Don't Hex With Texas by Shanna Swendson

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: April 2008

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.shannaswendson.com

GoodReads Synopsis: Everything’s bigger in Texas–including romance, magic, and danger!Katie Chandler has fled fast-paced Manhattan and returned home to a simpler life, working at her family’s feed-and-seed store in Cobb, Texas. In a painfully selfless gesture, Katie had left the sexy wizard Owen Palmer to battle his demons in the magical realm–after all, Katie just seemed to attract evil, which only made Owen’s job a lot harder. But now it seems that trouble has followed her home: Despite the fact that Merlin, Katie’s old boss at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has assured her that Cobb is free of enchantmen, (magically speaking), Katie begins to notice curious phenomena. Cobb is being plagued by a series of inexplicable petty crimes and other devilish mischief, and after her experiences in Manhattan, Katie knows “unauthorized magic” when she sees it. As this new darkness strikes deep in the heart of Texas, Owen appears (literally) to investigate. Now Katie’s friends and family must show the bad guys why it’s bad luck to hex with Texas, while Katie and Owen combine their strengths like never before to uncover a sinister plot before evil takes root in the Lone Star State.

Kathy’s Review: I was browsing through my to-read list when I realized I hadn’t read this last installment in the Enchanted, Inc. series. Luckily my library had a copy and I was able to finish the series. For some reason this last installment lost a lot of its charm, overall I was kind of bored with the story. Not a lot happened with the plot or with the relationship between Katie and Owen. Katie seemed a little less “sharp” and Owen was kind of boring. There were no sparks between them and I finished the book feeling like they were more like friends than a couple. I thought the story ended okay, I’ve heard rumor there is supposed to be a fifth book, but I don’t really think it’s necessary. I’d read the next one if the story picked up, Owen stopped blushing and a real relationship grew between Katie and Owen. I think in the right hands, the books would make a cute movie though. If you’ve read the other books then you will probably enjoy this one as well.

Bookworm Rating: 2

Reading Order:
Book One: Enchanted, Inc.
Book Two: Once Upon Stilettos
Book Three: Damsel Under Stress
Book Four: Don’t Hex With Texas

Damsel Under Stress by Shanna Swendson

Genre: Fiction

Publication Date: May 2007

Author Website: http://www.shannaswendson.com/

One Word Review: Good

First Line: “The last thing I expected to see when I stepped through the door of the coffee shop was a fairy godmother."

Synopsis: At last, Owen Palmer, the dreamboat wizard at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has conjured up the courage to get Katie Chandler under the mistletoe at the office holiday party. But just when it looks like Katie has found her prince, in pops her inept fairy godmother, Ethelinda, to throw a wand into the works. Ethelinda’s timing couldn’t be worse. A plot hatched by MSI’s rogue ex-employees, Idris and his evil fairy gal pal Ari, threatens to expose the company’s secrets–and the very existence of magic itself. Even worse, it could also mean the end of Katie’s happily-ever-after. Now Katie and Owen must work side by side (but alas, not cheek to cheek) to thwart the villains’ plans. Braving black-magic-wielding sorceresses, subway-dwelling dragons, lovelorn frog princes, and even the dreaded trip to meet Owen’s parents at Christmas, Katie and her beau are in a battle to beat Idris at his own sinister game. All mischief and matters of the heart will come to a head at a big New Year’s Eve gala, when the crystal ball will drop, champagne will pour, and Katie will find herself truly spellbound.GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. I’m still enjoying the series and the book totally ended where I want to run out and grab the next installment. This story had the same feel as the first two books and kept me turning the pages. It had a few twists along the way and even introduced a few new characters that I really liked. There are a few inconsistencies with magic that don’t make sense, and I kind of have to turn off my analytical brain and just enjoy the story (can’t really give any example without giving away spoilers).

I was really frustrated with the relationship of Owen and Katie (which was probably the authors intent). In this installment they are *finally* and item, but you’d hardly tell by the way they act with one another. There disastrous dates make for interesting reading, but did get a little old after awhile. I suppose it’s a good set up for the next book, but I still would have liked a little more romance in their romance. Owen comes across cold and disinterested most of the time, and Katie is always rationalizing his behavior. They just don’t act like a new couple in love, even though they claim to be. And their conversations and dialog really left me wanting for more. I suppose all the mayhem around them could have something to do with that.

They still have enough chemistry to keep me interested and the story is still a lot of fun. I really enjoy the series, its a fun break from reality.

Reading Order:
Book One: Enchanted, Inc.
Book Two: Once Upon Stilettos
Book Three: Damsel Under Stress
Book Four: Don’t Hex with Texas

Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson

Genre: Fiction

Publication Date: April 2006

Author Website: www.shannaswendson.com

One Word Review: Charming

First Line: “It all began with the red shoes.”

Synopsis: Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) and taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole. Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.-GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: This is the sequel to Enchanted, Inc. I enjoyed this installment as much as the first. Although the storylines were different, they felt really similar (in a good way). We pick up right where book one ends and Katie has once again found herself in the middle of trouble. I liked both Owen and Katie a lot more in this one, maybe since all the groundwork had already been done I was able to sit back and enjoy their story. Owen still blushes like crazy (not as annoying this time around), but he’s also more confident and I just liked him better. The story was a fun mix of reality and fantasy. There is a tiny bit of swearing and a little talk of sex, but overall a really clean read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

Reading Order:

Book One: Enchanted, Inc.

Book Two: Once Upon Stilettos

Book Three: Damsel Under Stress

Book Four: Don’t Hex with Texas

Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson

Genre: Fiction

Publication Date: May 2005

Author Website: www.shannaswendson.com

One Word Review: Original

First Line: “I’d always heard that New York City was weird, but I had no idea just how weird until I got here.”

Synopsis: Everywhere Katie goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she’s a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn’t help. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie’s ordinariness is an asset. Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor’s contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed. She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after. -GoodReads

Kathy’s Review: I guess I read so many YA books that it took me a little while to get use to grown-up wizards and characters. Katie was a likable enough character. She is smart, assertive, and creative. I didn’t like that within two days she was getting promoted, placed in charge of huge projects (since she really has no experience with magic) and pretty much running the show. I guess I would have liked to see a little transition time from normal person to wizard assistant. I thought the solution to their “big problem” was unexpected and kind of creative.

It took me awhile to warm up to Owen. I think Swendson was trying to pull a Clark Kent by making Owen very shy in some situations and tough in others. I just got a little tired of all the blushing going on. I guess I like a little more confidence and brooding from my leading men. Anyway, the romance aspect left me wanting more, so I guess I’ll have to go pick up Once Upon Stilettos to see what happens next.

Reading Order:
Book One: Enchanted, Inc.
Book Two: Once Upon Stilettos
Book Three: Damsel Under Stress
Book Four: Don’t Hex with Texas

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate.

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
5. Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to the TBR lists if they like your teaser.
6. After completing your post, return to Should Be Reading and add a link in their “comment” section.

Enchanted, Inc.
By Shanna Swendson
Page 57

“A shiver went down my spine as I remembered that the vendors had been different. Did that mean it was a magic market?”