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Aug
18 2006 | ||
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
First let me start by saying how much I love librarians. I adore them. I’ve never met a librarian who wasn’t fabulous. When I was on vacation, my hold on Twelve Sharp came up and of course I lost my place because I didn’t pick it up in two days (a good rule for books with lots of holds). So when I saw that I’d missed it and looked to see NINE hundred holds (I’m not exaggerating) I was bummed and figured I’d have to wait a month or two to buy it or go to the end of the line and get it next year when my hold came up.
Anyway, my husband told the librarian my tale of woe and she told him to have me call her and she’d put me back near the top. I called and she did and yesterday I picked it up and I finished it last night.
I love the Stephanie Plum books. I love that Stephanie is a woman who has issues and a messed up but wonderful family and a sense of community and who is just a mess on several levels. Evanovich has created a really complex and wonderful world with her Plum books and I know I’ll always laugh out loud at least three times when I pick one up. I’ve been hooked since I picked up One For The Money.
So last year when 11 On Top came out in hardback, I rushed out and bought it and ended up profoundly disappointed. I thought it seemed rushed and there was a lot of fertile ground for expansion but she didn’t. And many wasted opportunities with Ranger that seemed more frustrating than tantalizing. There were some great moments (the scene with the dogs had me laughing for days) but overall, it felt like it got cut off halfway through the story.
I worried that 11 was the end of the Plum series.
But I was wrong and I’m relieved.
In 12 Sharp, Evanovich has brought Stephanie back to her former glory and given us a great mystery and a story I really loved. This isn’t a review site really so I’ll skip the synopsis of the plot. You can get that and the first chapter at Janet Evanovich’s website.
But this is a Rangercentric book. Dreamy sigh. Up front, I like the bad boy. I like the dark and mysterious bad boy even more. I’m a Ranger girl so a whole book about him and his past? Yum.
Quick dialog, no dragging moments. Nice tension about the mystery. Stephanie is still messed up but she doesn’t do anything that made me scratch my head in annoyance. We get lots of Grandma Mazur and Lula and the funeral home has new owners. Morelli is there in his hot and sexy glory although I wish Janet wouldn’t close the door on the sex scenes! I don’t need the full monty (okay, I’d like the full monty but I can live without it) but I’ve loved it when she’s given details in the past. It adds something to the story and helps me understand why she’d stay with Morelli when Ranger is so yummy and lurky ready to pounce.
I thoroughly enjoyed 12 Sharp and I highly recommend it!
Anyway, I also have Kitty and the Midnight Hour and Kitty Goes to Washington in my TBR stack. When I finish Threat of Darkness I’ll read them both.
August 18th, 2006 at 7:14 pm · Link
I used to read the Stephanie Plum books. Then #8 or #9 totally turned me off. I can barely stand to see the book on the shelf. It’s not that I hate them…in fact I mourn them.
Very similar to when I stopped reading Jayne Ann Krentz and (by default) her other pen names: Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
p.s. Second Chances was GREAT!!
August 18th, 2006 at 7:18 pm · Link
I just discovered Stephanie Plum! I devoured the first five, and last week I picked up Hot Six.
And almost cried when I found out it was Morelli, and not Ranger, who she called.
I’m in love with Ranger. I want Ranger. I don’t think I’ve had this big a crush on a guy since I was ten years old.
I know I can’t have Ranger, but at least I could live vicariously through Stephanie!
I can’t tell you how happy I am that there is another Ranger book! I’ll keep reading and hold my breath until I get to Twelve!
August 18th, 2006 at 8:49 pm · Link
I’ll fight you all fro Roanger! *Grrrr*
LOL
The first Plum book I ever read was HOT SIX and that one is still my fave. Although yes, Twelve comes close becasue I love Ranger so much…but I love him so much I sort of don’t want Stephanie to have him. I want him for myself. How bad is that? LOL
August 18th, 2006 at 8:56 pm · Link
I just discovered Stephanie Plum this year. I LOVE the books. I have 7 here to read in fact. They make me laugh outloud.
LOL reading book 5, had there been a bookstore open when I finished, I would have run out to buy the next one.
I’m now looking forward to 12 *G*.
And I’m torn. Ranger or Morelli? I like them both. And the erotic romance author who just wrote a menage this year starts going…hmmmm both. LOL I know…never for Stephanie, but ah imagination.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:05 pm · Link
Okay-this is totally off topic…but I finally looked at your profile-we have too much in common! Pearl Jam and Bladerunner-yeah!
Eden
August 19th, 2006 at 4:19 am · Link
OK, I am glad you put this book in your blog. I love reading all the Evanovitch books…even the early books. They are all on my “keeper shelp” for when I need a laugh.
A friend of mine only reads mysteries, but I aked her to try The Stephanie Plum series and she got hooked! She is in love with Ranger, too!
Whew! that guy is something else! I think I like him, because he likes Stephanie the way she is, and though Morreli is hot and seems to love to Steph, it seems to me he wants to change her to make her a more “comfortable” woman for him.
Have you checked out the Motor mouth series, too?
August 19th, 2006 at 9:46 am · Link
Kathy – I read the first motormouth book but the constant third person referral of the hero as “NASCAR GUY!” just totally grated on me and I haven’t read any of the others. I do love Evanovich’s voice though, I probably should check them out to see if the rest aren’t as bad. I definitely think that you’re spot on with the differences between Ranger and Morelli – but Morelli does seem to come from a place of wanting to protect Stephanie and have her take a part in it. Ranger just puts Tank on the trail without asking, LOL.
August 19th, 2006 at 9:49 am · Link
Lass – I’m glad you liked SC! And it sucks to feel that way about a series you once loved. I have a few of those too.
Spy – Hello and welcome to my blog! Yeah, I was disappointed to see it was Morelli too! I remember waiting and waiting for book six to see who it was. I think Stephanie is afraid to give herself to Ranger because Ranger is pretty all encompassing.
Sasha! LOL, girl, let’s share him. I bet we’d know what to do with him. Stephanie always seems at a loss and a bit overwhelmed, you and I would enjoy that.
August 19th, 2006 at 9:50 am · Link
Mechele – oh you know I’ve thought about a good old fashioned menage a hot guy with Ranger and Morelli. They would not share Stephanie though. But they might share me. Hey, a girl can dream!
Hey Eden! You’re a PJ fan too? Kewl!
August 20th, 2006 at 11:19 am · Link
Oh…I forgot to say I read the Kitty Books too. I just finished Washington. LOl
Good stuff. 🙂