Texas Gothic

After a near-tragic ghost-hunting accident in her childhood, Amy Goodnight has kept her distance from the work of her supernaturally talented family ("My relationship with magic was like a president's kid's relationship with politics: I didn't participate, but I couldn't quite escape it"). Taking care of Aunt Hyacinth's Texas ranch while she's away should be easy, but then Ben McCulloch, the sexy neighbor cowboy, catches Amy in her underwear chasing one of his cows, and there's the matter of a legendary ghost hanging around McCulloch land, apparently knocking down fences and hitting people on the head. When Amy inadvertently makes a binding vow to take care of the ghost, she ends up being haunted and must embrace her heritage and abilities. Clement-Moore (The Splendor Falls) will keep readers pleasantly amused and interested with her mix of science and the supernatural, but the story doesn't take off until the romantic sparks start to fly. The characters are likable but thinly drawn, and the mystery feels predictable. So while Amy and crew draw their own comparisons to Nancy Drew, the story recalls a more grown-up Scooby-Doo as well. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. (July)