Copying Cupid! Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer by Jane O'Connor

ALL AT ONCE, NANCY SAT UP. SHE COULD FEEL AN IDEA TAKING ROOT IN HER MIND. ANDY DIDN'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND. ANNIE DIDN'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND. "BREE!" SHE SAID EXCITEDLY.

ANDY AND ANNIE. THEIR NAMES WENT TOGETHER LIKE TWO PUZZLE PIECES.

ANNIE AND ANDY. IT SOUNDED LIE THE TITLE OF A SONG!

OOH LA LA! NANCY'S IDEA KEPT GROWING. SHE COULD ALMOST FEEL IT BLOOMING INTO A FLOWER. NOT JUST ANY FLOWER, BUT A BEAUTIFUL RED ROSE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!

Business is slow down at Nancy's Sleuth Headquarters. February seem to be a slow month for detective work. And her teacher, Mr. Dudeny, has given all his "Dudes" uninspiringly plain pre-cut "appreciation hearts" to fill out for each of their classmates, so Nancy has no reason to break out the pink paper, doilies, and glitter, and she's craving some Valentine excitement. When she discovers that her cute guitar teacher Andy has broken up with his girlfriend and her "best babysitter in the universe" Annie is similarly single pro tem, Nancy sees the perfect matchmaking opportunity within her grasp.

Best buddy Bree is soon on board, and the two would-be romance brokers write a sweet note from a secret admirer for Annie, even adding a few of  Bree's mom's birthday roses (only slightly droopy, with most of their petals).  Nancy gets to use the Clancy clandestine skills as they stealthily bike over to Annie's house and leave the love tokens on her porch.

And when Bree and Nancy learn that Andy has a gig playing at a Valentine's Day birthday party at their favorite ice cream parlor where their little brother and sister Freddie and JoJo are guests, the two Cupids get their chance to stage the perfect "cute meet." All they have to do is leave another note inviting Annie to rendezvous with her admirer at the cafe after Andy's gig, and true love will take its course.

Nancy and Bree beg to go along with their siblings, feigning  a burning desire to shop at Belle's Boutique next door, but the two steal out of Belle's and into the alley  to peak through the cafe window to see if Cupid's arrow is finding its mark.

Things look good.

AT A TABLE IN THE BACK, THERE THEY WERE--ANNIE AND ANDY. ANDY AND ANNIE. THEY WERE EACH HOLDING A SPOON. IN BETWEEN THEM WAS A BANANA SPLIT. ANNIE WAS LAUGHING AT SOMETHING ANDY SAID.

IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE, ONLY BETTER--THIS WAS REAL LIFE!"

Nancy and Bree are about ready to swap their Detectives for Hire sign for a Matchmakers Par Excellence shingle, until they find out that Andy and Annie have been best buddies since preschool. Nancy's mom points out that their affection is apparently platonic, not romantic!

NANCY AND BREE EXCHANGED SAD LOOKS. THAT WAS WHAT NANCY FIGURED PLATONIC MEANT.

IT WAS THE FIRST FANCY WORD SHE DIDN'T LIKE!

But knowing Nancy Clancy, we know she's still hoping that love will find a way, in her latest chapter book, Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Secret Admirer (Harper, 2013). After all, it's Valentine's Day and surely love is in the air! With Robin Preiss Glasser's charming black and white drawings sprinkled lavishly throughout the text, this beginning chapter book (like its predecessor Fancy Nancy: Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth) is the perfect transition to the novel for Fancy Nancy fans.

As the typically tough, Kirkus Reviews  practically coos, "the logical series for fans of Fancy Nancy to fall in love with. Ooh la la!"