Well,
This is my first attempt at not only "publicly" reviewing a book, but also at this phenomenon called "blogging." I figured I would begin this adventure with one of my favorite authors, Janet Evanovich. I started consuming the Stephanie Plum series over the summer and have fallen head over heals in love with not only the character, but also the author. I highly recommend them to you, and hope you enjoy them as well!
Visions of Sugar Plums is one of the books that falls between the numbers in the series and is the first of the so-called "between-the-numbers" novels. It is a little shorter than your average Plum novel, but is still just as packed with humor, adventure, car explosions, strange (and generally gorgeous) men, hilarious mishaps, memorable characters, and of course Grandma Mazur's antics.
Stephanie is an average Trenton girl who overnight, goes from being a lowly lingerie buyer to an unequipped and hysterical bounty hunter. In this episode, she is chasing and FTA (person who Failed To Appear for court) named Sandy Claws when all the usual Plumness takes place. She starts the book (and her day) by walking into her kitchen to discover an uninvited "Diesel" (a new man of mystery to add to her repertoire). Just like the rest of the men in her life, he's full of muscles, good looks, and information he's not going to share. In the hunt for Claws she is, attacked by elves, scolded by her mother for not sending out Christmas cards (or having a tree, or cooking, or not having a job at the button factory for that matter), convinced that Diesel may actually be a superhero, trapped in a collapsed building with four men and no bathroom, still not any closer to getting her holiday shopping done, and is in the market for a new car (because, as usual, hers blew up).
As per the usual Plum novel, I found myself laughing out loud at not only the situational humor, but also Steph's inner monologue. She says it like it is in a very witty manner as is characteristic of her. She may be nerves of steel on the outside (yeah right!), but on the inside she is Everywoman simply funnier, and as Lula says: "You (Steph) got the market cornered on hot (men, that is)." What's not to like?
My few complaints regarding this particular book are: 1. That it isn't long enough (they never are), and 2. That there is "supernatural" activity that goes without further explanation. Diesel's appearance, disappearance, and other modes of transportation are noticeably unexplained. The same lack of commentary is noted in the villain's motives and his use of electricity. I suppose therer are worse things...
Overall, the book is a good way to entertain your mind for a few hours, but not my favorite of all books Plum. I believe it is one of those that lets you enjoy yourself in the journey. I hope you are inspired to embark on the path that Mrs. Evanovich has laid before us.
