5 comments about Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, No. 10).

1. "Ten Big Ones" features Stephanie Plum and Lula going up against 1) a soccer mom who raids potato chip trucks and 2) a psychopathic street gang member. Stephanie's endless on-again-off-again relationship with Morelli continues its strange path - but the twists and turns seem forced this time. Too bad, I was such an enthusiastic supporter of the early books in the series - but the newer ones just don't have it.
   
   In fact, the whole franchise seems tired. Lula and Stephanie's banter. Stephanie's sister and her fiance. Grandma. Morelli. Ranger. It has a warmed over feeling.
   
   I found Stephanie's total lack of awareness of street gangs (and their propensity to violence) in her hometown is silly, especially considering that she admits to having caught some of these gang members in the past. She didn't notice the graffiti? The outfits? Doesn't she listen to the news?
   
   My audio version was read by C.J. Critt. Critt did an okay job, but not a great job. Too many of the lines were read as though they were one-liners - too many punchlines that just hung there because they really weren't terribly funny.
   
   This was a solid two-star read for me except for the last scene - it made me laugh out loud and that's worth a star to make it a total of three stars.



2. I love this author! Her books are brilliant. They're funny & exciting, with just a touch of romance. It's just perfect. Her characters are so real & inviting. Grandma Mazur is my favourite. I want her & her gun at every family dinner I have ever been forced to endure. She can shoot cakes, roast chicken or meatloaf any time! BEST.READ.EVER.



3. Another great book in the series. Good mixture of romance, comedy, and mystery. I hope she continues with the series for a long time.



4. I am running late in my readings of Janet Evanovich's Plum stories. I just finished reading "To the Nines" about a week or so ago and I thought it was a super read. In this book "Ten Big Ones" I was delighted to find another super read. The story had a lot of my favorite characters from the earlier books and I thought this story had more bounty hunts than the other works. Overall, in my opinion this is great read that will keep your interest page after page.



5. This tenth installment of the Stephanie Plum novels is by far one of the best. Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's notorious bounty hunter and her sidekick LuLu are out to lunch when the witness the Red Devil robber in action. Stephanie's ability to identify the Red Devil quickly makes her a target for the vicious street gang the Slayers. Soon after, her boyfriend Trenton detective Joe Morelli informs her that the Slayers have recruited Junkman from the west coast to murder her, as she is at the top of his hit list. Morelli's protective nature and Italian ego instantly put the two head to head and Stephanie declares her intention to move out. The gang crimes are escalating and Stephanie fears for her own life as well as the lives of her friends and family. On the outs with Joe and with no safe place left to hide, Stephanie turns to the one man who is capable of protecting her, Ranger. The only problem is that Ranger is incognito, but he did loan her his truck, which also happens to include the keys to his private apartment. Stephanie finds herself living lush in Ranger's seductive home but fears the consequences that will arise when he returns home. Beyond having a price on her head, Stephanie has to deal with her sister's engagement and the wedding plans rolling forward. Sally Sweet reappears and is officially declared the wedding planner. Running short on time, patience and sexual exploitation Stephanie constructs a plan to remove herself from Junkman's hit list before he gets to her. Ten Big Ones is a stellar book, and exciting read. In classic Evanovich style, the writing is superb, the plot is miraculous and the emotions run right off the page. Packed with humor, suspense, passion and action Ten Big Ones proves that Janet Evanovich is at the top of her game. Readers will want to reread this book over and over and enjoy it each time around. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net

5 comments about Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum, No. 11).

1. Great book w/a great mix of mystery, action, romance and comedy. Loved it and hope she continues w/the series.



2. I'm assuming you've read the previous 10 Janet Evanovich novels to get to this point. You laugh at Stephaine Plum and her love interests as she, the most unlikely bondsman, solves her cases. Yeah, yeah, it's funny and I like the characters. The problem is that it's like all her others. You know what to expect and she delivers, but it feels like its all been done before. I don't know if I'm going to keep reading them. I would like to see it turned into a series -- maybe on HBO. Now that might be interesting.



3. This was the first Stephenie Plum novel I ever read.
   I actually got it from the dollar store. I was a little iffy when I heard of the series, awhile back, but when I caught one in the dollar store I thought, what the hell.
   
   I loved this book. I laughed out loud many times.
   After this one i had to buy the whole whole series, and I enjoyed ever single one. Some better than others.
   Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors.



4. Janet Evanovich gives her readers another stellar performance in the eleventh Stephanie Plum novel. Stephanie has already received two threatening notes as has decided to give up in the bounty hunter business. She hands over all of her current FTA's to her former partner LuLu and takes a job at the button factory. She manages to get fired before she even starts ands seeks employment elsewhere, including the Kan Kleaners and Cluck-in-a-Bucket. Of course, her stalker continues to track her down and works on destroying several of her cars along the way. Torn between the crazy life of her old career and her new employment, Stephanie is in a role reversal with LuLu and becomes her sidekick. Riding shotgun with LuLu, Stephanie finds herself in the mix of an old crime where several of the players have mysteriously disappeared. After spotting Spiro, the undertaker's son, Stephanie is convinced that he is her stalker and is tied to the missing men. Unsuccessful at her new career attempts, Stephanie finds herself working for RangeMan, her studly and sexy bounty hunter friend Ranger's company. He current boyfriend, Joe Morelli is not too happy with his girl spending so much time with Ranger, but knows that at least he will protect her. Eleven on Top is a well-scripted mystery and comedy all in one. The suspense hangs in the air till the final pages and the lead up to the finale is amazing. The struggle for Stephanie between the two men in her life will leave reader rooting for their favorite man. Eleven on Top is just as amazing as her first novel; One for the Money and readers will rush through the pages to finish. Our favorite characters like LuLu and Grandma Mazer provide the comic relief necessary between the steamy storyline. Excellent work by Janet Evanovich who gives her readers nothing less than perfection. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net



5. No let down on this book. Still the great characters getting in the sames messes. Great fun to read!

5 comments about Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, No. 3).

1. After enjoying the first two Stephanie Plum stories, I eagerly jumped into this one. It did not meet expectations. It was just not believable. Stephanie continues to make the kinds of mistakes that you would think she would learn from by now. And while I was able to laugh at the irreverence of the earlier books, I agree with others who said this book was a bit TOO crude. I am undecided as to whether to move onto the 4th.



2. I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!



3. I love Janet Evanovich! Funny, quirky, and believable characters. This book is no exception. The only thing I don't like is the OCCASIONAL rough language. However, for me, the good outweighs the bad BIG TIME.



4. Easy reader. Stephanie is a likeable, believable character. The story itself is a bit crazy and unbelievable, and it is really less of a mystery per se and more of a crime story. Take it for what it is.



5. This Stephanie Plum book was just like the others, great! I thought it started out a little slow, but it definitley picked up and had a great ending. Don't give up on it for the first half, it is worth the read. I purchased the next 3 in a boxed set, can't wait to keep reading!

5 comments about Full Blast (Janet Evanovich's Full Series).

1. Once again Janet Evanovich entertains her readers with a witty story full of fun. She has teamed up with Charlotte Hughes to write the FULL series and the duo continues to produce winning stories that will keep you coming back for the next one.
   
   Jamie and Max once more team up in FULL BLAST to free Beaumont, South Carolina of a villain. For a small town this one sure has more than its share of bad guys. Jamie runs the small newspaper in the town and Max Holt is her silent partner - he's the multi-millionaire hunk that has breezed in and out of Jamie's life for two previous books, or a few months in normal time measuring terms. They both feel fireworks when they are together but until this book those fireworks were always smothered by interruptions.
   
   Jamie decides to add a personal ad section in her newspaper and it unknowingly causes problems. A woman in town is murdered and the chief of police believes it's tied to the personal ads. Jamie calls Max in to help solve the crime... ok so it was an excuse to call Max because she missed him.
   
   Max arrives to save the day and they begin another quest to solve yet another mystery. The mystery isn't much of one as the identity of the villain is obvious from the first appearance. The only difference in this book and the two previous ones is that there are no bullets flying at Jamie nor is she in immediate danger.
   
   The romantic aspects of this book seem to be the focal points. A new lingerie shop is opened in Beaumont by the ex-librarian to the horror of some of the more staid citizens. Also, there is a rumor floating around that the local baker is adding aphrodisiacs to his brownies. It seems as if everyone in Beaumont has their hormones on overdrive and many of these side plots are absolutely hilarious. Even Fleas, Jamie's bloodhound, has a poodle that won't leave the poor thing alone and he has to jump in the bed of the pick-up truck to get away. My favorite was the transformation of Vera, Jamie's assistant editor who has been like a mother to her for years. Vera's beehive hairdo is replaced with a stylish cut, her clothes take on a drastic change to modern attire, and she even gets a pink mustang. Her dating escapades were icing on the cake in this story line.
   
   Max and Jamie finally have some uninterrupted time together (wink, wink) and most of this story has them each trying to figure out the depth of their feelings for each other. It'll be interesting to see what lies ahead for these two with FULL BLOOM - the next book in the series. I'm not sure how much more these two characters can keep the readers entertained and wanting to come back for more - they've done just about everything possible and it would be overkill to continue with them.
   
   Character development is once again excellent. The transformation of Vera into a woman who dates and enjoys life was tremendous. The addition of a psychic was interesting, but Ronnie the spirit who follows her around was priceless. The characters are so vastly different that I wonder if these two authors don't sit down over coffee and come up with outrageous people and see how they would fit in the storyline.
   
   Overall, FULL BLAST is another fun book by Evanovich and Hughes. If you're looking for a mystery that will have your mind working overtime to figure it out, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for a fun story, with a lot of romance, then pick up a copy soon.



2. Jamie Swift is ready for her life to return to normal and predictable, but when the personal's section of her newspaper is the only connection in a series of serial killings, Jamie enlists the help of her commitment phobic lover Max, and a shady psychic Divine.
   
   Though Janet Evanovich's name is on the cover of this novel, it is obvious she did not write it. Nothing, except for 3 scenes altogether, had any resemblance to her writing style. The main characters were different in personality to those in the previous book in the series, and they were different from any character Janet has ever written (which indicates that she didn't write this). In the 300 plus pages of this novel, there was only ONE comical scene, and that wasn't all that funny. The only comical character in the novel (Dee Dee) was actually vary stupid and pathetic. If you're a Janet fan, avoid this book because it wasn't written by her. If you're a Charlotte fan, then you might enjoy this novel and it's lack of Janet's writing. Personally, I read Janet Evanovich's novels for the comedy. No one can make me laugh like she does, and for that reason, this novel disappointed me. I wanted a silly comedy, not a semi-serious romance with a small amount of suspense. When it comes to non-comical romantic suspense, there are better books and authors out there.



3. Although the plot is somewhat predictable, and certainly not very believable... (why are two city folk solving a murder instead of the police) the story still entertains. It is always fun to follow Evanovich's characters (this time with the obvious assistance of Charlotte Hughes) through their hairbrained trials and tribulations. I listened to this book on CD and thoroughly enjoyed the author interview at the end.
   
   If you are looking for another great, quick read I recommend "The Time Keeper" by Kevin Cropp. Although not as light-hearted as "Full Blast" it is still a gratifying, recommended read.



4. I enjoy Charlotte Hughes. The combination of Charlotte and Janet is great. I actually did go buy Full House and I enjoyed it as much or even more than Full Tilt. Characters are so enjoyable in both books and am looking forward for the next one.



5. I found this series quite by accident, and it is nothing like the books I usually read. It is light, simple fun. I needed something like this for a break and have thoroughly enjoyed the series. Max, Jamie and of course Muffin are at it again, solving a murder. This series isn't Stephanie Plum and it isn't deep, meaningful literature. But, if you want an afternoon of fun, light reading, then by all means pick up the Full series. Like most series, they are best enjoyed in order.

5 comments about Love Overboard.

1. I guess there's a reason these books "surfaced" well after the Stephanie Plum series was well on it's road to success. I read "Love Overboard" and "Rocky Road to Romance" but couldn't quite get myself to purchase "Back To The Bedroom" as was recommended by Ms. Evanovich as the obvious next choice. The first two were almost clones of one another. You begin each book by learning right off the bat the male lead in the story is in love with the female lead character. Very predicatable. Same story - just a different setting. The success of these books she wrote in "her previous life" before "the time of Plum" have done well "now" due to the name she made for herself writing the Stephanie Plum by number books. For me, there is no comparison and I'm very happy that I "cut my teeth" on the Plum series because I never would have read past "Rocky Road to Romance" based on these earlier works. There's just no comparison. In fact, I picked up "Love Overboard" simply because it was an Evanovich book. Read and learn, I guess. They aren't not worth reading if you don't mind knowing how the book is going to end - you just can't miss the fact it's her early work. Keep the Plum books coming!!Funny mysteries are by far Ms. Evanovich's best undertakings.



2. I just finished this book and I am so happy that it was released again. Stephanie Lowe (not Plum) needs her toilet fixed. She agrees to take her cousin's place cooking on board the ship called "Savage" in exchange for the plumbing work. In true Evanovich form, Stephanie is hilariously imperfect and gets into all kinds of trouble. That trouble includes one hunky ship's captain named Ivan, and the sexy part of the book begins.
   
   In short, I loved it!
   
   
   Secrets and Sacrifices



3. I have read all of the Janet Evanovich books starring Stephanie Plum, but I had not realized that she wrote romance novels. I ordered all and read them all! I absolutely loved them. Within the first page or two you always knew who was going to fall in love, but that did not ruin the fun in watching get to the end of their journeys together. These are books that I will lend to all of my friends and family!



4. It's interesting to see how Evanovich's writing has evolved, since this is one of her early works. It's an entertaining, light read, laugh-out-loud in a couple of places. If your expectations aren't too high given the Stephanie Plum series, you'll enjoy this book while you wait for #14 to arrive!



5. Ivan Rasmussen has a 19th century schooner that he charters for short cruises during the warm months of the year. He has a regular crew that he works with, but the person he ended up with in his galley was an acquaintance Stephanie Lowe, and she knew nothing about cooking with an old wood stove. It turns out his normal cook, Lucy, decided to get married, and Steph was covering her shifts in exchange for plumbing services provided by the new groom. Ivan and Steph felt an immediate attraction, but there were many reasons they couldn't get involved. The main reason was that Steph had already thrown herself at him, and he turned her down. Then there was the fact that Ivan didn't want a committed relationship - he is a direct descendent of a pirate, and Steph was just getting on her feet after being an undercover cop for years. There was also the issue that Steph just purchased Ivan's family home - Haben. Who knew working this one-week could last so long?
   
   Steph was getting Haben ready to turn into a B&B when Ivan turns up. He makes her a proposition. He needs a place to stay for the off-season and she needs a handyman. His real agenda is to seduce her, and make her realize she can't live without him. How far would he go to get his beloved family home Haben back? When a corpse is found and makes appearances, Steph starts to wonder.
   
   Entertaining and funny. A lot of laugh out loud moments!

5 comments about Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, No. 12).

1. A good book, in a good series. Stephanie Plum is always entertaining and humorous.



2. Twelve Sharp is the best of the series. It's full of raw emotion, colorful characters and a plot that grabs you from the first page and won't let you stop until you read the last word. This truly is Janet Evanovich's masterpiece. If you love mystery, intrigue, comedy, all rolled up into one, then this is the book for you. Don't miss out on this one. I bought ten copies myself!!! What better way to hook a friend on your favorite series then giving them a book about Ranger!



3. Janet's tight writing, outstanding plot and creepy villain will keep you riveted to your seat as you ignore all outside disturbances because you simply can't put this book down. The sexual tension between Ranger and Steph and Joe is at an all-time high, and both the men are at their sexy best. A strange woman shows up in Trenton with a disturbing story about Ranger, but that's only the subplot to this engaging story that takes off like a shot and never slows down.
   
   The great characters that JE is famous for return, along with a couple of new ones - one I especially liked was the multiplex-dwelling Melvin. Carolyn of Pleasure Treasures will make you laugh out loud, but the scene where Ranger checks out the flavor of the massage oil Steph bought will bring a different type of smile to your face.



4. Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors.
   Tweleve Sharp is about Ranger and someone is pretending to be him. The 'second Ranger' has kidnapped Ranger's daughter, and Ranger is wanted. And 'of course' Ranger's goes to Stephanie house for help.
   
   This is one of my favorites of the Plum series because it shows you more of Ranger. ***I'm a totally Ranger fan.***
   Stephenie had some 'close' encounters with Ranger in this novel. Stephanie did 'almost' have sex with Ranger. again.
   
   Mortelli moving in with Stephanie when Ranger was there was funny, and when Ranger threatened to kill Mortelli if Stephanie slept with him, while he was there. Priceless.
   
   When Tank got kicked in the balls, and fell down. WaS so hilarious. This is when him and Lula kind of began as a couple.
   
   I loved this novel.



5. The return of Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's sassy and sexy bounty hunter in Twelve Sharp is a climax in the series. Stephanie is back to her fast filled FTA retrieval days when she gets a strange visitor, Carmen Manoso. Carmen is outfitted in head to toe black and carries a loaded gun, but her claim that she is married to Ranger is what really sets Stephanie off. Startled, Stephanie tries in vain to reach Ranger, but he is out of town. When Carmen is discovered executed and Ranger's daughter is kidnapped from Miami, Stephanie is at a complete loss. To make matters worse, Stephanie's archenemy Joyce Barnhardt has joined Vincent Plum Bail Bonds to help pick up some of the criminals at large. Stephanie is worried about Ranger, until he finally shows up at her door and they discover that someone is attempting to steal Rangers identity. Working together and living together with Ranger to try and catch a crazy man on the loose, helps provide some sexy moments. That is until the other man in Stephanie's life, Joe Morelli moves in as well. Trying to help rescue Ranger's daughter and control the tension in her life, Stephanie becomes bait for a killer. The suspense and action will have you panting until the very end, not to mention the sexy scenes. Janet Evanovich, as always also adds some laugh till you cry moments with some of our favorite characters. The storyline is one of the best, filled with the action and suspense yet perfectly paired with comic relief. Twelve Sharp is by far one of the best novels in the series. Valerie Jones [...]

5 comments about Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4).

1. I'm confused. The first half dozen or so Evanovich books were read well. Then suddenly around "Eight..." they started to sound bland. I miss the old Grandma.



2. In this novel stephanie manages to get herself caught up in something that is not her business(so what else is new?).Janet Evanovich has managed to keep me laughing hysterically at this one.If you have never read any of the stephanie plum series, I advise you to please start from the beginning.You'll definitely get your moneys worth with these!



3. I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!



4. This one seemed to drag a bit for me. Even though Morelli was hotter than ever, the whole storyline was a bit slow.
   
   This time out Stephanie is tracking Maxine Nowicki, who's wanted for skipping out on a car-theft charge. But of course that is not the whole story and in walks the usual cast of crazies that usually inhabit Stephanie's life. Sally Sweet, a cross dressing drag queen, Sugar his kinda roommate, the wonderful Lula, hot Joe Morelli, the very mysterious Ranger, the pot selling vegetable guy, Grandma Mazur and Joyce who just never seems to disappear.
   
   Of course apartments are firebombed and of course another car is torched, but hey, this is Stephanie Plum and these things happen.
   
   The romance, or whatever you would call it, heats up between Stephanie and Joe is what kept me reading this book. Their "relationship" was more interesting than the mystery, if that is what you would call it.



5. This book is just as much fun as the first three, maybe more,and I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times. Not only are the laughs taken to a new high, but so too are the language and sex. A definite uptick from the first three, but the emphasis remains on the mystery and the fun. A definite fun read and I'll be back for more.

5 comments about High Five (Stephanie Plum, No. 5).

1. A couple of acquaintances recommended Stephanie Plum and Evanovich to me for humourous reading. It was a waste for me. They are many "fun" books out there with decent language to take up my spare time.



2. I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!



3. I absolutely love this book and the whole Stephanie plum series!! I never actually knew about the series till maybe a month or two ago but once I picked up that first book and started reading I found myself going back to the bookstore for two and three. Now I am up to the sixth book and I cant wait for the next one. I love the characters...crazy grandma muzur, butt-kickin ex-hooker and two hot sexy men to sit along side the greatest character the not so together funny as hell Stephanie Plum. its mystery, love interest, crazy antics and danger. you cannot go wrong with these books Evanovich is a gifted woman, each book makes me want more and more I just hope I dont run out of books before the next one comes out. I definetely recommend these books they are so worth the time and money.



4. I'm in love with this series and have read the first four books on my kindle - now I'm addicted and the next few books aren't available in kindle version - WHAT's up Amazon??



5. Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter. Ummm...a Bail Enforcement Agent. And she works for her cousin Vinnie bringing in people that skip out on bail. Trouble is, business is a little slow and the rent is due. Enter Ranger, the Superman of Bounty Hunters. He handles all the really big, dangerous criminals and when he's not out catching bad guys, he's doing other odd jobs, mostly legal and sometimes moral. He lets Steph join the group, which includes guys with names like Tank. The jobs range from "interior decorating" (security) to chauferring a shiek. And Ranger even gives her a snazzy Porsche to use as a "company" car.
   
   Then Steph's Uncle Fred disappears and her family wants her to look into the case. But when she starts digging into Fred's things, she finds pictures of a dead body....or at least the body parts. And what does all this have to do with the problems Fred has had with the garbage company....the errand he was running when he suddenly went missing??
   
   What can I say?? I need to read something light and funny. And High Five was certainly all that. There is just no getting around laughing at the things Stephanie gets herself mixed up in. With a cast of characters that grows longer with each book, Evanovich weaves a good mystery with lots of fun. And sexual tension. The ever-present debate over who Stephanie should end up with is big talk among Plum fans. Should it be Morelli, the sexy cop with the smoldering looks that Stephanie has know all her life? Or should it be Ranger, the dark, dangerous bounty hunter that is gorgeous and built for speed?? For the first four books, I've been solidly in the Morelli camp. But Book 5, stepped up Ranger's interest....and I have to say I may be wavering a little!!
   
   If you are looking for some fun, light reading, this is definitely the series for you. Now that I've finished High Five, I may have Plum Fever again. I definitely can't wait to see what trouble Stephanie can get into next!!

3 comments about A Trilogy of Janet Evanovich: Four to Score/High Five/Hot Six.

1. This series is toooooo good to cut a single word. I adore the analogies, characters, and descriptions in these books - I was sorely dissapointed to find these audio versions abridged.
   DO THEM OVER UNABRIDGED and I will purchase every single audio and enjoy what I've already read and fell in love with.
   Who makes these decisions and what in the world were they thinking????



2. Janot Evanovich, author of the Stephanie Plum mystery series, has a hilarious writing style that both pulls readers into her stories and makes them laugh out loud. The audio versions of these stories are no different and in fact are possibly more amusing thanks to the vocal talents of Debi Mazar. Her Jersey-girl accent makes it feel like Stephanie is in the room with you and telling you about her mishaps, of which there are many. If there is ever a movie starring this plucky and clutzy bounty hunter, I would encourage casting agents to seriously consider Mazar. Her attitude and way of speaking fit the stories to perfection. These audio versions are abridged, which saves time but cuts out parts of each book. For anyone who has yet to read the books, I would encourage you to do so before listening to this format.



3. old school cassette thus not as portable as audible style ones but the plus side is you can sell it or give it away when you're done like a book. Some day some rich guy's gonna sue for the right to give away or sell our digital music or audible licenses so they can be resold or traded like hardcopy styles like this can. Until that happens I'll continue to recommend cassette like this over digital versions.

5 comments about Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13).

1. Let's face it fellow readers. Janet Evanovitch has harvested from these same fertile fields many times and she still produces a good crop. Has the time come to rotate her crops? Probably. Is the current crop as good as those harvested when her soil was fresh? No. Is it still worth your while to eat from this particular harvest. Yes. Are things getting a bit, shall we say stale, in this particular field. Absolutely! That being said, a few things are glaringly apparent.
   
   First, I'm way past wanting Stephanie to choose between her love interests. I just want the woman to GROW UP! If she is going to remain remotely interesting she needs to change. Whether the decision to keep Stephanie in a box is made by author or publisher remains to be seen; but both would be well advised to let this 30-ish adolescent grow up just a tad.
   
   Second, Grandma Mazur needs a new pasttime. Hanging out at the funeral home is way past creepy.
   
   Third, please let Stephanie get a real job for a change and moonlight as a bounty hunter. Do something to get this woman a little money in her pocket.
   
   I could go on, but the point is that this series needs to grow. From the reviews of the 14th installment that didn't happen this year. Dear Janet, a word to the wise, give your characters some growing room. Dear Publisher, let the series progress. But in the meantime, the book has a few laugh-out-loud moments and that's enough for paperback entertainment. But my days of spending hardback bucks on Stephanie have long since passed.



2. I agree with some other reviewers that things are getting a bit repetitive, and I wish something would happen one way or another with the men in Steph's life. But these are minor quibbles with a great series. It's still laugh out loud funny and one of the best mystery series out there. It's hard to find books with genuine wit and a good plotline; the closest to this I've read recently are fantasy, Karen Chance's Cassie Palmer novels. So yeah, this is still five stars for me!



3. Our favorite bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum is back again in Lean Mean Thirteen. Stephanie is asked by her friend, Ranger to plant bugs on her ex-husband Dickie Orr. Stephanie does not like Dickie too well, so when she, LuLu and Connie give him a visit, it is no surprise that Stephanie and Dickie end up fighting on the floor. Stephanie can't help herself especially after she learns that Dickie is back in bed with her archenemy Joyce Barnhardt. The following day Stephanie learns that Dickie has gone missing, presumably dead, and their number one suspect is Stephanie. Forced into this situation by Ranger, she joins up with him to try and find out what happened to Dickie and how it ties to his law firm and its cast of suspicious partners. The plot is a little too extravagant, but Janet Evanovich provides some great characters along the way that overall make the story work. As always she fills her pages with scenes that will leave you laughing out loud, including exploding animal specimens and graveyard antics. Plus, she gives us just enough Ranger to have us begging for more or the mysterious and sexy bounty hunter. Fans of the series will not want to miss Lean Mean Thirteen. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net



4. .Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 13)
   A ghost-written Plum? Oh my. All of the other Stephanie Plum 'Bounty Hunter' series have been fast, laugh out loud, one day reads. The plots are almost incidental to the fun banter, sexual tension and general silliness. A real guilty pleasure. But in this one the banter has been replaced with stilted dialogue that just seems totally out of character and the sexual tension has been replaced by crude, romance novel drivel. In any series part of the fun is getting to know the characters and anticipating their reactions to a situation. It makes the reading fast and the laughs louder. On this one, rather than the reading flowing along, I kept getting thrown off by all of the character/dialogue inconsistencies. Burg-ers of the past said 'fudge', 'frick, 'finkin' or anything else but in this one even Grandma Mazur is throwing 'f-bombs'. Morelli's playing happy housewife, Ranger's insecure about his looks and downright talkative, Lula's saying things like 'I'm considering the consequences', Tank's carrying on conversations and Stephanie's insecurities, Jersey-girl attitude and good girl dilemmas are almost totally missing. These are the same characters in name only. I can understand an author getting bored or stuck and the plot line suffering but when the basic voice of the characters is so drastically different it leads me to believe that it was written by someone else. Too bad, I'd have rather seen the series end



5. Oh, how I adore this series! Lots of laughs, Stephanie still gets herself into trouble in some way. Lots of colourful characters, old and new alike, and Grandma Mazur still knows how to make the reader laugh. Trying to figure out how Steph gets herself into these situations is still a great wonder, even though the reader gets it from A to Z.
   
   Ranger still turns her to mush as much as Morelli, and Morelli still has it in his head that Stephanie should be doing something other than bounty hunting. If only he could accept what is, and stop forcing the issue, I bet he and Stephanie could live happily ever after.
   
   I still like watching the banter between the triangle. While Ranger isn't looking for ties, only fun, Stephanie wouldn't mind it. However, she does have her heart set on settling down, Ranger isn't part of that plan - not by a long shot. I like what they have between them, though. You'd think that Morelli, knowing this, would put his butt in gear and think better about the situation, but I have a feeling it isn't going to happen any time soon.
   
   I soooo can't wait to see what Stephanie gets herself into in Fearless Fourteen.