TEXAS GOTHIC by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Okay, so I've been waiting a ridiculously long time to talk about this book. I know, I know, I could've moved it up, but I've committed to some things, and then there were release dates, and yada yada yada, the day is finally here!

TEXAS GOTHIC by Rosemary Clement-Moore: Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

Dude. There are many things to like about this book. Let's examine.

Exhibit A: The clever. I am a huge fan of clever, and TEXAS GOTHIC has it in spades. From clever writing, to clever dialogue, to clever characters.

The dialogue between Amy and Ben is spot-on. Heck, the dialogue is spot-on everywhere. The things Amy thinks are clever and witty--and perfectly true to the story.

Exhibit B: The characters. Amy pops right off the page, as does her sister. They're both well-developed for me, though one is entrenched in "witchcraft" and the other is trying to maintain her "normal" appearance.

Their profiles are well-drawn. They acted like sisters, without acting out-of-character. They complimented each other, while Amy was still able to shine in her protagonist role.

Exhibit C: The cowboy. Okay, so maybe I'm biased, but dude. The first book I ever wrote took place in Montana, simply so I could have the male MC be a cowboy. I'm ridiculously attracted to cowboys. Lame, I know.

Which gives TEXAS GOTHIC an advantage over most other books, because as soon as I read the word "cowboy hat" I was sold.

That said, Ben is a great character. Complex; someone who lost something in order to come back and do the cowboy thing. And did I mention his clever dialogue? Okay, I did.

Exhibit D: The magic. I love magic. I love thinking about magic. I love reading about magic. I wish I could do magic. And TEXAS GOTHIC has a special kind of magic that appeal to the magic-fiend in me.

So yeah. If you haven't read TEXAS GOTHIC, put it on your list. You won't be sorry.

Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week at the Reading Room.

Or on their blogs:

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• Christine Fonseca is transformed by Shifting
• Shannon Whitney Messenger takes a shine to So Silver Bright
• Scott Tracey is on board for Starship Academy
• Stasia Ward Kehoe takes a fancy to Fracture
• Shana Silver loves Lola and the Boy Next Door
• Beth Revis shouts about The Name of the Star
• Rosemary Clement Moore is distracted by Alien Invasion & Other Inconveniences
• Sarah Frances Hardy adores Birdie’s Big Girl Dress
• Carolina Valdez Miller goes gaga for Glow and Shifting – with giveaway