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Wicked Business (Lizzy & Diesel #2)

by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 10,918 ratings · 1,542 reviews

When Harvard University English professor and dyed-in-the-wool romantic Gilbert Reedy is mysteriously murdered and thrown off his fourth-floor balcony, Lizzy and Diesel take up his twenty-year quest for the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust. Following clues contained in a cryptic nineteenth-century book of sonnets, Lizzy...more

Hardcover, 299 pages

Published June 19th 2012 by Bantam (first published October 1st 2011)

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Jul 28, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Second in the Lizzie and Diesel humorous romantic suspense series revolving around a group of extraordinary beings---the Unmentionables. Based in Salem, Massachusetts. In this story, they're after the Luxuria stone, the stone of lust.

Diesel is a secondary character from the Stephanie Plum series. We were first introduced to him in Visions of Sugar Plums .

My Take
Well. It is consistent. It's just as light, fluffy, and nothing as the first book, Wicked Appetite . It might even be too light for a be...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-evanovich-mystery-suspence, audiobooks-unabridged

I think I've reached the point where I just have to overlook certain things in JE's books.
Things like: the last line of this book is a line that originally appeared in a Stephanie Plum novel. She has done that in the Plum series also; the same line will appear in 2 books. Things like: this series is the same formula as the Plum series & there isn't really enough of a difference to pull it off well. So I overlooked these things & enjoyed Wicked Business. I lol a few times & even like...more

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May 14, 2013 Danielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book; the premise sounded so fun. Having enjoyed the first book in the Stephanie Plum series, I considered myself a fan of this author. This book, however, felt as if it had been penned by a bargain ghost writer. The sentence structure was terribly awkward ... entire paragraphs that basically sounded like, "I put on my coat, grabbed my keys, and went outside. I locked my door, got into my car, and drove to town." The flow was very clunky, so much so that it took me o...more I really wanted to like this book; the premise sounded so fun. Having enjoyed the first book in the Stephanie Plum series, I considered myself a fan of this author. This book, however, felt as if it had been penned by a bargain ghost writer. The sentence structure was terribly awkward ... entire paragraphs that basically sounded like, "I put on my coat, grabbed my keys, and went outside. I locked my door, got into my car, and drove to town." The flow was very clunky, so much so that it took me out of the story countless times. And while I'm a fan of interesting locales, this book did nothing to paint a picture of Salem or Cambridge or any of the other places mentioned. Parts of it felt like listening to my GPS ("we drove down Main Street for half a mile, turned right, then followed Oak Street until it turned into Maple Lane.") Ugh.

Besides the structure problems, the story itself left me disappointed. I had to keep forcing myself to read it (never a good sign). I hadn't read the first book in this series, but it wasn't difficult to catch up with the overarching plot and characters. I'll give the author credit for that. I wish I could say the same about other aspects of the book, like the sexual tension (what sexual tension?) between the two main characters. I know it's supposed to exist, because the reader is beaten over the head with the fact that Lizzie finds Diesel hot. We're never told WHY he's so hot, though. Maybe this was handled better in the first book, but other than constantly being told he's hot, hot, hot, the audience isn't given much to show us what, specifically, is making him so appealing. And that's the real problem I had with this book -- a whole lot of tell and very little show. It makes for an excruciatingly boring read (and given the setup, there's no way the word "boring" should ever creep into a review.)

Others might enjoy the humor, but it felt a bit slap-stick to me. The book tries so hard to make you laugh that it gets downright embarrassing at times, like open-mic night at a comedy club. In a dry county. There's an entire section that revolves around a flatulence problem - fart humor, literally. Unless your readership is comprised of 8-year old boys, this seems like a poor choice. But based on the Scooby-Doo-style formula of the plot (take some wacky characters, throw in some hijinks, and hilarity ensues!), perhaps that was the intended audience.

If you take away the amateurish writing, juvenile humor, and ridiculously quirky side characters, you're left with a plot that requires you murder your disbelief (don't merely suspend it), and a protagonist who spends more time complaining about having to save the world than actually saving it. There was nothing about Lizzie or Diesel (in this book) that would make me want to spend more time with them. I felt Wulf was the most interesting character, but his appearances were frustratingly brief and involved very little dialogue.

I've been meaning to read the remaining books in the Stephanie Plum series, but if this is the quality of storytelling I can expect, I'll have to pass. What a disappointment.(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kizzy and Diesel are back and better than ever! These two crack me up, and the sparks between the two I feel through the pages, and I am surprised books don't catch on fire everywhere!

In this one the two are following a murder of a professor. They are now looking for the Luxuria Stone or the lust stone, which hello these two don't have any need for it! But Lizzy decided to help him out to beat out Wolf his cousin. As they start to look they get a couple of stalkers Anaracy and crazy ass Hatchet...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars

Did you read and enjoy Janet Evanovich's book "Wicked Appetite" where we met newcomer Lizzy Tucker who had just moved to town to work in a bakery making the most gorgeous sounding cupcakes only to discover she holds a supernatural talent and landed with Diesel - her new supernatural partner , Carl the monkey and Wulf - a bad guy and Diesel's cousin. Lizzy has been paired up with Diesel to find the Seven Stones that represent the Seven Deadly Sins and destroy them otherwise all hell will break ou...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Al rated it 3 of 5 stars

*The hardcover edition of Wicked Business *containsPlum & Wicked stickersinside!

...more

*The hardcover edition of Wicked Business * contains Plum & Wicked stickers inside!

Whether it’s monkey business, funny business, or getting down to business, Janet Evanovich’s Lizzy and Diesel series proves that there’s no business like Wicked Business.

Lizzy Tucker’s once normal life as a pastry chef in Salem, Massachusetts, turns upside down as she battles both sinister forces and an inconvenient attraction to her unnaturally talented but off-limits partner, Diesel.

When Harvard University English professor and dyed-in-the-wool romantic Gilbert Reedy is mysteriously murdered and thrown off his fourth-floor balcony, Lizzy and Diesel take up his twenty-year quest for the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust. Following clues contained in a cryptic nineteenth-century book of sonnets, Lizzy and Diesel tear through Boston catacombs, government buildings, and multimillion-dollar residences. On their way they’ll leave behind a trail of robbed graves, public disturbances, and general mayhem.

Diesel’s black sheep cousin, Gerwulf Grimoire, also wants the Stone. His motives are far from pure, and what he plans on doing with the treasure, no one knows . . . but Lizzy Tucker fears she’s in his crosshairs. Never far and always watching, Grimoire has a growing, vested interest in the cupcake-baker-turned-finder-of-lost-things. As does another dangerous and dark opponent in the hunt—a devotee of lawlessness and chaos, known only as Anarchy.

Treasures will be sought, and the power of lust will be unmistakable as Lizzy and Diesel attempt to stay ahead of Anarchy, Grimoire, and his medieval minion, Hatchet, in this ancient game of twisted riddles and high-stakes hide-and-seek.

About the Author

Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Troublemaker graphic novels, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

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Dec 31, 2012 drey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, urban-fantasy

Lizzy’s life sure is crazy. I mean, there’s a hunky beach bum who shows up in it, monkey in tow. There’s a broody bad guy complete with inept-nutjob disciple. There’s the not-quite-all-there co-worker slash sometime-sidekick who practices a little too much “magic”. And there’s the pursuit of whichever one of the seven items-with-magical-properties that should never be compiled together. Can’t a girl just be left alone to bake cupcakes?

Apparently not, because Wicked Business starts off with a dea...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Shadow rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction, mystery-whodunit

I had high hopes for this series, but I'm feeling quite a bit let down. It's so predictable and well, boring. I can usually read a Janet Evanovich book in about two hours (I've been reading her for almost twenty years, I now realize it is out of devotion not because she's written anything wonderful in over ten years), but this took me over a week.

The characters are one dimensional, the plot is trite and the writing itself is uninspired. I think she's taken the formula failsafe too far and she's...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Jeannie Zelos rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wicked Business – A Lizzy and Diesel novel Janet Evanovich

I was supplied with this copy by publisher but as always on the basis that my opinion is honestly held and not influenced by whether the book was free or paid for. Integrity of reviewers is important to me, and false reviews do no favours to authors or readers.
Although Janet is a huge selling author I've never read any of her books (so many books so little time :( it seems ) so didn't know what style to expect. I really enjoyed it – its...more Wicked Business – A Lizzy and Diesel novel Janet Evanovich

I was supplied with this copy by publisher but as always on the basis that my opinion is honestly held and not influenced by whether the book was free or paid for. Integrity of reviewers is important to me, and false reviews do no favours to authors or readers.
Although Janet is a huge selling author I've never read any of her books (so many books so little time :( it seems ) so didn't know what style to expect. I really enjoyed it – its the second so far in a series. I didn't know the back story about Lizzy and Diesel from the first book but that didn't matter as it soon became clear what was happening and how the characters interacted. The characters are a great mix and foil for each other, steady, patient Clara the bakery owner where Lizzy works, dizzy Glo who is convinced her broom is magic and can do a few simple spells – she's great fun, then there’s grim, scary Wulf and his assistant Hatchett, Lizzy herself and the delicious Diesel who she lusts after (and who wouldn't!!) but is off limits – as people with magic if they connect one would lose power and diesel is worried it may be him.
Diesel and Lizzy are on the search for the second SALIGIA, stone, unfortunately so are Wulf anf Hatchett and someone else....and they search turns into a madcap adventure of danger and intrigue wrapped up with slapstick comedy moments. Overall the tone is humorous chick-lit style – with a splash of forbidden romance thrown in for good measure. Its an easy to read book, no flicking back madly to see who came from where and what they are doing but an adventure that paces along happily with moments that made the Other Half say “ what are you laughing at?” - I couldn't help it, Janet manages to catch me out with her sense of humour. Its a great treat to find a prolific authors who's works I haven't read – a whole new seam of books to be mined.
The book is a good length – I prefer something that really allows the story to flow into different areas and sub plots – and written so that its nicely finished although its clear it's one in a series there's no horrible cliffhanger ending. I really really hate those with a passion and they seem to have become really prevalent lately! I've been reading the paper back version although its also available on kindle and looking at the sample appears to be error free – as you'd expect from a big publisher but its amazing how often kindle format problems creep in and spoil a book so its something I always look at. Pricing is fair at £5.27 for 352 pages in paperback (on Amazon – recommended price is £7.99) and £4.99 for 321 pages on kindle version. Some big names have been increasing prices recently and I'm pleased to see Janet and Headline have kept prices affordable.
Stars: Impeccable writing as far as grammar etc go, plots that flow well and believable characters, along with a story with touches of magic and romance that had me hooked and guessing what was going to happen so it has to be … five stars.
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Dec 09, 2012 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book from Headline Review through Nudge.

Lizzy Tucker is a pastry chef who up until recently thought of herself as perfectly normal. That was before she met Diesel though. Diesel is not quite human although he looks just like a gorgeous, even hot, man. Diesel, no other names, has revealed to Lizzy that she has the gift to detect special powers in objects. It is a power Diesel doesn’t have (although he does have plenty other ones) and one he needs in his quest to stop the world fro...more I received this book from Headline Review through Nudge.

Lizzy Tucker is a pastry chef who up until recently thought of herself as perfectly normal. That was before she met Diesel though. Diesel is not quite human although he looks just like a gorgeous, even hot, man. Diesel, no other names, has revealed to Lizzy that she has the gift to detect special powers in objects. It is a power Diesel doesn’t have (although he does have plenty other ones) and one he needs in his quest to stop the world from descending into hell. When the story starts a Harvard English professor has plunged to death from his balcony. And because Diesel is convinced this death has something to do with his quest, he and Lizzy visit the scene and, thanks to Diesel’s monkey Carl, recover a small key. A key that holds a clue to the whereabouts of a Saligia Stone, one of seven stones which, when brought together, will mean the end of the world. This particular stone is connected to both true love and lust and it is up to Diesel and Lizzy to find it before others do. Because there are others who want this and the other stones for their own, evil, purposes. First of all there is Diesel’s cousin Wulf and his scary assistant Hatchet. But there is also another adversary, known only by the name Anarchy who is determined to get her hands on the stone regardless of the costs involved. A mad-cap hunt from clue to clue, from impossible situation to even more impossible situation follows. Assisted by Diesel’s monkey, Lizzy’s friend Glo, who may or may not be a witch, and her unflappable employer Clara, the unlikely duo sets out to find the stone, save the world while trying to keep their hands off each other. Because giving in to the attraction between them would put a stop to everything.

Confused? That doesn’t surprise me. But, you are just going to have to take my word for it when I say that the story makes a lot more sense when you are actually reading it. At the same time, this is not a serious story. In fact, this is a “suspend your disbelief” sort of read on many levels. Of course there is the fantasy element of the seven stones that need to be saved, and the special powers Lizzy, Wulf, Diesel and several other characters have. But even “normal” elements in this story are far from that. People don’t have as casual a reaction to being threatened or hurt as the characters in this story do. But, that is all part of the fantasy Janet Evanovich has created for her readers, and for some reason it all makes a weird sort of sense while you’re in the middle of the story.

Of course, Janet Evanovich, best known for her Stephanie Plum books, has a talent for creating quirky, loveable and entertaining characters. She knows how to put them in impossible situations and get them out again, against the odds. The dialogue between the characters is funny and sparkles, regularly puts a smile on the reader’s face and even brings the occasional laugh out loud moment. The story is fast-paced without a single boring moment and very easy to read.

This is the second book in a series, and I didn’t read the first one. I can’t say that caused me any problems. Everything the reader really needs to know is explained without taking the flow out of the story. It is quite possible that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the prequel, but I never felt as if I was missing out on vital information.

In short, this is a fun read, not to be taken (too) seriously. Fast-paced and light-hearted this is the perfect book for a rainy weekend or any other time you need some light relief.
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Nov 19, 2012 Doris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozies, supernatural

I have been following along with the Lizzy and Diesel stories since they started. I have been intrigued by this line since Diesel first appeared in a "between the numbers" Stephanie Plum story, where he was helping track down Santa and his elves.

Diesel has strange powers, which include the ability to bypass locks. He teamed up with Lizzy because she, a fellow Unmentionable, has the ability to find magical items, and he needs her assistance in finding a series of lost items which relate to the S...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Greta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: food-challenge, bolt-from-the-blue

Brief Summary:
It's a few months after the end of the first book, and this time Lizzie and Diesel are after the SALIGIA stone of lust. Of course they have Hatchett and Wulf hot on their trail. They also have Lizzies friends, Diesel's monkey, and one or two new characters helping them along the way. As Lizzie and Diesel move from clue to clue, they realize a dangerous person calling herself Anarchy is after the stone as well. We also learn more about the stones as a whole; they weren't always evil...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Sheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just finished this book. Lizzy and Diesel were new characters to me. I thought the writing was humorous the way she described the characters and the things that happened. Lizzy is a pasty chef at a bakery with Claire and Glo. Diesel is an odd man with special talents who comes to stay with Lizzie and uses her to help find a Luxouria Stone and a plaque. But his cousin, Wulf, who is weird but handsome comes along as well as a woman who burns and destroys things and causes havoc. The setting is...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have never read any of Janet Evanovich's books, but this one caught my eye at the bookstore, and I was very impressed with the length of the waiting list at the public library. I only realized after I had started it that it is the second book in the series.

It was not the best book that I have ever read, but I did find it strangely humorous. It is populated by a variety of very interesting characters. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, it sometimes felt like a quirky adult Harry Potter. Quasi-detecti...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Stéphanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, chick-lit, wicca, supernatural-paranormal, romance

As a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum novels (I promise, it has nothing to do with the fact that I share the same name with the main character), I was overjoyed a couple years ago when I heard Janet Evanovich was coming out with a paranormal series. To combine the wit and the comedy of Stephanie Plum with paranormal stuff, it had the makings of a great series. To tell you the truth, I was satisfied with the first installment but this sequel, WICKED BUSINESS, left me a bit disappointed.

Don’t get me...more As a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum novels (I promise, it has nothing to do with the fact that I share the same name with the main character), I was overjoyed a couple years ago when I heard Janet Evanovich was coming out with a paranormal series. To combine the wit and the comedy of Stephanie Plum with paranormal stuff, it had the makings of a great series. To tell you the truth, I was satisfied with the first installment but this sequel, WICKED BUSINESS, left me a bit disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong. All the comedy and sarcasm you could ask for was included in this novel but I think, what I didn’t enjoy, is the actual story itself. At times, it felt as if the story had no true storyline, like a scavenger hunt branching out into a dozen different paths. Of course, that might have been Janet’s way of keeping her readers on their toes, but personally, all it did for me is kind of annoy me. Characters were popping out here and there, sometimes being nice and sometimes being evil. It was kind of hard to make up my mind about some of them when I didn’t know if I should hate them or if I should pity them. The characters’ goal of finding the Luxuria Stone (one of the seven stone representing the seven deadly sins) is quite obvious but it’s the hodgepodge of scenes on their quest to find the stone that I didn’t enjoy. Most of the scenes, on their own were enjoyable but the flow between them was just too fast and seemed unplanned.

What saved the book is the setting and the eccentric characters. To set a paranormal novel in Salem, Massachusetts, is quite gutsy, because really, who would want to be that stereotypical and cliché? But since Janet Evanovich’s writing style is all about the clichés, the setting actually works to her advantage. The small town feel and the cozy New England imagery is perfect, and of course, it includes all the awesome eccentric townies. Glo, one of my favorite characters in the series, is simply awesome because one of her aspirations in life is to be like Harry Potter. How can you beat that? And the two main characters, Lizzy and Diesel are just great together, even if they can’t sleep with each other because that would risk one of them losing their paranormal powers. Their hilarious banter and chemistry makes them the perfect couple, even if Lizzy is reluctant to have Diesel sleep in her house. Oh, and beware of the monkey. The things he does will have you laughing for sure!

I will definitively continue reading this series, just to meet with the characters again. Even if the storyline of WICKED BUSINESS wasn’t my favorite, I do think this series is worth checking out. I’m hoping the next story will be more enjoyable and since you can’t go wrong with this type of comedy, I’m sure Janet Evanovich will keep making me laugh with whatever she come out with next. The author has a very unique style that is obvious in everything she writes and, after years of enjoying her novels, its has kept me coming back for more.

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Also reviewed on Tynga's Reviews(less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Lucy added it · review of another edition

I don't get the appeal of Evanovich, at least not through this book or the previous Lizzy/Diesel pairing. The sexual tension between them is more talked about than felt.
I do like the voices given by Lorelei King, especially Diesel's voice.
I still dislike Glo, who's too optimistic, not to mention oblivious, to be true. Every guy she meets is sure to be The One. She's equally sure that's she's going to be, maybe even is, a wizard. Although she never gets the spells right and always leaves out some...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 09, 2012 Carolyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

The next installment of the Lizzie and Diesel adventures finds the team in search of another SAGLIA stone, in this case, the Luxuria stone which creates lust. And that causes a few problems for our two protagonists. They are as attracted to each other as ever, but the ground rules remain that two unmentionables can’t do the deed without one of them losing their powers. And Lizzie thought gluttony was hard to handle…

Gerwulf Grimoire, aka Wulf, remains in the picture and seems more threatening tha...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Aaron rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was the first time that I think I have finished up disappointed with a Janet Evanovich book. I tend to read her for light and fun mysteries. This is the second book in a spin-off series from her Stephanie Plum books. Diesel has headed north from Trenton, New Jersey, to Salem, Massachusetts. Diesel always was a bit mysterious. Readers were never shore if he was an angel or some magical creature so it was no surprise when he teamed up with some witches in the first book in the series, Wicked...more

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Aug 21, 2012 ChirenjenzieReviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

The Good: Like most Evanovich novels, you're almost guaranteed a good time when you read Wicked Business. It's fun, it's relatively fast-paced, and the characters are always true to life. Lizzy and Diesel still share that ever-present conflicting spark. I rather enjoy tension between characters, so I like that Evanovich hasn't raced to break it. I also appreciate that her characters, no matter how inconsequential, have something memorable about them. In this book, I have an affinity for Carl. No...more The Good: Like most Evanovich novels, you're almost guaranteed a good time when you read Wicked Business. It's fun, it's relatively fast-paced, and the characters are always true to life. Lizzy and Diesel still share that ever-present conflicting spark. I rather enjoy tension between characters, so I like that Evanovich hasn't raced to break it. I also appreciate that her characters, no matter how inconsequential, have something memorable about them. In this book, I have an affinity for Carl. Nothing says a good time like a sarcastic monkey.

I enjoyed the characters introduced in this book. Evanovich just has a way of making each her own. Faults or strengths, victory or defeat, they're hilarious in their pursuits in a way only Janet could pull off!

The Mediocre: Anyone familiar with the Plum series is well aware of the constant triangle between Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger. While that worked for the first 13 or so books, it's kind of fallen flat since. Unfortunately, we see a similar pattern emerging in the Diesel books. We have Wulf (the bad boy) and Diesel (the good guy). While the tension between Lizzy and Wulf isn't so obvious, it's still there. I don't mind some conflict in characters, but it's just a tad too close to the Plum series in this case. Not so much to detract from the fun of the story, but I hope Evanovich keeps it in check.

There isn't a lot of variation in character and style. If you just flipped open to a page in either the Plum or Diesel series, not knowing which book you held, you probably couldn't tell much of a difference. While the story line has fallen flat in the Plum series, the characters never got old, so this doesn't bother me. If you want an entirely new feel, you probably won't like this newest series.

In conclusion: I really liked this book. It was a quick and easy read, perfect for a long plane ride! My favorite thing about Evanovich is her ability to write a great book with fun characters that's easy to enjoy when you just want to relax.(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Tonya rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book. It was a light, fun, easy read.

*Spoilers*
Diesel is a bit more serious in this book than he was in the Stephanie Plum series books. He's still fun, sexy, and of course supernatural. Lizzy Tucker has Unmentionable abilities as well, though she's not quite happy to use them. Wulf is still a mystery to me. For someone who is supposed to be the villian, he is pretty civil in this book. If J.E. is going to try to make a triangle out of Wulf, Diesel, and Lizzy like she did Morelli,...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Donna LaValley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-fantasy-mystery

"Wicked Business" is number 2 of Janet Evanovich’s new “Lizzy and Diesel” series. Lizzy is the cheery cupcake baker at Dazzle’s Bakery in Salem, Mass., where it seems everyone has a “special” ability of some kind.

Despite interesting localities such as museums, frat houses, and underground tunnels connecting Harvard with secret meeting rooms inside a Sphinx monument, and the classy or terrifying domiciles of Wulf, the compelling, dark, powerful, handsome (etc., etc.,) cousin of sexy, blond, irre...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Kelly Robinson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich is more of a 2.5 star read than a 3 star book. The second book in the Lizzy and Diesel series follows the life of Lizzy Tucker, a pastry chef in Salem, MA. Lizzy has supernatural powers and because of this has been partnered with the supernaturally gifted hunk, Diesel. Diesel protects Lizzy from all of the riffraff trying to harm her because of her powers, including his cousin, Gerfwulf "Wulf" Grimoire.

In this book, a Harvard Professor who has been hunting for...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Tawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am calling this a liked not loved and good not great book. I can not pick out any obvious flaws or things that really irk me about. I enjoy a light, comical "weird things out there" book. (So far so good). I enjoy Janet Evanovich (will continue to pick up new releases from her). I love a buddy comedy (again, we are doing fine in this department). There's the whole good vs evil (still going strong).

The premise of the series is that there are "special" people who have extra abilities. Lizzy can...more I am calling this a liked not loved and good not great book. I can not pick out any obvious flaws or things that really irk me about. I enjoy a light, comical "weird things out there" book. (So far so good). I enjoy Janet Evanovich (will continue to pick up new releases from her). I love a buddy comedy (again, we are doing fine in this department). There's the whole good vs evil (still going strong).

The premise of the series is that there are "special" people who have extra abilities. Lizzy can feel special objects that are magical. Diesel can do stuff (so far, I gather that he can unlock locks but I'm not sure what else). Diesel seems to work for an agency that is responsible for the magical objects, so far we are looking at the Seven Deadly sins (Saliga stones). The first book was greed and you can probably imagine where this could possibly lead. This book is about lust and stone that can either make folks lustful or find true love (I'm voting for find true love!)

One of the reasons that this book wasn't great was it felt like National Treasure (not that it was a bad movie but if you compare the search and chase in that to Dan Brown's DaVinci code). It seemed a little "mad cap" I Love Lucy kinda chase. That's still isn't too bad. It was mostly cute (how can you not love a little Monkey in toddler clothes in a Science Museum).

I did NOT like Deidre Early (heir to Early Candy fortune). She was crazy (and not in an appealing way). She felt like a caricature of a Disney villain. Wulfe who is Diesel's cousin and nemesis still has some qualities that make him appealing, even though he's evil he is mysterious and handsome. Deidre is just nuts and kinda annoying.

Finally, the scenes in Lizzy's apartment didn't really mesh well with search scenes. I felt like they were added as an excuse to get the characters nakie and add sexual tension where it didn't need to be. Just my opinions but overall a cute read. My kids didn't miss any meals and I didn't lose any sleep finishing the book. I definitely like Wicked Appetite better!(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun book. I needed a laugh. I know Evanovich is totally formula driven but sometimes, when I need a laugh, the books are fun to read. It's a plus it's paranormal and also local to me.

It irritates me to no end that she continued the same guy/romance formula that trashed her other series in this book. The bad boy (Wulf), good guy (Diesel) triangle thing is not only totally seethrough but annoying as hell.

I mean her other series (Stephanie Plum) is like 10 books over the expiration date because s...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Deirdre rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fromlibrary, humour, romance

Now my opinion of this one is probably coloured quite a bit by the fact that this is the first book in the series that I've read. The reason for some of the sexual tension in the book is a bit lame, if our two heroes have sex one of them (semi-randomly) will lose all power. So what do our heroes do? They sleep in the same bed. That plan has longevity going for it.

The two are searching for a stone of lust, following a path of getting stones related to the seven deadly sins. While I enjoyed it, th...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, appealing-characteristic-story, contemporary, chick-lit, audiobook

Lizzy Tucker is back, using her powers to find magical items to help Diesel [no last name] find the seven stones, each of which enhances one of the seven deadly sins. They found greed in Wicked Appetite and now they're on the hunt for Lust.
There's a new bad guy in town. The baddie from the last book is still there but there's another introduced, a woman named Anarchy. (view spoiler)...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Crystie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was better than the first Lizzy and Diesel book, but still not one of my favorite books. It was okay.

The thing is, I like paranormal books. There are a lot of great paranormal series out there. Harry Dresden, Rachel Morgan, Kate Daniels - and more. This book was funny, but not very well written. Kinda like the Stephanie Plum books. Wait, make that exactly like the Stephanie Plum books.

Lizzie is Stephanie. Diesel is a combination of Ranger and Morelli (sexy and flirty but he doesn't try to h...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, mystery

Fun book. It's time for Lizzy and Diesel to go after the next stone that's connected to the seven deadly sins. The first book was gluttony, this one is lust. It starts with the murder of a man who had been searching for it. Now Lizzy and Diesel are searching, with Wulf and Hatchet doing their best to get to it first. There is also a new player, a woman named Anarchy, who is definitely on the wrong side of crazy. There were lots of fun moments in the search, especially when Carl the monkey got in...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Sjensen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Just picked up the book and as I always do with any Janet Evanovich book, I dove in ready to spend the next couple hours with a book glued to my hands.
I read the first few pages and felt like I have read this before.
As I continued I kept thinking....."havent I read this before".
As a rule of thumb I LOVE all of Janets books, however I cant seem to get past the first few chapters...the monkey the vampire guy who leaves his handprints in flesh....nothing different thus far.

I realize in the Stephani...more

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About Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich is the #1 bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and graphic novels, Wicked Appetite (the first book in the Lizzy and Diesel series,) and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

Also published books under the name Steffie Hall.

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Books by Janet Evanovich

Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, #3)

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Trivia About Wicked Business

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Quotes from Wicked Business

“It would be difficult to tell," Wulf said. "I've always been a romantic. I've seen Casablanca twice, and I sat through the entire ordeal of Titanic".
"Didn't you enjoy Titanic?"
"I was relieved when the ship went down".” — 7 people liked it

“If I could just get Broom to cooperate, we could fly, Glo said. Then we wouldn't have to worry about traffic. Harry Potter didn't have to worry about traffic.

You relize Harry Potter isn't real, right?

Of course, but he could be. I mean, maybe not Harry Potter, but someone like him. Who's to say?” — 6 people liked it

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Wicked Business (Lizzy & Diesel #2)

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