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My Review:Title: Always Practice Safe Hex
Author: Juliette Cross
Series: Stay a Spell #4
Published by: Indie
Release Date: May 24, 2022
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 379
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 1, Lenoreo's 2023 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:There's a reason no one messes with a grim...
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 wizard, Gareth proves just how powerful he truly is. Because no one is going to hurt his Lavinia.
3.75 stars — While in general this was da bomb like all the books in this series, there were a few things that just niggled at me I guess…and apparently niggled enough to not quite make 4 stars. Whatever, it’s my review, I’ll do what I want.
I really enjoyed Livvy, though it wasn’t quite as love at first sight as the other sisters so far. I feel like I didn’t quite know who she was as easily, other than the surface stuff. She was definitely kind and caring, with the perfect amount of sassiness. I appreciated how much she liked to tease her sisters, and I loved how empathetic she was with Gareth, even as he was pushing her outside her comfort zone.
Gareth’s story had a more tragic background than I was expecting, and I ached for what he went through growing up. His cause was a great surprise to me, and I loved how they all rallied towards making it a success. I was so glad we got to know a lot of the background behind grims, and how varied they can be themselves. I think I might have struggled with his bloodthirsty inner demon more than I was supposed to, especially at the end…though I did understand.
I LOVED the friendship chemistry and sweet love bits that developed between these two. There were just a lot more moments of happy smiles and girlish squeeing than I was expecting, especially considering that on the other side their steaminess chemistry was very risqué. I think I struggled with the steamy parts a bit more, just because of Livvy’s own internal struggle between what she clearly desired vs what she thought about it during the act. I think I would have appreciated her coming to terms with it more clearly.
The conflict wasn’t too much of a surprise and was set up from the start. I will say that I really appreciated the trial bit though, learned even more!
One of the surprise delight scenes in this book was the board game group. It wasn’t a large section, but I adored it.
The editing felt a bit rougher to me in this one…but I honestly can’t tell if it was just me or not. Like, occasionally the tenses didn’t feel consistent and stuff. Take this with a grain of salt, I might just be too tired and stumbling over my own brain.
So yeah. Definitely still loving this series, this book just won’t be at the top for me.
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