Reviewer: Holly Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross
Series: Stay a Spell #2
Also in this series: Wolf Gone Wild, Witches Get Stitches
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Alternating First Person
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 346
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Holly's 2021 Goodreads Challenge
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Series Rating:
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.
Devraj Kumar is an vampire enforcer of sorts. He’s lived a long time, and spent time everywhere. Most recently he’s been living in Europe, acting the playboy after success as a Bollywood actor. He’s ready for a change, however, so he returns to the states. He settles temporarily in New Orleans to help his friend Ruben (the head vampire in charge) with a case, while he decides where he wants to settle permanently. On his first night in town, he accidentally hits a witch who is riding her bicycle in the dark.
Isadora Savoie has a low tolerance for people and cars. Her opinion isn’t improved when Dev hits her bike with his car, crushing it and causing a sprained ankle in the process. She’s happy to be left alone, except it turns out Devraj is their new next-door neighbor, and he keeps turning up. When they’re paired up to find a bunch of missing girls, Isadora can’t deny she’s attracted to him, but still..she’s happy to play with the dogs at the shelter and hang out in her greenhouse. If only Dev would get the message….
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I wasn’t crazy excited to read this one. We were barely introduced to either character and I was honestly hoping another sister would feature here instead. I put off reading it because of that. The first 40% or so really frustrated me. Dev kept making jokes at Isadora’s expense, and it was starting to really piss me off. But then he realized she wasn’t laughing with him, sincerely apologized and stopped doing that. The story picked up from there.
I really liked the second half. The plot moved quickly and I enjoyed the two of them together. Devraj was actually very sweet once he realized Isadora wasn’t getting his jokes. He was careful with her, but pushed her outside her comfort zone. I liked how they came to care for one another, and I really loved that both of them were very family centric, and had mad respect for their siblings and parents. Despite my early frustrations, I easily fell into their story and enjoyed how they came to life on page.
I’m really looking forward to the next book, which features Violet and Nico.
While I didn’t like this one as much as the first, the second half saved it and I truly ended up enjoying it.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Stay a Spell
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