Karen's Book Nook

Continuing in on my Stephanie Plum challenge, Ten Big Ones, by Janet Evanovich was a quick audio filler.

About the book:

She’s accidentally destroyed a dozen cars. She’s a target for every psycho and miscreant this side of the Jersey Turnpike. Her mother’s convinced she’ll end up dead…or worse, without a man. She’s Stephanie Plum and she kicks butt for a living (well, she thought it would sound good to put it that way…)

It begins as an innocent trip to the deli-mart, on a quest for nachos. But Stephanie Plum and her partner, Lula, are clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery leads to an explosion, which leads to the destruction of yet another car. It would be just another day in the life of Stephanie Plum…except that she becomes the target of a gang. And the target of an even scarier, more dangerous force that comes to Trenton. With super bounty hunter Ranger acting more mysteriously than ever (and the tension with vice cop Joe Morelli getting hotter), Stephanie finds herself with a decision to make: how to protect herself and where to hide while on the hunt for a killer known as the Junkman. There’s only one safe place, and it has Ranger’s name all over it-if she can find it. And if the Junkman doesn’t find her first. With Lula riding shotgun and Grandma Mazur on the loose, Stephanie Plum is racing against the clock in her most suspenseful novel yet. Ten Big Ones is page-turning entertainment and Janet Evanovich is the best there is.

Between the adventure and the adversity there’s attitude and Stephanie Plum’s got plenty inTEN BIG ONES.

My thoughts:  I always love Stephanie Plum novels and usually find myself listening and laughing out loud at least a few times. I liked this one with more focus on the mysterious Ranger. It was a shortie and was only 3 CDs so it was a perfect filler between some more meaty reads of late. I still prefer Lori Petty as the reader as she was my schema for the character way back in beginning but this one was ok.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Stephanie Plum Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge

Jumping right in to the next Stephanie Plum installment, Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich.

About the book:   Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared.

Evelyn’s estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. During the divorce proceedings, he and Evelyn signed a child custody bond, and Steven is demanding the money guaranteed by the bond to find Annie. The money was secured by a mortgage on Evelyn’s grandmother’s house, and the True Blue Bonds Bail Agency wants to take possession of the house. MORE HERE

My thoughts: I listened to this one while getting things done around the house today. I need to move away from my wish that the reader was Lori Petty and just accept that it isn’t. I did have some LOL moments as I usually do reading this series. Sister Valerie took a bigger role and things heat up with the love triangle.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,, Stephanie Plum Challenge

Continuing on my Stephanie Plum series reading, Seven Up, by Janet Evanovich finally came in at the library. It was on hold for quite awhile and as soon as I got it, it moved to the top of my queue.

About the book: Semi-retired mob guy, Eddie DeChooch, is caught trafficking contraband cigarettes through Trenton, New Jersey. When DeChooch fails to show for a court appearance, bond enforcement agent Stephanie Plum is assigned the task of finding DeChooch and dragging his decrepit ass back to jail. Not such an easy job, it turns out, since DeChooch has learned a lot of tricks over the years and isn’t afraid to use his gun. He’s already shot Loretta Ricci and left her for worm food in his shed. He wouldn’t mind shooting Stephanie next. MORE HERE.

My thoughts:  I love the comical Stephanie and my favorite character, Grandma Mazur. This book introduces Steph’s sister Valerie and stoner, Moonie into the mix.  Once again, I was not happy that the “reader” changed.  Of all of them, this one was really off for me, (actually resulting in a lower rating of the book because it was annoying.)  It never sold me as being Stephanie… no Jersey accent and sounding too old. (My favorite was by far Lori Petty.  Next was  Debbie Mazur.)  I just looked ahead and I guess I’ll need to get used to this reader, Lorelei King though,  since she’s reading the remainder of the series.. Either that or just read them via paper book and still hear Lori Petty’s voice in my head.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,, Stephanie Plum Challenge

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

About the book: (from the website)

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and Trenton vice cop Joe Morelli join forces to find the madman killer who shot and barbecued the youngest son of international black-market arms dealer Alexander Ramos.

Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, is caught on video just minutes before the crime occurs. He’s at the scene, he’s with the victim, and he’s the number one suspect. Manoso is former Special Forces turned soldier of fortune. He has a blue-chip stock portfolio and no known address. He moves in mysterious circles. He’s Stephanie’s mentor– the man who taught her everything she knows about fugitive apprehension. And he’s more than her friend. More here!

My thoughts: Once again, I listened to this one on audio book.  I especially love to read “fun” books that way. Once again though, the reader has changed and I get annoyed with that!  I develop a schema for the character and changing Stephanie’s voice messes with that… (This one was the toughest adjustment since I think it was the same person who read the Alex Barnaby series and I kept picturing that character.. grrrr!) As for the story, it was typical Stephanie Plum and featured a lot of Grandma Mazur whom I really get a kick out of. With each book the stories are beginning to involve more focus on Steph’s attraction to both Ranger and Joe Morelli.  It will be interesting to see how things continue to develop.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,, Stephanie Plum Challenge

The latest in the Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge is High Five by Janet Evanovich.  Once again, I read it via audio book and love it that way!

About the book:

High fives all around! The New York Times bestselling

author of FOUR TO SCORE puts Stephanie Plum, America’s favorite bounty hunter, back behind the wheel in her fifth high-octane thriller.

What’s Stephanie up to now?

• Her Uncle Fred has disappeared.
• A body turns up in a garbage bag.
• She’s got a nasty bookie following her around town.
• Grandma Mazur has her hands on the stun gun.
• Stephanie can’t keep a car for more than forty-eight hours.
• Two men are trying to get her into bed.
• She has nothing to wear to the Mafia wedding.
• And there’s an angry little man (don’t call him a dwarf!) who won’t leave her apartment

More here!

My thoughts: The more I read these books, the more I like them! Of course, they can’t be taken seriously, but they certainly are a fun read.  This time around, Stephanie’s got some competition in the bounty hunting business and some decisions to make in the romance department. Can’t wait for the next installment!

Rating 3.5/5

I’m making progress in the Stephanie Plum Challenge and I’m up to Four to Score by Janet Evanovich.

About the book: Working for her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, Stephanie is hot on the trail of revenge-seeking waitress Maxine Nowicki, whose crimes include bail jumping, theft, and extortion. Someone is terrifying Maxine’s friends, and those who have seen her are turning up dead. Also on the hunt for Maxine is Joyce Barnhardt, Stephanie’s archenemy and rival bounty hunter. Stephanie’s attitude never wavers – even when aided by Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker and wannabe bounty hunter Lula, and transvestite rock musician Sally Sweet – and even when Stephanie makes an enemy whose deadly tactics escalate from threatening messages to firebombs. All of this pales in comparison, though, with an even greater danger Stephanie faces, when, homeless and broke, she and her hamster Rex move in with vice cop Joe Morelli.

My thoughts: The more I read the series the more I like it. Stephanie and her cohorts are a fun group to follow and I especially love Grandma Mazur with her quick wit.  I’m glad that I am reading the books in order as she seems to add a new regular to her cast of characters each time. These are always quick and funny reads, perfect to break up meatier novels. I always look forward to Stephanie’s next adventure.

Rating 3.5/5

As part of the Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge, I’m starting the third book, Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich.  It was on hold for awhile at the library and it just came in. I’m hoping to squeeze it in before putting the pedal to the metal on the Holiday Reading Challenge list…

About the book:

Stephanie Plum, the brassy babe in the powder blue Buick, is back, and she’s having a bad hair day – for the whole month of January. She’s been given the unpopular task of finding Mo Bedemeir, Trenton’s most beloved citizen, arrested for carrying concealed, gone no-show for his court appearance. And to make matters worse, she’s got Lula, a former hooker turned file clerk–now a wannabe bounty hunter–at her side, sticking like glue. Lula’s big and blonde and black, and itching to get the chance to lock up a crook in the trunk of her car. More here…

Since I just started reading Janet Evanovich and am reading the Stephanie Plum novels in order, there’s no better time to join a challenge. It’s being sponsored by J.Kaye’s Book Blog.

Guidelines:

1) The goal is to get caught up on the Stephanie Plum series, so create a list of the books you haven’t read yet. You have between now and December 31, 2010. Don’t include books you’ve read prior to or started before 7/23/09.

2) This reading challenge is for participants with a blog. If you decide to participate in the 2009/2010 Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge, create a post on your blog telling others about this event. In your post, be sure to include the link to this post on your blog. That way others can find their way here and join in the fun.

3) If you want to have your reading list on your blog’s right sidebar, then please include a link to this post.

4) Audio and eBooks count.

5) You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

6) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.

7) Books to be published after signing up do not have to be listed. This is optional.

There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

9) When you have completed your number of the Stephanie Plum books, link your completed list to the completed page. One will be set up.

10)If you have any questions, feel free to ask below or email me at jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. Comments usually get a quicker response.

**Since I read my FIRST book just last month they all qualify for the challenge. I’ve got two down, one on hold at the library,  and lots to go!

Stephanie Plum Series

1. One for the Money (1994)  finished 10/12/09
2. Two for the Dough (1995) finished 10/24/09
3. Three to Get Deadly (1997) started and finished 11/23/09
4. Four to Score (1998) started and finished 12/17/09
5. High Five (1999) started 12/18/09, finished 12/23/09
6. Hot Six (2000)started 1/05/10, finished 01/08/10
7. Seven Up (2001) started 2/5/10, finished 2/6/10
8. Hard Eight (2002) started 2/6/10, finished 2/6/10
9. To the Nines (2003) finished 4/11/10
10. Ten Big Ones (2004) finished 5/13/10
11. Eleven on Top (2005) finished 6/5/10
12. Twelve Sharp (2006) finished 6/11/10
13. Lean Mean Thirteen (2007) finished 06/12/10
14. Fearless Fourteen (2008) finished 06/15/10
15. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (2009) finished 06/23/10

Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novels

Visions of Sugar Plums (2002)
Plum Lovin (2007)
Plum Lucky (2008)
Plum Spooky (2009)

Starting the final audio book in Debbie Macomber‘s Blossom Street Series, Summer on Blossom Street while I knit. This one is read by the famous Delilah.. I should really enjoy it since I love her voice and it focuses on Lydia from the first two books.

About the book: Knitting and life. They’re both about beginnings—and endings. That’s why it makes sense for Lydia Goetz, owner of A Good Yarn on Seattle’s Blossom Street, to offer a class called Knit to Quit. It’s for people who want to quit something—or someone!—and start a new phase of their lives….  More here.

Finally got the 3rd Barbara Holloway novel, Malice Prepense in  the series by Kate Wilhelm.  I read the first two in audio format but this third wasn’t available so I’m reading the paper version… it will likely take me awhile to finish but there are lots of books in the series that I want to get to.

About the book:  For the Defense: or, Malice Prepense
Teddy Wendover is a hulking twenty-eight-year-old with the mind of a child. An accident at eight left him severely retarded. But did it turn him into a cold-blooded killer? Someone has bludgeoned Congressman Harry Knecht to death. Knecht was the man who organized the field trip that led to Teddy’s injury.
Also started and finished Janet Evanovich’s Two for the Dough… the second in the Stephanie Plum series.

About the book:

It’s Stephanie Plum, New Jersey’s “fugitive apprehension” agent (aka bounty hunter), introduced to the world by Janet Evanovich in the award-winning novel One for the Money.

Now Stephanie’s back, armed with attitude — not to mention stun guns, defense sprays, killer flashlights, and her trusty .38. Stephanie is after a new bail jumper, Kenny Mancuso, a boy from Trenton’s burg. He’s fresh out of the army, suspiciously wealthy, and he’s just shot his best friend….  More Here.

I’m starting the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich so I’m beginning with the first book, One for the Money.  I really like her style and this is one of her most popular series.

About the book: Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie’s opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey.

She’s a product of the “burg,” a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.

Now Stephanie’s all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad’s, doing her best to sever the world’s longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler, and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case.….