Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

Was looking for a book about Thanksgiving and the only thing I was remotely interested in reading (and could get my hands on) was Evanovich's Thanksgiving. This title was recently re-issued and can easily be found on your local bookstore’s shelf.

What was nice about this story was that:
1) It was about your everyday people. Megan Murphy is a local pottery artist and Patrick Hunter is the town's pediatrician.
2) They weren't so ordinary as to bore you. Megan has been engaged 3 times (if you count her first engagement at the age of 5) but gets the boot EVERY time. Her bad luck with fiancés stem from the fact that her parents tend to push the relationships on her. Patrick is not the handsome doctor but the guy that is every girls best friend. The 'cute' boy that has a rabbit as pet.
3) And this book is not full of crazy things jumping at you at every conceivable opportunity (which I associate with most of Evanovich’s work)

Megan meets Patrick when his rabbit escapes and crosses path with her. She goes to return the pet and while she is there one of Dr. Hunter's patients shows up and his parent abandons the boy into the Dr. and his 'wife's' hands.

The Mother promised to be back for her son in two weeks and Megan agrees to help with the infant so that the child does not have to get into the foster system. During the time that they spend together pretending to play house, they fall for each other.

Megan is a bit weary after having being dumped at the altar the last time, and Patrick is not sure he is in a place in his life that he can have the luxury of a wife and maybe children. But the parent's descend on them for Thanksgiving as well as an ex-boyfriend and a bit of stirring up takes place.

The book was entertaining and very short which allowed me to listen to it from start to finish in about 4 hours (unabridged!). Not too over the top, but not a title to blow you away.

Grade: C+
Format: Audiobook

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Like most 'between the numbers' Stephanie Plum books, this one was just a bit on the dull side.

Stephanie finds herself in Atlantic City chasing after Grandma Mazur who has found a duffel bag full of cash and is spending it like there is no tomorrow. Stephanie is not the only one chasing after Grandma. Snuggy O'Connor, a little person who thinks he is a leprechaun, is also after the duffel bag and Diesel is after Snuggy.

It seem Mr. Leprechaun stole the money from a local mobster to pay for the surgery that would save his horse's life, but on his getaway lost the money (which is how Grandma Mazur has it). It seems Mr. Mobster is not the giving type so he is after the whole bunch of them, taking said horse hostage until he gets his money back. This is how they all end up trying to come up with a plan to rescue a horse that is being held for ransom.

It's a hodge pod of characters who don't really go together and the story was asking too much of us. It was nice visiting with the team again but I was not impressed and was disappointed.

Grade: C-
Format: Audiobook

Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich

I want to say that Evanovich is wonderful and one of the most talented writers out there. I can't.
One of the funniest series I have read is the Stephanie Plum books but I have not read anything else she has written that can hold a candle to her work on this series.
How is this possible? Usually the author of a great series can be credited many more wonderful tales yet Evanovich seems to stagnate when penning other characters.

So is the case in Back to the Bedroom. I think this one is a reissue of a previously printed book so maybe we can say that it's her beginner work.

Since I don't have time right now I'll just say that this one was entertaining yet too bland.

Grade: C+
Format: Audiobook

Manhunt by Janet Evanovich

Being a big Stephanie Plum fan I tend to give Janet Evanovich's other work a look at and when my sister got her hands on the audiobook version of Manhunt I could not refuse to hear the short (4 CD) track.

Alexandra Scott is an high powered Wall Street exec that has decided to trade in her luxurious condo in the city for a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. She is tired of her long hour days and the offer to own a cabin and hardware store proves to be a temptation to much to refuse, even when she has not seen either. The fact that men outnumber woman gazillion to one is another strong incentive. Her goal is to settle down at a slower pace and find herself a husband.

Michael Casey has no interest in finding himself a wife but when his neighbor sells his run down cabin to a city slicker he can't stop himself from feeling the attraction. He has a Sir Galahad complex and if anyone needs saving it would be Alex (even if it is from herself).

The tale is somewhat predictable but it doesn't really take away from the story. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I would have read the book in paper format. The narrator was a bit distracting since she sounded too much like the narrator of the Stephanie Plum books.

In essence the book was light and funny. Alex kept getting herself into funny situations, like blowing up her outhouse, and Casey kept saving her. I like that Alex went against the odds and was willing to tough out the Alaskan weather. She didn't scare easy and even when things couldn't look worse, she stiffened her spin and moved forward. Casey on the other hand was a bit of a coward since he just couldn't give Alex a chance. I understand how he was burned before but he just could not budge and had so little faith in Alex that I wanted to smack him around a bit.

Grade: C+
Format: Audiobook

Janet Evanovich vs Susan Krinard... No contest!

Reading this Susan Krinard is taking more time than expected. The story is very good but not as good as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I'm on the fifth book of the series called High Five and I am finding myself very addicted to it. I have the sixth book called Hot Six ready to start listening.

What's the big deal with these books? They have such a peculiar group of characters in the books that you find yourself just shaking your head thinking, where does she come up with these people!
Stephanie Plum use to work as a lingerie buyer and when she got laid off, she went to work as a bond enforcement agent for her cousin Vinnie, who is a sexpot. Her family is crazy, her collegues are a ex-hooker called Lula and a hispanic mercenary called Ranger. She has the hots for a vice cop called Joe Morelli but Ranger is looking better every day. I'm telling you, this series is just too good!!

So, I've been listening to the series and my actual reading has fallen behind.

My yahoo group is doing an author of the month reading. They have chosen Amanda Quick as the author to read for January. I'm trying to find Slightly Shady for my selection but the library has it checked out. I'm going to have to do a quick search at the UBS (used book store).

Anyway... I'll be back on my regular reading phase after I finish reading my Plum series.