Always Practice Safe Hex (Stay A Spell 4) by Juliette Cross-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 24, 2022.

Livvy Savoie is a people person. Not only does she have the magical gift of persuasion, but her natural charisma charms everyone she meets. She hasn’t met a person she didn’t like. Until her annoyingly brilliant competitor walks through the door. No matter how hard she denies it, loathing isn’t the only emotion she feels for him.

Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater is rarely, if ever, moved beyond his broody, stoic state. But the witch he’s partnered with in the public relations contest is destroying his peace of mind. He’s convinced that the flesh-melting attraction he feels for her is merely her witchy magic at work.

But forced proximity proves there is more than magic sparking between them. Livvy learns this enigmatic grim’s abilities are beyond any supernatural she has ever known. And when Livvy becomes the obsessive target of a dangerous warlock, Gareth proves just how powerful he truly is. Because no one is going to hurt his Lavinia.

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Sandy’s Review

ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX is the fourth instalment in Juliette Cross’s contemporary adult STAY A SPELL erotic, paranormal, romance series. This is witch Livvy Savoie, and Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater’s story line. ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX can be read as a reminder stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Livvy and Gareth’s story begins in YOU’RE A MEAN ONE MR. GRIM in the author’s WALKING IN A WITCHY WONDERLAND anthology.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gareth and Livvy) ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX is a frenemies to lovers story line focusing on witch Livvy Savoie, and Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater. Livvy and Gareth are two of the three finalists in a public relations contest where the winner will receive money to help start up and promote a cause near and dear to their heart. From the outset Gareth’s cause comes out on top, a cause in which every supernatural lineage will have respect but the man overseeing the project has targeted our story line heroine, and Gareth’s inner ‘monster’ refuses to back down where our heroine is concerned. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gareth and Livvy, and the potential fall-out as the true nature of the beast becomes the executioner when Livvy is attacked by the man in charge.

Gareth Blackwater is a powerful grim reaper, a ‘grimlock’ with abilities that are rare, dangerous and dark. Having grown up in foster care, Gareth knows the pain of a supernatural caught up in a system ill-prepared for a magical child. Along with his cousins Seth and Henry, Gareth has had to hide his true nature, his unenviable powers, powers that often threaten his very own existence. Livvy Savoie grew up in a loving family, and has watched from the sidelines as her sisters fell in love but Livvy never expected to find her own happily ever after in a man she had always thought deadly and cold.

The relationship between Gareth and Livvy is one of immediate attraction but an attraction neither one had expected. Gareth’s inner ‘beast’ was demanding Gareth claim Livvy as their own but Gareth was desperate to keep his dark side hidden from the woman he loved believing Livvy would never accept the man and beast together. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense with some scenes of bandage and discipline.

There is a large ensemble cast of supernatural, magical and colorful characters including Lavinia aka Livvy’s sisters: Evie and Mateo (Wolf Gone Wild #1), Devraj and Isadora (Don’t Hex and Drive #2), Violet and Nico (Witches Get Stitches 3) Jules, Clara, ; grim reapers aka Grims Silas, Henry, and Sean Blackwater; ancient vampire and New Orleans’ overlord Ruben Dubois; several Blood Moon Pack members including wolf Shane; and human bartenders JJ and Charlie, who work for Savoie’s at their family owned bar, The Cauldron; Victor Garrison, sponsor of the PR contest, and overseer Richard Davis.

ALWAYS PRACTICE SAFE HEX is a story of power and control, betrayal and obsession, family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is riveting and captivating; the characters are charismatic; the romance is seductive

Barb’s Review:
Always Practice Safe Hex by Juliette Cross is the 4^th book in her fantastic Stay a Spell series. I loved the first three books in this series, and loved this one too.  Juliette Cross always gives us wonderful fun steamy romances, with a supernatural element. She is one of my favorite authors, who never fails…never ever…to give us a fantastic story in all of her wonderful series. 

Livvy Savoie, our heroine, is always sweet and charming to everyone she meets; as she uses her magical gift of persuasion, along with her charisma to win everyone over.  There isn’t anyone Livvy doesn’t like, except one person…. Gareth Blackwater, the Grim Reaper. 

Gareth, our hero, is usually tense, with most people, even the supernatural’s afraid of him.   Gareth had a difficult and dark childhood, and looks at himself as being evil due to the demon inside of him.  He moved around in various foster homes, and considers his two cousins and his aunt as his only family. 

When Livvy and Gareth are chosen with another person to win a campaign to help supernatural orphans, they are forced to spend a lot of time together.  Gareth begins to have strong feelings for Livvy, suspecting she is using her magical ability on him, but in a short time, he knows she is the one for him.   Livvy also begins to feel strong desires for Gareth, and slowly, as they work together, she begins to see a different side to Gareth. The chemistry between them is off the wall sizzling, as this turns into a wonderful steamy enemy to lover’s romance.  Did I say steamy….whew.

As their relationship escalates, Livvy gets Gareth to open up about his past, and she listens to much of the horror of his childhood.  Livvy is always kind and caring, and now her feelings for Gareth get stronger and steamier each passing day; with seeing how soft and vulnerable he is.  Livvy also learns more about Gareth’s amazing abilities, which she will help him control them.  Livvy will express her feelings to Gareth, showing him her love and allow him to open himself fully to her.  There was an evil villain, who was a threat to Livvy, and I loved how Gareth was there to protect Livvy.

As much as I loved Livvy and Gareth together, I loved see all the sisters together, as well as their significant others.  They were all so much fun, such a wonderful family. I am sure we will get to see Clara and Henry have their own story soon. 

What follows is a fun, romantic, steamy and exciting story that had a bit of suspense, with a fantastic group of characters that Juliette always seems to give us.  As noted previously, I loved Livvy and Gareth together, and their wild chemistry that sizzled.  I love all of the Savoie sisters, and the significant others, and those that they will all eventually mate with; with each sister having their own special skills.

Always Practice Safe Hex was a fun, magical and sexy romance in an amazing world with witches, werewolves, vampires and grims; not to mention so very well written by Juliette Cross. 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 look forward to read the remaining Savoie Sisters’ stories, as each of the books have been fantastic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wolf Gone Wild
Don’t Hex and Drive
Witches Get Stitches
Walking in a Witchy Wonderland

Copies supplied for review

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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