Book Review: Assault and Buttercream (Lexy Baker, #16) by Leighann Dobbs

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Assault and Buttercream (Lexy Baker, #16) by Leighann Dobbs opens with Lexy Baker thrilled to have been selected to cater the annual Brooke Ridge Falls Dog Show. Unfortunately, her excitement is short-lived. When Lexy brings her dog Sprinkles to the Doggy Diva Pet Salon for grooming, she discovers one of the employees dead behind the counter. As if that weren’t enough, a robbery has occurred at Farradays Jewelers down the street, a dog has been kidnapped from the retirement center, and someone is even stealing K-cups from the senior center. Alongside her grandmother and their group of senior-citizen amateur sleuths, Lexy soon finds herself pulled in multiple directions as she attempts to untangle all these mysteries. This installment of the Lexy Baker series was more engaging for me than some of the earlier books. Most of the characters were very likable, and while there isn’t a great deal of character development, that didn’t bother me. I was in the mood for a fun, easy read, and As...
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Book Review: The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1) by Carolyn Keene

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The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene is a book series that my mom introduced to me in middle school. I remember falling in love with it immediately, so as part of my quest to read my way through my childhood, I had to reread it again. Of course, I started with the first book in the series, The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1). There were a few things that ran through my mind reading it as an adult that I know I didn't think of as a child. 

Most importantly, this book was originally published in May 1930, and I didn't give it a second thought that cars were still relatively new in the United States and that it was highly unlikely that an eighteen year old would have their own car let alone a convertible. What surprised me the most is that at least the first book had been rewritten since its original publication date. So, I have purchased a copy of what is supposed to be the original story through ThriftBooks.com. I am hopeful that it really is the original story, and I can't wait to compare the two versions.

Other things that I didn't really think much of when I originally read this story as a kid is that Nancy's dad, Carson Drew, is an attorney, and he obviously is a very good lawyer because he has a live in housekeeper that also has served as a nanny of sorts for Nancy. That isn't a common thing for people who are middle class. Then, there is the clothing stores where customers actually have a seat and wait for a sales clerk to wait on you. Wow, times sure have changed since then! And, the writing in The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1) is very mature. I think kids today would be shocked at some of the words that are used because they aren't commonly used words today . . . words like shan't.  

The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1) is extremely well written and held my interest even as an adult. I even think children today would enjoy this first installment in the series despite it missing some of the modern conveniences of today like cell phones and computers. I gave it four out of five stars.

Synopsis of The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1) by Carolyn Keene:  By pure chance, Nancy Drew witnesses a little girl named Judy fall off a bridge and rushes to help her. When she helps Judy home, Nancy gets roped into searching for the missing will of Josiah Crowley, which supposedly leaves money to Judy's aunts.


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