Like Clockwork by Elle Strauss

Like Clockwork (A Clockwise Companion Novel)
Elle Strauss

Synopsis: Adeline Savoy had hoped that the move west from Cambridge to Hollywood with her single dad would mean they’d finally bond like a real family, but all she got was a father too busy with his new female friends and his passion for acting to really see her.

Instead she finds herself getting attached to Faye, the divorcee hair dresser she befriends when she travels back in time to 1955. Plus Faye has a hottie, James Dean-esque, bad-boy brother who has Adeline’s heart all aflutter. But bad boys from the past can be dangerous.

Is is possible that Adeline really does belong in her own time and that maybe the right boy lives as close as next door?

This is the companion novel to the Clockwise series, which instead of following Casey back into the 1800's, follows another time traveler Casey once met named Adeline, into 1950's Hollywood. Casey and Adeline are polar opposites. Whereas Casey is cheerful, spunky and has a sense of humor, Adeline seems absolutely miserable. Her personality is easily annoyed, just wants to be left alone and quite frankly, a little rude to everyone. I guess you could say she's a normal unhappy teenager...at least when she's in the present, where's she's having major issues with her dad's mid-life crisis. But back in the 1950's, she's a happier person...well, she's still a little rude at times though. But the fifties seem to suit her better, where she has a nice loving woman named Faye that takes on the motherly role she so desperately needs, and the hot bad boy, definitely-too-old-for-her James Dean lookalike she's got a major crush on.

As her relationship with her gotta-surround-myself-with-ridiculously-named-actress-wannabees father sours, her life in the 1950's becomes a little complicated as well. Howard, the hot James Dean lookalike is showing some interest in Adeline, which gets the attention of Leroy, a really bad boy Howard apparently owes money to, putting Adeline smack in the middle of a place no girl lying about her age should be. And things get a little complicated when one person from the past gets shuffled to the present and vice versa.

Personality-wise, Adeline manages to scuff off that outer rough later and learns to be a litter nicer to people, and she figures out that whole loner lifestyle isn't the best way to live when you actually meet decent people to befriend. I'm a sucker for the 1800's so I still prefer Casey's adventures, but if you love anything about the 1950's - like poodle skirts, Jame Dean, Marilyn Monroe haircuts, greased-back hair, musician-wannabees and bikinis that won't get you arrested for indecent exposure - pick this up...it's a good read.

Novel provided by author for honest review.