Three Times Lucky
by Sheila Turnage
It took my mother and me three times of checking out Three Times Lucky from the the library before we got around to cracking it open and reading it! Not that we didn't want to read it, we just simply had lots of other books on our respective To-Be-Read lists!!
Well, third time really is a charm, and my mother finished Three Times Lucky a couple of days after starting it and told me I should absolutely give it a try! Also, that it was one of the best books she'd ever read!
And after reading the first page, (which quickly became the entire thing!), I completely agreed!
Eleven year-old Mo LoBeau resides in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC (population: 148) where she was washed in by a hurricane eleven years before.
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Feisty and witty, Mo has an enjoyable summer laid out for herself. She'll help at the town's cafe run by Miss Lana and the Colonel, (who took her in eleven years prior), go fishing with her best friend, Dale, and keep searching for her Upstream Mother. However, plans go awry when a detective shows up with questions, a murder occurs, and Mo takes it upon herself to figure it all out!
With the clock ticking, Mo and Dale attempt to piece together the clues, crack open the mysteries in their own lives and connect the dots in the biggest mystery the town's ever seen!
Above: The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is the second in the series of Mo and Dale Mysteries!
I couldn't put this book down, and was loathe to stop reading about the adventures of Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale, who, along with a mystery- filled plot, witty one-liner dialogue, and a town that is like no other make this a book you won't want to end!
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-Cenzia
Fun Extras for Three Times Lucky:
1. Enjoy some Cafe Fare!
The cafe at Tupelo Landing serves both diner/cafe classics and some more nouveau cuisine style dishes depending on who's running it! Mo's signature sandwich choices...hand squashed or fluffy!
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2. Read the other Mo and Dale Mysteries! (pictured above)
The sequels to Three Times Lucky are just as wonderful and witty as the first story!
You can read the sequels chronologically, or read the last in the series right after Three Times Lucky-- but whatever you choose, I highly recommend reading them all- they're all worth their weight in gold!
3.Old Hollywood Movie Stars!
Miss Lana, the cafe's cook and former resident of Charleston, relishes a theme when running the cafe, and adores all things Old Hollywood! Inspired by Miss Lana, have a vintage Hollywood Movie Night! Watch an old movie, pop some popcorn, and wear something Hollywood inspired, such as oversize sunglasses, or an extra long strand of pearls!
4. Message in a Bottle!
Mo sends messages in bottles, and while you might not wish to send one downstream, you can certainly leave a fun note or message for a friend or family member in a pretty bottle! Or, put some fresh flowers in one and put in a room that could use a facelift! Just make sure it's in a safe spot...a smashed bottle is not a good bottle! ;)
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5. Take a Bike Ride!
Mo and Dale ride their bikes around town whenever they need to get from place to place! They solve mysteries, get exercise, and talk over their latest cases while pedaling around Tupelo Landing! Even if you're not in the mood to solve a mystery, hop on your bike and enjoy the fresh air! :)
Have Fun!!
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