Don't Hex and Drive

Stay a Spell, Book 2

By: Juliette Cross

Narrated by: Johanna Fairview, Aiden Snow

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.

©2020 Juliette Cross (P)2021 Podium Audio

Cute, Entertaining Story

The story was cute. It was predictable in the way most romances are, with very little depth to any of the supporting characters or villains. It had its charming moments and I really enjoyed the little universe this series takes place in. I'd be tempted to read more if the main story arc had any meat to it. I was really disappointed to get to the moment of confrontation with the 'bad guys' only to have it over quickly, resolved without follow up, no further development of the heroine or her powers. In the end it was predictable and anticlimactic.

I think the performance is what saved it honestly. The woman actors voice as the male lead was funny in contrast to when he was actually narrating his own chapters. Both actors did a great job and made this story worth listening to on a very long drive.

Yet another adorable story

I binged this book while on a drive and was quite taken by the plot of this book. Just enough crime to be thrilling, plenty of spice!

Stay a Spell Obsession

I'm obsessing over this series. This witchy books have the perfect balance of magic, adventure, and romance. Immediately starting the next one...

Sad that it’s over

I love the story. Very interesting getting to know other characters from the first story. Annoyed that the male performer had the same voice as Mateo from the first story and also didn’t have an accent from India. I liked that the female performer at least would attempt the accent from India. This is an annoyance from listening to the performer and not the book itself. I’m sad that I have to wait to listen to the rest of the books but will be doing so asap.

love this story!

The narrators for this story truly made the characters come to life! I really liked how they switched back and forth in each chapter.

Holy smolder!

“Abort! Bad decision! Very bad decision!”
The comedy to romance ratio here was a vast improvement over the first, which veered too much into teenage cringe and pop culture geekdom. I’m pleasantly surprised how much I liked this one, given that I don’t care for romances starring actors or guys driving cars worth more than my yearly salary. But, even though this features Devraj, a former Bollywood actor and current flirt, he turned out to be a genuinely good person. I also liked Isadora, a witch more comfortable with pets and plants than people.

“One smile and I was devastated, swimming in an ocean of WTF.”
Like the first book, the mystery takes a back seat to the romance, only coming into play in the beginning to bring our couple together and in the end to give him the opportunity to be the hero. But, given the smolder, and the four smoking scenes, the romance focus worked just fine. Both narrators did an outstanding job with Devraj’s Indian accent, but I think Ms. Fairview gets the biggest kudos for selling his sexy, exotic self.

Minor quibbles:
-Isadora’s angst over him being a love ‘em and leave ‘em guy drags on way too long
( even a smidge of communication would’ve cleared that right up)
-The Jerry Maguire finish was a little too high school for this couple
(but it was sweet and forgivable, considering the overall fun tone of this book)
-I wish Isadora wasn’t such a damsel; where’s her smarts? Or her formidable witchy-ness? Her role is mostly to be the bait, damsel, and tag-along to the men, who do all the sleuthing, fighting, and saving. For that matter, why couldn’t the other witch sisters have been part of the sleuthing, fighting, and saving part of the equation?

Love this book

This couple is the best. They both have so much depth, stick to their beliefs while also staying open to growth. Shy heroine without being a doormat. Love this book

great books

I've read #1 and 2 so far and really love them. so well written I'm looking forward to #3. Johanna and Aiden do such a great job.
I'll look for other books they read.

I usually don't like blushing FMC!!!!

This book Surprised me!!!
I usually don't like blushing FMC but the author did a great job making her relatable. She is strong in her own right just an introvert. They (author and Narrators) made me smile through this whole book!!!! It's a slow but Hot burn this is So balanced!!! The perfect amount of everything I needed!!! I can't wait for the next the next one!!!

The Indian Accent 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️

Love the story and the romance but you didn’t have to to do a Appu from Simpson’s voice. Ironically for Devraj’s narration you got an American Narrator.

It was done in poor taste.

You actually did have to do that. If you were true to your story after 300 years of globe trotting Devraj won’t have an Indian accent at all.