Review: Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich (audio)

Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich

Read by Lorelei King

MacMillan Audio

2007

Length: 3.5 hrs

Source: Library

From #1 blockbuster
bestselling author Janet Evanovich comes a Stephanie Plum novel that
takes adventure, action, suspense (and maybe even true love?) to new
heights.
WATCH YOUR BACK . . .LOOK BOTH WAYS . . .BECAUSE LOVE IS IN THE AIR . . . AND THAT MEANS BIG TROUBLE!
Mysterious
men have a way of showing up in Stephanie Plum’s apartment. When the
shadowy Diesel appears, he has a task for Stephanie–and he’s not taking
no for an answer. Annie Hart is a “relationship expert” who is wanted
for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Stephanie needs to
find her, fast. Diesel knows where she is. So they make a deal: He’ll
help her get Annie if Stephanie plays matchmaker to several of Annie’s
most difficult clients. But someone wants to find Annie even more than
Diesel and Stephanie. Someone with a nasty temper. And someone with
“unmentionable” skills. Does Diesel know more than he’s saying about
Annie Hart? Does Diesel have secrets he’s keeping from Stephanie and the
two men in her life–Ranger and Morelli? With Stephanie Plum in over
her head, things are sure to get a little dicey and a little explosive,
Jersey style

My thoughts: These ‘Between the Numbers’ Stephanie Plum books are a little different from the usual Stephanie Plum books, but still quite enjoyable. I love that these quick books take on a holiday feel – this time revolving around Valentine’s Day. I guess these short novellas were introduced into the series as a way to ease the wait for the next main book. Being that I only just started the series and book 20 is due out soon, I find them to be a nice break from the usual craziness that Stephanie finds herself in.

Once again, Diesel is back in Stephanie’s life and he has quite a request for her – he needs her to play matchmaker while he goes after the relationship expert Annie Hart. Does he know Stephanie at all? She’s involved in a love triangle herself, not sure if she wants Morelli or Ranger and has definite commitment issues. But, she takes on this request as Annie Hart just so happens to be one of the skips she needs to bring in. Her task is simple – she needs to help an
overworked single mother, a shy butcher, an older woman who’s afraid of
sex and her sister’s boyfriend Albert who’s afraid of marriage – all before February 14th.

As she tries to accomplish these tasks, we get to see some of the regulars we’ve come to love in this series. Grandma Mazur provides her usual comic relief – this time going so far as to have lip injections. Then there’s Lula who’s trying yet another diet. As much as I like all the characters, I have to say I think it’s these two that are my favorites. 

Have you read a series where the secondary characters are what keep you coming back?

Audio Thoughts: Lorelei King has another winner on her hands. I can see why Janet Evanovich wanted to go with Lorelei for the narrating of this series – she takes on all the characters, giving them there own unique voice and adds just the right amount of emotion and humor to her voice when needed. 

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Books in this series:

     1.  One for the Money                         12.  Twelve Sharp
     2.  Two for the Dough                         12.5  Plum Lovin’
     3.  Three to Get Deadly                      13.  Lean Mean Thirteen
     4.  Four to Score                                   13.5  Plum Lucky
     5.  High Five                                           14.  Fearless Fourteen
     6.  Hot Six                                                14.5  Plum Spooky
     7.  Seven Up                                           15.  Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
     8.  Hard Eight                                         16.  Sizzling Sixteen

     8.5  Visions of Sugar Plums              17.  Smokin’ Seventeen

     9.  To the Nines                                      18.  Explosive Eighteen

    10.  Ten Big Ones                                    19.  Notorious Nineteen

    11.  Eleven on Top