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My Review:Title: Resting Witch Face
Author: Juliette Cross
Series: Stay a Spell #5
Published by: Indie
Release Date: October 31, 2022
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 365
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 2
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N
My rating:
Blurb:Twelve years ago, Jules Savoie ended her relationship with the vampire overlord of New Orleans, Ruben Dubois. For good reasons. A woman in power must often make sacrifices to protect others. She knows the truth of it down to her aching heart.
When Ruben watches his best friend Devraj get married, a stinging realization hits him hard…he’s done waiting. They say time heals all wounds. In this case, it merely sharpened the pain and made one fact crystal clear. Jules Savoie is his soulmate, and nothing would keep him from her. Not anymore.
Forced to work side by side to fight for the werewolf cause, they campaign together at covens from New Orleans to London. The reignited spark burns hotter than ever before. But when a power-hungry vampire sets his predatory sights on Jules, will their love be strong enough against black magic? Or will he lose her again? And this time, maybe…for good.
3.5 stars — I definitely enjoyed this one and the world and the background plot with the vampires and stuff…but I was up and down on my feelings about Ruben and Jules.
I will admit that I probably was in the minority of not being overly excited for their story. I know there was definite build up of their past romance and the push and pull between them…but everyone gravitates to different things, and it’s Clara and Henry that have had me salivating more than anything. So something to consider when reading this review.
Jules was more fun than I was expecting. Obviously not all the time, but it was nice to see her have moments where she could let go and enjoy herself, and allow herself to be cared for. I absolutely loved her passion for her job as Guild Coven leader, and how seriously she took her position. I felt for the position she was put in 12 years ago, and the decisions she had to make. I LOVED seeing her absolutely embrace the Werewolf cause, and go after change with vigor and abandon. And even though I had issues from Ruben’s side, I felt like she held her own.
Ruben…was a mixed bag. Mostly he’s just not really my kind of hero. I will say that I connected more with him in the second half, once things had shifted and it was more about the outside plot. I could see his caring side, and I especially loved seeing him with his parents.
BUT. But. He was a possessive jerk in certain sections of this book. I was HIGHLY unimpressed with how he judged Jules after they broke up, and honestly who he was 12 years ago. I get that there was a whole true mates thing happening there that added to his opinions, but it felt toxic as hell. And I’m not sure he really redeemed himself. I kind of let it go more than he got in my good graces I guess. Which is a bummer. I did see that he had changed and grown from 12 years ago, but I think that’s why the whole judging Jules thing really made me mad.
I wonder if that tainted my love for them together a bit? I can honestly say that I was meh on their steamy scenes together. It just didn’t capture me, it was missing something. But once they were together together I did enjoy their bantering and teasing (though I could do with less tickling mostly because I have a personal aversion *snort*), and I did feel their love in the end.
As always I loved the world, the mystery, the suspense, all of that. And I still absolutely ADORE the family (both literal and made) in these books. They’re what keep me coming back for more.
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