Lauren Braratz-Logsted How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

Lauren Braratz-Logsted

Red Dress, Sep 2006, $13.95

ISBN: 0373895917

In Connecticut Charlotte Bell is saddened and depressed for not only falling in love with a married man, but though she knew better let Buster reel her in to a full blown affair. Her heart was destroyed once he ended it as Buster stayed with his wife who probably never knew about their liaison. All Charlotte can do is find work as far away from New England as possible.

She applies and is hired as a full time nanny in Reykjavik before learning the city is the capital of Iceland. With the wisdom of the fifty-six Drew books (though nothing on Iceland) to guide her, Nancy make that Charlotte flies the seven hours to Iceland to be the nanny to Annette, the six years old daughter of the American Ambassador Edgar Rawlings. Charlotte immediately falls for the precocious child and not long afterward Annette's father who seems to hide a secret from her even as he seems to be falling in love with her. Charlotte ponders what Nancy would do though her responses to herself are more like what Nancy would not do.

This is a fine chick lit tale that uses the wisdom of Nancy Drew to guide the heroine as she struggles with relationships. Though a one trick gimmick, Charlotte's asides are fun to follow because many of them refer to the teen sleuth's adventures so that long time favorites of the Nancy Drew series have an added pleasure. Readers will enjoy Charlotte's adventure in Iceland because this adult coming of age tale stars a heroine learns who she is through her analysis of what Nancy would not do.

Harriet Klausner