Smoking Seventeen by Janet Evanovich (BR00113)

Posted on September 30, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Bodies are popping up on the construction lot for the new bonds office, and somehow it all connects to Stephanie.

WHAT I LIKED

While figuring out who is using the site as a body farm, they also get to arrest an old vampire, deal with a culinary matchmaking option, a bear, and Stephanie’s libido in overdrive.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Yet again, the premise is that creepy stalker dudes are amusing. And a solution that relies on the killer revealing all.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Another fun read, but not that amazing a plot

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich (BR00112)

Posted on September 29, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Vinnie has gambling debts, and if he doesn’t cough up $800K, he’s toast. Which would put Connie, Lulu and Stephanie out of work, so they pitch in to help. If they can keep him safe that long.

WHAT I LIKED

The various options to get money to save Vinnie were varied, fun and creative. And the plot involving the Bulgarian was decent.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

It takes a LONG time to get to the solution, and the Hobbit ending was a bit over the top.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Still enjoyable read, but the plot was thin

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich (BR00111)

Posted on September 29, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Stephanie is back working at Rangeman undercover to help Ranger track down the cause of some recent breakins at his clients’ homes. Meanwhile, Lulu wants to find who whacked a bbq chef or win the bbq sauce context, she’s flexible.

WHAT I LIKED

The varying combinations of bbq attempts is epic, as are the gaseous results.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

The story behind the chef is so-so, and the resolution of the breakins is almost happenstance. Yawn

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Readable, funny, but not compelling

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (BR00110)

Posted on September 28, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Morelli’s cousin committed a robbery years ago and the money was never found. Now people think it is hidden in Morelli’s house, and everybody wants some of it.

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WHAT I LIKED

The story generally revolves around providing security for an aging country star, and it’s an interesting diversion. In addition, Stephanie is looking after a teenager that may or may not be Morelli’s illegitimate son.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

There’s a stalker running around the story, which everyone thinks is funny, not sure why.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Good story, not the most compelling

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (BR00109)

Posted on September 27, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Ranger needs Stephanie to find out what’s going on with Dickie Orr, her ex-husband. Which she does, in normal Stephanie fashion – she brings the crazy.

WHAT I LIKED

Dickie going missing is no big deal, but at least it’s the basis for a decent plot. Sort of, anyway. But the exploding taxidermy makes up for it. Plus everyone’s views on the cable company.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

Very little — even Joyce and Dickie were okay this go around. The flamethrower was a bit over the top though

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Good addition with lots of extra but useful characters

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich (BR00108)

Posted on September 27, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Ranger’s daughter is kidnapped and Stephanie wants to help. Of course, the arrival of Ranger’s supposed wife puts a small crimp in their relationship. And a fake extra Ranger.

WHAT I LIKED

The extra help around the office is fun, as is the interviewing of extra bounty hounters. And Ranger is acting very un-Ranger-like, very off balance which is interesting.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

The whole extra storyline with Lulu, Sweet, Grandma and a band was pretty extraneous

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

A little different from the norm, not a bad thing

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich (BR00107)

Posted on September 26, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Stephanie’s had enough of the bounty hunter business, so she quits and takes a series of jobs around Jersey. Meanwhile, someone’s hunting her with threats, shots, and car bombs. Could it be the undertaker’s son?

WHAT I LIKED

All the various jobs going to heck in a handbasket are a hoot, not to mention Stephanie telling people she plays the cello, which they now want her to do at the wedding. And things really heat up when Stephanie starts working at Rangeman.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

The plot with a bunch of missing businessmen takes a long time to gel, but not really a problem.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

One of the funniest of the series without being ridiculous

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (BR00106)

Posted on September 2, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Ten Big Ones (St. Martin’s Press, 2010, ISBN/ASIN: B00179FNRI, Plum (10)) is the tenth outing in the Plum series, and this one has Stephanie starting a mini-war with a gang after she sees one of them committing a robbery.

WHAT I LIKED

Hijackers of chip trucks, Sally Sweet still in a dress, and school buses all show up to enliven the plot.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

The whole shower thing for Valerie gets old real fast, adding nothing to the story. And I don’t really care about wannabe gang kingpins.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Not bad, good ending

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (BR00105)

Posted on September 2, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

To the Nines (St. Martin’s Press, 2003, ISBN/ASIN: 978-0312991463, Plum (9)) is the ninth outing in the bounty hunter on LSD series, starring Stephanie Plum, Jersey girl. This one has Plum chasing an immigrant on a work visa bond, all the way from Jersey to Vegas.

WHAT I LIKED

The girls’ trip to Vegas was awesome with Connie along, and Stephanie’s random wiping out of RangerMan employees is kind of epic.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

The “there’s a psycho stalking me” subplot gets old pretty fast, and she’s done it in at least four of the books so far. This one is actually menacing for a change, but that’s about it, and the plot with Singh as immigrant is kind of bland. However, the main plot for the story is revealed only by happenstance, and that’s a giant no-no for me. Almost no way to figure it out until some random tertiary character reveals it all at once. Sloppy plotting.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Fun secondary characters but sloppy plotting

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (BR00104)

Posted on September 1, 2017 by PolyWoggNovember 12, 2017

PLOT OR PREMISE

Hard Eight (St. Martin’s Press, 2010, ISBN/ASIN: B0017I1IZA, Plum (8)) is the eighth book in the Stephanie Plum series. In this one, she’s looking for a missing mom and daughter whose grandmother could lose her house if the custody bond is violated.

WHAT I LIKED

The story has the typical range of secondary characters, and an addition of a hard-core female bounty hunter along the lines of Ranger. And a hysterical attempted vehicular murder of the Easter Bunny.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

I don’t much care for stories that involve moms/wives and children in jeopardy and being shuttled around like a tub of household effects in a move. Part of that is the ick factor, but part of it is the simplistic storyline and emotional range that is usually given to the characters — the new “damsel in distress” plotline where someone has to come rescue them. I also didn’t feel the intitial bad guys were fleshed out very well, particularly as they are easy to spot in fake masks and outfits, and the final boss felt like a comic book character.

THE BOTTOM LINE / TWEET

Not bad, but not the best

MY RATING

Legend: 1/5 Finished 2/5 Not bad 3/5 Good 4/5 Enjoyable 5/5 Excellent

DISCLOSURE

I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Book Review Index
Intro Approach Review # Title Author Year Series Rating