**Content Warnings at End of Review**

This is the first Between-the-Numbers novella for the Stephanie Plum series. While the main series does not take itself seriously, this novella takes the humor and suspension of disbelief to a whole new level. I like Evanovich’s humor (obviously as I am attempting to read the 30+ books in this series) but if you want a book that takes itself even a little bit seriously, please do not pick up this book. You will DNF it within the first fifteen pages.

Visions of Sugar Plums follows Stephanie Plum, a better lucky than good bounty hunter, who is having a hard time finding her failure to appear and get into the Christmas Spirit. It doesn’t help that the FTA she is trying to hunt down is Sandy Claws and a mysterious man who might be an alien has just appeared in her kitchen stating he is there to get her into the Christmas Spirit. This mysterious man, who goes by Diesel, is also looking for someone and thinks that Stephanie will be able to help him find this individual, who might also be an alien. Soon, Stephanie is stressing about not having a single Christmas gift, being attacked by angry elves, helping her sister Valerie with a huge decision, and another one of her cars going up in flames. Unless Stephanie gets into the Christmas spirit quickly, the holiday season will crash and burn as well.

Personally, I really like the Between-the-Number novels because they are so unserious. Stephanie really doesn’t question a lot in these stories and invites the reader to do the same. Sure there are people with special powers that can pop into places and open locks magically. How is that any different than all the crazy things that happened in Stepahie’s life up to that point? There were a lot of nods to the series readers and I don’t think anyone who isn’t invested in the series would appreciate this novel. If you enjoy spending time with Stephanie and the people in her life, it is a quick, fun read. 3.5 star.

**Content Warnings**

Ableism, Abortion

**Original Review**

Visions of Sugar Plums is the first between the numbers holiday novel by Janet Evanovich and the first time the reader is introduced to Diesel, a possibly supernatural man who just pops into Stephanie’s kitchen a couple days before Christmas. I really enjoy how Evanovich decided to divorce from straight fiction to dip her toes into the supernatural in a very fun way. Diesel fans will be happy to know that one of her other series features him as a main character. While the Stephanie Plum novels can get a bit repetitive at times, at their heart they focus on family and how we love them and they drive us crazy. This installment isn’t much different, with Stephanie’s family on the edge of disaster almost daily, but still somehow manage to have a great Christmas. While all of us might not have to hunt down a man named Sandy Claws right before Christmas or be mobbed by angry elves, twice, the tradition of the holidays and the fear that you aren’t doing it right is something that we can all understand. This is a quick read, a fun chase, and just right outside the realm of normal.

This book was a bit silly, but the humor more than made up for it. There were scenes that, pages later, I was still laughing because the image was still in my head, especially the bit about the grandmother's teeth. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author. I thought it was a good time to read it as it is still cold out (it looks more like Christmas here now than it did at Christmas)....

Basic Info

Format: Audio
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Mystery

At A Glance

Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No
Cliff Hanger: eh
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3 Stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 7
Plot: 6
Characters: 8
World Building: 7
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 7

Total: 6

In Dept

Best Part: Little back story
Worst Part: Too short for me.
Thoughts Had: Santa!; creepyyyy.

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: maybe.
Recommending: yes

Short Review: This was a nice little short story to add to Stephanie Plum series. I was cracking up over the elfs thou and every time she said Clause my kid went nuts. The creepy dude in her apartment would have made me pee my pants, but not Plum since that stuff always happens to her! It's hard for me to review novellas since there isn't much to them. I liked it thou :D

Misc.

Book Boyfriend: Diesel
Best Friend Material: Stephanie!

Review in GIF Form:

This book was a total disappointment. Normally I will read a book and push through even if I don't really enjoy it, but this book was an exception. It was so far fetched and ridiculous that I sold it at a used book store when I wasn't even half way finished because the store credit was worth more to me than the book's content taking up space in my head.

I really enjoy the Stephanie Plum series, but this "holiday special" totally stunk.

Still do not like the between the numbers, Stephanie Plum books. Calling this one a book is a farce -- a novella, at best. Author Evanovich must have gotten fatigue, and ended the story badly. Also, not enough Lula in this one.

Very disappointed in this Stephanie Plum novel. It seemed very "cheesy", like a quick attempt to make money off the popular series. I was diappointed because I did not read it after I believe book 8 where it would have fit into the scheme of things, so a lot of stuff seemed repetitive since I already read up to number 11. The Deisel character "popping in" really had me confused as well. It just seemed really far fetched and dumb..... not worth the short read!

I like the Stephanie Plum books, but this book just doesn't seem to fit in the series. It is funny, of course, but it doesn't feel like Stephanie Plum. Ranger and Vinnie aren't in this book, and Morelli and Lula only get a handful of pages apiece. Stephanie spends most of the book in the company of Diesel, a supernatural superhero who flirts with her and chases superpowered supernatural villains. I don't think the supernatural elements fit too well with the Plum novels, either, and it isn't even a "Christmas" miracle story, since Diesel is a year-round magic guy. I read the book and enjoyed it for what it was, but the whole time I was telling myself that once this between-the-numbers book was over, I could pretend it never happened. Unfortunately, at the end, we learn that one of Valerie's kids will grow up to be a supernatural superpowered superhero, too, so now I suppose that for the rest of the series, whether this book's events are mentioned or not, I will have a constant reminder anyway. Sheesh!

If this is the only Plum book you've ever read, you'll probably like it. I think it's nice on its own; it just doesn't mesh with the rest of the series.

Meh, I didn’t love it and can’t wait to get back to the main series.

Huge disappointment! I loved all the numbered Stephanie Plum books but the between the numbers suck. I really could not wrap my head around the fantasy/sci-fi story line. Now, talk about Morreli or Ranger, that's the stuff fantasies are made of. Not even gonna bother with Plum Lovin or Plum Spooked.

Cute funny novella that introduces the Diesel character. A touch of paranormal since he is a unmentionable and has certain enhanced abilities. Stephanie Plum is a character that is not a fav as she can work my nerves and I don't like the whole love triangle but I do like the many characters so that made this a fun little read.

Entertaining reading

Another very will written Stephanie Plum novel. I would recommend any Miss Plum novel or series. Enjoy reading 2020

i read again in 2024 it was great.

With the holiday season coming I thought I would jump in and read some holiday books, and what better way to head to Trenton NJ with our fearless lucky bounty hunter Stephanie Plum who is down on the Christmas spirit trying to hunt Sandy Claws, she also meets Diesel who winds up in her kitchen. Diesels job is to catch Mr. Ring who is out to hurt Sandy.

This was full of so much humor with a child thinking she's a horse and is Stephanie's neice, to Grandma Mauzer missing her teeth. They spend time trying to get to Sandy but have to battle an evil group of crazy elves. And yet again another Stephanie car bites the dust.

I love this series it's hilarious, funny and makes you laugh out loud!