Janet Evanovich - "Fearless Fourteen"

     At this point in my literary life there are only two more Stephanie Plum novels available for my viewing pleasure.  (Three if you count the "seasonal" novels.)  So until I find out that Mrs. Evanovich has written another for my consumption, I'm trying to make these last two Plum-tasty books last, and I find that to be a bit of a challenge as I tend to begin reading them and find that they're over in a mere matter of days :(

     Stephanie, Morelli (yum), Ranger (sigh), Lula (of course), Rex, Bob, Connie, Grandma Mazure, and a few other zany characters find their way into "Fearless Fourteen."  This episode starts when Stephanie goes to apprehend an FTA (failure to appear - to court) named Loretta.  Loretta, who also happens to be one of Morelli's cousins, is willing to go in without a fight, but only if Stephanie promises to collect her teenage son from school while she's going through the process of getting re-bonded.  For sake of ease, Stephanie commits to do so.  Guess how long the paperwork process lasts for poor Loretta?  Guess who's now stuck "parenting" a teenage boy who is obsessed with an online RPG (role-playing game) called Minionfire?  You guessed it, 1. a long time, and 2. Stephanie.

Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum)

     In the midst of all of the "usual" in Steph's life, she find herself helping Ranger and his cronies to work private security for one of the biggest entertainers and Divas of all-time, Brenda (think of a Cher + Dolly Parton in Paris's wardrobe).  Brenda is a handful to say the very least!  She's got a bad attitude, a crush on Ranger, a nasty temper, and a penchant for hogging the spotlight, and not being on time.  While juggling all of these items, Stephanie and her crew are thrust into solving a ten-year old bank robbery.  She is involuntarily involved in the solving of the case because the robbers (and the rest of Trenton, for that matter, seem to believe that the money is buried in Morelli's house)  Does this poor girl EVER catch a break?!?!?!

     I was a little disappointed that not one car got blown up.  I suppose the fact that Bob the hungry dog got spray painted will suffice.  Overall this was much better than the previous few books in the series.  I was giggling quite a number of times throughout Ms. Plums escapades.  I find these books comforting to me like a favorite pair of shoes.  You know, the kind that aren't too dressy, they're not too casual, and even though they may not always be practical or all that "flashy", they're the most comfortable one's in your closet, and sometimes you are simply compelled to wear them despite their lack of appropriateness for the outfit.  Okay, maybe you don't know what that's like, but it's the best I can do for now.

     Check out this book if you need a quick read with a few laughs and are expecting the unexpected.  Bye for now...

Janet Evanovich - "Lean Mean Thirteen"

     Crappy cars, chocolate cake, crazy grandmother, good looking guys, poison green spandex mini-skirts, murder scenes, disappearing awful ex-husband, and exploding rodents are just a few things that our heroine encounters this go-round.  Wonder Woman?  Bat Girl?  Joan of Arc?  NOPE, you guessed it... the one and only Stephanie Plum!  She's back again with yet another Jersey-style adventure in "Lean Mean Thirteen."

     Just as in all of her other exploits, Stephanie finds herself surrounded by junk food and mayhem.  The story opens with the disappearance of her terrible ex-husband, Dickie Orr and what seems to be a murder scene.   Steph's main concern in this situation is that she is the prime suspect!  Talk about being motivated to solve the mystery.  As she and Ranger delve a little deeper into Dickie's case, she finds herself in the middle of something big and something terrible.


Lean Mean Thirteen [LEAN MEAN 13] [Mass Market Paperback]

     Whilst attempting to get to the bottom of the Dickie disappearance, Stephanie is also juggling a few FTA cases (big, bad bounty hunter stuff).  With the help of some of her trusty amigos (Lula and even Grandma Mazur) Stephanie traipses after a grave digger with a twelve-foot python, a taxidermist with a penchant for exploding stuffed animals, and is being hunted by a bad guy who seems to think that she has the "key" to his missing $40 million (EEK!!).

     While this is an easy-reading, entertaining tale, it's not the best of Mrs. Evanovich's work.  I usually find myself laughing-out-loud, but not so much in this book.  The plot was full of the eccentricities that are common and expected of a Stephanie Plum novel, but it just didn't quite make the "hysterical mark" I was expecting.  While it was good  book, there was something missing... I can't quite put my finger on it, but it fell a little shy of the "awesome" that this series usually inspires.  I'm not going to complain about a book that I consumed in three days, but you should read it for yourself and let me know what you think!

     I hope everyone had a healthy, prosperous, and enjoyable New Year!

Janet Evanovich - "Twelve Sharp"

     I'm currently struggling to decide if I want to continue feasting on my Stephanie Plum novels, or if I want to stop completely.  My rationale being that I've just flown through number twelve and, as of yet, there are only sixteen Plum delights on which to sustain my voracious appetite for clumsy women, sexy law enforcement agents, doughnuts, psychotic kidnappers, and the other random chaos in which hilarity ensues.  (That one's for you, Rum Fitts.)

     As always, our heroin, Stephanie is dropped smack-dab (I have no idea where that phrase came from, but it seemed appropriate in this context...) into the center of a crazy man's scheme, a too tight pair of leather pants, an adult store mishap, a bar brawl, and the newly renovated Stiva's funeral home.  In this episode, Ranger is accused of kidnapping his daughter, Julie.  Did he do it?  Did his dark side finally get the better of him?  I'll let you find out in this scintillating story of Stephanie Plum at her best.  I do have to say I was a little disappointed that she managed to own only one vehicle throughout the entire book; she didn't even sustain ANY too permanent damage to it.  Strange, right?  

Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, No. 12)  

     Stephanie is definitely "sharp" in this story; she manages to keep her wits about her in the midst of all the craziness that is "The Burg" and the Plum family.  I think the highlight of this work is not only the ongoing tension between Steph, Joe, and Ranger (Yum! *lip lick*) , but also Grandma Mazur and Lula's stint in "The What" band.  I'll let you get an idea of what that may look like to you, and then I'll recommend that you read the book and totally obliterate your own picture with something more asinine that only Mrs. E could conjure.  
     Things between Stephanie and Morelli heat up right at the end, but I don't want to spoil a great thing for you.  I'll keep this review short and sweet simply because I'm afraid I'll spill the beans...

     Until then...

Janet Evanovich - "Eleven on Top"

     I was introduced to Stephanie Plum by my husband;s boss.  She said, "You will either love it or hate it by page 25" as she handed me a copy of "One for the Money."  I was not expecting great things, but here I am, devouring each novel as fast as I can.

     "Eleven on Top."  I don't exactly know what it mean, but Mrs. E and Ms. Plum are most definitely on top this go round.  This book is super fast paced with a couple of didn't-see-that-one-coming-twists.  I love twists: lemon, licorice, pretzel, French, and plot; they all keep life exciting.  This is no exception.

Eleven on Top (A Stephanie Plum Novel)

     Spoiler Alert*****  Stephanie has another car blown up. (two, actually)*****  Seriously, what else did you expect?  Most of the usual cast comes to play in this one.  Stephanie is done with chasing bad guys and is still not able to say the "L" word.  Lula is as sassy and spontaneous as ever, especially now that she's a newly promoted bounty hunter. Morelli is super sexy, leery of Ranger, and only has one thing on his mind, even with a broken leg.  Ranger, in this episode, is steamy and good-smelling, like always; mainly because he's Ranger, but also because he's her newly acquired boss.  Some girls have all the luck! *sigh*  Valerie and Albert make a surprising move that ends up leaving Mama Plum giving up the hooch and Stephanie swearing off sugar.  Yeah right.

     What is it about Stephanie that just attracts mayhem that affects her and all those around her?  Whatever it is, that special power keeps me laughing.  The conclusion to this composition caught me pretty off-guard.  I love surprises!  Maybe that's how it's written, maybe I'm just slow on the up-take.  Read it for yourself and let me know.

     I love the way that Evanovich can write a food fight, a steamy "love" story (or two), an old lady who thinks that funerals are the epitome of a fabulous social event, and a mystery/detective theme into one amazing novel.  As always, Mrs. E delivers a hilarious ride to the finish line.

I hear there may be a secret revealed in #12...We'll see!

Janet Evanovich - "Ten Big Ones"

     Well folks, she's done it again!  Stephanie Plum has blown up yet another vehicle.  Are you surprised?  I'm not.  Here's yet another great book crafted by Janet Evanovich.  In "Ten Big Ones," the plot was a little weaker than are the ones previous, but as always, the characters are truly stellar.

                                              Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, No. 10)

   
     Stephanie is joined by a whole host of notable characters.  Lula, of course is riding shotgun for our heroine, while Grandma Mazur displays her knowledge (or lack thereof) of aliens and gangs.  Morelli takes a bit of a back seat while Ranger moves to the forefront in a sexy, stealthy kind of way.  What has she done now?!?!  I know, I felt the same way, but it works out well...  Also, (drum roll please) Sally Sweet, our favorite rock star in drag, reappears doing what he/she does best, swearing, accessorizing, and looking totally fabulous!                                                                                                 

     One point of interest in this novel is that while hiding from an angry, murderous street gang, Stephanie "stumbles" upon one of the "Rangeman Enterprises" facilities.  Is it the mysterious bat cave we all wonder about?  Hmmmm...

     While not the best plot Mrs. E has crafted, it's most certainly an entertaining, quick read.  I love starting a new Plum novel because you literally have no idea what will happen next.  It's such an adventurous and humorous ride.  I definitely recommend it!

Stay tuned!

Janet Evanovich - "Visions of Sugar Plums"

  

Visions of Sugar Plums: A Stephanie Plum Holiday Novel (A Between-the-Numbers Novel)

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.   

Read on, my friends!