Janet Evanovich

Perhaps you have seen books by Janet Evanovich on display in your local bookstores. She started her writing career by writing romance. After many years of that style of writing, she was ready to move to another genre. Then she created Stephanie Plum - her alter ego? This is what Evanovich says about Stephanie: "I spent two years retooling --drinking beer with law enforcement types, learning to shoot, practicing cussing. At the end of those years I created Stephanie Plum. I wouldn't go so far as to say Stephanie is an autobiographical character, but I will admit to knowing where she lives."

Check out Evanovichs' website HERE.

My copy of "One For the Money" is loaned out so I can't look at the date of when I first started reading these books but I have a copy of all of her Stephanie  Plum books from "One for the Money" to "Smokin' Seventeen."  - and I've reread them many times. For my friends that only like Chrisitan books or books with no "bad" language or sex - Stephanie is not the heroin for you.

Stephanie Plum lives in Trenton, NJ, in the berg. She is 30 years old and has been laid off from the local lingerie company. She is about to be evicted and her car repossessed so she needs a job quickly. She appeals to her cousin Vinnie for a job as a Bond Enforcement Agent or Bounty Hunter.

The books are funny and easy to read. Stephanie goes from one catastrophe to another. In every book she has car problems - most of the time they blow up. Her partner, Lula, is an ex-prostitute that is a "large" woman. Reading about their escapades reminds me of Lucy and Ethel!! They are hilarious.

Evanovich doesn't leave her romance skills completely in the past. Stephanie has two - yes two - men that she can't decide between! It becomes a major story line for these books. Smokin' Seventeen even has sticker's in the back of the book for buyers to choose! "I <3 Morelli" or "I <3 Ranger."

I have literally had tears running down my face from laughing so hard reading these books. 

The Stephanie Plum novels are easy to read, for entertainment only. Many of the situations are repeated in several books, but not in a "oh no, not again" way. Fans expect a car to blow up in each book, they expect Grandma Mazur to try opening a casket at a closed casket funeral, they expect someone to break into Stephanie's apartment, and of course we can't have a book without Ranger and Morelli saving Stepanie from some criminal.

I have never been disappointed in a Stephanie Plum book, however, this last one "Smokin' Seventeen" wasn't as good to me. Not sure why. She destroyed a car, Grandma Mazur caused a scene at a "viewing", she was saved by the two sexy men.... Not sure, it just didn't click with me as much as the others have.

Janet Evanovich loves her fans. I have a picture of her and me when I went to one of her signings in Tulsa several years ago. Then when she did a signing in Texas, Holly and Jack had their picture taken for my collection.

For those of you who like funny books, not too realistic but at the same time I can see a bit of Stephanie in most of us!!! And  Lula, when someone tells us her she is large, fat, or criticizes her looks in any way - she usually just shoots them either with a gun or a taser! ( she never shoots to kill. - or if she does, she's not a good enough shot to hit her target where she intends!

Look for Stephanie Plum to hit the big screen in 2011.