CLOCKWISE (book one in the Clockwise series) [Kindle Edition]

Elle Strauss (Author)

Book Description

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this-she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

It's the eve of the American Civil war and protocol pressures Casey to tell their hosts that Nate is her brother. No one more surprised than she is when they are forced to share a one room worker's cabin. Super awkward.

Nate's slow to accept their new reality but when he does, he realizes he needs Casey to get back. His nearness is intoxicating to Casey, but she keeps her cool by hanging a privacy blanket and staying aloof. Knowing Nate has an evil girlfriend waiting for him at home helps.

Over time Casey gains the attention of a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, and something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom rung of their school's social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"First-person perspective done right makes a protagonist seem more accessible, and Strauss certainly does it right with Casey...  Readers who "trip" back in time with Casey will wish they could stay longer in her strangely relatable pace."  --Kirkus Review

"I loved Clockwise! A great read, and I love your Casey/Cassandra. Congratulations."
 - Wendy Orr, author of Nim's Island

"Clockwise was a fun, lighthearted read with a great mixture of fantasy, history and romance. ..." Book Junkie at Fuzzy.Coffee.Books.

Product Details

• File Size: 369 KB
• Print Length: 296 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1466440961
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: ESB Publishing (October 17, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005WOFX4M
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #23 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
  • #34 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens > Romance

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Time Travel? September 25, 2011

By Kristin Gray

Format:Kindle Edition

Casey Donovan, a fifteen-year-old teen with unmanageable curly hair, "the color of burnt toast", is anything but typical. Sure, she has a crush on Nate MacKenzie, the cute football MVP of her high school, but she also carries a secret - that only her BFF knows. That is, until she accidentally takes the one and only Nate with her to the 19th century. Goodbye, shoulder pads. Hello, history. Perhaps that unit on the Civil War will come in handy after all.

CLOCKWISE is a smart, engaging read, a sure hit for lovers of time travel or the occasional history buff. I immediately liked Casey, her awkwardness, and felt like she could be a close friend. Casey's story doesn't disappoint. It refreshingly lacks the overzealous angst common to some YA reads and packs in the values of honest friendships and family relationships with a heart-warming, twist-at-the-end punch. Elle Strauss is a writer to watch.

I highly recommend this warm tale.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable. Adventurous. Awesome. March 26, 2012

By Rachel Brown

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Adorable. Adventurous. Awesome. These are the words that came to my mind after finishing Clockwise. It was a book that had me rolling with laughter, catching my breath in suspense or anticipation, and reaching for a tissue as tears filled my eyes. It started off as a cute tale about the odd complications of the main character's time-traveling habits, but it quickly turned into an adventure about growing up, being true to yourself, and making the best out of any situation. Plus it has time-traveling in it!

1) Characters: Casey is a realistic, loveable, and spirited heroine. She has to deal with her family, friends, school, and her unique ability to time-travel. She only wants to blend in and survive, but as the story unravels she learns important lessons about herself and growing up. I found it very easy to relate to her despite the unusual situations she found herself in. Her best friend Lucinda was hilarious and acted as a voice of reason (as a good friend should be). Casey's love/hate interest Nate was also realistic and charming. He and Casey's interactions are a important part of the story, but it's more about their growing friendship and possible other feelings that an actual "romance" (which is some ways made it more realistic to me). And the Watson family that take in Casey and Nate in 1860 are so heart-warming. Though the story is not without its "villains"!

2) Plot: The basic plot of the book is a simple one: girl meets boy, girl can time travel, girl accidentally time travels with boy (several times), and then complications arise! But I felt the book was more about the characters' journey and discoveries than a typical "adventure" tale. There were several unexpected twists arose that gave me goosebumps and made it giddy with anticipation. Casey lives in two "worlds", the present and the past in 1860. In the present , she must face life including her family issues and her school issues like any typical high-schooler. But in the past, she must survive and keep her time-traveling secret. When she takes Nate back in time, it causes her two worlds to collide and she begins to learn that in order to survive in either one she must keep her wits about her and make the best of the situation.

3) Setting: As I mentioned above, the characters interact between two time periods, but they stay in the same location around Boston, MA. It's interesting to read about the differences between the modern and nineteenth century versions of the same area. Casey and Nate's school is in the middle of a vacant forest back in 1860s near the Watson family farm. Each "world" was well described and easy to distinguish.

4) Time-Traveling: I'm a fan of time-traveling mostly because I'm such a huge history fan, and this book didn't disappoint with its historical tidbits. I won't give them away since they're crucial to the story, but I'll hint that it's 1860 in a Northern state in the United States (and Lincoln hasn't been elected president yet.) The daily chores, clothing, and etiquette of the nineteenth century also appeared well researched and easily integrated into the story.

Definitely recommend this book to any time-traveling/history fan or anyone who wants a heart-warming adventure tale of a unique heroine and her odd travels.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm and Wonderful! September 24, 2011

By Denise Jaden

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved Casey, such an awesomely awkward MC. Clockwise is full of warmth and wit, and I'll be looking forward to Elle's next book!

More About the Author

I proudly wear two hats.

As Elle Strauss I write fun, lower YA fiction: CLOCKWISE Series(time-travel romance), SEAWEED(light merfolk lore), the LOVE, TINK serial series (Enchanted meets Peter Pan).

As Lee Strauss I compose upper YA/adult with a darker tone: PERCEPTION Series (science fiction/dystopian romance), PLAYING WITH MATCHES, JARS OF CLAY, BROKEN VESSELS (historical).

I love to connect with my fans. I'm on facebook (author pages for both Lee and Elle) and twitter: @elle_strauss.

For information on new releases sign up for my newsletter! www.ellestraussbooks.com

Other trivia about me: I'm a married mother of four; I sometimes live in Canada and sometimes Germany; I'm fond of dark chocolate, and soy lattes; I like yoga, cycling and hiking in good weather.

contact: [e-mail]