It’s a world I am unfamiliar with—the world of Chic Lit (or, if you are over 18, I refer to as Clit Lit). Even though Janet Evanovich’s books take up at least three shelves at the local Barnes & Noble, I have never noticed. Probably because they are in the Mystery section which I pass through on my way to the Science Fiction wall. I don’t look to either side for fear of turning into a pillar of salt. But—(there is always a but) I am in a strange land under strange circumstances these days and Stephanie Plum has entered my life. It’s a good thing. At the moment I am taking care of my mom who is battling Parkinson’s, dementia and a bunch of other good stuff. When I first came into her house (after an absence of something like 20 years) I saw piles of books all over the place. I knew everything would be alright. Until I checked out the titles. They were all—and I mean all—mysteries. I never read murder mysteries unless written by Carl Hiaasen.
The inevitable day came when I found myself without a new book to read. With so many Evanovich books laying around I though what the hell—how bad can they be? Well campers, as millions of readers will attest: they are clever, fun and addictive. You don’t read the Stephanie Plum series for the plot necessarily, although some are clever. It’s the daffy characters and ‘I Love Lucy’ situations.
I am going to read them all (he says) and will add them to my bookshelf here only for my Boy Scout merit badge. No reviews. After you have read the first one, you know what you are going to get with the rest. So far, I am enjoying the hell out of them. I gotta say Janet—you can pen some hot eroticism when you want. The Stephanie Plum series is an industry unto itself, but don’t let this put you off from giving them a go. Oh yah, and start at the beginning. It’s important.

4/5. That was fun! Another Stephanie Plum story as a recovery agent. This time a smuggling case of big guns through casket. I liked how everything was connected, seems like a small case only to find out it was way more complicated and life threatening. Stephanie really looks and act like a true law enforcer. And they work really good together with Moreilli even the bantering are great.

Oh and yes! Another special mention to grandma Mazur, the best grandma character ever!! One helluva grandma you got there Stephanie. The casket and the. 45 gun part was d best.

Narration was good too.

This is one of those times where I remembered liking a book more the first time I read it. Re-reading it, I found I'm just not a big Evanovich fan. She has a style of cutesy, short and abbreviated writing style that doesn't suit me. I will say at least it's easy to read and quick to breeze through.

There IS genuine humor that works - I laughed out loud a few times - but some of it comes off as forced and a little contrived. Stephanie is motivated by the greed of success, but I don't see much else about her as a realistic character. Morelli is probably the best part, as he's amusing too but his dialogue is well constructed (the scene with Ranger and the truck was probably the best part of the book.) I know many love the Grandmother, and she is cute, but she's also stereotypical - as is the mother and father.

These books are fun - the plots are creative enough for this type, the humor is real, the writing easy to digest, characters enjoyable to a point....but it doesn't have a deep core or that much substance other than some predictable staples.

I just love Stephanie Plum!

A hilarious action packed story. Drama, sexual tension, brilliant characters, a page turner you won’t want to put down.

Loved every minute of it. Now onto the next book.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than book 1. This one has a lot more humor in it and the relationship between Morelli and Stephanie is building. Guess we'll see where that takes us. But at least Morelli seems like a nicer person now.

Grandma Mazur is my favorite character, hands down! I love her witty remarks that are ridiculous for an old lady. Makes me laugh. It's always good when a book can make you laugh out loud....

Janet Evanovich's sophomore novel on Stephanie Plum, a sassy, funny, plucky bounty hunter from Trenton, N.J., is just as fine as her debut novel, One For The Money. Evanovich's novels are the best thing going in detective fiction today. It's not often that real suspense and hilarity can coexist in a detective novel. (Lawrence Block is one of the few others who can pull it off.)

Be sure to read these books in order so you don't miss a thing. I won't have to recommend that you read all of the Stephanie Plum books. This Jersey girl is addictive.

I love this series, it always tickles my funny bone. I'm in the process of re-reading it right now and it is as good as ever. This is one of those series that I pick up year after year and I never get tired of it.

Well, this instalment delivers more of granny Mazur and Stephanie Plum's efforts in how NOT to be a bounty hunter, yet, still get what they want, with a little more lipstick, tighter jeans, and chaotic determination to save Trenton from the baddies. In this instance it is Kenny Mancuso, a distant relative of vice cop Joe Morelli.

Laugh out loud funny. With a little bit of libido interfering, Stephanie closes in on her target, while a few eyeballs roll in their sockets, and a detective loses a few clothing articles, during the hunt. Oh yes, and grandma Mazur uses the Magnum .45 that she borrowed from a friend.

A thoroughly enjoyable decoy in our pursuit of dark, violent, serious thrillers. Yep, crime can be fun.

More engaging than the first book and ups the Joe Morelli romantic tension. I liked it.

I really enjoyed this book.

Kenny Mancuso has shot his old friend (Moogey) and has skipped bail, so Steph is out on the case to bring him in. Simple, right? Wrong!
Turns out Kenny is frickin bat-shit crazy.
He hurts, threatens and beats anyone who get's in his way (including old ladies, but more on that later), he cut his own damn finger off to see what would happen...
Honestly, he's a fruitcake!

The other 'bad guy' in this book is Spiro, who works in his dad's funeral home. Things go from bad to worse, quickly. When 24 coffins go missing...
Kenny thinks that Spiro has taken something that belongs to him and goes crazy. He starts cutting body parts off the dead people and sending them in the mail, like some poor dead guys penis! *shudders*

The story about Kenny, Spiro and Moogey was great. A little simple, but nothing wrong with that.

One thing about this book that had me really divided? Steph and Morelli.
I was reading so fast, always trying to get to their scenes together. I love them so much and am desperate to see them get closer, for them to take the next step. I don't think that's the Authors problem, I think that's just me being a smutty cow. LOL. I was repeatedly disappointed with the lack of 'sexy-time', however, when they are together I cannot stop smiling and I laugh non-stop. That makes up for it, almost.

'He took a step closer and sniffed. "I smell chocolate."
"I had half a KitKat."
"I don't suppose you have the other half?"
"I ate it earlier."
"Too bad. I might have been able to remember some crucial piece of information if I had a KitKat."
So stupid. LOL

I loved the way that Morelli just kept showing up at her parent's house for dinner. Everyine says he's a 'ladies’ man', that he sleeps around. But all I've seen is Morelli taking care of her, making sure she's safe. Taking her home and staying for pizza and beer and later going home. He has been around her for months now and there have been no signs at all that, he has been anywhere near another woman.
I adore him, the way he flirts with Steph and kisses her when she least expects it. He's unpredictable and spontaneous.
I am dying for them to be together :)

Steph's mother is really great.
"What's this outfit?" my mother demanded. "Can't you afford clothes? Are you wearing other people's? Frank, give Stephanie some money. She needs to buy clothes."
Love her.


Grandma Mazur was amazing.She's so annoying, but hilarious at the same time. Most of the times I was laughing were because of something ridiculous she has done. Especially in the funeral home, where she loved to go for regular viewings, whether she knew the deceased or not. LOL

'Grandma straightened and turned to face us. "Well, will you look at this," she said, holding an object the size of a Tootsie Roll in her hand. "His finger came off."
Mrs. Mackey fainted crash onto the floor, and Marjorie Boyer ran screaming out of the room.'
Ahahaha.

I just have to finish this review with my favourite part of the entire book. I was wetting myself with laughter.
Morelli was turning a blind-eye while Steph did things her 'not so legal' way, and had an accident.

'Morelli shined a flashlight in my eyes. "You sure you're okay?"
"What kind of dog do you think it was?"
"A big dog."
"What kind?"
"Rottweiler. Male. Old and overweight. Bad teeth. Ate a lot of tuna fish."
I started to cry.
"Oh Jeez," Morelli said. "Don't cry. I hate when you cry."
"I've got rottweiler shit in my hair."
He used his thumb to wipe the tears from my cheeks. "It's okay, honey. It's really not so bad. I was kidding about the tuna."

Her flapping around with shit in her hair in that alley was so damn funny :)

I will definitely continue on with this series.

Stephanie Plum is back and this time she's trying to hunt down Kenny Mancuso. Kenny shot one of his best friends in the knee and then returned later to finish the job. With the help of Morelli, Ranger, and the ever-loveable Grandma Mazur, maybe Stephanie can catch Kenny before Kenny catches her.

This book is just as fun and funny as the first of the series. Stephanie isn't a perfect heroine, but that's what makes her so appealing. And Morelli...what is there to say about Morelli? What a smokin' bad boy! Grandma Mazur makes a lengthier appearance in this book, and she is on a roll. Who wouldn't love a grandmother who can take a potshot at a pickup truck with a .45 without blinking? And who has Dirty Harry's famous speech memorized? Oh my gosh, she is too funny.

If you like your mysteries with a dash of humor and a whole lot of spunk, pick these up.

n  n    Reviewn  n
3 stars to book #2 in the Stephanie Plum mystery series, Two for the Dough, by Janet Evanovich. Since I'm going back to complete reviews on all the books I've read, and there are over 20 in this series, it would be too boring to do a normal review... so I'll keep it short. A few fun things about this one:

1. We're still getting to know how crazy Stephanie Plum is compared to everyone else. She's neurotic in a fun way -- sort of like I am.

2. This one is all about her libido with Joe Morelli. What's more important... getting lucky or catching the criminal? She can't decide but Evanovich presents many funny romantic situations in this edition.

3. Stephanie's cousin is hilarious. He's a creep. And I would not want to meet him in reality. But he provides necessary humor.

4. Not knowing how to properly catch a criminal can really get her in hot water. The situations she finds herself in are just laugh out loud. I don't know how the writer keeps on coming up with them.

5. We're learning a bit more about the dangers of Ranger. And I like it! He's someone you just never know what to expect... it could be good or it could be the good kind of bad.

n  n    About Men  n
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

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