Library Recommendations

[Phoenix]

Here yea, here yea:

Pick ONE story from our library of over 400 stories and give it some lip service!! And not just 'I really liked story X by author Y because it is was good' - give a bit more info! That way when you're looking for a certain type of read to fill your Frank and Joe fix, you can get some suggestions from this thread!

Summarize it and, if you can pick one, talk about your favorite scene!

I'll go first:

I totally enjoyed The Night Ride by our own SkyhappySal. It is an edge of the seat thriller set in Stephen King's Castle Rock. The place setting alone adds its own element of creepiness to the story - for anyone not familiar with Stephen King's stories, he wrote such one's as Carrie, Needful Things, Salem's Lot.

An unscheduled stop at Castle Rock thrusts the brother's in the middle of thrilling mystery that becomes very personal when Joe disappears and the townsfolk insist that Frank arrived alone. Creepy!! A particular treat if you enjoy stories with a supernatural flavour. Not one to read if you are home alone and it is late at night, though!

It's hard to pick one favorite scene because I enjoyed the whole story, particularly Frank's concern for his brother right from the first chapter where you find out Joe is still suffering the effects of a head injury... and it goes from there. Although I have to say my heart was racing, along with the Hardy's, when they made the mad dash to the safety of the cemetary.

This is one of my favorite parts though:


"I'm happy to see you've kept your sense of humour, Frank." The blonde-haired teen gritted out, failing to see anything worth laughing at. Then sighing deeply, he returned the grin briefly. "None of this can be happening. I keep thinking that I'm going to wake up in that creepy hotel in Castle Rock and that this is just one really bad nightmare. That maybe you were right and that baseball hit me a lot harder than I thought." He paused. "Okay, I see you don't know how this game works. This is the part where you say something reassuring like 'That's right, Joe, it's just been one really bad nightmare'."

Sliding closer so that he was sitting shoulder to shoulder with his brother, Frank said quietly, "That's right, Joe, this is just one really bad nightmare. But neither one of us is sleeping." The warmth of sitting that close to Joe seemed to fight off some of the chill that was seeping through his clothes from the tombstone. Relaxing a little, he closed his eyes to the smoke filled night sky.


Okay, next?

BTW - it is okay to talk about your favorite older stories in the 'Talk about Stories' section. We always love to hear people are reading and enjoying previously posted stories!!

[JD]

And my recommendation for the week is going to be: *drum roll*

Double Trouble by Red!

This is probably one of my favorite 'Red' stories. We all know about her ability to write angst...but she's also a swell humor writer as well, and this story showcases it!

Seeing Frank and Joe trying to cope with two little boys in a desperate bid for escape from bad guys, and watching as they realize just how alike Ford and Jamie are to themselves...well, it rocks!


“I dunno, bro. Sounds like he’s got a valid point there. You were aiming at me….Were you gonna shoot me?”

Very slowly, Frank looked up and met his brother’s gaze. Joe was grinning from ear to ear, laughter dancing in his eyes.

“No,” Frank said evenly, “I wasn’t going to shoot you – then.” He waited a beat, glowering at his younger brother. “But I’m giving it serious thought right now.”


Go read it -- it's a perfect romp to enjoy on a chilly, damp January day!

[fvhardy]

This is an excellent idea, Phx, although picking just one might be a problem! :D And great choice with The Night Ride btw, easily one of the scariest stories in the library!

I adored Deadly Curriculum by LSAU. It starts with Joe doing volunteer work at a youth centre where he gets more involved with the kids problems than he should, and thereby placing himself in dangerous situations. He and Frank have some arguments regarding this fact because Frank is worried about him, but things take a turn for the worst when Drug Dealers selling dodgy drugs cause the death of some kids and one of the boys Joe tried to help disappears...followed by Joe himself.

This is without a doubt one of the best written fan fictions I've read in any area, and one of my favourites. It is fast-paced, exciting, emotional, angst filled and also a brillant character piece. The relationship between the brothers is spot on, with some beautiful moments between them. There are several scenes that stand out in my head;

"Okay, okay, stop glaring at me, Frank. I'll shut up," Joe said with a wide grin. "Boy, if looks could kill, you'd be arrested for fratricide."

"Oooh, such a big word, Joe. Have you actually been reading the dictionary?" Callie asked.

"Yup, got all the way up to F just the other night," Joe said and then gave her a wink. "There were some pretty juicy words starting with the letter F. You should try looking some of them up yourself, Cal."

:D I think this is hilarious, and a great moment between Joe and Callie in the story. I should also point out that I LSAU writes my favourite Callie!

As for gut wrenchingly terrifying moments, this is chilling:

Scala brought the point of the knife over Joe's right thigh and flickered a questioning glance at Joe. "It's not too late to talk."

Fear and pain were making him hyperventilate and Joe gasped out his words. "I don't know."

Scala shook his head and pressed the tip of the knife into the imprisoned youth's thigh. Joe jerked and cried out as he felt the white-hot pain piercing his leg.

After an inch of the knife had disappeared into the unresisting flesh, Scala looked up at Joe again. "Well?"

"I don't know! I don't know!" Joe shook his head desperately, trying in vain to pull away from the awful pain. He jerked convulsively as the knife continued its slow descent.

I highly recommend this story if you haven't already read it.

[shayrjk]

Death On The Fourth of July by Sparks and Evergreen!

It was a story you can NOT stop reading. You have to finish it!
I loved how Frank, Joe and Tony all helped out Bella find out the reason for her moms passing and there was a lot of humor thrown in with a lot of action too :D
For example, I love this!

Say, Rick," he began, sidling up next to the assistant chef, who was carefully arranging salads on small plates. "do you guys ever have problems with mice or anything like that here?" Joe knew that rodent poison usually didn’t contain arsenic any more, but it was the only thing he could think of that might possibly be in common use in the restaurant’s kitchen. "Enough that you need to put out rat poison, for instance?"

"Dio mio!" A sharp voice shrieked from behind Joe, making him jump. "Rats? You think there are rats in Enrico’s kitchen? You stupido asino! I will slice you up in little pieces for that insult! You will become shish kebabs that I will serve for lunch!"

That was totally awesome! :D by far one of my favorite scenes!
Also, when the boys got hurt they couldn't go to the hospital or else it would blow their cover! There were a lot of interesting twists and turns in the story.

Plus, someone else besides the Hardy's gets a little romance! *cheers for Tony!* He was by far a great part in the story, and I looked forward to all the parts with him and Bella too!

"It won’t be all that long before I’m 18." his cousin replied. "And I’m a big girl, remember? Besides, Tony will be here to protect me!"

"Not a very big girl," Frank teased gently. "Pretty small girl, actually." He winced as she punched his arm, and laughed

BTW the end of the first chapter and into the second had me going (the Mrs. Hardy part!)
Sorry, my review is pretty mixed up :p IT WAS A GREAT STORY! One of my favorites! I have a 2nd story I'd love to share about :D are we allowed a 2nd story?

[JD]

<G> I THINK you're limited to one per week per person, Shayla! [but Phoenix would know for certain]

[shayrjk]

<G> I THINK you're limited to one per week per person, Shayla! [but Phoenix would know for certain]

Thats OK... I will wait till next week to post another :D TY

[copagirl]

I have to agree with Phoenix, that The Night Ride is a very scary story! If you want more chills then I would recommend Ghost of November's Past by Aspen and Evergreen!!!

It's got humor, thrills and chills and best of all Matt!!!!

One of my favorite parts of the story:

Frank turned off the phone and replaced it in its holder on the table. He heard Joe coming from the kitchen, laughing – laughing so hard that when he reached the family room, he sank into a heap on the floor and roared, tears of mirth flooding his blue eyes.

"What is so funny?" Frank demanded. He began to smile too, infected by Joe’s contagious hilarity.

"It…was…Phil…." Joe gasped. "The part about – about Allison. He – couldn’t just – come out and say "’Matt’s…ruining my…my…s-se—‘" Overcome, he sprawled full length on the carpeting and buried his face in his arms, howling.

Frank, abruptly realizing the implications of Joe’s words, joined his brother in whoops of laughter. Finally he wiped his eyes and cleared his throat with determination. "Okay, then, Operation Rescue it shall be," he announced. "Better call Vanessa and warn her. We’ll try to cheer Matt up, get your project done with a professional flourish, and—" he paused for effect, grinning. "and give Phil a respite!"



A funny Matt moment:
Matt blinked again, and looked around the room as if he’d suddenly noticed something. "Wasn’t your dad around earlier?"

"He got a call," Joe replied. "While you were in the shower. One of those ‘hurry up and pack a bag and get out the front door; it’s a biggie,’ types."

"Huh?" Matt’s eyes went round. "You mean, he just LEFT, just like that? Because someone called him for a case?"

"Yep," Joe nodded. "we’re pretty used to him leaving at the drop of a hat."

"Whoa, dude….that is like soooooo cool!" For the first time in hours, Matt’s face once more contained animation and sparkle. "It’s like living with James Bond, or something!"

Frank and Joe burst into laughter. "James Bond? Well, I’d never thought of it exactly like that!" Joe spluttered. "Dad doesn’t drive an Aston-Martin, and he rarely drinks martinis…."

"I don’t know," Megan disagreed softly, "I think he’d make a really great James Bond!"

Frank tilted his head to one side and eyed her smilingly. "Dad’s too domesticated to be James Bond."



Oh...and there's a mystery involved too!:
Hand-in-hand, Megan and Frank followed Cherise to the lightkeeper’s cottage, to see the mysterious hole in the wall. Frank felt Megan’s curious glance fall on him a time or two as they walked. He knew she was wondering just why he was so avid to see the hidey-hole, but she was a good enough sport to go along with him, and not ask questions. He appreciated that – he wasn’t sure he could have answered them!

Cherise led them through the house to a back bedroom on the ground floor. They saw that this part of the house didn’t have a second story, and he wondered if it had possibly been added on after the original house was built. The upper story only covered about half the house. In the bedroom, the fireplace was built against the very back wall of the house.

"Well, there it is." Cherise gestured at the fireplace, showing Megan and Frank the hole. Frank knelt down, curiously putting his hand into the cavity and feeling around tentatively.

"It’s a lot bigger back there than I thought it would be," he commented. "It feels like…" He felt further, exploring the area. "It feels like there’s a good foot of space between the back wall of the fireplace and the outside wall of the house! Is that normal, Cherise?"

"I really don’t know," Cherise admitted, shrugging. "I know a lot of historical facts, but that’s not one of them!"

Megan dropped to her knees beside Frank. "Let me…" she requested.

Frank removed his hand, and Megan put hers in. Her smaller hand and arm moved easily into the depths of the hiding place. For a moment she smiled as she explored it, and then she froze…and blinked…and abruptly pulled her hand out. The color drained from her face."

"Baby? What’s wrong?"

Megan was scooting back from the fireplace now, a startled look on her face. "I thought I f-felt…F-Frank, you better look for yourself. Feel down to the left…."

Frank obeyed, mystified. Megan shuddered, and Cherise stared at them in wonderment.

"What the…?" Frank’s eyes widened, and he withdrew his hand, holding something. The something which Megan had found.

The bony remains of a human arm.



I'd quote more but I don't want to give it away!;)

[Phoenix]

Yup, one a week guys! That way we get a whole week to re-read one of our favorite stories before pimping it out!

[cqb1220]

I started making a list today and I think I have half the stories in the library!

HBWgonnabe is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I'll start with one of her stories. The title is Haitian Hell. It is creepy and you can almost hear the voo-doo drums pounding in the background as you read! Each chapter keeps you wanting more, and I wanted to jump right in and help Joe get his brother back!

Here's just a little taste:

Joe picked up his pace, in a hurry now to get back to the house and have his own breakfast. No longer looking down, Joe's foot hit something lying on the path and he fell forward.

Joe looked back and gasped. He quickly moved to a sitting position and reached for the wrist of the one person who meant everything to him.

There was no pulse. Joe reached a trembling hand to feel for a pulse in Frank's neck. "No," he whispered, leaning over to listen for a heartbeat. "No, no no," Joe said repeatedly. Joe laid his head on his brother's chest, his tears flowing freely, as Frank's once soulful brown eyes stared up at the sky in seemingly silent disregard.

[Alaina]

Oooh YAY!!!! I've been waiting impatiently for this thread!!!! I had my recommendation picked out days ago! :D

Joy and Sorrow by The Syndicate (Here's the link so you don't have to waste precious time looking for it when you could be READING it!!! :p )

http://www.hardydetectiveagency.com/syndicate/joysorrow/joysorrowintro.htm

This story has everything!! Suspense, a great mystery, adorable little Hardys, joy, sorrow (as the title implies), grief, happiness… it’s damn near perfect! We get to see Fenton in his early days as a P.I., we meet Ezra Collig and his wife (what an AWESOME character!) and see how they became involved with the Hardys, we see Frank embrace his role as big brother and we see Fenton in action and understand why he eventually became the best of the best.

It’s an AU story in that Joe isn’t born into the Hardy family but rather is adopted. However, it’s not even CLOSE to the typical ‘Joe is adopted’ plot. JD and Joe did a brilliant job putting a new and fresh twist on the idea and you will be on the edge of your seat through the entire story.

But it’s the intangibles that come when a brilliant story idea is carried out by two phenomenal writers that make this story so special. A lot of times I will read a story that stays with me for a few days or, at most, a few weeks. I read this story YEARS ago and it STILL haunts me to this day. This story will touch your heart in ways you never thought possible. And a friendly warning – stock up on tissues before you start reading. You’ll need them…

I don’t want to quote my most favorite scene because it would give away a MAJOR plot twist for those who haven’t read it yet, so I’ll go with my second favorite… how Joe got his name.

Again, the child awoke in a strange place. He was on the bottom of a set of bunk beds, and the woman from earlier was sitting in a chair beside the bed, sound asleep. To his surprise, he discovered his leg was encased in a plaster cast.

"Hey," whispered Frank, hearing the child stirring, and poking his head down from the bunk above. "You never did tell me your name."

The child looked up at him and swallowed. He looked over at the woman who had been so nice to him. "I...I'm not sure." he said, finally.

"You have to know your own name." Frank insisted quietly. "What do your mom and dad call you?"

"I don’t have a mom." the boy informed him, his soft voice sad.

"Well, what does your dad call you?" Frank persisted.

"Different things." the boy replied, after a moment.

"What?" Frank demanded impatiently.

"Stupid, brat, idiot…worthless…." the child mumbled, so softly Frank could barely hear.

Now it was Frank's turn to swallow. "How about Joe?" he asked, after a moment’s thought. "You kinda look like my G.I. Joe action figure."

The child just shrugged, like he didn't really care.

"Okay, Joe it is!" Frank said. He stuck his right arm down. "Nice to meet you, Joe."

[Cheryl]

"Yup, one a week guys! That way we get a whole week to re-read one of our favorite stories before pimping it out!"- Originally posted by Phoenix.

LOL! That's one way of putting it!!!! :)

Cheryl

[SparksJSH]

My pick of the week is "Where Troubles Melt" by Cheylann Rivers. There is a great emotional subplot concerning Callie, a MAJOR misunderstanding on Joe's part, and a continuing riddle that goes throughout the story. It's definitely worth a read if you haven't read it or a reread if you have.

[rokia]

Author: Babs
Story Name: Fair Trade
URL: http://www.hardydetectiveagency.com/babs/fairtrade/fairtradeintro.htm
Type: Casefile
Rating: PG
Author's Summary: A 12 year grudge against Fenton is finally acted on.
My opinion: There was just something about this story I liked. I loved her oc, Rand. I don’t normally like ‘person goes to prison for crime they didn’t commit’ stories but Babs did a great job with this one and had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over! I reread this one fairly often – and it’s always worth the read.

[Zan]

'Happy Birthday' is one of my fav's on the board. Yes there is much angst, but it's finely written angst. I love the mature themes, the emotional conversations and the humour that pops up when you least expect it to!

This rather long quote comes towards the end of the story when Frank receives a specail present from his brother. It's a very significant gift because of events that have gone on before.

Temporarily giving up the search, Frank’s eyes were drawn back to the bracelet and the single word inscribed on it. He could only stare, in shocked disbelief. ‘You have no idea what this means, little brother. It’s the most precious gift I will ever receive.’

Frank slipped the bracelet on his wrist. Other than his wedding ring, he never wore jewelry, but somehow the bracelet felt right. Right then and there, he promised himself, it would never come off. The simple bracelet represented just as much to him as his cherished wedding ring.

"Oh, that’s beautiful!" Callie exclaimed coming up beside her husband. "Who is it from?"

"Joe." Frank replied quietly.

"What does it say?" Callie asked, as she looked at the strangely beautiful Chinese symbols, the single word written in the ancient language of the martial art Frank had spent over half his life studying. She detected an undercurrent of raw emotion in Frank’s voice that he allowed very few people to hear.

"It...It says…" Frank closed his eyes swallowing hard, trying to steady his voice. "It says ‘Trust’." He whispered. Looking up, he slowly scanned the room, his search for his brother fruitless.

"I think he went outside." Callie said softly, knowing exactly who Frank was looking for.

Nodding silently, Frank headed for the exit. Stepping outside the restaurant, Frank saw Joe off to the right, sitting on the curb looking up at the star-filled night sky. Walking over to his brother, Frank sat down next to him.

"You okay?" He asked, wondering why Joe was outside all alone, knowing he usually reveled in being the center of attention at any party.

"Fine." Joe smiled. "It was just getting a little…stuffy…in there."

"I know what you mean." Frank murmured, his gaze drawn to the bracelet.

"You like it?" Joe asked hesitantly. He’d been a little nervous about the gift he’d chosen, knowing Frank never wore jewelry. Joe had hoped it would mean enough to Frank that he might wear it for special occasions.

"Yeah." Frank replied, holding his arm out. The bracelet caught in the moonlight and shone brightly. "I like it a lot. Thanks."

"You’re welcome." Joe responded, a little hitch in his voice.

"It sure beats a pair of socks." Frank said seriously.

I squealed with laughter when I first read the 'socks' line! :eek: What a way to break the tension and to stop a touchy scene turn into sap!

Anyway, I love the story for the angst, the tension and those lines that make you laugh out aloud even though you have tears in your eyes at the same time.


Zan :)

[Zan]

SORRY!!! A thousand apologies for not mentioning that 'Happy Birthday' is by Red. I really need to get more sleep!:eek:

Zan XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Phoenix]

'Morning! My fic recommend for this week is Autumn Sunrise by November.

Only Joe could be doing something so innocuous as getting gas at a gas station and end up witnessing a murder. A murder for which the killers not only know he saw but are determined to shut him up - forever! Couple that with a planned hike into the Adirondack Forest and you know there is going to be trouble. Oh and can I mention there's a bear! A big 'freakin' bear!!!

A definite must read for hurtJoe/protectiveFrank fans. This story is well written and leaves you on the edge of your seat from chapter to chapter!

Here is a snippet:


'Joe wasn’t sure how long or how far he and Vanessa had run; he only knew he couldn’t go much farther. Vanessa could tell Joe was drained, so she stopped and pulled Joe down beside her.

"I’m so sorry, Vanessa," Joe said weakly, "I never should have brought you here…I don’t know what I was thinking. But I promise you, I will die before I let anything happen to you."

"Don’t talk like that Joe. We’re going to be just fine. As long as we’re together, we can make it through anything," Vanessa said as she took Joe’s hand in hers.

"We have to find somewhere to hide. I know you can’t make it much farther right now, and I’m not sure I can either. It will be dark soon, so we don’t have much time. Can you make it a little farther?" Vanessa asked, noting how pale Joe still was.

"Yeah, let’s go…"

Before Joe could finish what he was saying, they heard what sounded like someone approaching them. Without waiting to see who or what it was, the pair took off running once again. But they were totally unprepared for what happened next as they came face to face with a large black bear!

Joe knew they had startled the now angry bear. Quickly remembering what he had learned about bear attacks, he shoved Vanessa to the ground and took off running, praying the bear would chase him, and leave Vanessa alone.

Joe was running for his life, with the bear hot on his heels, but in his weakened condition, Joe knew he didn’t stand a chance.'

[copagirl]

Yay!!! We finally the week has ended!

I had two different authors that I wanted to recommend, it came down to a coin toss because the they are both equally good. My recommendation for this week is a story challenge I had posted up(Joe as James Bond) and PiperMerlyn stepped up to the challenge with Save The Wold.

We find poor Joe sick and home alone about to watch a James Bond marathon on cable. Piper captured the Bond movies perfectly and she chose to us the James Bond, Sean Connery as her inspiration! She captured his Bond perfectly in this scene:
"You're a Godsend, as always, Miss Moneypenny."

The gray-eyed blond flashed him a quick smile. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Now go along with you."

Joe blew her a kiss and headed down to the armory of MI6.



And let's not forget Q!
"Hardy," said Q. "Over here." He held up a slim line cell phone.

"No, thank you, Q, already have one."

Q grunted and slid a button on the side of the cell phone and it sprang apart, hinged on one side. Inside were an oval pressure pad, a series of buttons and a blank screen. "It is a remote control for the Aston-Martin."

Joe's blue eyes gleamed. "Ah, may I?"

Q frowned. "I expect to have both the vehicle and the remote control back relatively unscathed."

"You can trust me."



You'll also find beloved Hardy characters along the way, see if you can guess who this might be!
Holding his hands at shoulder level, Joe Hardy slowly turned around. The man pointing the gun at him had wavy dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. The man lowered the gun and grinned. "Had you there for a minute, didn't I, Joey."

Joe lowered his hands and grinned. "Felix. Felix Leiter, what are you doing here?" He stepped forward and gave his old friend a warm handshake.



There's action, adventure and a little romance just like a true Bond movie!

[shayrjk]

Love Comes Softly By Copagirl :D

A total Joe/Vanessa story, and if you like them, READ IT! Its only six chapters long BUT it's adorable!
Joe's feelings for Vanessa comes out in this story... it's a very cute story. One of my favorites :D

*we need more romance!* lol ;) I am a sap for romance and this story was perfect! Go Read It! *now!* ;)

Here are a couple cute snipets...

“I don’t know – I was kind of hoping that we could go out – just the two of us!” Joe said the last part in a rush.
AWWWWW....

Joe didn’t know why he felt so nervous. It wasn’t like he never been out on a date before! Even after – he paused for a moment as he thought about all of the different girls he had taken out after Iola’s death. But Joe knew that he had been using them to ease his pain. It hadn’t helped; his heart still ached for Iola. So he had stopped going out on dates and stayed home. Sometimes he accompanied Frank and Callie, but the majority of the time he stayed home.

Then Vanessa and her mother moved to Bayport. When he first met Vanessa, Joe could tell there was something different about her. She was pretty, but smart too. She was also strong and independent. Joe really liked that; she gave him a run for his money!

He had been out with Vanessa before, but always with Frank and Callie or with a group of friends. This would be their first official date and this made Joe very nervous. He stared at his reflection in the mirror.

“Okay, Joe – you can do this! It’s not like you’ve never dated before! Hey – you’re a good looking guy – she’s gonna love you!”

Joe let out a sigh. ‘Please don’t let me make a fool of myself!’

“I had a feeling you were my secret admirer,” Vanessa said with a smile.

“You have a secret admirer?” replied Joe. feigning innocence.
That was toooo cute :O

“Now the big question – burgers or chicken?”
“We can’t have both?!” Vanessa exclaimed in a shocked voice.

“Oh,” Joe placed his hand over his heart. “I knew there was a reason I liked you!”

LOL, that man loves his food ;)

And don't worry, those two little loverbirds get into a little trouble along the way, so theres something for everyone, some romance and some adventure.
Great story Lola :D

BTW I could just put quotes from the entire thing... LOL... I loved all of it :D

[fvhardy]

My recommendation for this week is Killing Joe by Phoenix.

This story is hilarious (despite the serious nature). It starts with Frank being arrested for murder...Joe's!!! But as the story unravels, we see that there is a plan behind it all to expose a corrupt Sheriff. Unfortunately, things go badly wrong and Joe ends up in the hands of two hill-billy murders while Frank and Fenton race against time to find him before his oft reported death becomes a reality.


Cletus and Norten, the "Hill-Billy versions of Dumb and Dumber" steal the show. They are so impossibly stupid, yet somehow manage to steal the show as (they're among the most entertaining fan fic OC's in Hardydom). The following exchanges are an example of the sometimes disturbing, often ridiculous, conversations between the two!

“What, Cletus?” came Norton’s indignant reply as he sat down in the driver’s seat and then swiveled around to look at his friend, “You saying I’m not pretty like him?” He slued a glance towards Joe.

Ten minutes later, Cletus, fed up with Norton’s continued sulking over his ‘prettiness,’ exhaled loudly in frustration and snorted, “For the love of God, Norton. You are so blindingly beautiful it hurts to look at you! Now would you just shut up and drive, you’re giving me a headache!!”

:D :D :D Poor Joe actually had to listen to these two for nearly a whole day!

A really excellent, enjoyable story and one that I highly recommend! :)

[Phoenix]

Aww - thank you for the recommend. I had a bit of fun with those two :p

[PiperMerlyn23]

Yay!!! We finally the week has ended!
My recommendation for this week is a story challenge I had posted up(Joe as James Bond) and PiperMerlyn stepped up to the challenge with Save The Wold.

We find poor Joe sick and home alone about to watch a James Bond marathon on cable. Piper captured the Bond movies perfectly and she chose to us the James Bond, Sean Connery as her inspiration!

There's action, adventure and a little romance just like a true Bond movie!


:)Thank you.

[Ritu]

Oh no! You all are making me want to read them all even more!

But I cannot.

I can recommend though.:)
"One bitter day" by Elena. This was one of the few stories I read here around four years back and I still distinctly remember it. It is a short story so I will not say much about it except that I LOVED Joe's and Frank's interactions in it!
Joe couldn't help but feel that Frank was becoming squeamish about himself. Somebody help me keep him sane!

Here you go:http://www.hardydetectiveagency.com/elena/onebitterday/onebitterdayintro.htm
A nice story for a quick read!

[Cheryl]

Yep- I remember that one. Some serious subject matter there, but it was handled nicely. Good, quick read with a moral at the end!

Cheryl

[copagirl]

The day is almost over and I almost forgot to post my weekly Library Recommendation!!!

For this week, I recommend The Stakeout by Phoenix. It's a one shot story. You get an insite of Frank and Joe while on a stakeout! The conversations they have while they wait for their suspect is great!!!

“Are we there yet?” Joe asked for the tenth time in the last five minutes as Frank carefully maneuvered the back streets of Bayport, hometown to the brothers, and apparently a nefarious gang of exporters and importers that the brothers had been sent to stake out.

Their father, private investigator Fenton Hardy, enlisted his sons’ help from time to time with his cases. And this was one such time.

Fenton needed a warehouse staked out. Nothing complicated. The brothers just had to keep an eye out for a particular person. When that person showed up, the boys would call the police and then leave the area. It was definitely one of their less-dangerous assignments!

“Does that street sign say ‘Providence Road’?” Frank asked, instead of answering.

“No,” the blond boy said, following the sign with his eyes as they drove pass.


Poor Frank, you know this is going to be a long night for him!!!


Joe's shock that his brother doesn't appriciate a fine motocycle!
Frank looked back at the motorcycle, “I see a bike.”

“A bike?” Joe practically swallowed his tongue. “Frank that bike is an illustration of beauty! Look at it!” Frank looked. “It has a 998 cc engine, 182 horsepower engine at 11,250 rpm, and a six-speed gearbox transmission!” Joe’s blue eyes shone with excitement.



I could quote a lot more but then that would be giving away the rest of the storyline! Sooo....just follow the link and READ!!!!

http://www.hardydetectiveagency.com/phoenix/stakeout/stakeout1.htm

[fvhardy]

This week I’m going to recommend Evil Incarnate by CQB. The story is brilliantly crafted; it is exciting, fast paced and chilling. It starts with Frank and Joe getting stranded in a small Pennsylvania town, while on the way to deliver some papers for their father. Joe’s comments upon first seeing the town is that Reedsville looks like a ghost town become horrifyingly real as they discover a psychotic killer is picking off the few remaining inhabitants one by one…and they are next on the list.

The Hardys’ fist chilling discovery is of a girl’s body in the church is unexpected and frightening, and Joe’s reaction to the horrible discovery is wonderfully written;

"Oh, gross!" the younger Hardy murmured, stepping back as Frank gently moved the long, blond hair away from her battered face.

"The broken neck is what probably killed her," Frank said. "Joe. Look at this," Frank added, turning her hand so the palm was exposed.

"Do I have to?" Joe asked, his stomach churning. Frank gave Joe a look that clearly said ‘be professional’; Joe reluctantly complied and moved closer to the corpse.

The story twists, turns and unravels with several heart stopping moments along the way, culminating in a final horrific sequence in the town church when the killer targets Frank and Joe.

"Glad you could be here to watch," the man hissed in Frank’s direction. Frank felt the world stop as he watched the man place a large nail in the palm of Joe’s left hand.

"NO-O-O-O-O!" Frank cried, stretching himself to grab the man’s right hand.

Frank closed his eyes as Joe’s scream tore through the church. Joe’s body jerked as the man landed a second blow, driving the nail into the wooden platform under Joe’s hand.

This story is up there with SkyhappySal's The Night Ride as being one of the most terrifying in the HDA library. It's just one of those stories that makes you shiver each and every time you read it, an instant classic that resonates with echos of Dean Koontz whom Cyndy admits is an inspiration for this story. And I have to say, Mr. Koontz would be proud! :)

[Phoenix]

Sorry I'm late guys, but I got distracted writing :)

Anyways my recommendation for this week is one of my all time favorites - and a fic I love to read whenever I need my comfort fix. It's Triple Jeopardy by Red.

It is perhaps my all time favorite if you look at the number of times I'll open a chapter of it and just start reading.

Fenton, Laura and then Joe are kidnapped to 'influence' Frank's testimony in a trial. To make matters worst, the leader holds a vicious grudge against Joe and the youngest Hardy is badly injured when he is grabbed, leaving Frank in a race against time to find his family AND to keep up appearances to the bad guys don't realize he is looking for them. Along with their friends, he tried to launch a daring rescue.

However when things should be getting better, they get worse. Making the risky choice of forestalling taking Joe to the hospital for fear that the kidnappers would finish the job, Red plays up on the previous trauma Keith Rashman inflicted on the poor guy, as an infection takes a deadly turn.

This story has everything for anyone who loves protectiveHardys and hurtJoe. Oh and in this story, Laura is brilliant! Her protectiveness and ferocity in trying to protect her injured son is absolutely chilling - and if you don't believe me, just ask Frank OR the kidnappers!

Anyway, if you haven't read it before - check it out!

Here is one of my favorite scenes:


After his men stepped out of the cell leaving the door open, Jarrell looked from Laura to Fenton, his smile growing.

"It seems one of your boys has decided to join you." He told them. "Although I’m afraid my men were a little…hmm, how should I say this…overzealous with him." Fenton and Laura exchanged a worried glance. "My apologies. I do hope he’ll recover."

As Jarrell snapped his fingers, three men walked through the basement door and entered the cell carrying a seemingly lifeless body between them. Fenton’s eyes widened in fear. Laura felt the tears already running down her cheeks. They looked at each other and then watched in horror as a beaten, bloody and unconscious Joe was dumped, unceremoniously, on the floor at their feet.

[rokia]

YAY!

I get to now do another recommendation and as a result I shall recommend one of my very favorite stories: Let Freedom Ring (http://hardydetectiveagency.com/don/freedom/freedomintro.htm)by Don Wisenor.

Let Freedom Ring is rated G and is Digest story. In this story Frank goes to attend "Maryland Boys State" during the summer - and as usual with the Hardys he gets kidnapped for his pains.

Don has a great way of intertwining humor with his drama. He writes very believable characters - including the guy who should be his arch rival but ends up being a friend, Mark Noble, a very delightful Original Character.

Joe and Mark end up working together to try to figure out where Frank is and who was behind kidnapping him. (In the meantime, before the kidnapping, Joe was going through a bit of Frank withdrawl)

And here are two nice little exerpts from the same chapter of the story:


While his captors congratulated themselves, Frank lay helpless in the back of the van. “Man, do I ever feel like a prize chump!” he thought. “Who are these guys? What do they really want? Are they some crooks who are trying to get even with Dad? Or does somebody just want me out of the way at Boys State? Mark! Could Mark be in on this? Could all that talk of his just been a bunch of baloney? Did he let himself be handcuffed just to set me up?” Frank tried to move his wrists slightly. “One thing is for sure--I’m not going anywhere. They’ve got me, and they can do anything they want to with me!”

Joe Hardy, back home from his date with Iola, tossed the novel he had been reading onto Frank’s bed. It was a mystery titled, Ring of Destiny, an exciting adventure about two American teenage boys in England. “That was pretty good--kind of long, though. Now let’s see what the latest news is from the next governor,” he thought, switching on the computer. No new email from Frank awaited him. “That bum! He promised to email me! Oh, well, maybe he’s tied up somewhere!”


--Rokia

[fvhardy]

My library recommendation this week is Aspen and Evergreen’s Fanfare for June. It’s a fantastic mystery story about a stolen Stradivarius…which belonged to Phil’s very lovely girlfriend; Allison. Of course, Frank and Joe get involved and a case that initially seems simple, gets dangerous and more complex. Even better, Matt the Dude is in this one (I love Matt :)), helping with the investigations.

There are some fantastic moments in the story, although my particular favourite is a very funny phone call between Frank and Joe;

Hey, it’s me. I’m in pursuit!" Joe announced gleefully.

"You’re what?" Frank’s voice crackled through the phone. "Pursuit! Who are you chasing, and what are you trying to do to my car?"

ROTFLOL! :D That makes me die laughing every time, you can almost hear the fear in Frank’s voice that his impetuous little brother is going to damage his precious car. Of course, Joe’s first words when he answers the phone don’t exactly inspire confidence. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, the damage isn’t done to the car, it’s done to Joe. He turns up unconscious in the passenger seat of Frank’s car with no indication of what happened. A nasty knock to the head plus a hefty dose of rohypnol keeps Joe out for much of the story and Frank is forced to solve this mystery without his partner. But things get even more dangerous, leading to a nasty hostage situation which…I have no intention of telling you about! Go read the story for yourself and see how it ends! :)

This is one of my favourite Aspen and Evergreen stories. I adore how each chapter moves seamlessly together to reveal the truth behind the theft of Allison’s valuable violin and the old story that goes with it is a beautiful touch. There are some very touching scenes with Frank and his concern for his brother too, but by far the most moving scene is when Megan talks to a comatose Joe and makes a deal with him if he wakes up, she'll let him call her Red. It’s a really lovely moment that makes me sniffle every time. I actually have several more favourite moments but I don’t want to give too much away for anyone who hasn’t read it. And if you haven’t then what are you waiting for? :)

[copagirl]

My recommendation for this week is Little Heroes by Phoenix. If you love the Hardys as small boys then you are going to love this story!! The story starts off calmly but then the Hardys go on a boating trip where things don't go as planned!

“I’m undercover…like Daddy!” the younger child remarked, not in the least bit perturbed by his older brother’s tone.

“Undercover as what? A dog?” Frank scoffed as Joe stopped and pretended to scratch for fleas.

“You can tell?” Joe’s voice rang with excitement as his undercover work was good enough to fool his brother.

Frank raised his hands signaling he gave up. Sometimes he just didn’t understand his brother.


LOL! I love this scene...Frank being annoyed by his baby brother! I can so picture my nephews in this scene!

This is also a story about a boy and his dog.
Looking down at his youngest son he asked, “Where’s Hero?”

At 150 pounds, the large shaggy black dog was never very far from the boys, particularly Joe whom it owed its life to, and Fenton was surprised not to see him. Although large even by dog standards, Hero was a gentle giant. More an observer then participant, as ‘docile’ was the only word fit for him.


The large black dog waited patiently in the cage. He had one of those trying days that dogs have when all that is contrary to their nature is inflicted upon them.

Okay, as if the skunk wasn’t bad enough…he’d been bathed in tomato soup and spent the night in the garage before being taken to “Pam’s Pampered Pooches” for a bath, trim and blow dry.

The dog wagged his tail with a loud thump at her compliment before lowering his majestic head onto large paws to wait for his boy to come get him.


I could probably quote the whole story.....but you must go to the Library and read it for yourself!!

[DonWisenor]

Rokia, I just now noticed your recommendation. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness! :)

[rokia]

I love that story, Don!

I was just calling it like it was :D :D :D

--Rokia

[Dawn]

I loved the way Don included Ring of Destiny in it! What a guy!:p

I'd forgotten all about that until you put it up on here. :)

[crys1818]

Thanks PHX for recommending Autumn Sunrise....even though the sequel is woefully ovrdue!!!! Maybe I could use a little help with these last pesky cahpters;)!!!! Taking care of these bad guys is much tougher that I thought.

[fvhardy]

My library recommendation for this week is The Most Precious Gift by Stormwatcher. It is the most beautiful story of friendship and trust between the boys.

When Joe loses his sight because of the actions of a nasty neighbourhood bully, Frank steps in to help him adjust to his new way of living. Without forcing Joe to become dependant on him, Frank gives his newly blind brother a sense of freedom and independance. It's absolutely marvellous to see how the relationship between them unfolds from the early part of the story when Joe was more impetuous and cocky with his sight;

"What’s simul- simul-whatever mean?" he asked his brother as the boys hurried down the driveway.

"I dunno." Frank shrugged.

"Really?" Joe pretended astonishment. In fact he was a little surprised; Frank almost always knew the big words that grown-ups used. "Wow, there’s something you don’t know! Wait till I tell the guys!" Joe’s blue eyes gleamed with mischief; seconds later he was running full-tilt down the sidewalk, his eleven-year-old brother in hot pursuit.

To later when Joe becomes insecure and frightened;

"You can’t help me always," Joe sobbed. "I can’t read! Or- or write, or r-ride my bike, or play on the computer..."

"I can read to you. And you can ride behind me, on my bike. And you can learn to write without seeing. And there’ll be video games for people who can’t see." Frank paused, wondering if that last was true. "I think, anyway. And you can learn the language- I think it’s called Brell or something- that lets you read with your fingers."

Joe sniffled again. "I c-can’t be a detective anymore. I can’t be observant now!"

Frank felt his throat swell shut. "We’ll always be partners, even if we’re not detectives," he answered, his voice breaking.

I mean, how can that not fail to move anyone? The boys also have to contend with ahving an ansent father who, when he finally does appear, makes a bit of a mess of dealing with Joe's new lack of sight.

I won't relate how the story ends, but I will say that Stormwatcher left a very thought provoking Author's Note;

A/N: So which was the most precious gift? The gift of sight? Or the gift of trust? You decide.

And I suggest you read the story if you would like to answer that question for yourself. :)

[Alaina]

I've been so totally remiss in making recommendations!!! I will attempt to begin to make up for it.

My recommendation this week is Behaving Badly by Zan. This story has a little bit of everything - humor, drama, action, angst and heartbreaking emotions. And one of my favorite things about this story is the title - I've never quite figured out whom it referred to: Joe? Frank? Fenton? All three??

I also LOVE how Biff's character was used in this story!! The boys are undercover at a school with Joe as a delinquent student and Frank as a student teacher. Biff steps in to play the part of Joe's older brother and legal guardian. His insights throughout the story and the brothers as seen through his eyes are, well... eye-opening!

Biff Hooper had to admit that he had had a very enjoyable evening, despite the fact that he was technically assisting the Hardy brothers on a very serious case! Frank had joined them, minus his disguise, after he had attended a staff meeting. The three of them had sat at the kitchen table to talk about the goings-on at Thomson High. Biff, of course, didn’t have much to contribute, but he was fascinated by his friends’ ability to gather and remember tiny details about people and conversations. Biff had known for a long time that Frank and Joe had been involved in solving many cases, but he had seldom been involved at this level. It struck him that Frank was so careful and meticulous in the way he noted things down, and it absolutely blew him away that Frank could convince other people that he was a few years older and a trainee teacher! Joe’s powers of observation were also amazing, although Biff noticed that the younger Hardy frequently spoke about his ‘gut feeling’ about a person. Frank, however, appeared to be highly respectful of his younger brother’s intuition and noted down all of Joe’s impressions in the same, serious way he listed facts.

As Biff began turning off the lights and television, it occurred to him that while the Hardy brothers were two very different people, their passion for problem solving was exactly the same. While Frank had sat virtually still during the discussion, Joe had been constantly up and down out of his seat, fidgeting and pacing. Frank’s notes were neat and orderly, while Joe had had trouble reading his own scribblings back to himself! Frank could play the older adult to perfection while Joe was alarmingly convincing as the troubled, badly behaved teenager! It was a wonder the brothers could put up with each other, but all of their close friends knew one Hardy would do anything for the other.

The story starts off with a lot of well placed humor but then the case takes off and something happens that sends Joe into a tailspin and makes him question his relationship with Frank, and even Fenton near the end. Gut-wrenching stuff but all beautifully written.

Zan is also a master at creating such vivid images with her words. The following quote has ALWAYS stuck with me because I got the most amazing image of Joe the first time I read it:

Walking past Joe’s bedroom Biff paused to stand in the open doorway and grinned. Joe was sprawled on the unmade bed, legs up the wall, headphones on, and flicking through a sports magazine. They had only been in the apartment for two days, but the room looked as though a bomb had hit it.

Joe must have decided it was time to actually go to bed because he suddenly swung his long legs off the wall, sending two more magazines to the already cluttered floor. He caught sight of Biff in the door way and grinned, taking the headphones off.

We also got to meet Zan's very cool OC A.J. in this story! If you haven't read it yet, go do so now! And if you have, it is so worth a re-read!!

http://www.hardydetectiveagency.com/zan/behavingbadly/behavingbadlyintro.htm

[Zan]

Thankyou, Alaina, for your very kind words.

Zan:)

[fvhardy]

Okay, my library recommendation for this week is Red’s Vanished. One of my favourites and also one of the most dramatic tales in the library, Vanished is a mile a minute from chapter one.

It starts with Joe going missing from O’ Hare Airport in Chicago, and his family’s desperate search to find him once they discover that he is in the hands of a cruel thug; Keith Rashman (the MOST evil bad guy in fan fiction, I swear this guy will give you nightmares!:eek:).

The story is incredibly well written, terrifying, sad and downright gruesome in places, it stays in the mind long after you’ve finished reading it. We all know that Red is an awesome writer and story teller, but for me, this story really is in a league of its own (probably because I have a macabre fascination with the dark and villainous :rolleyes:).

There are some very vivid images in the tale that literally stick in your mind, but one of them that really sticks for me is;

Fenton Hardy stared intently at the small monitor, a cold fear eating away at his heart as he watched the videotape flickering before his eyes. He saw his youngest son being dragged through the crowded airport by two men, raising not so much as a curious glance from the other travelers. Suddenly a security guard appeared in the picture, giving Joe a once over while listening to what the large, bald headed man was saying. The guard nodded and laughed, as if exchanging an inside joke with the man and then stepped aside to let them pass.

I could literally see that image as I was reading it, and for some reason, it’s something I’ve always remembered from the story; probably because the manner in which Joe was taken was so simple and yet so devious.

Also, horrifyingly vivid throughout the tale, is Frank’s fear as they search for his brother. You couldn’t help but feel his fear and his worry as the tale went on, and it was enough to make you feel the same sick desperation. It’s very touching to read how Red wrote the faith Frank and Joe have in one another, and how much they care for one another; above and beyond that of partners and brothers.

Rather than give away the ending (which I suspect most of you know because you’ve read it anyway), I’m going to suggest you head over to the library and read it…and congratulations to Alaina on such a fabulous (although maybe terrifying would be a better word :D) story! :)

[fvhardy]

My library recommendation for this week is SR Whittington and Red's Last Straw. It is my absolute favourite Iola story in the whole library, it is just so sweet. :)

Last Straw is about the potential dangers of hazing and high school bullying. It is incredibly well written and well thought out. And it certainly makes one think about the aftershock of hazing. Joe of course, lands right in the middle because he refuses to give in to said bullies and lands himself in hot water trying to out these bullies, and poor Frank (as per usual :D) is dragged along for the ride.

There's everything you could possible want in this story; humour, angst, drama and of course, romance. :)

My absolute favourite scene in the whole story is;

Waiting for Iola to agree with him, Joe was shocked beyond belief when she threw her arms around his neck, knocking him back into the wall. As she held onto him tightly, Joe slipped his arms around her waist without even realizing it.

"Joe, you saved me from those… those…animals! You didn’t give any thought to your own safety! You jumped in just to help me!" She hugged him tightly, her head nestled against his shoulder.

‘This feels nice,’ Joe thought, pulling her a little closer.

"God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t come down here," she shuddered slightly. Pulling back, she looked into Joe’s eyes. "Joe Hardy, you are my hero. And no one gets away with calling my hero a loser!" she said fiercely and then her voice became soft. "Thank you," she whispered. Standing on tip-toe, she softly kissed Joe on the lips.

Joe felt a shiver rush down his spine, as his heart pounded in his chest. Instinctively tightening his grip on Iola, he tentatively returned the kiss trying to judge how much might be too much. Feeling Iola relax in his arms, Joe let his instincts take over, unaware of the eyes watching from the landing above.

"Way to go, Romeo," Biker murmured. Smiling, he silently slipped out the door heading towards the parking lot where his buddies were waiting.

*melts* Isn't that just the most gorgeous, romantic thing you've ever read? :o

[copagirl]

Good one, fiona! I love that story. I love the quote you chose. This is one of my favorite with Frank and Callie!

Frank knew if he stopped to think, to try to decide if they were moving too fast, their burgeoning relationship might never get off the ground. What was it Joe was always telling him?

"Geez, Frank, stop waiting til everything makes perfect sense! Don’t be so logical all the time! Listen to your heart once in a while!"

Hoping Joe was right, Frank slid his arms around Callie’s waist and gently pulled her closer. As he leaned down, she slipped her arms around his neck, tilting her head up. Frank thought of how perfectly she fit into his arms, as if they were made for each other. He leaned closer still, hoping he would remember every single detail of their first kiss.

"Hi, honey. This must be your new friend Frank."

Hearing the male voice, Frank jumped out of Callie’s arms as if he’d been struck by lightning. His heart was racing so fast he was sure it was about to explode. Now flattened against the porch railing, Frank looked up and saw a man about his father’s age standing in the open doorway staring at Frank and doing his best to suppress a grin that was desperately trying to escape.

"Hello, Daddy," Callie replied, looking at Frank with a disappointed smile. "Daddy, this is Frank Hardy. Frank, this is my father, Edward Shaw."

"H-h-hello M-mr. Shaw. It’s a pleasure to meet you," Frank stuttered accepting the older man’s outstretched hand. ‘Please just let me die of embarrassment right now!’

"It’s nice to finally meet you Frank. Callie has told us quite a bit about you," Edward smiled, his eyes twinkling with friendly amusement. He turned and looked at Callie, motioning towards the door. "Come on in, honey. It’s late and it’s a school night. You can talk to Frank tomorrow."

Callie reached out and gave Frank’s hand a quick squeeze, shrugging apologetically. "See you tomorrow. Tell Joe I hope he’s feeling better."

Frank nodded mutely and watched in disbelief as Edward escorted Callie into the house. He stood staring at the closed door for a moment and finally sighed dejectedly. Turning, he trudged down the steps wondering if he and Callie might actually get to share their first kiss before graduating from high school.

[copagirl]

By the way......you don't have to keep posting on the sticky thread! You can start a new post for your Library Recommendations~:)

[fvhardy]

By the way......you don't have to keep posting on the sticky thread! You can start a new post for your Library Recommendations~:)

I know but I keep forgetting...only remembering after I've hit reply! :o :D What can I say? I have mush for brains!

[spencer]

This a really great thread!

Not having read very many stories on the site, the library can be a bit overwhelming, but reading through this thread and all suggestions, has given me some ideas on stories to read.