Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Resting Witch Face

Finally we get to hear the Juliana and Ruben back story and it does NOT disappoint! So glad they get their second- chance romance, with a side of magic- packed action, of course. 😉

Content Warnings

siad's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was so shocked that

Gabriel

was a bad guy! I'm really sad, I really liked him.

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redhairedashreads's review against another edition

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5.0

5 stars - I loved it!

“You’ve always been my queen, Juliana. You always will be.”

We finally have Jules and Ruben’s story! This book is probably the one everyone has been waiting for since Jules and Ruben were introduced in Wolf Gone Wild. They have a lot of history and sexual tension between them, but after twelve years apart, Ruben decides he’s done waiting.

Ruben is the most powerful vampire in New Orleans and is a successful businessman. He has spent twelve years securing his place in the city and waiting for his second chance with Jules. I liked that Ruben respected Jules’ wishes and left her alone to deal with her issues and secure her place as Enforcer. Ruben was a character that I have liked from the beginning of this series and this book just made me love him even more. He was respectful of Jules and her abilities but never backed down from his pursuit of her. He didn’t let her fear keep them apart anymore, which is just what they both needed. Also, I was very surprised by how romantic Ruben was.

“Since the day I realized you were my whole heart, I’ve never stopped loving you. Not for one painfully paralyzing minute.”

Jules has been the pillar of the Savoie family throughout this series. She is the one everyone can rely on. I have liked her from the very beginning and I fell ever more in love with her in this book. She has kept everyone at a distance since becoming Enforcer but with Ruben she finally learns to relax. I loved seeing her open up to Ruben and work through their past issues, and present issues. I also appreciated that while she was nervous about Ruben pursuing her again, she also wanted it to happen. I can enjoy a romance with some push but I also love when a MC just opens up to it and works through their fears to find happiness.

“I wanted a partner. An equal. I wanted my soulmate. My deep, true love. And I wanted him at my side, always, from this day forward.”

This book was also interesting because we get to travel around the world meeting different Covens. This leads Ruben and Jules into a very dangerous situation with a vampire leader and some black magic. I really liked the fact that the drama that was happening didn’t get in the way of Ruben and Jules’ relationship building. Also, I loved how this wrapped up for Jules and Ruben and hope we see a wedding scene in the future. I can’t wait for the next book now!

Trigger Warnings; torture mentioned, kidnapping, blood, violence, misogyne from older vampires, prejudice against werewolves. One Harry Potter reference.

Content Warnings

nikkisbooknook's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

At long last we get the lowdown on just what exactly went down between Jules and Ruben!

Jules and Ruben have been circling each other in the last few books. There were hints that they were ex-lovers but no one seems to have the full story. Now their past is revealed, warts and all. They loved hard, fast, and passionate but Jules was recently promoted and faced critique from all quarters. Ruben didn't comprehend just how much scrutiny she was under and that she was also worried about losing herself in him.

Fast forward 12 years and Jules has been established as New Orleans Siphon and she now knows her worth. When she and Ruben are matched up at her sisters wedding, he finally makes his move.
No more waiting for Jules to come to him. He's staking his claim!

Ruben has been hiding a whole heck of a lot of pain. He projects the suave, in-charge Vampire Overlard Persona and everyone forgets he's still a man with feelings. He truly did not see that his behaviour was causing Jules so much stress but with time and separation he's realised how much damage he could have caused. Similarly, Jules realises that her self-doubt in her abilities did not help the situation.

Their road trip dealing with the addition of Werewolves to the Supernatural Councils was just what they needed to get them away from their responsibilities and chill.

Machiavellian plots, supernatural skullduggery, treasonous friends and some super seriously creepy settings make for an intrigue-filled plot. The chemistry is off the charts hot and Ruben is surely a man who knows his way around a woman's body!

Forced proximity, angst, second chance romance with fated mates. Dual POV.

Content Warnings

thereadinghammock's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The moment we've all been waiting for!! #RULES is here!! After 4 books of pining for us, and 12 long years of pining after each other Jules and Ruben are finally giving it another go! This might be my first real second-chance romance, and seeing the simmering tension between these two was excellent. I had joked while reading APSH when the travel plans for Jules & Ruben were mentioned, " Road trip, forced proximity, only one bed PLEASE" and all those things were delivered on AND MORE!!

I love JC's dual POV for the SAS books. For RWF it felt so, so, so critical to keeping the evolution of Jules and Ruben's dynamic balanced. The flashbacks gave us so much context to what happened between them all those years ago and shows just how far both of them have come in their own character development. His fervor to keep her safe, but also his heartbreaking need to win her back. To show her how much he'd changed since their first blaze of a relationship when Jules first took over the NOLA leadership. And Jules inner turmoil and crushing sense of responsibility as the oldest daughter, youngest witch to lead a coven in NOLA history, AND being a woman in a leadership position was so relatable. Like, girl same. Seeing Jules open up those wards to let Ruben in was so satisfying as a reader, because we had the context for why those decisions were so hard for her.

Content Warnings

ladysadiereads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was everything I wanted and more for Jules and Ruben.

TL/DR Review
Stars: Five Sparkling Brilliant Stars
Series: Stay a Spell book 5 - really should be read in order
POV: dual first
Steam: high - stars with a bang, deeply intimate, biting for all the best reasons, lots of walls and desks involved…
Tropes: fated mates, second change, us against the world, always only you, competence kink, pining (Ala Gatsby for Daisy but less annoying)
For Fans Of: Juliette Cross - honestly shows her darker side and also the best of Stay a Spell
Theme Song: The Mummer’s Dance by Loreena McKnight
Subgenre: paranormal
CW/ TW: bloodshed on the page, paranormal violence, misogyny

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