgeous, obviously rich male, along with the fact he is a vampire makes her defensive and prickly. She gets caught up in appearances but slowly Devraj shows her that appearances are misleading and there is so much more to him that what he appears to be.

Devraj one the other hand is instantly taken by her. As well as being a Stygorn Vampire, a stronger vampire than most, he was a famous Bollywood actor for a spell and filled his life with superficial entertainments. He becomes aware, after his last mission where he was forced to be alone in the mountains, that his life is lacking. Seeing Isadora and her sisters hammers the point home to him. After 300 years of existence, hunting and roaming the earth he realizes he is lonely and craves a home. Throughout the book he introspects and sees how he wants to change his life and that his attraction to Isadora is anything but shallow. She calls to something in him. And he will not give up until he changes her opinion of him and make Isadora his in all the ways.

Devraj and Isadora were the stars of this book and they shone so brightly. The building of their relationship from antagonistic to love, their attraction and chemistry, getting to know each other yet also seeing within themselves in the process was an absolute joy to read. Nothing made me happier than their interactions. Teaming up to find out who is behind the missing girls added an element of suspense in the plot and also pushed their relationship forward.

I don't know what more to say. I feel like I should gush some more because this book made me so genuinely happy that I still have a goofy grin on my face while writing this. If you love PNR I wholeheartedly recommend this. I cannot wait to see more of the sisters powers in action and to read about Violet and Nico, Jules and her delicious vampire, Ruben and someone (Clara?maybe Livvy) has to snap up that divine tatted up Grim! This is one series I intend to follow closely. Again many, many thanks to Juliette Cross for this ARC. Thank you so much for trusting me.

Getting to read Don't Hex and Drive in advance was pure joy for me, since I so enjoyed Wolf Gone Wild.
What I love most about this second book, though, is how different it is from it's predecessor. Isadora is a completely different character from her sister and Devraj was nothing like our dear wolf (except both are handsome, charming and extremely determined to be chosen by the awesome heroines).

At first glance, Isadora and Devraj are total opposites. She's quiet, shy and prefers to be home and alone with her garden. He's well-traveled, daring, popular, rich and outgoing. It's so fun to see them interact and, most of all, see Isadora have to reevaluate her prejudices about him over and over again. He's one of those rarities that are confident, but the wrong kind of cocky. He pushes Isadora's boundaries without me ever feeling he didn't respect her or her fears.

There's so much to love about this book - from the simple interactions, to Devraj's constant need to be close to her, to Isadora being a badass Conduit, to the sisters, to Ruben, to the steamy sex scenes (even though I'm a bit uncertain as to how two tall people manage to have sex inside a Lamborghini Diablo without getting uncomfortable..?), to the sappy love stuff. It would be a full five stars if it wasn't for a few things.

First of all, I know my limit for sappiness is quite low, so I rarely dislike a book because of that - this book contains multitudes of feels and thoughts and speculations about partnership and relationships and all that, but that's okay. What I didn't enjoy, however, was Isadora's thickheadedness. We don't really get a reason for her distrust and low self-esteem (when it comes to Devraj, anyway). Sometimes it felt like she and I weren't reading the same book, so to speak. I questioned at times if she'd even met Devraj or, you know, only used him for his hot bod and pierced tongue?

It's four solid stars, though, and I'm real curious about which sister we get to follow next. Even though I'm hoping Jules, I think our dear author will keep us on the hook for a while. Violet, maybe? Clara? Exciting!

/ Denise

This series has a whimsical feeling to it. I love that each heroine is a sister form the same family of good witches. If anyone would want to be a witch, it would be what these sisters represent. They use their power for good and you just get that charmed feeling reading about them. I'm really loving the vibe of this series.

I can relate a bit to Isadora. She is a loner and a homebody. She enjoys gardening, dogs and riding her bike around town. She doesn't want to be in the spotlight and is a bit socially awkward when she is. I know exactly how that feels. She also loves her family and I find that all these sisters living in the same house just sounds like fun to me.

Devraj is a Stygorn vampire. He's stronger and more powerful than a normal vampire. He has the dark, good looks that have woman fawning all over him. He's famous and lusted after. You would think that would make him an arrogant player, and yet he's not. He's confident and does use his charm often, but when it doesn't work on Isadora, it just makes him more determined to win her over.

I love how much Devraj adored Isadora. He could have anyone he wanted and he wanted her and never looked at another woman. I love finding heroes like that. Isadora does do a bit of pushing away because she thinks he would never fit into her life, but that gave us so many moments to see Devraj pursue her. I loved him more with each chapter.

As mentioned above, I'm loving the addition of all the sisters in each book and it really has me looking forward to the next book.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on Don't Hex and Drive after reading Wolf Gone Wild and was lucky enough to receive an arc from Netgalley and the author. The Savoie sisters are a family of witches living in New Orleans and they are all wonderfully different. This story is about Isadora who is shy and awkward but also a powerful Conduit, and Devraj, the devastatingly handsome actor and vampire Stygorn who literally knocks Isadora for a loop she wasn't expecting. He's not used to working for the girl but he can't stay away from Isadora and even though she's fighting the attraction, she can't stay away either. This book is beautifully written and the characters and plot are well developed. It is also gloriously steamy and delightfully funny. I can't wait for the next installment in this series!

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.