The Secret of the Old Clock

This book is the 1st in a series about a young girl named Nancy Drew.

I used to read these books when I was a kid. My dad and I would go to the bookstore, or to Woolworth (a 5&10 store) to get a ice cream soda and look at the books. Each time I would get a Nancy Drew book. I would try to get them in order too. Sadly my mom threw out my books and I can't pass them down to my kids. But this year my son Matthew got me the 1st six books in the series for Christmas. What a wonderful surprise!

I finished The Secret of the Old Clock and this is what I thought of it.

Nancy Drew never let me down. It was nice to see that Nancy still had ingenuity when she was solving a mystery. Who would of thought that a young girl of 18 would find herself being a sleuth. It is a little strange that a 18 yr old would act so maturely. And that she in this case, would be so kind and happy for people that she helped. I think that's what attracted me to these stories. Plus they are mysteries too. LOL!

Who was the center of this mystery? Josiah Crowley, He was the man that befriended some nice people who really cared about him. And wanted to leave his estate to them. To the dismay of his family and friends, his estate was left to family members that weren't too kind. Was there another will?

What was so special about The Old Clock? The clock held a 2nd will that was a later version of Josiah Crowley's orginal will and testament. Actually the clock held a notebook where the will was at.

The outcome? The outcome was a good one as usual. After finding the 2nd will, Carson Drew, Nancy's lawyer father helped out the bank who was Josiah's executor. Getting all family and friends together to read out the will, and making some nice people happy. They all than could make ends meet. And making some of Josiah's family namely The Topham's not so happy. Nancy found out that they took Josiah in when he was alive just to get what was in his will. And hide that there possibly might be a 2nd will. They also held possession of the old clock too. Mysteries solved!

What I never thought about Nancy Drew books when I was young is the chapter content. Each chapter has a name to it.

Also at the end of the story Nancy takes something with her from the case. This story she received the clock. And there is a little peek of what the next book is called. Hmm now I know why I kept going back to read about her. I'm ? years older now and enjoyed reading Nancy Drew again

I give this book 5 

Amazon says: customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 8% buy Nancy Drew Boxed Set 1-6 (Nancy Drew) by Carolyn G. Keene

5% buy The Hidden Staircase (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, No 2) by Carolyn G. Keene

5% buy Clue in the Diary #7 (Nancy Drew (Hardcover)) by Carolyn Keene

3% buy The SLUMBER PARTY SECRET (NANCY DREW NOTEBOOK 1) : THE SLUMBER PARTY SECRET by Carolyn Keene


This is not a bookcrossing book of any kind. It will stay with me as my Permanent Collection.

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Four to Score

This series is one of my favorites. I loved Stephanie Plum the first time I read about her in Visions of SugarPlums. So I thought I would review one Stephanie Plum book at least.

Stephanie never really wanted to be a bounty hunter. It just so happens that her cousin Vinnie, owned a bail bound place and was looking for some help. Well Stephanie needed a job and he had one, so she gave it a whirl.

Her love interst, Joe Morelli, WoHo! boy do sparks fly when they are together. She might bumble around some but Stephanie always gets her guy. Or girl too in the case of Four to Score.

Did I notice anything different in this book?: Well yes in a way. Stephanie seems to be growing up. What do I mean? In the begining she was a mess at this bounty hunting stuff. Even with her guy Joe trying to help her. LOL! there was always light hearted laughter through out the story. but now it's straight to the point, for real bounty hunter Stephanie.

Is the outcome effected in any way? Stephanie is not as funny with her bounty hunting as she used to be. She is serious about her job now. So book really doesn't start getting funny til around the middle. But it does keep your interst. There's always that hint of tension between her and Joe. That really throws her off. LOL!

New characters that I like: Grandma Mazur
Stephanie's dad,
Lula . And I can't forget Ranger

Why do I like these characters? Grandma Mazur is a hoot. In the story Grandma went on a surveillance trip with Stephanie and crew. She spotted the person that they were watching for and Grandma jumped on the poker table (at the casinos in New Jersey), ran after the person and while outside talking with the rest of the crew some hoodlums came up behind them and Grandma turned around with her gun that she wasn't allowed to have ;),
Stephanie's dad is getting more vocal. Especially when it comes to Sally,Stephanie's new friend. Sally is a Drag Queen and dad is old school. He doesn't like the idea of Sally doing what she does. So in explaining he says some wierd things. And who couldn't like Lula. Lula is an ex hooker that Stephanie helped out in the first book. And now she works in the office of the bail bond place.
And I can't forget about Ranger. Eye candy for Stephanie? A nice guy who does things his own way, very mysterious bounty hunter that helps out Stephanie too.

Other characters that are alright: Stephanie's mom
Old school, Jeresy mom. Always has a good meal waiting
Joe Morelli
A cop that knows Stephanie since grade school. Not bad to look at but is/will be Stephanie's main squeeze. And also helps out Stephanie in ways she doesn't even know. LOL!

I do recommend this series. What fun, books I call my comfy books :D



I give Four to Score 5 

Amazon says
What do customers ultimately buy after viewing their item?
7% buy Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
5% buy One for the Money (A Stephanie Plum Novel) by Janet Evanovich
5% buy Three To Get Deadly (A Stephanie Plum Novel) by Janet Evanovich
3% buy Eleven on Top (A Stephanie Plum Novel) by Janet Evanovich

This is a bookcrossing book and I don't know where the next adventure for it will be. But hope whoever gets it will love it as much as me :)

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Mistletoe Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

What can I say about Mistletoe Murder? I can say I really enjoyed the story. I think it is a great cozy mystery. No blood,no gore and the heroine didn't have to shoot anybody
There is a review that Jill Churchill wrote "Leslie Meier has created a town I'd like to live in and a sleuth I'd love to meet". And I agree. I would love to visit Tinker's Cove, Maine where there is a little town with a homemade sleuth with a big heart named Lucy Stone. When reading this book I felt that this was a truly Christmas town as everyone got ready for the holiday. People worked, family came for visits, kids went to school and looking forward to Santa coming, dinner to cook. And not to forget someone is murdered ;)


Any favorite characters? Not really. I liked a lot of them. Lucy Stone, her husband Bill who even though seemed to keep an eye on her, did support her in her sleuthing. Sue, Lucy's best friend,no sleuth can go without a best friend. Barney Culpepper, the town police who also was a friend of Lucy's and did activities with for their kids.
These are some of the characters of mine.


Anything unique about the book? Yes there is one thing that stood out in the book. Since Lucy worked at a mail order place, at the begining of each chapter there is a description of something in the catolog. And that something usually had something to do with the chapter, a symbolism.

There was a item of a compass that no hiker should go without. And the symbolism was of the Cub Scouts who needed to do something before the holiday break. Lucy took them on a little hike.
I thought this a little ironic since I'm involved with Scouts. And only know too well how important it is to find something for the boys to do.



Any last thoughts? Even though this book seems to be short and not much to it, there is a twist to it. You have to read to find out



I'm giving Mistletoe Murder 4 

Amazon says Customers who bought this item also bought Christmas Cookie Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Turkey Day Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Trick Or Treat Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Birthday Party Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Valentine Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier



Yes this is a bookcrossing book and I don't know where it is going yet. But it is part of a Christmas Swap Exchange. Whoever wins the book I hope will enjoy :)

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Hallowed Murder

Author: Ellen Hart
Main character: Jane Lawless
1st book in the series introducing Jane to us.


What caught my eye about Hallowed Murder? The cover of the book,which is colorful with a bowl of strawberries on a table with a rose. Second, I read the synopsis. Hmm... I said intresting. A light mystery, a cozy mystery. And what is a cozy mystery? an example is said to be: The detectives in cozies typically use brains and not brawn to get to the bottom of a crime. Last, was the topper. Jane Lawless is written as a gay sleuth. I have read "cozies" before but not with the emphasis on someone being gay and a restaurant owner. Of course the book that started Jane Lawless' life.


Favorite characters: Well that would have to be Jane Lawless, of course. Cordelia Thorn, an old friend of Jane's. And Maggie Christopherson, House manager of KAS, friend of Allison Lord


Why would I pick these characters as favorites? I picked Jane well because she is a nice person, would do anything to help people out, and to sum it up she brings friendship,intimacy and a sense of humor to the people she knows and meets plus she is the main character :) ,Cordelia is funny,she is a friend that Jane could count on, even if she had a lot to say it was always said with Jane's intrest in mind. And than Maggie, I liked her because she was (tried) to be a friend to all in their sorority. Plus I think Maggie needed to have a friend that she could confide in on sorority issues. So it was good that she befriended Jane who is a sorority alumni advisor.


What I thought about the story? Trying not to give to much a way because you got to read this good story. I thought the story unique in a way about a girl Allison Lord who was in a sorority that was trying to find her way of who she was. But than her life got cut short. Than to find out that her friends were trying to find their way around their lives. It is different to read something else about gay issues other than military,law enforcement etc.. the story has a human side to this.

I found that the usual stuff is said about being gay. And Jane trying her hardest to show that there is more important things to do, like finding the killer, than terrorizing others, including her, about being gay.

There are a couple of characters I don't know why was brought in to the story. And they are Edwin Lord and Beth McGrawEdwin is Allison's brother the only thing that he did was come to the memorial and to talk to Jane Lawless. After that pretty much you didn't hear much about him.
Beth is another one, she was there to tell the story about her sister Jamie and the state of mind that Jamie was in on Thanksgiving Day.
Again don't want to say too much than would give the best parts up. But they might be suspects?


A very intresting reason why this book is called Hallowed Murder.

Hallowed meaning..

(American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source) hal·low (hl) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. hal·lowed, hal·low·ing, hal·lows
To make or set apart as holy.
To respect or honor greatly; revere.

In the story says: I have spoken your message to the heathen,oh Lord,your righteous, your hallowed servant!





I give Hallowed Murder a rating of  5

: because it is a 1st in series and a very good story.
Amazon says: What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? The Dartmouth Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library) by Eric Francis, and Stage Fright (A Jane Lawless Mystery) by Ellen Hart


This is a bookcrossing book and now will travel to New Hampshire. Another place where Jane Lawless can visit :)

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The Photograph

Author: Penelope LivelyDo I have a favorite character? Yes I do. I like the main character Kath. Sadly when Kath was talked about she had died. I felt that she didn't get much of a chance. She wasn't heard or seen by her older sister. Even her husband I wonder why he ever married her. The one person that seemed to have an intrest in her was just fasinated by her, in my option. But she did have a good friend Mary Packard. Kath was able to go to her and be herself, her one true friend. There were things going on with her that these people in her life could of appreciated and enrich their lives.


My thoughts on The Photograph: I thought the story was an intresting one. It was the only reason why I kept going on to read it. My true feelings were even though it was a short book, it was a very long story. The author took sections and explained how each character was and was with Kath. Sometimes it's better to say a tree is a tree. And forget about adjectives. Get right to the point. Instead this story just drug it's feet. Glyn, Kath's husband found this photo which said distroy on the envelope. But he decided to find out what the photo was all about. I would too until I seen where it was leading me. He found something that he didn't want to see. After getting the jest of who is wife was. He continued on the trail. Only to find out it's better to leave things the way they are. Can't change the past. He was too late. Instead he upset a lot of people. Hence where it was so boring to hear about each person that was in Kath's life. The moral of the story. Kath had touched everyone's life in a way. And if everyone took the time to get to know her. Her life might of meant something to her
Leave well enough alone!
It wasn't til the end of the book where I started to understand Kath. How she seemed to be a wonderful person. There was more to her than being flaky like a lot of people thought. It took all that time and people to read through to find out that a true friend (Mary Packard) was the one that believed in her.




I give this book a rating of: 3 

just because I like the story.



Amazon says: people that bought The Photograh, bought Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
The Wife: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer
Crow Lake (Today Show Book Club #7) by Mary Lawson
The Birth of Venus: A Novel by Sarah Dunant


This book is a bookcrossing book and it will be going to ME in the States where someone else can enjoy!

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