"Wicked Appetite" by Janet Evanovich

Fans of the Between the Numbers in the Stephanie Plum series will remember Diesel. While I enjoyed these books, I didn't care for them as much as the regular series and now I think I see why. When given his own book (more or less, as he is not the main character) I like Diesel a lot more. When he is basically filling in for Ranger and Morelli, I don't care for Diesel. I didn't know this until I read Wicked Appetite. Lizzy's life in uneventful. She works in a bakery in Salem and lives in an inherited house that she probably can't afford. She has never blown up a car and isn't in love with two different men (meaning, she is nothing like Stephanie, which I applaud Evanovich for being able to create a different character). Then Diesel shows up and every thing in her life spins out of control. Diesel needs Lizzy's help to track down several ancient relics to avoid catastrophe. Throw in Lizzy's new cat, her co-workers that are a little of the top, and Carl the monkey (who fans will remember from the Plum series) and you know you are in for a bizarre but fun read.

Though set in the same universe as Stephanie Plum, this book has a different feel to it. It deals with a more paranormal plot but still has Evanovich's signature style. Personally, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the Plum books, but still had a lot of fun reading it. I have a feeling that as the series goes on (Book 3? Please?), Lizzy and Diesel will become stronger characters and will continue to grow on me.

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Takedown Twenty" by Janet Evanovich

There comes a point in many book series where enough is enough they should really stop the series while they're still ahead. Some series do this, but some keep going and each subsequent book just gets worst. Thankfully the Stephanie Plum books are still great and Takedown Twenty is just as good as the rest of the series. Janet Evanovich does stick to a pretty standard set of plot points; Stephanie is in over her head, still can't fully chose between Morelli and Ranger, still has a crazy but lovable family, will have some sort of car/gun/apartment problem and she and Lula will eat a lot of food. Sure they are kind of predictable, but I think that is part of their charm.

This time around, Stephanie is trying to track down "Uncle Sammy" but no one in Trenton is very helpful when it comes to the arrest of this beloved resident. She is also trying to find the connection between a string of murders that all result in older women being left in dumpsters. On top of this, there is a giraffe on the loose, but it seems that she and Lula are the only ones that run into him (and Lula names him Kevin, my favorite part of this book). Needless to say, this book is just as zany as the rest of the series.

I know some fans aren't as into these books like they used to be, but I am happy to say that I am still enjoying myself. I loved every bit of this book and am really looking forward to Twenty-One!

Happy Reading!
-Melly

In My Mailbox #2

What do you know, I am posting an "In My Mailbox" twice in one week.  This time I went to my local used bookstore and got 4 books for $2.15!  Amy's Bookcase really is a gem in the San Juan County area.  I love this store!

Happy Reading!

-Melly

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

I started reading this series after seeing the movie.  It's not often that I laugh so much while reading a book.  The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich follows rookie bounty hunter Stephanie as she desperately tries to bring in those that have skipped bail so that she can afford her rent.  Throw in her zany grandmother, a prostitute name Lula, and her first "bounty" (and first lover) Joe Morelli, and you are in for a hilarious ride.

My mom started reading this series several years ago, so I was somewhat aware of the premise for the novels.  I really had no idea just how much I would enjoy reading them.  I started One For the Money in April of this year and finished Notorious Nineteen very quickly after it was released in November.  I'm a little sad that I got to spend so many months with these characters and now have to wait until another one comes out.  It's been awhile since I have been so caught up in a series (it seems that most "series" I have been reading are trilogies) so it was really enjoyable to finish one book and have another one to start reading instead of having to wait for the next book or to start something completely new.  I really did laugh a lot while reading these books.  They are an easy read.  With the exception of certain scenes, they are mostly light-hearted and just fun.  Something that I particularly liked, was that I could talk to my mom about these books since she is also a fan of the series.  It isn't often that she and I both read (and enjoy) the same books.

I realize that I am probably not the target audience for these books (when I saw the movie, I was probably the youngest person in the theatre...by about 30 years...) but that didn't keep me from liking the books.  If you are a heavy YA reader, these books may not be quite what you are looking for. But you never know, give them a shot (and trust me, you're probably a better shot than Lula)!

Next on my Evanovich list is the Wicked series featuring Diesel and Lizzie.  I am looking forward to these books and hope that I enjoy them as well.

Happy Reading!
-Melly

• One for the Money
• Two for the Dough
• Three to Get Deadly
• Four to Score
• High Five
• Hot Six
• Seven Up
• Hard Eight
• Visions of Sugar Plums (between-the-numbers holiday novella)
• To the Nines
• Ten Big Ones
• Eleven on Top
• Twelve Sharp
• Plum Lovin’ (between-the-numbers holiday novella)
• Lean Mean Thirteen
• Plum Lucky (between-the-numbers holiday novella)
• Fearless Fourteen
• Plum Spooky (between-the-numbers novel)
• Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
• Sizzling Sixteen
• Smokin’ Seventeen
• Explosive Eighteen
• Notorious Nineteen