🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross

Title: Don’t Hex and Drive
Series: Stay a Spell #2
Author: Juliette Cross
Format: Kindle, 346 pages
Published: September 8th 2020 (Amazon.com Services LLC)
ISBN: ASIN B085CMZH7X
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Notoriously bad at peopling, Isadora Savoie spends most of her time in the greenhouse or at the local animal shelter, using her Conduit powers of growth and healing. Content to remain in the background of the Savoie sister shenanigans, she’s reluctantly roped into the mystery of missing neighborhood girls. Now, she’s partnered with a flashy, flirty vampire to find them before it’s too late.

Devraj Kumar has seen and done it all. Three hundred years roaming the earth as a Stygorn—a legendary vampire warrior who operates in the shadows—has its perks. But ennui has set in. That is, until he has a run-in—literally—with an intriguing witch while on a new assignment in New Orleans. Fascinated by her resistance to his charms, Devraj can’t help but push her buttons in an effort to get to know the shy witch. Fortunately for him, she’s been recruited by the Lord of Vampires to assist Devraj on the case.

Between a Bollywood marathon, supernatural dating app, secret package, and sexy driving instruction, Isadora is in over her head. And Devraj? After just one taste, he’s playing for keeps.

Linda's Thoughts:

I have been dying to read Juliette Cross’ Don’t Hex and Drive since I inhaled the series’ opening salvo, Wolf Gone Wild, and I’m thrilled to report that it has lived up to all of my high expectations! I adored this wonderful paranormal romance from its hilarious start. It’s sweet and sexy with lots of magical, laugh-out-loud moments generously infused throughout. It is the second yummy installment in the author’s Stay a Spell series about the powerful Savoie sisters, a close family of quirky witches living in New Orleans. 

Don’t Hex and Drive can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. However, I strongly suggest that you read the opening installment, Wolf Gone Wild, when you can as it was a fantastic series’ opener and worked as a great introduction to each of the sisters and Juliette’s Stay A Spell’s utterly bewitching world.  

This episode is the story of Isadora Savoie, the shy Savoie sister who hates cars, has a magical talent for healing and who loves her bicycle, nature and animals. AND, our hero Devraj Kumar, a Stygorn, which is a vampire born of one of the ancients with unparalleled supernatural skills. Stygorns are the vampire police force. Devraj has come to New Orleans at Vampire Lord Reuben’s behest. He has rented the home next door to the Savoies which isn’t the best situation for Isadora who is doing her best to avoid him after their initial meeting. However, being close to Isadora is wholly convenient for the predator Devraj who has his eyes set on getting stubborn Isadora into his bed.  

Devraj is a hot Bollywood star and quickly charms Isadora’s sisters. There are a couple of scenes with his movies playing that are totally priceless. Unfortunately, his playboy reputation makes him off-limits for introverted Isadora who is protective of her heart. When Devraj takes delivery of Isadora’s new toy in another laugh-out-loud scene, things take a radical turn. Isadora and Devraj have a lot of smokin’ chemistry and I couldn’t get enough of their cute banter and slow-burn romance. 

Following please find a few of my favorite lines from Don’t Hex and Drive:

“Believe it or not, I didn’t plan to hit a witch with my car today.” He shifted the gear stick into first and accelerated down the street. “It was on the agenda for tomorrow.”
--- 
This woman.
Her body.
Her soul.
I wanted it all.
--- 
I was a simple girl. And I honestly didn’t want to debate whether a fallen tree really made a sound in the woods if no one was there to hear it. I’d rather discuss what kind of tree it was and if it held any medicinal properties that could be brewed into a healthful tea.
--- 
“You’re mine tonight.” He lifted me in his arms and headed for the door.

“I can walk, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

The Big Easy’s population in Juliette’s Stay a Spell World includes a colorful range of supernaturals. Supporting characters that deserve special mention include Big John, a vibrator, and Archie, a lovable, yippy terrier.

Hex and Drive is laugh-out-loud funny, sweet and sexy. Please know that the story is not just a romance – there’s plenty of suspenseful moments around a well-orchestrated plot of deadly blood trafficking that will doubtless keep you riveted. It’s a delightful page-turner all the way to the end leaving me enthralled. In full disclosure, I am a huge fan of Juliette’s writing and she has never once disappointed me.  Not even close.

Violet Savoie and Nico’s romance is up next and I can’t wait. Stay tuned for book three, Witches Get Stitches, in Juliette’s Stay a Spell series slated to come out next summer 2021.

Suggested Reading Order: 
#1 – Wolf Gone Wild 
#2 – Don’t Hex and Drive
#3 – Witches Get Stitches – coming Summer 2021!
#4 – Always Practice Safe Hex
#5  - Resting Witch Face
#6 – Grin and Bear It