The School of Essential Ingredients – Erica Bauermeister

First of all, how gorgeous is this cover? I could picture myself reading on the bench while smelling the aromas seeping from the restaurant! In Erica Bauermeister’s debut novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, we meet a cast of characters enrolled in cooking class. Each student comes to class for various reasons, but walks away [...]

Mr. Cheeters is Missing – Stefan Petrucha

Mini-Review: When Blanche Porter’s pet, Mr. Cheeters, goes missing, she seeks the help of Nancy Drew and her friends. Oh, by the way, Mr. Cheeters is a chimpanzee wearing a diamond necklace. Despite the town thinking Ms. Porter is an oddball, Nancy is taken with the love she has for her pet and agrees to [...]

The Fake Heir – Stefan Petrucha

Mini-Review: A missing safe full of jewels has just been found. When the heir of the fortune isn’t able to claim the jewels, his wife seeks Carson Drew’s help with gaining access to her husband’s family fortune. But something doesn’t seem right to Nancy. Where is Mr. Druthers? And what secret is Mrs. Druthers hiding? [...]

The Girl Who Wasn’t There – Stefan Petrucha

Mini-Review: Nancy Drew needs help with her computer. During a call to customer service, she meets Kalpana, the CS representative. Long after Nancy’s computer is fixed, she remains in contact with Kalpana, who resides in India. One night Nancy receives a distressing call from Kalpana who believes someone is in her house to kidnap her. [...]

Heartless – Sara Shepard

The four Pretty Little Liars are back for the seventh book of the series, Heartless. Aria, Hannah, Emily and Spencer swear they saw Ali alive when the woods caught fire. But the rest of the town, including the police, are getting tired of these girls and their accounts of what happened to Ali. [Minor spoilers [...]

I’m So Happy for You – Lucinda Rosenfeld

Wendy and Daphne have been friends since college. At first glance, it appears they are best friends. After spending a few minutes with them, one begins to wonder if they secretly despise each other. Wendy functions better when Daphne is needy, helpless and a complete mess. She comes across as the caring “I would do [...]

The Haunted Dollhouse – Stefan Petrucha

Mini-Review: It’s nostalgia week in River Heights. The residents have given up modern technology and fashion to return to the simple life of the 1930s. Nancy and her friends, Bess and George are going to the antique auction celebrating the Stratemeyer Foundation. Emma Blavatsky donates a dollhouse that’s rumored to be haunted. Not believing it [...]

The Secret of the Old Clock – Carolyn Keene

Mini-Review: A few weeks ago, I began reading graphic novels and decided to read Nancy Drew. After finishing the second book in the series, I found myself thinking about the original Nancy Drew. As a young girl, I loved reading about Nancy’s adventures and was fascinated with her detective skills. So once again I found [...]

The Professors’ Wives’ Club – Joanne Rendell

My summary: In Joanne Rendell’s debut novel, The Professors’ Wives’ Club, she explores the relationships between four distinct women and the garden that bonds them. My thoughts: The Professors’ Wives’ Club takes place on the fictitious campus of Manhattan University. The reader is introduced to four women, in different stages of their lives, who meet [...]

Not My Daughter – Barbara Delinsky

Teenage pregnancy has always been a controversial issue. What happens when three girls, with bright futures, form a pact and intentionally become pregnant? Who’s to blame? Most importantly, what is the driving force for making such a pact? In Barbara Delinsky’s latest novel, Not My Daughter, we meet Lily and her friends, Jessica and Mary [...]