GRIM AND BEAR IT (Stay a Spell 6) by Juliette Cross-dual review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 9, 2023
Not even Death can take her from him.
Clara Savoie is so confused. She is absolutely positive that Henry Blackwater is practically in love with her. But for some strange reason, he won’t even ask her on a single date. Time to take matters into her own hands.
When Clara shows up on his doorstep with an unusual invitation, tempting cupcakes, and naughty innuendo, Henry has no choice but to say yes. Now he’s the newest member of the High Tea Romance Book Club. While Clara learns the haunting secrets of her broody grim, Henry shows her what commitment from a necromancer truly means.
But when his father is arrested for murder, Henry is dragged back into the nightmare he’s been avoiding all his life. When he steps back into his father’s world, he isn’t just endangering himself but also the bright, beautiful woman he can no longer live without. But he just might have to.
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SANDY’S review: GRIM AND BEAR IT is the sixth (and final?) instalment in Juliette Cross’ contemporary, adult STAY A SPELL erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on the Savoie Sisters of New Orleans. This is grim /necromancer Henry Blackwater, and witch Clara Savoie’s story line. GRIM AND BEAR IT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for back story I recommend reading this series in order as Clara and Henry’s story begins at the beginning of the series
Told from dual first person perspectives (Clara and Henry) GRIM AND BEAR IT follows the building romance and relationship between grim/ necromancer Henry Blackwater, and witch Clara Savoie. From the first time they met Clara knew Henry would be the man to steal her heart but Henry, a quiet and shy introvert, always kept his distance, until the day Clara arrived at his doorstep with cupcakes and an invitation to her weekly book club. The proposal was Henry’s ‘invite’ into Clara’s heart but all was not well in Henry’s past, and his ‘grim’ was paying the price for the sins of the father. When Henry’s father is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Henry must use his abilities to uncover the truth. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Henry and Clara, and the potential fall-out as our couple are targeted when Henry gets too close to the truth.
Henry Blackwater prefers to keep to himself in the aftermath of a betrayal by his own father. As a young grim Henry was forced to face the dangers beyond the vale, a danger that changed Henry into something else. Clara has been attracted to Henry from the first day that they met but Henry appeared unaffected by every attempt by Clara at seduction and flirting.
The relationship between Clara and Henry is a friends to lovers in which Clara is the first to make a move on the man with whom she is falling in love but as Henry reveals the secrets from his past, Clara refocuses her heart on the man and their future. 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 secondary and supporting characters most of whom we have met in the previous instalments including all of Clara’s sisters and their significant others: Evie and Mateo (Wolf Gone Wild #1), Devraj and Isadora (Don’t Hex and Drive #2), Nico and Violet (Witches Get Stitches 3), Gareth and Livvy (Always Practice Safe Hex 4), Jules and Ruben (Resting Witch Face 5), their mother Serena, as well as their growing families; Henry’s young brother Sean, their father Silas Blackwater, human bartenders JJ and Charlie; wolf shifter from the Blood Moon Pack Alpha Shane. I am hoping the author has plans for a series focusing on the wolves or a second generation series following the numerous children of the Savoie Sisters-plenty of baby fever for everyone.
GRIM AND BEAR IT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, jealousy and obsession, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is captivating and enchanting; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are magical and mystical.
BARB’s Review:
Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross is the 6th book in her wonderful Stay A Spell series. I am a big fan of Juliette Cross, having read all of her books, and I have loved them all. She is an amazing author, who gives us fantastic stories, as well as wonderful characters; totally enthralling us in each and every book. Needless to say, I loved loved Grim and Bear It. I am sad that this is the finale of the Stay A Spell series, and our wonderful Savoie family.
Grim and Bear It centers on Clara and Henry, who we have been waiting for their story. Clara Savois has always been attracted to Henry Blackwater, and knows he also has feelings for her. We have watched over the last few books how they keep circling around themselves, with most of the family knowing they were meant for each other. Clara decides to take matters in her own hands, going to Henry’s house and bringing cupcakes; and she convinces him to join her High Tea Romance Book Club (he loves books). In a short time, Clara professes her feelings to Henry, and he finally expressed how much he loved her. It was so sweet to see how much love Clara and Henry had for each other; she was his ray of sunshine, and he was so romantic to her. I did get a kick out of the family seeing them finally together.
Henry had a number of issues, being a grim, but Clara was always there for him, using her Aura, and lighting his darkness. When Henry’s father is arrested, Henry must put aside the distance between them over the years, and find a way to prove his innocence. He must use his grim abilities to enter a portal for the dead, bringing back nightmares from when he was a child; Clara will be instrumental in helping Henry.
What follows is an exciting, romantic and steamy story that had me unable to put the book down, which is no surprise, as I am always hooked on Juliette’s books. To say too much more would be spoilers. I loved spending time with all our previous heroines and heroes, who all played a large part of this book. Jules showed up later, and it was so heartwarming to see all the Savoie sisters, how they support and love each other. The epilogue was fantastic.
Grim and Bear It was so well written by Juliette Cross; as it was another fantastic story in this wonderful series. This was a great series that was a joy to read throughout, with so much love, wonderful sisters and their mates, fun, sexy, heartwarming and a perfect end to the series. If you enjoy a paranormal romance, exciting, action, witches, family, great secondary characters, and sexy, you should have been reading this entire series.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wolf Gone Wild
Don’t Hex and Drive
Witches Get Stitches
Walking in a Witchy Wonderland 3.5
Always Practice Safe Hex
Resting Witch Face
Copies supplied for review
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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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