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A review by reader44ever
Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson
5.0
4.5 stars - great!
I am so happy that, after the disappointment I felt upon finishing book three in this series, this book four was once again a wonderful read! It was not quite as wonderful as book two was, though (something is holding it back), so it's 4.5-stars-great. :-)
I don't know what that "something" is that's keeping this from being a full five-star read, but I do know that even though I'm once again feeling the love for Katie, et.al., it feels conditional and probationary. So...I need to read book five!!! :-)
I did feel "all the feels" while reading this story. I laughed and cried; worried and rejoiced. :-)
I may have chuckled aloud in several places, but the most memorable LOL "incident" happened on page 74 (Chapter Six), after Owen has arrived at the Chandlers' store, met various Chandler family members, and been talked into staying with the Chandlers by Katie's mother and "Mom" talked Katie into riding home in Owen's rental car (another family member will deal with her truck). "Owen didn't need any encouraging to get out of the store. As we settled into his rental car, he said, 'I see you moved to New York for the peace and quiet.' " I just had to laugh - with Katie! - at this, as I can so imagine him saying it in a rather dry tone of voice. ;-)
The tears hit me in the end, on page 289 (in the final, 22nd, chapter), when Katie arrives at the store andtalks with her father about Owen, his departure to New York, and how Katie should probably go back to New York to be with the "good man [she's] got." "Dad" gives her back pay for her work at the store and tells her to "buy yourself a plane ticket and go back tomorrow, if you want." Katie "gulped and blinked away tears," and I had to blink away tears with her. This was such a sweet moment! I really loved it. :-)
I worried during the final battle(Merlin was keeping a close eye on Owen's behavior toward/around Katie; it was a tense chain of events) and also during nearly every moment when Katie and Owen were alone together. It was hard for Katie to tell how Owen felt, and it was hard for me to know, too. Did he forgive her for running away to Texas? Did he understand? Did he still have feelings for her? I (and Katie) really hoped so, but even during that first passionate kiss to call the nature spirits, I had doubts. Was that kiss just work?! or was there more to it?
I rejoiced when it turned out there was more to it. :-) The ending was ever-so-satisfying for me to read. It could even have been a series-ending ending, but to my everlasting joy and happiness, it's not. ;-)
In the end, Katieflies to LaGuardia, where she is met by Rocky and Rollo (my favorite zany gargoyles! yay!). After collecting her luggage, they head to the car, where Owen is waiting. (!!!) He is holding the other of the pair of Katie's red shoes (which she lost during the excitement at the end of book two or three) and says, "Maybe you could help me with something. I'm looking for the lady who fits this shoe." :-)
Katie plays it cool at first, but then they're in each other's arms, kissing like it had been months, instead of only a day, since they'd last been together. "In a way, I suppose we had been apart for months, our recent adventures aside."
And then they get in the car and, with Rocky and Rollo doing the driving, Katie "held on for the wild ride [she] knew was ahead of [her] in the crazy life [she'd] chosen." [fin] *sigh*
I was so, so, sooo happy with this ending. And I've decided that I do need to buy this series. My plan to buy had been cast in serious doubt after I finished the disappointing-for-me third book. I might have to reevaluate that third book after I own the series and reread it. ;-)
I am so happy that, after the disappointment I felt upon finishing book three in this series, this book four was once again a wonderful read! It was not quite as wonderful as book two was, though (something is holding it back), so it's 4.5-stars-great. :-)
I don't know what that "something" is that's keeping this from being a full five-star read, but I do know that even though I'm once again feeling the love for Katie, et.al., it feels conditional and probationary. So...I need to read book five!!! :-)
I did feel "all the feels" while reading this story. I laughed and cried; worried and rejoiced. :-)
I may have chuckled aloud in several places, but the most memorable LOL "incident" happened on page 74 (Chapter Six), after Owen has arrived at the Chandlers' store, met various Chandler family members, and been talked into staying with the Chandlers by Katie's mother and "Mom" talked Katie into riding home in Owen's rental car (another family member will deal with her truck). "Owen didn't need any encouraging to get out of the store. As we settled into his rental car, he said, 'I see you moved to New York for the peace and quiet.' " I just had to laugh - with Katie! - at this, as I can so imagine him saying it in a rather dry tone of voice. ;-)
The tears hit me in the end, on page 289 (in the final, 22nd, chapter), when Katie arrives at the store and
I worried during the final battle
I rejoiced when it turned out there was more to it. :-) The ending was ever-so-satisfying for me to read. It could even have been a series-ending ending, but to my everlasting joy and happiness, it's not. ;-)
In the end, Katie
Katie plays it cool at first, but then they're in each other's arms, kissing like it had been months, instead of only a day, since they'd last been together. "In a way, I suppose we had been apart for months, our recent adventures aside."
And then they get in the car and, with Rocky and Rollo doing the driving, Katie "held on for the wild ride [she] knew was ahead of [her] in the crazy life [she'd] chosen."
I was so, so, sooo happy with this ending. And I've decided that I do need to buy this series. My plan to buy had been cast in serious doubt after I finished the disappointing-for-me third book. I might have to reevaluate that third book after I own the series and reread it. ;-)