Don’t Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross-Dual Review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2020

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.

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Sandy’s Review: DON’T HEX AND DRIVE is the second instalment in Juliette Cross’ contemporary, adult STAY A SPELL paranormal, romance series. This is witch Isadora Savoie, and vampire/Stygorn Devraj Kumar’s story line. DON’T HEX AND DRIVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Devraj and Isadora) DON’T HEX AND DRIVE follows the building relationship and romance between witch Isadora Savoie, and vampire/Stygorn Devraj Kumar. Devray Kumar is a vampire with special abilities, hired to uncover the person(s) responsible for a series of abductions and missing girls, potentially linked to a blood trafficking ring but literally running into his neighbor Isadora Savoie found Devray wanting something more from the witch, something he hasn’t thought about for a very long time. Isadora Savoie is a Conduit with the ability to heal herself and others but when Devray Kumar runs her over, Isadora takes an immediate dislike to our story line hero, a dislike based on first impressions and Bollywood good looks and ego to match. When the Ruben Dubois, the vampire overlord of New Orleans calls Devray for help, all bets are off, as Devray and Isadora work together, to take down the ring of potential vampire blood letters. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Devray and Isadora, and the potential fall-out as Devray’s time in New Orleans comes to a close, and Isadora’s struggles with issues of control.

Isadora Savoie is a powerful witch but struggles to ‘people’ and socialize in a world of social animals. Preferring to work in her garden or volunteer at the animal shelter, Isadora battles between head and heart when Devray makes her an offer, she cannot refuse. Devray Kumar suspects Isadora is his mate but our heroine refuses to give into her heart preferring to remain distant and aloof but when Devray offers a friends with benefits relationship, Isadora finds herself falling for a man who is about to break her heart.

The relationship between Devray and Isadora begins as an accidental meeting whereupon Isadora takes an immediate disliking to Devray Kumar. Believing our hero to be nothing more than a rich, stuck up albeit powerful vampire, Isadora battles her attraction but in the end, finds herself in love with a man who may not be willing to settle down. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of supernatural, magical and colorful secondary and supporting characters including Isadora’s sisters Evie and Mateo (Wolf Gone Wild #1), Jules, Clara, Livvy, Violet and their cousin Tia; Mateo’s cousin Nico; grim reaper Henry Blackwater, and ancient vampire and New Orleans’ overlord Ruben Dubois. The requisite evil has many faces.

DON’T HEX AND DRIVE is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and power, manipulation and blood. The premise is enchanting and imaginative ; the romance is sexy and spicy; the characters are flirty, spirited and sassy. DON’T HEX AND DRIVE is an energetic and sensual tale.

Click HERE for Sandy and Barb’s review of book one WOLF GONE WILD.

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Barb’s Review:
Don’t Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross is the 2^nd book in her Stay a Spell series. I loved the first book in this series, and could not wait to read this book. As always with Juliette Cross, Don’t Hex and Drive was another fantastic addition to this series.  No surprise, as Juliette never fails to give us great stories in all her series.

Isadora Savoie, one of the New Orleans Savoie sisters, who are witches, is more of an introvert in comparison to her sisters.  Isadora is a Conduit witch, with healing powers, loves planting in her greenhouse and she is an animal lover, always going to visit the dogs at the shelter.  One evening, she is riding home on her bicycle, when she is slightly hit by a car, and when she tries to get up, she sees a gorgeous hot hunk, who is also a vampire.

Devraj Kumar, our hero, is a Sygorn vampire (powerful ancient with enormous powers), and a Bollywood super star, who is known for his reputation with the ladies.  When he jumps out of his car to help the girl he hit, she stubbornly pushes him away, but Devraj insists to help her.  Isadora has a fear of cars, but Devraj will take her home, and he learns she is one of the Savoie sisters, who will help heal her.  He also finds himself attracted to Isadora, who wants nothing to do with him and resists his charms, which is so very different then the norm for Devraj. He sets his sight on Isadora, and is determined to win her over.

Devraj is in town to help Ruben (Lord of the Vampires, whom we met in first book) find missing human girls being kidnapped, who are being used for blood.  A plan is set to try and catch the kidnappers, with Isadora being used as bait.  The relationship between Devraj and Isadora is slow build, as he continues to show up everywhere, and she begins to have feelings for Devraj; the chemistry between them was sizzling.

What follows is a fun, romantic, sexy and exciting story that had a bit of mystery, with a fantastic group of characters that Juliette always seems to give us.  Isadora and Devraj were great together, and you rooted hard for them to stay together.  I love all of the Savoie sisters, and the men they will all eventually mate with; with each sister having their own special skills. 

Don’t Hex and Drive was lighthearted and so much fun; not to mention so very well written by Juliette Cross.  To tell too much more would be spoilers.  If you enjoy a fun romance, exciting action, great secondary characters, and a couple that has great chemistry; you need to read this book.  I cannot wait to see what Juliette has in store for us next.

Link to Read First 3 chapters: https://www.juliettecross.com/single-post/2020/08/06/Dont-Hex-and-Drive-Chapters-1-3

Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance–brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

Juliette is a multi-published author, including her Nightwing series with Kensington Publishing and The Vessel Trilogy with Samhain Publishing.

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