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Informationen zum Autor Carolyn Keene is the author of the ever-popular Nancy Drew books.Macky Pamintuan was born and raised in the Philippines. He moved to San Francisco at age twenty-one and received his fine arts degree from the Academy of Art College. Klappentext Spring has sprung in River Heights! along with a brand-new cupcake caf! But on the day of the caf's grand opening! the ceremonyNand the cupcakesNare ruined by hundreds of live ladybugs that invade the store. It's up to Nancy and the Clue Crew to get to the bottom of this cupcake disaster. Illustrations. “If this is the first week of spring,” eight-year-old Nancy Drew said, “why does it still feel like winter?” Nancy’s best friend George Fayne shrugged. “Maybe spring hasn’t sprung yet!” she said. “This is my favorite season!” Bess Marvin, Nancy’s other best friend, said with a smile. “What do you like best about it?” Nancy asked Bess. “Spring flowers? Spring weather—” “Spring clothes !” Bess declared. Nancy smiled. Outside it was chilly, but inside George’s kitchen it was warm and sunny. While George’s mom worked in her home office, the three BFFs sipped cocoa around the kitchen table. “We’ve got more than the season to celebrate, you guys,” George said, licking away a hot-chocolate mustache. “Tomorrow the Lucky Ladybug Cupcake Café opens for business!” The three friends reached across the table to high-five. Not only would the Lucky Ladybug be the first cupcake bakery on Main Street but the owners, Gwendolyn and Carolyn, were practically superstars! The Porters were identical twins. They looked alike—and even baked alike! “Did you see the sisters on that TV show Cupcake Crusaders ?” Nancy asked. “Their cupcakes look too good to eat!” “Then I’ll keep my eyes closed!” Bess joked. George smiled slyly as she stood up. “Are you ready for a big secret?” she asked. “Secret?” Bess said. “Since when do cousins keep secrets from each other?” “And best friends?” Nancy asked. “I’m about to tell you, aren’t I?” George said. She walked over to the huge steel fridge. Mrs. Fayne was a caterer and needed an extra-big refrigerator for party food. “Ta-daaa!” George sang as she pulled the door open. Nancy gave a little gasp. She brushed her reddish blond hair from her eyes so she could make sure what she was seeing was real. . . . “Lucky Ladybug cupcakes!” Nancy said. “What are they doing here?” Bess asked. “My mom is holding the extra cupcakes in her fridge until tomorrow,” George said. “As a favor to Gwendolyn and Carolyn.” “I want a taste!” Bess squealed. “Me too!” Nancy said as she and Bess ran to the fridge. George’s dark curls bounced as she shook her head. “No sneak tastes,” she said. “Just sneak peeks.” The girls gazed at the dreamy-looking cupcakes. Nancy’s favorites were the cupcakes with the sunflower design. Bess’s favorites were the bright purple ones. “Pink is my favorite color,” Bess said, swooning. “But that’s the most beautiful purple I’ve ever seen.” “They’re called purple passion cupcakes,” George said. “Gwendolyn and Carolyn told me when they loaded the fridge.” Nancy thought the cupcakes looked yummy. But were they the best? “I wonder if those cupcakes taste as good as Olivia Chow’s,” Nancy said. Olivia Chow was in the girls’ third-grade class at River Heights Elementary School. Every Saturday she sold her own cupcakes from a table she set up on Main Street. “There’s only one way to find out,” Bess said, reaching out her hand. “What part of ‘no’ don’t you get?” George said. She was about to close the fridge when a voice said, “Don’t shut that door, George Fayne!” Nancy, Bess, and George whirled around. Standing behind them was— “Deirdre Shannon,” Bess groaned. ...
