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deweythereader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
First read January 18, 2012.
Eighteenth in the Stephanie Plum comedic romance suspense series revolving around a female bond agent and her sidekicks. The series is based in Trenton, New Jersey.
My Take
It's all about a photo of some guy that ends up in Stephanie's carry-on. Now all sorts of nasty people are after Stephanie. Including two separate teams of FBI agents.
Okay, it's taken a step up from the past three miserable installments and there were some laughs, but it's still feeling tired. Evanovich still hasn't put the heart back in this story. The sex was...hmmm...not as good as the earlier stories and Steph's still having it off with both Ranger and Morelli in the same story---even though she claims she's swearing off men. Evanovich is building more restraint into Morelli in this story. He's still interested in Stephanie, but he keeps talking about the stresses of his job and the frustration of Steph's work. Ranger seems to be mellowing into Stephanie.
There was only one cake and Stephanie never did get to eat it; there was more fast food eating than in Smokin' Seventeen. I only remember one dinner with company at her parents. We never saw Albert or Valerie. Vinnie was barely there. Heck, we usually get a lot more snarky comments about Vinnie.
Evanovich definitely kept the tension on as far as events in Hawaii. It was my main purpose in continuing on with the story. I was just dyin' to know what happened and Evanovich just kept dribbling it out in small chunks. Once the truth comes out...hoo, hoooo...Hawaii must'a been somethin' else! It's too bad we don't go much of anywhere with it. I guess Evanovich is savin' it up for Nineteen.
Oh man, wait'll you get to the scene where Stephanie whales on Raz...no one messes with our Steph!
What's with Stephanie's inability to say "no" to Barnhardt? Call the cops on her.
As much as I have enjoyed Stephanie and her ineptness in the past. I gotta wonder if she'll ever learn to keep her pepper spray handy and her car keys in her pocket.
The Story
Something went wrong in Hawaii. Two men. A tan line on her ring finger. And some really obnoxious fellow passengers on her flight back. And two different FBI teams trying to get into her apartment.
There is one bright spot in her day though, Joyce Barnhardt got arrested and now she's FTA. Stephanie and Lula can go after her. Now, if they could just keep Stephanie's RAV4 from being stolen by Buggy. And keep the bad guys from breaking into her apartment. Including a manipulative Joyce and a hungry Morelli.
All the rest, Ranger rescuing her including a little some-some in the closet and Morelli slipping naked into her bed, is just icing on the non-existent birthday cake.
The Characters
Stephanie Plum is a rather happy-go-lucky woman in lust with two really hot men. To pay the bills, she works as a bounty hunter and mooches a lot of dinners off her parents. Rex is Stephanie's pet hamster. And we don't get the interactions with him anymore, either.
Joseph Morelli is a Trenton cop who has been in and out of Stephanie's life since she was 6. An incredibly sexy cop whom Stephanie figures could be good husband material. He's been buying Pepto by the case. Ranger, a.k.a., Carlos Manoso, is former Special Forces and Superman as an enforcement agent and in bed. And definitely not husband material.
The Plum family appearing in this installment includes…
…her father, Frank — he actually smiles in this one!, Mom is really knockin' back the liquor, and Grandma has taken up bowling and is thinking of becoming a cougar.
Vincent Plum's Bail Bonds is…
…back to being owned by Harry the Hammer, Vinnie's father-in-law, and after the shenanigans Stephanie's weasel of a cousin, Vinnie, pulled in Smokin' Seventeen, 17, Vinnie is definitely under Harry's thumb while his wife, Lucille, owns him. Connie Rosolli runs the bail bonds office and knows all the New Jersey mob scuttlebutt — her family is connected. Salvatore DeAngelo is the contractor supposedly rebuilding the bail bonds office that got torched. He's a pretty scummy guy. Kind of a match made in heaven with Vinnie… Lula is a generously-sized woman whose hair color changes on a regular basis and whose clothes are usually letting her bust out all over. She's much too handy with her gun even if she can't shoot straight and all her problems can be handled with more food. And, lately, she's been missing in action as the really funny comic relief while Stephanie's straight man is getting pretty stiff.
Joyce Barnhardt has been the ultimate enemy since she and Stephanie were kids. She has no morals. Of any kind. Seems Joyce has been…*ahem*…officially naughty while Steph's been in Hawaii. Annie Hart thinks she's Cupid; she's also on Grandma's bowling team — the Ladies with Balls. Frank Korda is a missing jeweler who has been spending time with Joyce.
FTAs Stephanie and Lula are chasing include…
…Magpie, a.k.a., Donald Grezbek; Lahonka Goudge; and, Lewis "Buggy" Bugkowski.
FBI agent team #1 is Lance Lancer, a.k.a., Mortimer Lancelot, and Sly Slasher, a.k.a., Sylvester Larder. Uh-huh, right. Team #2 is Bill Berger and Chuck Gooley — Morelli reckons Gooley "eats out of dumpsters and fucks feral cats".
Richard Crick is an unfortunate passenger who never got back on the plane in LA. Now his "grieving" fiancée, Brenda Schwartz, is after the photograph. For sentimental reasons. She's also trying to protect her son, Jason. Manny Rosolli runs the junkyard, which seems to have a very quick turnover in compacted vehicles. Andy Kulicki works for Manny. Razzle Dazzle, a.k.a., Raz, a.k.a., Archie Ahmed, is bad guy #3 harassing Stephanie for the photograph. Chester Billings owns a gourmet food-distribution company, but that's not the end of his interests.
It was Tootie Ruguzzi who started events off. Vinnie's been looking for her and her husband The Rug, a.k.a., Simon Ruguzzi, as he's a high-bond FTA. But it's Sammy the Pig who started the brouhaha.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a background of explosive yellow and oranges flames with a giant three-dimensional deep red and oranges eighteen with the author's name and tile in a shadowed white.
The title is accurate for Stephanie does have herself in an explosive situation.
Eighteenth in the Stephanie Plum comedic romance suspense series revolving around a female bond agent and her sidekicks. The series is based in Trenton, New Jersey.
My Take
It's all about a photo of some guy that ends up in Stephanie's carry-on. Now all sorts of nasty people are after Stephanie. Including two separate teams of FBI agents.
Okay, it's taken a step up from the past three miserable installments and there were some laughs, but it's still feeling tired. Evanovich still hasn't put the heart back in this story. The sex was...hmmm...not as good as the earlier stories and Steph's still having it off with both Ranger and Morelli in the same story---even though she claims she's swearing off men. Evanovich is building more restraint into Morelli in this story. He's still interested in Stephanie, but he keeps talking about the stresses of his job and the frustration of Steph's work. Ranger seems to be mellowing into Stephanie.
There was only one cake and Stephanie never did get to eat it; there was more fast food eating than in Smokin' Seventeen. I only remember one dinner with company at her parents. We never saw Albert or Valerie. Vinnie was barely there. Heck, we usually get a lot more snarky comments about Vinnie.
Evanovich definitely kept the tension on as far as events in Hawaii. It was my main purpose in continuing on with the story. I was just dyin' to know what happened and Evanovich just kept dribbling it out in small chunks. Once the truth comes out...hoo, hoooo...Hawaii must'a been somethin' else! It's too bad we don't go much of anywhere with it. I guess Evanovich is savin' it up for Nineteen.
Oh man, wait'll you get to the scene where Stephanie whales on Raz...no one messes with our Steph!
What's with Stephanie's inability to say "no" to Barnhardt? Call the cops on her.
As much as I have enjoyed Stephanie and her ineptness in the past. I gotta wonder if she'll ever learn to keep her pepper spray handy and her car keys in her pocket.
The Story
Something went wrong in Hawaii. Two men. A tan line on her ring finger. And some really obnoxious fellow passengers on her flight back. And two different FBI teams trying to get into her apartment.
There is one bright spot in her day though, Joyce Barnhardt got arrested and now she's FTA. Stephanie and Lula can go after her. Now, if they could just keep Stephanie's RAV4 from being stolen by Buggy. And keep the bad guys from breaking into her apartment. Including a manipulative Joyce and a hungry Morelli.
All the rest, Ranger rescuing her including a little some-some in the closet and Morelli slipping naked into her bed, is just icing on the non-existent birthday cake.
The Characters
Stephanie Plum is a rather happy-go-lucky woman in lust with two really hot men. To pay the bills, she works as a bounty hunter and mooches a lot of dinners off her parents. Rex is Stephanie's pet hamster. And we don't get the interactions with him anymore, either.
Joseph Morelli is a Trenton cop who has been in and out of Stephanie's life since she was 6. An incredibly sexy cop whom Stephanie figures could be good husband material. He's been buying Pepto by the case. Ranger, a.k.a., Carlos Manoso, is former Special Forces and Superman as an enforcement agent and in bed. And definitely not husband material.
The Plum family appearing in this installment includes…
…her father, Frank — he actually smiles in this one!, Mom is really knockin' back the liquor, and Grandma has taken up bowling and is thinking of becoming a cougar.
Vincent Plum's Bail Bonds is…
…back to being owned by Harry the Hammer, Vinnie's father-in-law, and after the shenanigans Stephanie's weasel of a cousin, Vinnie, pulled in Smokin' Seventeen, 17, Vinnie is definitely under Harry's thumb while his wife, Lucille, owns him. Connie Rosolli runs the bail bonds office and knows all the New Jersey mob scuttlebutt — her family is connected. Salvatore DeAngelo is the contractor supposedly rebuilding the bail bonds office that got torched. He's a pretty scummy guy. Kind of a match made in heaven with Vinnie… Lula is a generously-sized woman whose hair color changes on a regular basis and whose clothes are usually letting her bust out all over. She's much too handy with her gun even if she can't shoot straight and all her problems can be handled with more food. And, lately, she's been missing in action as the really funny comic relief while Stephanie's straight man is getting pretty stiff.
Joyce Barnhardt has been the ultimate enemy since she and Stephanie were kids. She has no morals. Of any kind. Seems Joyce has been…*ahem*…officially naughty while Steph's been in Hawaii. Annie Hart thinks she's Cupid; she's also on Grandma's bowling team — the Ladies with Balls. Frank Korda is a missing jeweler who has been spending time with Joyce.
FTAs Stephanie and Lula are chasing include…
…Magpie, a.k.a., Donald Grezbek; Lahonka Goudge; and, Lewis "Buggy" Bugkowski.
FBI agent team #1 is Lance Lancer, a.k.a., Mortimer Lancelot, and Sly Slasher, a.k.a., Sylvester Larder. Uh-huh, right. Team #2 is Bill Berger and Chuck Gooley — Morelli reckons Gooley "eats out of dumpsters and fucks feral cats".
Richard Crick is an unfortunate passenger who never got back on the plane in LA. Now his "grieving" fiancée, Brenda Schwartz, is after the photograph. For sentimental reasons. She's also trying to protect her son, Jason. Manny Rosolli runs the junkyard, which seems to have a very quick turnover in compacted vehicles. Andy Kulicki works for Manny. Razzle Dazzle, a.k.a., Raz, a.k.a., Archie Ahmed, is bad guy #3 harassing Stephanie for the photograph. Chester Billings owns a gourmet food-distribution company, but that's not the end of his interests.
It was Tootie Ruguzzi who started events off. Vinnie's been looking for her and her husband The Rug, a.k.a., Simon Ruguzzi, as he's a high-bond FTA. But it's Sammy the Pig who started the brouhaha.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a background of explosive yellow and oranges flames with a giant three-dimensional deep red and oranges eighteen with the author's name and tile in a shadowed white.
The title is accurate for Stephanie does have herself in an explosive situation.
haleyzbentley's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
abias94's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
samukelisiwe_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tsmies11's review against another edition
1.0
Don't read it. I think I feel dumber now than I did before reading it.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
I love these book so much because I know what to expect from them. I know I'm going to get a laugh and an easy, not too gruesome murder mystery. I know people have been saying that these books are starting to become repetitive but I don't care that Stephanie hasn't made a decision between Ranger or Morelli yet because that's half the fun! I also find Lula & Stepahnie's Grandma hilarious and i never want them to change. I think that Janet Evanovich has found the perfect formula for writing an easy, fun read that there's no need to change a good thing! I also thought that there was a question left up in the air about whether Stephanie was pregnant or not, we will have to find out once nineteen is released.....
amandalynnhuffman's review against another edition
5.0
Quick and fun read. I will very likely always give 5 stars to a Stephanie Plum book.
This one WAS a bit weird. She wasn’t with Ranger OR Morelli. They were honestly not even in the book that much. I’m hoping that means we’re getting to a place where she might finally choose and move forward with one of them. Admittedly, I will probably be devastated for who she doesn’t choose. I literally love them both. However, she really does need to choose. This has gone on for so long. Unless they can agree to a reverse harem situation. That could work, right?!
Lula was my favorite part of the book, as per usual. She is probably my favorite character of the series.
The plot in this one was pretty forgettable and I am now convinced that I will read about Stephanie doing anything. She sits around making peanut butter sandwiches—literally—and I’m captivated. On to the next one!
This one WAS a bit weird. She wasn’t with Ranger OR Morelli. They were honestly not even in the book that much. I’m hoping that means we’re getting to a place where she might finally choose and move forward with one of them. Admittedly, I will probably be devastated for who she doesn’t choose. I literally love them both. However, she really does need to choose. This has gone on for so long. Unless they can agree to a reverse harem situation. That could work, right?!
Lula was my favorite part of the book, as per usual. She is probably my favorite character of the series.
The plot in this one was pretty forgettable and I am now convinced that I will read about Stephanie doing anything. She sits around making peanut butter sandwiches—literally—and I’m captivated. On to the next one!
libraryam's review against another edition
3.0
I read and enjoyed books #1-18 and yes, I will stick around to see how it all ends, but it's well past bedtime for this series. The characters are still fun but running-joke fatigue has reached critical mass and Stephanie's romantic plight is becoming less scintillating by the adventure.
Ladies, it's time to strap on your Glocks and walk out into the sunset.
Ladies, it's time to strap on your Glocks and walk out into the sunset.
lauradefra's review against another edition
4.0
Always puts a smile on my face
I just cannot stop reading the adventures of Stephanie Plum. It always puts a smile on my face. Keep them coming! I just wish there was a bit more character development without too much drama!
I just cannot stop reading the adventures of Stephanie Plum. It always puts a smile on my face. Keep them coming! I just wish there was a bit more character development without too much drama!