Don't Hex with Texas

I really think this book would have worked out better if we got to focus more on Katie's family's background. We find out in this one that some of the people in Katie's family are immunes and some are able to use magic. I thought that was exciting. But once again it turns into a boring magical fight with Katie not staying out of the way that could have caused everyone to lose again. At this point if Katie doesn't learn some martial arts or something, I want her to say far and far away from fights.

And this is a criticism of the series as a whole. For short books (and they are short) the author needs to be more focused. This book had like 5 plots going on. A plot was Katie realizing that someone in her hometown was using magic to steal. show more Well she calls Sam at MSI, Inc. and the next thing you know Owen arrives. Of course there is angst. But then we have another plot of Katie's brother being an ass to Owen, Katie's family wanting her to be with Owen, Katie being scared to go back to New York since she knows that Owen cares about her and she's a liability, and oh there's someone providing classes to magical users, and there are bad wizards afoot trying to take out Owen. I don't know there was a lot going on that didn't make a lot of sense.

In this one we finally get bad guy #1 taken care of, but of course there's a bigger bad guy out there that we deal with in the next book. show less

Don't Hex with Texas probably would have gotten a 5 except the first three or four chapters felt forced to me. I don't know if the writing could have taken some revision or if that part of the story just didn't work well. The interest was there, it just seemed too odd somehow to fit with the rest of the book.

The first few pages of Don't Hex with Texas hooked my interest so I couldn't put the book down, despite the awkward feeling of the story I had in those pages and a couple chapters beyond. I was just too swept up in Katie Chandler's adventure to care much about that awkwardness; maybe I wouldn't have had that feeling If I had read the first three books in the series ahead of this.

Coming into the series in the 4th book could put the show more reader at a disadvantage, but I thought Don't Hex With Texas stands alone well. The characters are well developed, there's enough fantasy to the story to keep it interesting for me, and some romance is thrown in to the mix. In all, Don't Hex With Texas is a blend of madcap comedy and all-around fun that I can recommend to anyone 12 and up. show less

This is the fourth (and most likely last) book in Swendson’s Enchanted, Inc series. While Swendson has mentioned that she had originally planned it as a five-book series, the publisher apparently hasn’t bought the fifth book. Very sad, because I love this series – it’s definitely one of my favourites, and I’ve reread the previous books numerous times.

Don’t Hex with Texas takes place outside of New York, in a small town in (surprise, surprise) Texas. Katie’s returned home in hopes that if she is away from New York, her lovely boyfriend Owen Palmer won’t be distracted from vanquishing the evil Phelan Idris. However, things in Cobb, Texas aren’t as quiet as she had been expecting – it seems like Cobb, Texas has suddenly show more gotten a rogue wizard of it’s own, and it’s up to Katie to figure out what’s going on. She soon starts unveiling Idris’s plan to teach people who are magical, but have no magical training, all kinds of spells that can create all sorts of havoc. Of course, if Idris is behind this, then Katie needs help from her magical friends in New York, and soon Sam and Owen appear in Texas.

First thing I noticed when I got my hands on this book is that the cover was not quite the same as the rest of the books in the series. This may not seem like a lot to some people, but as a graphic designer, the fact that the colour of the title in this installment (a bright reddish-pink) is so different than the other books in this series (various shades of purple) really bothers me. It sticks out like a sore thumb, and it’s going to really annoy me when they’re sitting next to each other on my bookshelf, even if all I can see is the spine.

The story itself, though… I loved it. It definitely stood up to the standards set by the previous books in the series – not my favourite one (Once Upon Stilettos still manages to be that), but definitely wonderful. The only thing that bothered me with the actual story is that so much it seemed to be spent explaining who different people were, or different events that happened during the previous books.

I miss some of the characters from previous books that didn’t make it down to Texas for the book, but most of my favourites all managed to make an appearance – Owen, Merlin and Rod were all there, though I think we could’ve used some more time with Rod that we actually got. And I wish we had gotten to see Trix. There were so many great new characters in this book, though. It turns out that some of Katie’s family are magical, and others are immune to magic like she is (we found out about Katie’s mother previously, but one of her brothers is too).

And then Phelan Idris is obviously back, who is a wonderful bad guy. Insane in the most amusing sorts of ways. When first confronted with Owen and Katie, what does he do? Start whining and complaining about how hard it is to be a criminal mastermind. It definitely was one of the best parts of the book, and had me in a giggling fit. Only thing I wish we knew more about was the people that Idris is working for… I suppose that’s what would happen in the fifth book, if it gets published. Oh, one can only hope. show less

I read all four books in a row, which made me appreciate Swendson so much more! Katie is a realistic heroine, she has her doubts and weaknesses, and talents she is barely aware of. Her big crush on Owen is something any girl could imagine and the end of the book is, of course, very satisfying. I hope that Swendson is not going to tear them apart again in book 5.
The story itself was nice, Phelan Idris (an anagram of: "Is Philander") was almost scary (instead of the loveable anti-hero in the previous books) and I loved the addition of Granny.
I hope we'll get to read more about Katie's hometown as well. Will book 5 finally reveal Owen's past? I can't wait!

Another great book in this series. Ok, it was a bit obvious who the fledging wizard was but it really didn't matter in this story! Once more, great characters (even Katie's wacky family), I simply adored Sam! Now I have to wait for the fifth book to hit the cyber-bookshelf! *sighs*

Katie Chandler has left New York and returned to her family in Texas, said to be devoid of all things magical. However, when strange things start happening in her home town, Katie starts to suspect the forces of evil are up to something. This is the fourth book in the Enchanted Inc. series, and I hope it won't be the last.

One of the great things about this series is the relationship between Katie and Owen. There's a continued tension of will it/won't it that stems directly from the characters themselves, rather than some artificial outside influence or being dependent on any overly orchestrated love triangle. There's a sweetness to their friendship and a genuine affection that is built on more than lust or sex appeal.

I've thoroughly show more enjoyed this fun chick-lit series, unfortunately, sales on the third and fourth book were not high enough for the publishers to pursue publishing the next books in the series. Very disappointing, because I would love to see more of this storyline and see what happens as Katie and Owen's relationship begins to grow, not to mention all the rest of the assortment of lovable and bizarre characters throughout this world. show less

Opening Sentence: "... It had been months since I'd needed rescuing from anything - no dragons, hideous monsters from hell, evil wizards, not even a really bad blind date..."

Katie Chandler returns in this 4th instalment of her adventures. She has left New York and returned to her hometown of Cobb in Texas this is so she can no longer be held hostage by evil wizards to get the love of her life, Owen, to fall into line. She thinks she has left the world of magic behind her - but strange things start to happen and she realises that New York does not have the monopoly on magical events. She contacts her previous employer, Merlin, to let him know that there is some unauthorised magic going on. Trouble is it is Owen who turns up to show more investigate.

I really enjoyed the book, a blend of comedy, romance, suspense, magic and adventure - and I am disappointed to hear that although book 5 has been written the publisher may not print it. I do hope they reconsider. show less