Poll

Lnben: Your comment may be true, and it makes me really sad.

Lnben wrote: "Janet Evanovich started writing these books in the mid-90's. Her research stopped somewhere in the early 00's. Characters went from pagers to cells. Steph finely got a laptop. But the characters ar..."

Amen sister...I so agree with you.

Ranger would take a bullet for her; Morelli would take her to the hospital after she was shot. Ranger all the way!!!

In my opinion Ranger would be the best choice. Not only because he's unbelievably sexy but also because I think he cares more about Stephanie based on his actions. He doesn't want to control her or change her in anyway unlike Morelli who seems to only be around when he wants to have sex or when Stephanie inadvertently ends up at a crime scene.

Kendra wrote: "In my opinion Ranger would be the best choice. Not only because he's unbelievably sexy but also because I think he cares more about Stephanie based on his actions. He doesn't want to control her o..."
Kendra: good point, the author does tend to have Morelli only around for sex and to intertwine Morelli's cop cases with Stephanie's skip cases. Ranger does truly care for her, but how long can Stephanie stick around with a physical relationship only??? What does Stephanie bring to either men, if you take away the sexual interludes.

Dove wrote: "Katherine wrote: "How does Joe take care of her? By demanding she quit her job, continually beating her down emotionally to try and force her into a mold she doesn't fit? Ranger has provided her wi..."

Dove/Katherine: is Ranger providing her with a job, cars etc. so they can continue to have a physical relationship. Ranger loves Stephanie is his own way.. but is that enough for Stephanie??? What happened to Stephanie's independent attitude... seems she lost it once she got involved with both men

I don't think Stephanie is good for either man. She is needy, immature and depends on either man to get her out of trouble. Seems to me Evanovich writes the stories based on what other authors are writing and then turning it into slap stick. Evanovich writes on whim, without developing the characters, the stories or the plots. Predictable... why bother reading the next book. The series needs to progress in order to stay fresh and interesting. The series hasn't been interesting since book 13.

Dove wrote: "I can see why you'd think that, but there are certain skips that obviously Stephanie (or any woman who isn't big/strong and/or knows martial arts) couldn't bring in. Some she tried but couldn't do ..."

Dove: I find Stephanie immature and needy in how she handles her relationships with Ranger and Morelli. She holds on to Morelli because Ranger is an unknown... has told her in the past, it could only be a physical thing. I agree Stephanie couldn't handle some skips physically... I wouldn't expect her to. My problem is in the later books, she would get in over her head knowing Ranger would rescue her. She has not been honest with Morelli about her feelings and/or attraction to Ranger. I preferred Stephanie when she had attitude... did for herself.

Dove wrote: "I suspect Janet keeps these 2 characters going because they appeal to 2 types of women: Joe for the women who want to see her marry & "settle down", and Ranger for the women who don't."
Dove: yes and it makes for ho hum reading because its a given Ranger will rescue Stephanie and Morelli will either have sex with her or they will be fighting. I think by now whether the man you pick is Ranger or Morelli the reader wants something more than the expected.

Dove wrote: "Yes for sure. Any ideas on something different/better that she could do for Stephanie... at least in the relationship(s) dept? (a serious question, not sarcastic!)"

Dove: I think since Stephanie is at least 30 years of age, she should know what she wants out of life and a relationship with a man. I thinks Stephanie should discover herself... she wanted Morelli because he took her virginity. She wanted Ranger because he was the bad boy with the secret past. But, Evanovich has never delved into what Stephanie actually wants. Does Stephanie love Morelli because of their teen age history? Or does Stephanie love Morelli because he was the bad boy of the burg that every woman drools over. Doesn't Stephanie want Ranger or does she want what Ranger projects - good at his job, hot and sexy and an unknown. Evanovich could develop the characters better . All we actually know is Stephanie doesn't want to get married again.

Morelli!!! He is actually the one who knows her and accepts her as she is, tries to handle how her dangerous life scares the hell out of him. Ranger follows her, bugs her, tempts her with cars, and is crazy over protective. Also, loved the heat, chemistry and mystery in the earlier books. But, hate that the latter books have SP sleeping with both of them. Yuck....now it feels a little Jersey Shore-ish....slutty instead of romantic.

I apologize in advance that I am not a blogger but when I found this site and I had to join. I recently started reading the Stephanie Plum series after a friend recommended them to me. Within 3wks I had read all 18 (while cooking, ironing, car rides, etc.) Once I was done I was thinking about these characters so much but had no one to bounce my ideas off of. So here goes: I'd have to agree with the earlier posts that somewhere after book 12 things really started to plummet. Ranger & Morelli seemed to morph into cardboard characters and independent Stephanie seemed to regress into a dependent Lucy Ricardo with fewer skills than she began with. And don't get me started on what a hussie she becomes in books 17 & 18 (what were you thinking Janet!) So my comments will be limited to the first 12 books when I feel the characters had more life and dimension. Though I think Steph's relationship with Joe started out with some promise and I do think he genuinely loves her, he has never been able to truly accept her as is. Unless he becomes a bounty hunter in book 19 I don't see how they can ever get passed his issues with her job. Like others have commented, her relationship with Ranger began as friendship (unlike with Joe where it was always physical) and then it became more. He may says his love doesn't come with a ring but it looks to me like Stephanie doesn't want one--so that shouldn't be a big issue. She always talks about her childhood of pretending she was Wonderwoman or would sprinkle herself with pixie dust to be invisible. She wants to live beyond the drudgery of a Burg wife and I think a relationship with Ranger is more conducive to that. He's never stifled her desire to soar and when he gets worried he sends his Merry Men to watch over her. He may not have revealed his dark secret but in every way he shows he loves her in a way that is beyond lust. In book 12 he tells her that he couldn't live with himself if something happened to her because though he keeps himself emotionally distanced as a rule he was not emotionally distanced from her. Even his jealousy flared up when Morelli decided to move into Steph's apartment so he could keep an eye on Ranger & Steph. Though Ranger is always under control he admitted that if Joe and Steph slept together while he was there he was going to lose it and take out Joe. Even in book 11 when Steph is working for him and she makes a snarky reply to one of his requests he told her not to do that in front of his men. His men were not allowed to speak that way but he wasn't going to pretend he could control her (or that he was trying to.) I just feel that time and again, more by his actions than his words, Ranger shows he truly loves Stephanie and he loves her for what she is--not for what he hopes she'll become. So my vote is for Ranger all the way!

Bri wrote: "I apologize in advance that I am not a blogger but when I found this site and I had to join. I recently started reading the Stephanie Plum series after a friend recommended them to me. Within 3wk..."

Bri: in the first 12 books the books were better written, the characters were unique. Stephanie was spunky, had a sense of humor and independence that made you want to read the next book. Then the triangle started between Stephanie, Ranger and Morelli and it slid down hill. Stephanie relied heavily on some one to bail her out. She lost her spunk and independence. She became so immature and inept you wanted to scream. By book 17 it was totally disgusting. I gave up the series. When Evanovich chose not to have Morelli confront Stephanie on her feelings for Ranger, it lacked believably. I do think both Morelli and Ranger love Stephanie but Evanovich chose to impode the series with immature slap stick and dependability on the men. I would tell both Ranger and Morelli... RUN! Both deserve better than Stephanie Plum.

Adrienne, I think I'd have to agree with all of your comments. I wish Evanovich would return to the caliber of her writing in the first 12 Plum novels but since likely she won't I think a good ending to the series would be to tell Ranger and Morelli to both RUN! LOL Thanks for your reply.

Bri wrote: "Adrienne, I think I'd have to agree with all of your comments. I wish Evanovich would return to the caliber of her writing in the first 12 Plum novels but since likely she won't I think a good end..."

Bri: you are welcome... I agree.. RUN

Bri wrote: "I apologize in advance that I am not a blogger but when I found this site and I had to join. I recently started reading the Stephanie Plum series after a friend recommended them to me. Within 3wk..."
Bri I have to agree with you. I just tell myself that the series ended at after Twelve Sharp and the following books are about cartoon characters with the same name. I think I have read books 18 & 18 just to torture myself. Trust me you are not alone in your thought/review of the books. I'm not holding my breath that JE will ever return to the same caliber of writing in the first 12 books. If you want to find some great Ranger/Steph stories check out fanfiction.net

Kelly,"cartoon characters with the same name" LOL I think you couldn't have said it better. I took your advice and started reading the fan fiction for fun. Some of them are pretty good, and definitely more satisfying than anything that JE has come up with lately. Thanks for the suggestion!

morelli 900 percent. am i the only one who finds ranger a little creepy with his sex for payment thing? and when they did it he was borderline over aggressive.
not to mention, he says Morelli is a great guy but continues to persue steph even when shes with morelli??!! ya that's seriously slimy. not impressed at all. i'm going to seriously regret reading this series if she ends up with ranger.

The way I see it is not who is hotter or who is more ready to settle down. But rather who understands Stephanie more and accepts her for who she is, which is Ranger. Yes, he is definitely not ready to settle down at this point in his life. There is some mysterious reason why that I guess we find out about later (pulling hairs out) but he realizes that all the crazy and fustrating things about Stephanie is what makes her so lovable and he accepts it and even appreciates it unlike Morelli who is always getting mad at her and wanting her to change. He doesn't realize that what makes her special is her unusual ability to attract trouble and solve things in inexplicaple ways including luck. I think Stephanie would be a lot happier with Ranger because they, despite being ying and yang, understand each other, accept each others faults, they work together well, and get a long very well. The only way Morelli has a chance is if he grows up and opens his eyes, until then their relationship will always be volatile.

Ranger! He always has Steph's back. He's smart, serious, and good.

I realize it's fantasy but why would anyone pick someone so secretive...I mean really, if this WAS real life, i believe Ranger would drive us crazy with the not knowing. I'll settle for one one who loves me like crazy and fantabulous in bed any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Vote Morelli. I'm even not a huge an of Ranger in the books I think he's. pretty dull character overall...mho

If Stephanie chooses Ranger, Morelli would have to die in the line of duty - no other way to solve that in a novel.

Ceanne wrote: "I realize it's fantasy but why would anyone pick someone so secretive...I mean really, if this WAS real life, i believe Ranger would drive us crazy with the not knowing. I'll settle for one one wh..."

There are some jobs that are just secretive. My husband is an electrical engineer at one of the national labs, with the security clearance, and while what he does may not be a security issue, where he works is. I've never been to his office, because it's behind a guarded fence. You just learn to live with it. Steph would have to do the same thing.

Stephanie is crazy if she chooses Morelli. He is condescending, raped her when she was 16, never has a nice word to say to her, verbally abusive...puts her down continually and he acts ticked blaming her for making his job more difficult. Joe also thinks less of her because of her chosen profession. He is a complete and absolute jerk and I wish she would kick him to the curb.

I believe 100% that Ranger would do anything for her and I also believe that he loves her and would be a good partner in work and in life.

Jeanne wrote: "Ceanne wrote: "I realize it's fantasy but why would anyone pick someone so secretive...I mean really, if this WAS real life, i believe Ranger would drive us crazy with the not knowing. I'll settle..."

Um...this IS fiction...

Lea, Message 120--I agree wholeheartedly! What Ranger sees in Stephanie endears her to him. Those same things Morelli views as flaws.

Morelli is all about himself. Ranger is the one who looks after and takes care of Stephanie regardless. Morelli gets mad at her quite frequently and disappears while he stews. Who knows where he is when Stephanie gets herself into trouble. He is usually not there for her. That is one reason I think Ranger is always there. He knows Morelli is childish and undependable. Ranger doesn't get angry with her because those crazy antics are what makes her Stephanie. How wonderful to be loved for who you are, unlike Morelli who tries so hard to change her, make her into someone he wants her to be. It is my opinion that Ranger has stronger feelings for her than Morelli. He doesn't have to say it, he shows it everyday. Even when he has to leave town he makes sure Tank or one of his men or available to her. Morelli is too self absorbed.

Katherine wrote: "K wrote: "Morelli always! He loves her and takes care of her, she loves him (even though she doesn't behave in a very loving way lately).
Ranger is a side show to prolong the series and was bette..."

I'm 100% with you and after looking at the progression of theSteph/Ranger relationship I am thinking JE might be going there too.

What annoys me is that I heard from a couple of different sources that JE will not be making a choice. Sources say it will be left up in the air. If that is so, how disappointing. I read this in a couple separate articles online but I certainly cannot say anything about the validity.
One of the sources claimed that during an interview with JE, she revealed there would be no choice made and it would be left up to the readers to believe what they choose. Again validity?? Who knows??
I think if Steph would choose Joe Morelli, the series would most likely need to end. With Ranger, there could possibly be more or even a spin-off series.
IMHO Joe Morelli has run his course. They go all the way back to childhood. Unfortunately, if Steph would be forced to choose, I believe that she would choose Morelli because he has been around (off and on) forever and she would feel she owed him her loyalty. That is just my 2 cents on that although I would be cheering for Ranger the Hottie!! If she doesn't want him she can send him my way;)

Yeah. I agree about the validity part. I have searched all over the place and as a bookstore manager sometimes get an insiders kind of scoop. The only thing I can find is an interview when she was asked about Morelli vs Ranger and she said something about Stephanie needing both of them. That was several books ago and what would you expect of a author? How many people would keep buying the books if she said outright what she was going to do? I am definitely on team Ranger. I looked back at the progression of their relationship pretty thoroughly through all the books and I think there is a lot more going on there. Ranger seems to be developing stronger feelings for her and is showing it more. The Morelli storyline has gotten kind of old. It seems to me everything but marriage has been done. Also, she has already had Steph choose Morelli more than once. To keep it interesting I hope she goes the other way. At least for a while. I haven't read any of the fan fiction yet, but if it goes the other way I might. In the meantime it would kind of spoil it for me. I want JE's take on it. After all, this is her world. I think the resolution has to come soon though. She's about to be 71 and I don't think she wants to keep all her fans hanging.

I don't know if I can continue to support JE's bad habit by purchasing any more Plum books. They have been pitiful of late. I will be very surprised if there is a resolution to Ranger and Morelli. I don't think JE will want to risk the fallout from all the readers who want her to pick the other guy. It could affect her future sales. If people get really ticked at her choice, they just may stop reading her stuff. But who knows. I think the series started a slow death after book twelve and was DOA after fifteen and that saddens me. I loved the earlier books!

I have a bad case of the flu right now and I am rereading all of them so I am caught up in all of it right now. (: I will probably wait and see what comes of the next one. I absolutely devour books though, and will probably continue reading the series just so I can talk to my regular customers about them. (:

That certainly makes sense. I have been considering rereading mine as well, at least the earlier ones. It has been quite a few years ago that I started the series and there is a lot I don't remember. I read a book a day so I go through them fairly fast.

I hope you get to feeling better quickly. The flu has been bad this year. I have had it as well and it was no picnic. Take care of yourself.

Thank you (:

I am firmly on Team Ranger. Is he perfect? No, but I believe he truly loves Stephanie and would do anything for her. I do think Morelli loves her too, but he wants her to become something she isn't. They can't even truly commit to one another. I would love to see JE end the series with a book that allows you to choose the guy (Babe and Cupcake editions).

Ranger. He loves her unconditionally, accepts her as she is. It has to be Ranger..

Please let it be Ranger!!

I don't understand why it is wrong for Morelli to be concerned about the woman he loves. If my significant other's car was being blown up 3 times a week, and people were getting killed to get their attention, and they were constantly getting death threats due to their career, I would be wanting them to find another one. Whereas Ranger and his Rangeman crew seem to find it entertaining that she is always in this danger, even taking bets as to when she will total another car. Sure Ranger is there to back her up when needed, but I think that if Joe was in a career outside the law he would be there for her too. However, he has to think about his own job. Ranger seems to be able to skirt around the laws, which I think if anyone but Morelli was to know, he wouldn't necessarily still be out on the street. I am team Cupcake all the way.

ALWAYS AND FOREVER RANGER.

i like morelli...but i love ranger...ranger is perfect for stephanie and he is HOT!!!

I love all the comments and reassure me I'm not crazy(am I?)
I want to bring to your all attention to the fact that both man are Latino!
Morelli is, let's say, first "generation" as he is Italian and Italian language is the precursor of the Latin language. Everywhere the Roman Empire had been, you find the Latin language and "blood".
Ranger on the other hand is Cuban, this means he has the blood of the Spanish conquistadors ( and is known that Spain has been under maur invasion) plus the blood of the Cuban indigene.
That's to be clear that both men are Latin blooded, but ranger...forgive me Lord...has and gets everything boiling...anywhere and everywhere
Oh, miss Plum should be with Ranger at least as a payback for all the cars she destroyed, I'm mean I know, lucky b...
Sorry Mrs.Evanovich, I know she's just a fictional character same as her partners, but damn you got them all under our skin. Thank you

Diesel. ;)

Wow, are u all kidding me? it seems only few pple understand the book. Let me put u in the shoes of Morelli, imagine u have a woman in your life who u love and her life is always in danger, there's rape threat, death threat, car bombs etc, what advice will u give her? can u honestly tell me that u won't advice her to quit her job. And what is dis about verbal insult, to my understanding Morelli is the one who tells Steph the truth about herself, and ofcourse it sounds insulting, Ranger does not insult her because he does not want to be truthful to her. And this stuff about Ranger always providing her with protection and cars and so on...hello...Ranger has the resourses, he owns a security company for God's sake and he has the money and resourses while Morelli is a cop on a poor town with a small salary and can't afford all these things. So please u need to reread this book before commenting what u dont know.

K wrote: "Linda wrote: "Geeze, K probably wouldn't wade back into this if you paid her. It's like a rabid pack of wolves tearing her apart in here. It's just a book, people!"

Well, thanks, Linda, I hadn't r..."

Nice one K, now this is someone that understands what is going on in this book, thumbs up.

She needs both Ranger and Morelli.

She does need them both. And it's because she's an idiot. I want to book 15 right now; I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep on going. Lula is even worse than Stephanie; their antics are funny but it gets to the point where it's just frustrating to watch them make so many stupid mistakes. Ranger is hot, but he has described her as a line item on his expense account labeled "entertainment". People, how can you say he respects and supports her ????? Because he throws money at her????? She's not honest with Joe about her she's not honest with Joe about her attraction to Ranger .... BUT I read somewhere that Joe sleeps with Joyce !!!!???? And THAT I could never forgive. So maybe they just all deserve each other, and we should enjoy the books and not argue about them. Unfortunately, I'm not even enjoying the books mío at this point ... it's more like a reading addiction.

Wanda wrote: "I don't like Morelli's controlling attitude or temper. Ranger has his own issues, but seems more adult and nurturing. Stephanie doesn't need Joe's dictates on how she should live her life. I think ..."

Ranger is too detached and can't talk except to say, "Babe"! He is sure hot but some conversation is nice.

I do have to say that Morelli's grandmother is too scary! In laws like that can destroy a marriage. Maybe Steph needs someone totally new?

In the latest book spoiler alert it is implied that RANGER and steph both want more.

Isn't Vinnie her uncle? and I don't think she should have to choose unless they make a thing of it. I mean one is better than neither, but the books wouldn't be as good if she was tied to one or the other.

Wanda wrote: "I don't like Morelli's controlling attitude or temper. Ranger has his own issues, but seems more adult and nurturing. Stephanie doesn't need Joe's dictates on how she should live her life. I think ..."

Good thoughts! Morelli does seem controlling and Grandma Bella is terrifying.

I agree with those who say Morelli wants Stephanie to be something she is not. I am definitely team Ranger. Morelli doesn't seem to be interested in a permanent relationship either, and Ranger is really starting to demonstrate how much he loves Stephanie. He is willing to let her be herself and she seems to make him happy. I wonder what will happen if Evanovich ever has Morelli make a real proposal and if Stephanie seriously considers it. I wonder if Ranger will step up.
This is a great series. Lots of fun. I read all 26 regular books and the 4 in-betweens in a month. It seems that Evanovich only publishes one Plum a year and usually that comes out in November. UGH, such a long wait.