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Stephanie Plum #18
explosive eighteen
Stephanie's got a one-way ticket to trouble...After a holiday from hell, Stephanie's heading back to New Jersey and life as a bounty hunter feeling worse than before. And that's before she finds out the man in the seat next to her was brutally murdered on their layover, and she may hold the key to his death. With both the fake FBI and the real FBI on her tail, not to mention sometimes-boyfriend Morelli and more-than-a-mentor Ranger, Stephanie's beginning to wonder if she might need a holiday from it all...
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2011
2343 people are currently reading
18045 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
331 books41.3k followersJanet 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 Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,395 reviews
February 8, 2017
Okay, I admit it -- I'm a Stephanie Plum sucker! I read Smokin' 17, and until the last chapter of the book, SWORE that I'd no longer be running out to get the hardcover edition of another Stephanie Plum book as soon as it was released, Instead,I'd be looking for the paperback at one of the used bookstores I frequent...
I love Janet Evanovich's writing style, her dialogue is hilarious, the characters are great, and reading the latest installment is like going home to visit with old friends -- well, old friends that NEVER change-- but still a fun read.
I've voiced my complaints in reviews for past Plum novels about the marked lack of forward progress and character development. Well, at the end of Smokin' 17 Evanovich presented herself with the perfect opportunity to go a little outside the box and move the story forward -- Stephanie gets a trip for 2 to Hawaii -- the cliff hanger at the end of the book is -- who's she gonna bring? Ranger or Morelli?? I know, I know, pretty lame for a cliff hanger, (but when it comes to Ranger & Morelli, I'm a cheap date).
So I, (still firmly in "sucker mode"), preorder the book, blurb unread, and anxiously wait for it to arrive only to find (drum roll please)
.....Stephanie coming home from Hawaii & getting off the plane in New Jersey...
Thus missing a fantastic opportunity for Evanovich to get Stephanie outside of her comfort zone, maybe get a little more in-depth with the hottie she brought with her -- no such luck
I. Am. Beyond. Pissed.
This seemed to be the "travel season" for several of my favorite series, most notably Eve & Roarke/In Death series by J.D. Robb (N.Y. to Dallas) & the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (River Marked) . While missing the supporting cast of characters in these series, we got much more in depth with the main characters and there was some definite personal growth going on......
Not so with Explosive 18....
Never (it seems) with Stephanie Plum. I guess the same jokes/situations /scenarios/car "mishaps"/Grandma Mazur/Lulu eating jokes are going to stay firmly place...and getting a little less funny with each subsequent incarnation.
I was in love with this series. It was one of my favorites. Then, somewhere around Fearless 14, I started getting the feeling that Janet Evanovich was phoning these books in.
Okay, reality check here. Stephanie Plum's a bounty hunter. A really inept bounty hunter. A really inept bounty hunter that someone's always trying to kill, maim, run over or blow up. She has a really close "friendship" with Ranger -- a totally bad-ass bounty hunter with his own security company, who would be MORE than happy to provide weapons & self-defense training (I'm sure).
What does Stephanie do???
Absolutely nothing.
She still keeps her gun in the cookiejar, her stun gun is never charged when she needs it, and her pepper spray is usually empty. She stumbles into situations becomes a “damsel in distress” and then Ranger pulls her ass out of the fire -- yet again. I swear, Rex the Hamster has better honed survival instincts than Stephanie. Her mother has every right to be worried about her; she SHOULD get a job at the button factory.
As for the man issues…just for the record, I’m definitely Team Ranger. Morelli & Stephanie have history, they know everything about each other and they’re comfortable. BUT who’s always there for her when she needs him with cars, assistance and saving her life? Ranger. (Plus, as an added bonus, he’s got that whole dark, hot, mysterious bad boy thing going on). Actions speak louder than words, after all…..
Will I read 19, 20, 21, etc? Probably -- I'm hooked.
Will I run out and buy it retail (hardcover or paperback)? No way.
I hate to say it, but the Stephanie Plum series has been downgraded to my "Used Bookstore Shopping List"
I love Janet Evanovich's writing style, her dialogue is hilarious, the characters are great, and reading the latest installment is like going home to visit with old friends -- well, old friends that NEVER change-- but still a fun read.
I've voiced my complaints in reviews for past Plum novels about the marked lack of forward progress and character development. Well, at the end of Smokin' 17 Evanovich presented herself with the perfect opportunity to go a little outside the box and move the story forward -- Stephanie gets a trip for 2 to Hawaii -- the cliff hanger at the end of the book is -- who's she gonna bring? Ranger or Morelli?? I know, I know, pretty lame for a cliff hanger, (but when it comes to Ranger & Morelli, I'm a cheap date).
So I, (still firmly in "sucker mode"), preorder the book, blurb unread, and anxiously wait for it to arrive only to find (drum roll please)
.....Stephanie coming home from Hawaii & getting off the plane in New Jersey...
Thus missing a fantastic opportunity for Evanovich to get Stephanie outside of her comfort zone, maybe get a little more in-depth with the hottie she brought with her -- no such luck
I. Am. Beyond. Pissed.
This seemed to be the "travel season" for several of my favorite series, most notably Eve & Roarke/In Death series by J.D. Robb (N.Y. to Dallas) & the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (River Marked) . While missing the supporting cast of characters in these series, we got much more in depth with the main characters and there was some definite personal growth going on......
Not so with Explosive 18....
Never (it seems) with Stephanie Plum. I guess the same jokes/situations /scenarios/car "mishaps"/Grandma Mazur/Lulu eating jokes are going to stay firmly place...and getting a little less funny with each subsequent incarnation.
I was in love with this series. It was one of my favorites. Then, somewhere around Fearless 14, I started getting the feeling that Janet Evanovich was phoning these books in.
Okay, reality check here. Stephanie Plum's a bounty hunter. A really inept bounty hunter. A really inept bounty hunter that someone's always trying to kill, maim, run over or blow up. She has a really close "friendship" with Ranger -- a totally bad-ass bounty hunter with his own security company, who would be MORE than happy to provide weapons & self-defense training (I'm sure).
What does Stephanie do???
Absolutely nothing.
She still keeps her gun in the cookiejar, her stun gun is never charged when she needs it, and her pepper spray is usually empty. She stumbles into situations becomes a “damsel in distress” and then Ranger pulls her ass out of the fire -- yet again. I swear, Rex the Hamster has better honed survival instincts than Stephanie. Her mother has every right to be worried about her; she SHOULD get a job at the button factory.
As for the man issues…just for the record, I’m definitely Team Ranger. Morelli & Stephanie have history, they know everything about each other and they’re comfortable. BUT who’s always there for her when she needs him with cars, assistance and saving her life? Ranger. (Plus, as an added bonus, he’s got that whole dark, hot, mysterious bad boy thing going on). Actions speak louder than words, after all…..
Will I read 19, 20, 21, etc? Probably -- I'm hooked.
Will I run out and buy it retail (hardcover or paperback)? No way.
I hate to say it, but the Stephanie Plum series has been downgraded to my "Used Bookstore Shopping List"
November 30, 2011
If you like my review, go like it on Amazon would you ? Maybe JE's publishers will see it...
So, here I am again. I swore I wouldn't read another Evanovich Plum Novel--after my last review of 17, I swore tooth and nail to my husband, my mom, and my blog readers that I wouldn't read it! So...I went to the library. I really just had to know if it was as bad as the previous one. After being teased that she might make a decision in 18, I let my small curiosity overshadow my intellect.
Remember back in the day of the early awesome plum books, where Stephanie felt BAD for kissing Ranger when she was dating Morelli? Remember back in the day where she swore she would never be like Joyce the whore? Remember? Well, it seems Stephanie has inhaled too many donuts, smoke fumes--from her cars always catching fire, and hair spray, because after she slept with Ranger and Morelli on back to back nights in 17, cementing her in my hoochie hall of fame; She is now sleeping with both men regularly in 18. How many times was it? 3 or so with Ranger? 2 or 3 with Morelli and then I'm sure her and Ranger had more sex in Hawaii than we were told. I mean, dudes--it's Ranger...and Hawaii. I would! Well, I would if I wasn't conflicted or dating another man, but hey, that's me. I have morals and scruples and a code of non-whorism.
I wish Joe had caught Steph having sex with Ranger in Hawaii. That would have been good. I also wish we got to see Joe and Ranger fight. That would have been panty melting too. But No.
Picturing Lula in all black with painted on pants and boob squish, does make me laugh. I did laugh a little. But it doesn't make up for the complete 180 degree turns every character in the Plum series has taken. Her mom is a lush, Steph is a whore, Ranger has no sack, Joe lost his possessive balls too, Lula still thinks too much about food, but she at least strives to be better...sometimes. When it's easier ;)
It seems that after 18 books, Ranger and Morelli have lost their balls. Huh. Who would have seen that one coming. Heh, I said coming. Did Stephanie here that? She probably is one of them right now, and while in the throes with whomever it is, is secretly wondering how long she has to wait to sleep with the other one so she doesn't seem tacky. Should she take a shower first? Nah. Why bother? She is just going to get sweaty again.
I jest. Sort of. I know, If I get so angry about the direction, why do I keep reading? I keep hoping things will change and they have! Finally, they have! Only for the worse. I remember thinking, why does she keep getting back with Joe? She should give Ranger a turn. Only, not this way. Why can't she have a relationship again? For a whole book, let her be with Ranger! Then at the end, have Joe tell Ranger to meet him at midnight, in the dark park, alone. with no guns. Only fists. YAY!
Pulease.
Janet Evanovich? What on earth are you doing to your characters? They have completely morphed into pod-people. They have been replaced with robots!
Lula got on my nerves. She reminded me of Boomer from ESPN with his "Whoops!" with her "Bams!"
So, once again we are left on a 'cliff' only this time? I am not falling! I am going to back away, gracefully from the edge, and bow down to the awesomeness that Stephanie used to be, and keep her alive in my memories.
I am getting off the crazy train. If I want to read cars getting blown up, her sneaky snarkness, and some hot glimpses of two actual men...I'll read the early plum books.
So, here I am again. I swore I wouldn't read another Evanovich Plum Novel--after my last review of 17, I swore tooth and nail to my husband, my mom, and my blog readers that I wouldn't read it! So...I went to the library. I really just had to know if it was as bad as the previous one. After being teased that she might make a decision in 18, I let my small curiosity overshadow my intellect.
Remember back in the day of the early awesome plum books, where Stephanie felt BAD for kissing Ranger when she was dating Morelli? Remember back in the day where she swore she would never be like Joyce the whore? Remember? Well, it seems Stephanie has inhaled too many donuts, smoke fumes--from her cars always catching fire, and hair spray, because after she slept with Ranger and Morelli on back to back nights in 17, cementing her in my hoochie hall of fame; She is now sleeping with both men regularly in 18. How many times was it? 3 or so with Ranger? 2 or 3 with Morelli and then I'm sure her and Ranger had more sex in Hawaii than we were told. I mean, dudes--it's Ranger...and Hawaii. I would! Well, I would if I wasn't conflicted or dating another man, but hey, that's me. I have morals and scruples and a code of non-whorism.
I wish Joe had caught Steph having sex with Ranger in Hawaii. That would have been good. I also wish we got to see Joe and Ranger fight. That would have been panty melting too. But No.
Picturing Lula in all black with painted on pants and boob squish, does make me laugh. I did laugh a little. But it doesn't make up for the complete 180 degree turns every character in the Plum series has taken. Her mom is a lush, Steph is a whore, Ranger has no sack, Joe lost his possessive balls too, Lula still thinks too much about food, but she at least strives to be better...sometimes. When it's easier ;)
It seems that after 18 books, Ranger and Morelli have lost their balls. Huh. Who would have seen that one coming. Heh, I said coming. Did Stephanie here that? She probably is one of them right now, and while in the throes with whomever it is, is secretly wondering how long she has to wait to sleep with the other one so she doesn't seem tacky. Should she take a shower first? Nah. Why bother? She is just going to get sweaty again.
I jest. Sort of. I know, If I get so angry about the direction, why do I keep reading? I keep hoping things will change and they have! Finally, they have! Only for the worse. I remember thinking, why does she keep getting back with Joe? She should give Ranger a turn. Only, not this way. Why can't she have a relationship again? For a whole book, let her be with Ranger! Then at the end, have Joe tell Ranger to meet him at midnight, in the dark park, alone. with no guns. Only fists. YAY!
Pulease.
Janet Evanovich? What on earth are you doing to your characters? They have completely morphed into pod-people. They have been replaced with robots!
Lula got on my nerves. She reminded me of Boomer from ESPN with his "Whoops!" with her "Bams!"
So, once again we are left on a 'cliff' only this time? I am not falling! I am going to back away, gracefully from the edge, and bow down to the awesomeness that Stephanie used to be, and keep her alive in my memories.
I am getting off the crazy train. If I want to read cars getting blown up, her sneaky snarkness, and some hot glimpses of two actual men...I'll read the early plum books.
March 2, 2020
After 18 books in this series, I can't always give out a 4 just because I laugh so hard I nearly pee myself. Evanovich has to work harder and harder to keep the high mark stars... but in all honesty, this was a hysterical edition in the series.
I read it about 5 years ago but still have vivid memories of many character escapades. And when it's a trip to Hawaii (partly), who wouldn't love it. I'm going back to add small review and thoughts on any book I never actually wrote up a review for. And this is one of them.
Reading about Stephanie Plum's inability to accurately describe someone in a picture she saw briefly is pure gold. She is so goofy sometimes... I can't believe she hasn't gotten herself wasted at this point by some of the criminals she's dealt with over the years.
And Lula is my favorite character, at least whenever she appears more prominently in a book. Watching her training, and eating, is laugh-out-loud funny. I always picture Gabourey Sidibe playing her... not sure why, but that's who's in my head.
I'm not a huge fan of Joyce but we all need a Moriarty of sorts, right? For those who haven't read the series, Joyce is a fellow PI and former girlfriend of Stephanie's on/off again relationship with Joe Morelli.
I think I stopped here with this book and still have the last 4 or 5 to catch up on. The series stalls every so often, but within each book, there's a treasure of fun somewhere hidden if not the entire thing. They can be read in 3 to 4 hours... I would like to listen to one if they actually make an audio book. I wonder what accents everyone has, given it takes place in Newark, NJ.
Basically, you've got a woman everyone finds something they love about, but also a few annoying habits. You may want to date her, but then you'd want to kill her. She's a good bestie, but even then, too many favors just to keep up with her antics.
Nonetheless, it makes for a fantastic read. So if you've never read the series, don't start with this one. Go back to #1 and give it a shot. And then tell me if you're a Ranger or a Morelli fan. (I'd pick Ranger, btw... isn't it always better when the object of your affection also scares the hell out of you????)
About Me
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.
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
I read it about 5 years ago but still have vivid memories of many character escapades. And when it's a trip to Hawaii (partly), who wouldn't love it. I'm going back to add small review and thoughts on any book I never actually wrote up a review for. And this is one of them.
Reading about Stephanie Plum's inability to accurately describe someone in a picture she saw briefly is pure gold. She is so goofy sometimes... I can't believe she hasn't gotten herself wasted at this point by some of the criminals she's dealt with over the years.
And Lula is my favorite character, at least whenever she appears more prominently in a book. Watching her training, and eating, is laugh-out-loud funny. I always picture Gabourey Sidibe playing her... not sure why, but that's who's in my head.
I'm not a huge fan of Joyce but we all need a Moriarty of sorts, right? For those who haven't read the series, Joyce is a fellow PI and former girlfriend of Stephanie's on/off again relationship with Joe Morelli.
I think I stopped here with this book and still have the last 4 or 5 to catch up on. The series stalls every so often, but within each book, there's a treasure of fun somewhere hidden if not the entire thing. They can be read in 3 to 4 hours... I would like to listen to one if they actually make an audio book. I wonder what accents everyone has, given it takes place in Newark, NJ.
Basically, you've got a woman everyone finds something they love about, but also a few annoying habits. You may want to date her, but then you'd want to kill her. She's a good bestie, but even then, too many favors just to keep up with her antics.
Nonetheless, it makes for a fantastic read. So if you've never read the series, don't start with this one. Go back to #1 and give it a shot. And then tell me if you're a Ranger or a Morelli fan. (I'd pick Ranger, btw... isn't it always better when the object of your affection also scares the hell out of you????)
About Me
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.
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
November 25, 2011
I like Stephanie Plum, I really do, but this series has failed to make any forward progress for at least ten books now. It's the same story over and over (and over) again. It's getting kind of pathetic that Stephanie can't pick a man. And we know that Lula's fat, and wears tacky clothes, and eats more than most circus animals... We don't need constant reminders. Please, please, please add something fresh to this series to keep the reader interested!
November 27, 2011
Here's the thing. I love Janet. I love the Stephanie world, I really do.
However - after 18 books a lot of things are starting to get very old.
Let's start with:
Lula's eating habits: It's getting really annoying, book after book, listening to her bitch and moan about what she eats, what she doesn't eat etc. etc. Either stick the girl on a complete diet or shut up about her eating habits. I really don't care that she's about to get sick after eating 10 cream filled donuts. She's a pig and it's getting disgusting. Then she gets sick and after a few seconds immediately starts stuffing her face again because she thought she was "over it."
Lula and her over-dramatization of EVERYTHING. She's worse then a soap opera half the time. OMG. A cats ashes fell on me I'M BREAKING OUT IN HIVES. OMG! THE OLD GUY WHO CLAIMS TO BE A VAMPIRE JUST GUMMED ME I CAN FEEL MY TEETH GROWING. Seriously? I've read Bronte novels with less drama then Lula.
Stephanie: Her love life, lack of common sense, and the incapability to do her job are past being cute. Yes, she's torn between two men and the chase is fun. It's even more fun now that her and Ranger are hitting the sack a lot more often. But the whole her mother/grandmother trying to fix her up all the time..it's old. It's done. Apparently they haven't gotten the memo yet that Stephanie isn't going to end up with some other guy they throw her way. She's in love with Morelli, she's in lust with Ranger. Her common sense and incapability to do her job go hand in hand.
Let's take the newest book for example shall we?
Stephanie is chasing after a purse thief. That's right ladies and gents A. Purse. Thief. A whiney, child of a purse thief who believes he can just take anything he wants because mommy didn't tell him no enough as a child. So what does our darling, clueless Stephanie do? She takes her purse with her while she's trying to bring the bad guy. And what happens children? He steals her purse and then steals her car.
And if once wasn't bad enough... SHE DOES IT TWICE. Because clearly, she didn't learn her lesson the first time around. And then he continues stealing her car until she's forced to trade it in for a different one because he has the keys to her RAV4.
Also, the whole "I can't ask Ranger help because he'll see me as weak" thing is past its prime. He sees you as weak and he always will. That's why he protects her as much as he does, because Stephanie cannot hold her own. Not even against a purse thief.
You don't like guns. Well, get a different line of work. You don't charge your stun gun? I have no sympathy for you when you get kidnapped. You don't want to call Morelli or Ranger for help because you can't keep your vagina in check... not my problem.
Stephanie is no longer a novice bounty hunter. I would never call her an expert one, but she's been in the game long enough to know the basics. Even Joyce knows how to handle herself more when she's going after FTAs then Stephanie does and this is what Stephanie does for a living.
I really hope Janet starts progressing the character more in the next book. After 18 books, it should have started already.
However - after 18 books a lot of things are starting to get very old.
Let's start with:
Lula's eating habits: It's getting really annoying, book after book, listening to her bitch and moan about what she eats, what she doesn't eat etc. etc. Either stick the girl on a complete diet or shut up about her eating habits. I really don't care that she's about to get sick after eating 10 cream filled donuts. She's a pig and it's getting disgusting. Then she gets sick and after a few seconds immediately starts stuffing her face again because she thought she was "over it."
Lula and her over-dramatization of EVERYTHING. She's worse then a soap opera half the time. OMG. A cats ashes fell on me I'M BREAKING OUT IN HIVES. OMG! THE OLD GUY WHO CLAIMS TO BE A VAMPIRE JUST GUMMED ME I CAN FEEL MY TEETH GROWING. Seriously? I've read Bronte novels with less drama then Lula.
Stephanie: Her love life, lack of common sense, and the incapability to do her job are past being cute. Yes, she's torn between two men and the chase is fun. It's even more fun now that her and Ranger are hitting the sack a lot more often. But the whole her mother/grandmother trying to fix her up all the time..it's old. It's done. Apparently they haven't gotten the memo yet that Stephanie isn't going to end up with some other guy they throw her way. She's in love with Morelli, she's in lust with Ranger. Her common sense and incapability to do her job go hand in hand.
Let's take the newest book for example shall we?
Stephanie is chasing after a purse thief. That's right ladies and gents A. Purse. Thief. A whiney, child of a purse thief who believes he can just take anything he wants because mommy didn't tell him no enough as a child. So what does our darling, clueless Stephanie do? She takes her purse with her while she's trying to bring the bad guy. And what happens children? He steals her purse and then steals her car.
And if once wasn't bad enough... SHE DOES IT TWICE. Because clearly, she didn't learn her lesson the first time around. And then he continues stealing her car until she's forced to trade it in for a different one because he has the keys to her RAV4.
Also, the whole "I can't ask Ranger help because he'll see me as weak" thing is past its prime. He sees you as weak and he always will. That's why he protects her as much as he does, because Stephanie cannot hold her own. Not even against a purse thief.
You don't like guns. Well, get a different line of work. You don't charge your stun gun? I have no sympathy for you when you get kidnapped. You don't want to call Morelli or Ranger for help because you can't keep your vagina in check... not my problem.
Stephanie is no longer a novice bounty hunter. I would never call her an expert one, but she's been in the game long enough to know the basics. Even Joyce knows how to handle herself more when she's going after FTAs then Stephanie does and this is what Stephanie does for a living.
I really hope Janet starts progressing the character more in the next book. After 18 books, it should have started already.
January 20, 2012
*************************
EDIT:
Still frustrated. Still love Lula and Grandma Mazur. Problem is, I love both Morelli and Ranger. I used to lean more toward Morelli, but lately he seems sort of apathetic towards any relationship with Stephanie. It's Ranger that tries to help her out and take care of her, and he seems genuinely worried that she'll get hurt. Morelli just complains that she gives him heartburn.
This one was still definitely worth reading, though if your looking for closure, it still ain't happening. I just want some resolution! PLEASE! Pick a man! Then do another series to find the other guy a freaking awesome woman.
*************************
I'm really hoping for some man resolution in this one. I loved this series with a passion until a few books ago. I used to wait anxiously for the next book in the series. I've now had Smokin Seventeen for a couple of months, and still haven't read it. I heard that the Morelli/Ranger issue is still up in the air, and that Stephanie is still the same old Stephanie. I've lost my Plum love! How many years does this series cover? It would be interesting to know, as Stephanie never seems to change. And why did I love her years ago and now roll my eyes? Hmmm...maybe it's time to have an HEA, end the series, and move on to a new idea. Or just choose Morelli and give us a couple of juicy books in which he teaches her to shoot and gives her babies.
EDIT:
Still frustrated. Still love Lula and Grandma Mazur. Problem is, I love both Morelli and Ranger. I used to lean more toward Morelli, but lately he seems sort of apathetic towards any relationship with Stephanie. It's Ranger that tries to help her out and take care of her, and he seems genuinely worried that she'll get hurt. Morelli just complains that she gives him heartburn.
This one was still definitely worth reading, though if your looking for closure, it still ain't happening. I just want some resolution! PLEASE! Pick a man! Then do another series to find the other guy a freaking awesome woman.
*************************
I'm really hoping for some man resolution in this one. I loved this series with a passion until a few books ago. I used to wait anxiously for the next book in the series. I've now had Smokin Seventeen for a couple of months, and still haven't read it. I heard that the Morelli/Ranger issue is still up in the air, and that Stephanie is still the same old Stephanie. I've lost my Plum love! How many years does this series cover? It would be interesting to know, as Stephanie never seems to change. And why did I love her years ago and now roll my eyes? Hmmm...maybe it's time to have an HEA, end the series, and move on to a new idea. Or just choose Morelli and give us a couple of juicy books in which he teaches her to shoot and gives her babies.
December 29, 2011
I enjoyed this book just like I have enjoyed all the others. I find them entertaining and laugh out loud funny.
It doesn't seem to bother me, as it does others, that the character Stephanie Plum is sleeping with more than one man at a time. She's young, not in a permanent relationship and FICTIONAL.
It doesn't seem to bother me, as it does others, that the character Stephanie Plum is sleeping with more than one man at a time. She's young, not in a permanent relationship and FICTIONAL.
February 6, 2012
I liken this series to an original document that you print out all new, and fresh, and perfect. And then the copy get's copied, and that copy gets copied and so on until you end up with a faded, scarred, crooked, ghost of that perfect original. It's old and it's tired and as much as you used to love it, it's time to let it go and start a new, original, document.
When I first discovered this series a few years ago, I absolutely loved it! I'm talking fan girl, crazed, running to the bookstore on my way to work to buy the hardback on the day it came out loved it. But now, I'm ready to see more growth from Stephanie. I'm ready for the love triangle to be laid to rest. And while we're on that subject I'm going to go on record and say that I adore Morelli, consider myself a Babecake, but I feel that although I thought differently at the beginning of the series, at this point Joe is not the right man for Stephanie anymore.
Stephanie... Oh Stephanie. Your ineptitude isn't all that funny anymore. It's mostly just pathetic. You should be a lot better bounty hunter by now. And thankfully Ranger is always nearby to take up your slack. Sigh. Ranger. You're a lucky girl.
But, even though I don't love the series like I used to, I still love these characters. I still laugh, and I will probably still read this series. I'll just get my books from the library instead of the bookstore.
When I first discovered this series a few years ago, I absolutely loved it! I'm talking fan girl, crazed, running to the bookstore on my way to work to buy the hardback on the day it came out loved it. But now, I'm ready to see more growth from Stephanie. I'm ready for the love triangle to be laid to rest. And while we're on that subject I'm going to go on record and say that I adore Morelli, consider myself a Babecake, but I feel that although I thought differently at the beginning of the series, at this point Joe is not the right man for Stephanie anymore.
Stephanie... Oh Stephanie. Your ineptitude isn't all that funny anymore. It's mostly just pathetic. You should be a lot better bounty hunter by now. And thankfully Ranger is always nearby to take up your slack. Sigh. Ranger. You're a lucky girl.
But, even though I don't love the series like I used to, I still love these characters. I still laugh, and I will probably still read this series. I'll just get my books from the library instead of the bookstore.
December 30, 2017
I can always count on this series to lighten my mood. put a smile on my face and laugh out loud multiple times. I love this rag tag group of friends and family, they never let me down. Guaranteed to have a good time just when I need one. :)
June 27, 2022
I'm really bumbed out that we didn't get the piece of the actual events that went down in Hawai. In my opinion its just cruel, its what we all have been waiting for, even though it didn't entirely worked out like it should have we still deserved it.
I usually love Lulu, but I was kind of annoyed with her in this one. Didn't get enough Grandma Mazur time too.
Hoping #19 will boost my Stephanie Plum fetish back to a 4 or 5 star.
I usually love Lulu, but I was kind of annoyed with her in this one. Didn't get enough Grandma Mazur time too.
Hoping #19 will boost my Stephanie Plum fetish back to a 4 or 5 star.
June 2, 2018
Hilarious! Stephanie Plum is getting more and more bad-ass. Love her! If you really want to enjoy it, try the audio version. Lorelei King is a genius. She gets the voices perfectly.
Reread June 2016. Never tire of these books! When Steph loses it in the garage? Never underestimate a woman who feels threatened.
Reread June 2018 — when this story begins its not one of my favs, but it quickly picks up. Now that the stories are becoming more and more involved with the Morelli/Ranger dynamic I have to put in a few instances that makes me like Ranger better. (At least for this book) Every time Steph needs him he is there to rescue her or help without placing judgement. As for Morelli—he just wants her to stay home and wait for him to have time for her. Plus, we all know he’s dating other women. ‘Dog play dates?’ Yeah, right!
Reread June 2016. Never tire of these books! When Steph loses it in the garage? Never underestimate a woman who feels threatened.
Reread June 2018 — when this story begins its not one of my favs, but it quickly picks up. Now that the stories are becoming more and more involved with the Morelli/Ranger dynamic I have to put in a few instances that makes me like Ranger better. (At least for this book) Every time Steph needs him he is there to rescue her or help without placing judgement. As for Morelli—he just wants her to stay home and wait for him to have time for her. Plus, we all know he’s dating other women. ‘Dog play dates?’ Yeah, right!
January 16, 2013
Hi. My name is Carol and I'm a bookoholic.
I've been reading ever since I can remember, but Goodreads seems to be contributing to my disease. I can't control myself. I'm always adding books to my "to-read" list, which is so long that if I stopped adding books today, I'd still have three years of books on it. Then there is the library, where a drive-by is part of my routine. It's on the way home from work, so it is really unavoidable. If I only make a quick stop to pick up a monthly read, that isn't a problem, is it? However, last time I was there I found this little number by Evanovich. I swore off the Stephanie Plum books a few numbers ago, but this one... it was on the New 14-Day Shelf. Why, that's free, not even a rental. How could I pass that up?
After I finished, I felt a little dirty and rather regretful. This was a cheap drink bolted down, perfectly serviceable but lacking any soul. There are so many better books to be spending time with--why do I do this to myself?
If you read any book between 8 and 17, you've read this book. No drag queens, but there is Joyce Barnhardt on the run, various oddball bondees getting the best of Steph and Lulu, Steph and Lulu ineptly breaking into a house, a bus blowing up, mom drinking, dad grunting, discussion of Lulu's clothes and eating habits, Grandma Mzur at a funeral, Connie running the business, Vinnie, car escapades, a '53 Buick, Ranger in black, Morelli in boxers, Rex and periodic attempts at kidnapping.
However, it did make me laugh out loud twice. Granted, I was likely delirious after swimming two miles, but I did laugh at a henchman's frustrating interactions with Steph and Lulu (specifically, his inept English cursing ), and an incident with rats (which kind of echoed her incident with a spider and various geese). There was also a semi-interesting plot device of referring to a significant incident that took place in Hawaii, where Steph was headed at the end of book #17. Naturally, everyone's curious what happened, but it takes a few days to find out.
Of course, the usual complaints apply to this book: no forward character motion. Stereotypes that border on the ludicrous. I knew that going in, but with the two or three year break, they were less annoying than they would have been.
Rounding up to two inept stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
May 25, 2016
I was beginning to not like ,myself so much. The honest confusion of loving two men was giving way to something that felt a little like unhealthy self-indulgence.
Not liking herself too much? Well, Stephanie, join the club! According to the reviews, nobody is liking you too much anymore. And, the triangle thing has gone on way too long. At this point, they are basically a menage.
Me? I'm kind of apathetic towards her at this stage. I still like the books, but they aren't magical or anything. More like an old rerun of Friends. It will make me smile, but it's not going to stick with me later or make me think deep thoughts. I'm definitely not going to be blown away. It's just mindless entertainment. I'm okay with that.
Not liking herself too much? Well, Stephanie, join the club! According to the reviews, nobody is liking you too much anymore. And, the triangle thing has gone on way too long. At this point, they are basically a menage.
Me? I'm kind of apathetic towards her at this stage. I still like the books, but they aren't magical or anything. More like an old rerun of Friends. It will make me smile, but it's not going to stick with me later or make me think deep thoughts. I'm definitely not going to be blown away. It's just mindless entertainment. I'm okay with that.
December 4, 2023
Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich
Synopsis /
Stephanie's got a one-way ticket to trouble...
After a holiday from hell, Stephanie's heading back to New Jersey and life as a bounty hunter feeling worse than before. And that's before she finds out the man in the seat next to her was brutally murdered on their layover, and she may hold the key to his death.
With both the fake FBI and the real FBI on her tail, not to mention sometimes-boyfriend Morelli and more-than-a-mentor Ranger, Stephanie's beginning to wonder if she might need a holiday from it all...
My Thoughts /
I felt the need for a 'comfort' read, so I pulled up Explosive Eighteen, my next book in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
For those of you not familiar with the series, it's a mixture of mystery, humour, romance, humour, zany crazy characters, and have I said humour? So here we are, now at book number eighteen, and while this (and all seventeen previously) are made from the same formulaic mould - a completely unrealistic plot base and idiosyncratic characters - I'm still 'all-in'. This series is my comfort food, releasing feel good endorphins and reducing stress levels. A gal's gotta do, what a gal's gotta do.
The story opens with Stephanie 40,000 feet above New Jersey. She's on a plane returning from a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian vacation. The vacation didn't go as planned.
Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.
Arriving back in Trenton, Stephanie discovers someone has dropped an envelope into her bag. Inside the envelope is a photograph of a man. Not knowing who this man is or how it ended up in her bag, Stephanie tosses it straight into the bin. It's not until the FBI show up at her house demanding she hand over the photo that alarm bells start ringing. And it's not just the FBI, all sorts of 'nasty' people are after the photograph as well (situation normal!).
The usual cast of supporting characters return in Explosive Eighteen. Lula is busy helping Stephanie round up FTAs and, after drinking a 'love' potion meant for Stephanie, falls in love with one of them!
It wasn’t exactly that Lula was fat. It was more that she was too short for her weight. Or maybe it was that there was an excess of Lula and not ever enough fabric.
Joyce (Barnhardt) is missing, believed dead, but turns up at Stephanie's flat, squatting in her living room refusing to move out.
Stephanie's relationship with Morelli is off-again - because Morelli found out Stephanie and Ranger got (fake) married in Hawaii. What???????!!!!!!!!
He’s a Trenton cop working plainclothes, crimes against persons. He’s six foot tall with wavy black hair, a lean, hard-muscled body, and a world-class libido. He’s movie-star handsome in jeans and a T-shirt. If you put him in a suit, he looks like a hit man.
Vincent Plum Bail Bonds is still operating out of an RV, and Grandma Mazur attends yet another funeral viewing. I sometimes wonder how there could be anyone left standing in Trenton!
I'm reading this series for sh!ts and giggles, and it delivers that - there is always a treasure trove of fun to be had within each book, and I look forward to reading #19 to see what little gems it brings.
Synopsis /
Stephanie's got a one-way ticket to trouble...
After a holiday from hell, Stephanie's heading back to New Jersey and life as a bounty hunter feeling worse than before. And that's before she finds out the man in the seat next to her was brutally murdered on their layover, and she may hold the key to his death.
With both the fake FBI and the real FBI on her tail, not to mention sometimes-boyfriend Morelli and more-than-a-mentor Ranger, Stephanie's beginning to wonder if she might need a holiday from it all...
My Thoughts /
I felt the need for a 'comfort' read, so I pulled up Explosive Eighteen, my next book in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
For those of you not familiar with the series, it's a mixture of mystery, humour, romance, humour, zany crazy characters, and have I said humour? So here we are, now at book number eighteen, and while this (and all seventeen previously) are made from the same formulaic mould - a completely unrealistic plot base and idiosyncratic characters - I'm still 'all-in'. This series is my comfort food, releasing feel good endorphins and reducing stress levels. A gal's gotta do, what a gal's gotta do.
The story opens with Stephanie 40,000 feet above New Jersey. She's on a plane returning from a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian vacation. The vacation didn't go as planned.
Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.
Arriving back in Trenton, Stephanie discovers someone has dropped an envelope into her bag. Inside the envelope is a photograph of a man. Not knowing who this man is or how it ended up in her bag, Stephanie tosses it straight into the bin. It's not until the FBI show up at her house demanding she hand over the photo that alarm bells start ringing. And it's not just the FBI, all sorts of 'nasty' people are after the photograph as well (situation normal!).
The usual cast of supporting characters return in Explosive Eighteen. Lula is busy helping Stephanie round up FTAs and, after drinking a 'love' potion meant for Stephanie, falls in love with one of them!
It wasn’t exactly that Lula was fat. It was more that she was too short for her weight. Or maybe it was that there was an excess of Lula and not ever enough fabric.
Joyce (Barnhardt) is missing, believed dead, but turns up at Stephanie's flat, squatting in her living room refusing to move out.
Stephanie's relationship with Morelli is off-again - because Morelli found out Stephanie and Ranger got (fake) married in Hawaii. What???????!!!!!!!!
He’s a Trenton cop working plainclothes, crimes against persons. He’s six foot tall with wavy black hair, a lean, hard-muscled body, and a world-class libido. He’s movie-star handsome in jeans and a T-shirt. If you put him in a suit, he looks like a hit man.
Vincent Plum Bail Bonds is still operating out of an RV, and Grandma Mazur attends yet another funeral viewing. I sometimes wonder how there could be anyone left standing in Trenton!
I'm reading this series for sh!ts and giggles, and it delivers that - there is always a treasure trove of fun to be had within each book, and I look forward to reading #19 to see what little gems it brings.
November 29, 2011
You know what, I was actually real hopeful that there would be some development in this book. For the whole series Stephanie and Lula have bungled along.
For a moment I thought there would be some sort of character development. Especially over the whole Hawaii ordeal. I was flipping pages like mad to find out what happened. It was kind of a let down.
We do have some introspection by Stephanie, but she said she's not the introspection type. She remarked abut how she knows it's not good of her to be with two men, and she should come to a realisation. There's nothing glaringly obvious but it sure looks like we're pushing to .
This round I could honestly couldn't care about the crime and mystery, and I was really interested on the character relationship front with Ranger and Morelli. It seemed like it was going somewhere but it didn't.
It seemed like Morelli and Stephanie would finally have a TALK--where they might actually sit down and be open and confront the serious issue of their relationship, where it's going and what happened in Hawaii--but none of that happened and Morelli just forgave her. Grrrrrr!!! Seriously, I don't think he would be happy to know that Stephanie is
Huge let down.
At least there's some small improvement with Stephanie. She's still a disaster, but it seems like she's better able of looking after herself. . She did mention the need for kickboxing or some sort of classes to improve, but alas once again nothing came to fruition. Looks like there seems to be no real plans for improvement on Stephanie's front either.
Can't begin to say disappointed I was. I thought for a moment the author was really listening.
For a moment I thought there would be some sort of character development. Especially over the whole Hawaii ordeal. I was flipping pages like mad to find out what happened. It was kind of a let down.
We do have some introspection by Stephanie, but she said she's not the introspection type. She remarked abut how she knows it's not good of her to be with two men, and she should come to a realisation. There's nothing glaringly obvious but it sure looks like we're pushing to .
This round I could honestly couldn't care about the crime and mystery, and I was really interested on the character relationship front with Ranger and Morelli. It seemed like it was going somewhere but it didn't.
It seemed like Morelli and Stephanie would finally have a TALK--where they might actually sit down and be open and confront the serious issue of their relationship, where it's going and what happened in Hawaii--but none of that happened and Morelli just forgave her. Grrrrrr!!! Seriously, I don't think he would be happy to know that Stephanie is
Huge let down.
At least there's some small improvement with Stephanie. She's still a disaster, but it seems like she's better able of looking after herself. . She did mention the need for kickboxing or some sort of classes to improve, but alas once again nothing came to fruition. Looks like there seems to be no real plans for improvement on Stephanie's front either.
Can't begin to say disappointed I was. I thought for a moment the author was really listening.
January 16, 2022
Deja vu all over again.
After reading the first 17 novels in the series, I took a break. A bit fatigued of the same jokes and the Ranger vs Morelli storyline, I gave it a rest. After a two year break, I picked this one up again.
There was so much opportunity to advance Stephanie's character, but Evanovich decided to stick with the status quo. Same Lulu eating jokes, Grandma Mazur is still attending funerals, and Ranger rescuing Stephanie.
With that said, these are still a fun break when you are looking for something light and entertaining and don't require much thought.
After reading the first 17 novels in the series, I took a break. A bit fatigued of the same jokes and the Ranger vs Morelli storyline, I gave it a rest. After a two year break, I picked this one up again.
There was so much opportunity to advance Stephanie's character, but Evanovich decided to stick with the status quo. Same Lulu eating jokes, Grandma Mazur is still attending funerals, and Ranger rescuing Stephanie.
With that said, these are still a fun break when you are looking for something light and entertaining and don't require much thought.
January 4, 2012
Stephanie Plum is back with "capers" (read the book - you'll get it) aplenty - each of them more hilarious and scandalous than the next, in Janet Evanovich's latest, "Explosive Eighteen." I give it four stars just because it made me laugh out loud and shout "oh no" and "ewwwww" several times. Evanovich, though not known for her literary merits, is certainly a master entertainer! All of my friends are back - Lula (who was in rare form for #18), Morelli and Ranger (they took a backseat here, as Stephanie was "off men" for the time being), Grandma Mazur, and the rest. A couple of new characters, particularly "Buggy," add to the craziness.
Bail bond enforcer, Stephanie, returns from a disastrous Hawaiian trip, and swears off men as a result. This allows her to focus on her bail skips and the menagerie of individuals after her because of a photo that was inadvertently put in her bag on the return plane trip. Plenty of disastrous escapades ensue, cars disappear, the romantic tension mounts as Stephanie tries to say "no," dumb bad guys pull crazy stunts, lots of junk food is consumed, and the hamster continues to hide in his soup can - it's all there and, once again, entertained me immensely for a few hours!
Nothing new here, but loads of fun!
Bail bond enforcer, Stephanie, returns from a disastrous Hawaiian trip, and swears off men as a result. This allows her to focus on her bail skips and the menagerie of individuals after her because of a photo that was inadvertently put in her bag on the return plane trip. Plenty of disastrous escapades ensue, cars disappear, the romantic tension mounts as Stephanie tries to say "no," dumb bad guys pull crazy stunts, lots of junk food is consumed, and the hamster continues to hide in his soup can - it's all there and, once again, entertained me immensely for a few hours!
Nothing new here, but loads of fun!
March 9, 2018
Stephanie is up to her usual shenanigans with two hot men at her beck and call. She finally carries her gun regularly and it is loaded. . . As always, the supporting characters more than pay the price of admission. A solid contribution to the series and makes you want to keep reading.
November 10, 2012
*Heavy Sigh* Just okay...this needs to be over soon, it's gone on way too long. Pick Joe already Stephanie, although after all you've put him through I don't know why he still wants you. A few laughs, but a lot of the same old same old, and unless Janet Evanovich comes up with a new plot line, this series will be dying a slow, painful death. I will see it through to the end, mostly to see what happens to Joe than any other character, and hopefully I won't be bored to tears in the process.
February 8, 2012
Well, that was incredibly disappointing.
I get that when reading this kind of series it is going to be repetitive. It's a comfort thing - formula is good because you know what you're going to get.
Yet after 22 books (18 novels, 4 novellas), you expect /some/ character development. But it was just the same old thing.
Like many others, I want Stephanie to just choose a guy already or just accept that she is a two guy girl. The latter is unlikely because of the underlying prudishness of her character, but the indecision is getting damn annoying.
Also, I'm probably in the minority when I say she should choose Ranger. Between him and Morelli, he's the better choice because at least he doesn't treat her like as much of a child as Joe.
Which brings me to the infantilisation. FFS, she is a grown woman, she doesn't need to be treated like a child, even though she behaves like one much of the time.
Gah. I could rant for ages but it won't make any difference. I will be selling my Stephanie Plum collection at a cheap price and will only get the books out of the library in the future.
One final thing, sleeping naked does not a whore make.
Edited to add:
Just read some of the other reviews on here. Disappointed in the slut shaming, but not surprised.
I get that when reading this kind of series it is going to be repetitive. It's a comfort thing - formula is good because you know what you're going to get.
Yet after 22 books (18 novels, 4 novellas), you expect /some/ character development. But it was just the same old thing.
Like many others, I want Stephanie to just choose a guy already or just accept that she is a two guy girl. The latter is unlikely because of the underlying prudishness of her character, but the indecision is getting damn annoying.
Also, I'm probably in the minority when I say she should choose Ranger. Between him and Morelli, he's the better choice because at least he doesn't treat her like as much of a child as Joe.
Which brings me to the infantilisation. FFS, she is a grown woman, she doesn't need to be treated like a child, even though she behaves like one much of the time.
Gah. I could rant for ages but it won't make any difference. I will be selling my Stephanie Plum collection at a cheap price and will only get the books out of the library in the future.
One final thing, sleeping naked does not a whore make.
Edited to add:
Just read some of the other reviews on here. Disappointed in the slut shaming, but not surprised.
May 4, 2020
Stephanie Plum is back in a brand new adventure. When she returns from a crazy trip to Hawaii, she is pursued by fake FBI guys, real FBI guys, a Russian assassin and more. Can she catch a break or will chaos follow her everywhere she goes? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment of the Stephanie Plum series. She is a Bounty Hunter with attitude. Be sure to check this book out and the rest of the Stephanie Plum series at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This was a great installment of the Stephanie Plum series. She is a Bounty Hunter with attitude. Be sure to check this book out and the rest of the Stephanie Plum series at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
January 16, 2022
This is a humor/cozy mystery/chick-lit, and this is the 18th book in the Stephanie Plum series. I have listen to this whole series on audiobooks, and the narrator of the audiobooks does a great job on this book. All the books in this series will make you laugh so much, and I will say the way to read these books is by audiobooks. All the characters are so fun and developed. I love this series so much. Stephanie Plum always gets into big messes, and she will make you laugh so much.
February 7, 2017
Would have liked to hear more about the whole Hawaii thing, would've been even better for it to be a main story. Ranger vs. Morelli show down, maaan I'd love to see that. But, alas, it was still fun.
Want to read
June 20, 2011Two Stephanie Plums in a year! Crazy!
May 31, 2024
Book on CD performed by Lorelei King
Ah, Stephanie Plum. So, this starts with a bang as Stephanie is on a plane coming BACK from Hawaii, alone. Grandma Mazur notices she has a tan line on her left ring finger and wants to know about the wedding. For that matter, so do Lula, Connie, and just about everyone else. Don’t expect ME to tell you…
The main plot focuses on a mysterious photograph Stephanie found in her messenger bag as she unpacked. She knows she didn’t put it in there. There is no identification on it and she figures she accidentally picked it up when she bought a magazine in the airport. So, she tosses it in the garbage. Then two guys who say they are FBI agents appear at her door asking for the photograph. And then two more guys also claiming to be FBI agents ask about the photo. And a crazy man accosts her with a knife, also wanting the photo. And a woman claiming to be engaged to the man who took the photo also wants it. What’s so special about this photo?
There are the usual stops at Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the usual “problems” with Stephanie’s car(s), the usual skips who refuse to be captured, the usual viewing at the funeral home and the usual push/pull between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve read one of these, and I’m sure that’s why I found it so entertaining.
Lorelei King does a great job performing the audiobook. She has a gift for voices, and I particularly enjoyed how she voiced Lula, Connie, Ranger and Grandma Mazur.
Ah, Stephanie Plum. So, this starts with a bang as Stephanie is on a plane coming BACK from Hawaii, alone. Grandma Mazur notices she has a tan line on her left ring finger and wants to know about the wedding. For that matter, so do Lula, Connie, and just about everyone else. Don’t expect ME to tell you…
The main plot focuses on a mysterious photograph Stephanie found in her messenger bag as she unpacked. She knows she didn’t put it in there. There is no identification on it and she figures she accidentally picked it up when she bought a magazine in the airport. So, she tosses it in the garbage. Then two guys who say they are FBI agents appear at her door asking for the photograph. And then two more guys also claiming to be FBI agents ask about the photo. And a crazy man accosts her with a knife, also wanting the photo. And a woman claiming to be engaged to the man who took the photo also wants it. What’s so special about this photo?
There are the usual stops at Cluck-in-a-Bucket, the usual “problems” with Stephanie’s car(s), the usual skips who refuse to be captured, the usual viewing at the funeral home and the usual push/pull between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve read one of these, and I’m sure that’s why I found it so entertaining.
Lorelei King does a great job performing the audiobook. She has a gift for voices, and I particularly enjoyed how she voiced Lula, Connie, Ranger and Grandma Mazur.
December 17, 2011
I'm stuck between a 3 and a 4 star rating.
On one hand, all my old complaints still stand firm. She has got to start putting more time into this series. They all just seem so rushed and like she's not TRYING anymore.
But! I have to say that I have been waiting for . That makes me want to bump it up. Plus I laughed a bit more in this one then in the last two... oh and man, those are two hot men. I swooned a bit.
All in all, I'll say its a bit better then 16 and 17.
On one hand, all my old complaints still stand firm. She has got to start putting more time into this series. They all just seem so rushed and like she's not TRYING anymore.
But! I have to say that I have been waiting for . That makes me want to bump it up. Plus I laughed a bit more in this one then in the last two... oh and man, those are two hot men. I swooned a bit.
All in all, I'll say its a bit better then 16 and 17.
June 19, 2022
For unknown reasons, I had taken a loooong break from Janet Evanovich books. Diving back in with Stephanie Plum in Explosive Eighteen proved to be a great choice for me. It didn't take long before Stephanie and her various "sidekicks" had me laughing out loud. Light and fun summer read!
November 27, 2011
EMPTY EIGHTEEN
This book is a lot like opening a can of soda and finding it flat. All the stuff is there to make it a good story but there is no spark (or fizzle) between the characters that we used to get in the earlier books (1-12). Yeah all of the Ranger fans have wanted Steph to hook up with Ranger again but this time it was just sex between them and none of the fun affectionate, chemistry that used to exist between them. I am a huge Ranger fan and would love to see them end up together but in this book he was less of a character than he was in the first few books (1-4) when we knew little about him. Even Joe seemed very one-dimensional. Over the past few months the promotion of the book has centered around what happened in Hawaii and an international incident and they together took up maybe a paragraph in the entire book. Why promote it if you are not going to write a story about these events? What? Too much work or thought for JE to actually put together a storyline on these topics? More time was spent on describing Lula’s wardrobe and eating than on an actual storyline. The storyline is very weak and boring, it was almost painful to read, I had to skim most of it to keep from falling asleep. There were also several mistakes in the characters and setting of the story. One, the neighbor that lives in the other side of the duplex where Steph’s parents live was suddenly Mrs. Ciak and I know the book Hard Eight was about Steph looking for the neighbor’s grand daughter and the name in that book was Markowitz not Ciak. I am not a writer but I do know that there is software available to help keep this kind of details straight in writing a series of books….and isn’t an editor supposed to help with that kind of stuff too? It is just lay and sloppy on the authors part to put out a book with that many mistakes. I’m not sure what Random House paid JE for this but I really hope they are rethinking about publishing another book for her. Don’t waste your money on this book. If you do want to read it, check it out from your local library.
This book is a lot like opening a can of soda and finding it flat. All the stuff is there to make it a good story but there is no spark (or fizzle) between the characters that we used to get in the earlier books (1-12). Yeah all of the Ranger fans have wanted Steph to hook up with Ranger again but this time it was just sex between them and none of the fun affectionate, chemistry that used to exist between them. I am a huge Ranger fan and would love to see them end up together but in this book he was less of a character than he was in the first few books (1-4) when we knew little about him. Even Joe seemed very one-dimensional. Over the past few months the promotion of the book has centered around what happened in Hawaii and an international incident and they together took up maybe a paragraph in the entire book. Why promote it if you are not going to write a story about these events? What? Too much work or thought for JE to actually put together a storyline on these topics? More time was spent on describing Lula’s wardrobe and eating than on an actual storyline. The storyline is very weak and boring, it was almost painful to read, I had to skim most of it to keep from falling asleep. There were also several mistakes in the characters and setting of the story. One, the neighbor that lives in the other side of the duplex where Steph’s parents live was suddenly Mrs. Ciak and I know the book Hard Eight was about Steph looking for the neighbor’s grand daughter and the name in that book was Markowitz not Ciak. I am not a writer but I do know that there is software available to help keep this kind of details straight in writing a series of books….and isn’t an editor supposed to help with that kind of stuff too? It is just lay and sloppy on the authors part to put out a book with that many mistakes. I’m not sure what Random House paid JE for this but I really hope they are rethinking about publishing another book for her. Don’t waste your money on this book. If you do want to read it, check it out from your local library.
November 27, 2011
SPOILER ALERT!!!!! Well, what little there is to spoil...
Ok, here goes. I have been greatly disappointed by Janet Evanovich's work with Stephanie Plum's character since book 9 when Stephanie, Lula and Connie went to Las Vegas and Lula was on the meat diet. That was some serious laugh out loud writing. Since then the books have become extremely formulated, predictable, lacking character growth, and boring. I nearly put Explosive Eighteen into this same grouping, but was saved by Stephanie coming very close to choosing Morelli over Ranger for a long term serious relationship. Also, she finally learned how to effectively use a stun gun, shoot a gun and defend herself upon a personal assault. The only time she had to call Ranger was to get her car back when an extremely large skip got the keys from her and kept driving it away. I didn't like that she also called him to help her break into Joyce Barnhardt's house with an alarm system. She hasn't picked up any skills hanging around Rangeman? She can't buy the same tools Ranger has to pick locks?
To Ms. Evanovich: Please have Stephanie pick a guy (I choose Morelli), get engaged, get married, get pregnant, have the baby, etc. You can get a lot of mileage out of those scenarios that we have not visited, yet. Her living in the bleak apartment with a hamster, waking up to who knows who, fumbling through her job has been done to death.
Ok, here goes. I have been greatly disappointed by Janet Evanovich's work with Stephanie Plum's character since book 9 when Stephanie, Lula and Connie went to Las Vegas and Lula was on the meat diet. That was some serious laugh out loud writing. Since then the books have become extremely formulated, predictable, lacking character growth, and boring. I nearly put Explosive Eighteen into this same grouping, but was saved by Stephanie coming very close to choosing Morelli over Ranger for a long term serious relationship. Also, she finally learned how to effectively use a stun gun, shoot a gun and defend herself upon a personal assault. The only time she had to call Ranger was to get her car back when an extremely large skip got the keys from her and kept driving it away. I didn't like that she also called him to help her break into Joyce Barnhardt's house with an alarm system. She hasn't picked up any skills hanging around Rangeman? She can't buy the same tools Ranger has to pick locks?
To Ms. Evanovich: Please have Stephanie pick a guy (I choose Morelli), get engaged, get married, get pregnant, have the baby, etc. You can get a lot of mileage out of those scenarios that we have not visited, yet. Her living in the bleak apartment with a hamster, waking up to who knows who, fumbling through her job has been done to death.
June 27, 2012
As you can tell from my rating, I found this book to be terribly disappointing.
I love Ranger, and I hate how Evanovich turned him into nothing more than a booty call for Steph, who is still too immature to deal with her feelings. Even more immature than she was in 17, or earlier books.
I think Steph was stronger and smarter in OFTM than she has been portrayed in the last 5 books. Twelve Sharp was the end of the series, as far as I am concerned. It was the last time any of the characters came close to acting their age, with any credibility, and that was still just barely.
Since 12, all characters have taken a nose dive into adolescent silliness, I'm thinking to bring in the teenybopper audience. I guess the original fans are getting too old, and Janet needed to do something the grab the kiddies to cultivate new buyers.
I know 19 is coming out in November, I cringe when I think about the damage Janet might do to my favorite characters. Not sure when I'll read that one - not pre-ordering that is for sure.
I love Ranger, and I hate how Evanovich turned him into nothing more than a booty call for Steph, who is still too immature to deal with her feelings. Even more immature than she was in 17, or earlier books.
I think Steph was stronger and smarter in OFTM than she has been portrayed in the last 5 books. Twelve Sharp was the end of the series, as far as I am concerned. It was the last time any of the characters came close to acting their age, with any credibility, and that was still just barely.
Since 12, all characters have taken a nose dive into adolescent silliness, I'm thinking to bring in the teenybopper audience. I guess the original fans are getting too old, and Janet needed to do something the grab the kiddies to cultivate new buyers.
I know 19 is coming out in November, I cringe when I think about the damage Janet might do to my favorite characters. Not sure when I'll read that one - not pre-ordering that is for sure.
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