Smokin' Seventeen

Smokin' Seventeen
By Janet Evanovich
Published by Bantam Books

This is the 17th book in Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I have to say it is one of the better ones from the last few years. And Explosive Eighteen is coming in November. Makes me wonder if she will finish the series by the twentieth book.

If you haven't read any of the Plum novels, you may be a bit lost at first. But, just to clue you in, Stephanie's life as a bondswoman is as crazy in all her books. People are always trying to kill her and she is always struggling between a relationship with Morelli or a relationship with Ranger.

Smokin' Seventeen had a great balance between hilarious scenes and escapades with Lulu, her sidekick, and a mystery that Stephanie really did try to solve this time around. There were some interesting new characters (Morelli's cursing Grandma Bella for instance) as well as the return of recurring characters (Stephanie's poor mother who is once more reduced to more ironing and drinking from that mysterious juice glass). I loved it that one of the skips Stephanie tries to bring in claims to be a vampire. It was like a funny poke at the vampire scene in many of the novels written by Evanovich's contemporaries.

And Evanovich did not skimp on the romance this time around. Between Morelli, Ranger, this new guy Dave who can cook and the vordo curse from Grandma Bella, Stephanie has her legs... I mean hands full of  some very attractive men. And she does make a decision at the end of the novel which man is the one of her dreams... although we don't yet know who that is it is. For those of you who buy a new copy, you get two stickers that say I Love Morelli or I Love Ranger. Hope all the remainder of the library patrons who read this book like Morelli. Just saying.

What did this book have to do with my faith? Stephanie admits that she is not a good church-going person. But I love her ability to accept even the most bazaar people. She has a high level of tolerance and a great deal of patience. As a Christian, I ought to be more tolerant of others. Even when Stephanie brings in the criminals, she is not one who condemns. I am too quick to judge and to base my opinions on others by how they look. Stephanie has an ability to put up with people and get to know them.

I highly recommend this book for all Stephanie Plum/Janet Evanovich fans out there.

Happy reading!

Amelia

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims