Friday 28 August 2009

Review: Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanvich


Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Published: June 2009
Genre: Chick-lit, romance, mystery
Pages: 320

Recipe for disaster:
Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head --literally.
Throw in some spice:
Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she’ll talk to is Trenton cop, Joe Morelli.

Pump up the heat:

Chipotle’s sponsor is offering a million dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.
Stir the pot:
Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.
Add a secret ingredient:
Stephanie Plum’s Grandma Mazur. Enough said.
Bring to a boil:
Stephanie Plum is working overtime tracking felons for the bonds office at night and snooping for security expert Carlos Manoso, A.K.A. Ranger, during the day. Can Stephanie hunt down two killers, a traitor, five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, solve Ranger’s problems and not jump his bones?
Warning:
Habanero hot. So good you’ll want seconds.


Perhaps it were the reviews I had read that made me look more critical at this one, or perhaps it just wasn't as good as previous novels. It never made me laugh out loud, just smile now and then. And I always laugh when I read the number novels.

I think I may know the reason, the lack of Morelli. I love these because of the dynamics between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. They are the perfect triangle, and I enjoy how they all act together. And the whole who will she pick, who will do what. That was not here, so that crucial ingredient was missing and it showed.

Because of that I started looking at other things, like how annoying it is that the only word Ranger seems to know is babe, that she never understand that the skips will climb out the window while she waits patiently for them. She should have learnt by now.

What I wont get tired of is crazy grandma Mazur, I love her. I will not get tired of Stephanie's cars exploding, I would actually be upset if they weren't. And I will not get tired of the oh so funny side-kick Lula, though I could have lived without the farting in this one.

It was a normal Plum novel, she is trying to find those who failed to show up in court, that usually means crazy old men, exploding cars, and her getting all dirty. And there is always the big story too. This time Lula has witnessed a murder and the bad guys are after her. And while they try to stay away they also try to catch the killers to get the reward.

It was ok, alright more than ok, but I expect more from Evanovich by now. I want laughs, not just smiles. And if it hasn't got me giggling and laughing then it can't get more than a ok from me. Though this one is still better than her between the numbers novels and her other novels.


25 comments:

  1. Really good review, disappointing if you expect laughs but dont get them. Believe it or not I haven't read one single Janet Evanovich novel, don't know why?

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  2. B,

    A smile is pretty good. :) I'm glad you liked it enough that you want to keep up with the series. :)

    I've only read two of the 'between' books - the Valentines and Christmas themed ones - they are a bit silly and I haven't read any of her romance or Motormouth books. I'll just stick with Stephanie.

    Have a wonderful day.

    M

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  3. Oh Blod...I do need to read Janet, but I want to start out with her very best one. Which one would you recommend?

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  4. I'm the opposite on this one - I found several things to laugh about but I do agree. Stephanie needs to get a little smarter about skips. It's stupid that she keeps letting them climb out the window. And since I'm a Ranger fan, I didn't mind the lack of Morelli.

    cjh

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  5. Teddyree,
    Not a single one, the horror. Do read them, you wont be sorry. They are hilarious, there is romance, action, and they are just too funny.

    Michelle,
    A smile is better than nothing. And it was still good, but could have been better. I will not give up, but I do fear that they might be getting a bit too repetitive.


    Aimee,
    Read, read! You really must start with the first one, One for the money or what it was called. So you get the whole story. It's a funny one for sure.

    CJ,
    You got laughs, lucky you, too bad I didn't get any. Perhaps it was not a laughing day.
    But yes, she must get better some day.
    Aha Team ranger I see ;)

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  6. Ok if I must LOL
    Adding to my wishlist now, should they be read in order?

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  7. teddy,
    Well you really should start with the first, and then read the first few in order. So you get the story right, after that you will be so caught up that you will want to read them all in order ;)

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  8. I haven't read any of these but would like to. Does she have an end of the series in sight, do you know? I like love triangles but i'm not sure I can take one that drags out that long.

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  9. I'm looking forward to eventually getting to this one.

    I gave you an award on blog :)

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  10. Lori,
    Oh I do know about that. By now it feels a bit strained. I think she should just marry one and have some kids and the adventoure could go on in a new way. This is getting old, she needs something new.

    And no end in sight...but I still love them

    Yvonne,
    I am so happy that I got it. Someone had been sitting at it for a while since it got out but I got it :D
    Thank you so much. You are so sweet

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  11. Hey Blodeuedd!! I use to read this series. I think I stopped on 7 or 8. I use to have a friend who would buy them, because I did not understand the diseases to have to have a book yet... lol.. she would buy them the minute they would come out. I would read them so we could talk about them. I oh so love Ranger and Morelli... But you are right... by 15 Step should know what to do and how to handle things... and the triangle should be solved by now... I mean... 15... I think a guy would tire of the games. But they are great reads none of the less though!! And grandma and Lula... OMG.... Enough said. They are a great series...

    Now for the fun... I have an award for you at my place!
    http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/2009/08/awww-i-have-received-beautiful-award.html
    I hope you have a great weekend!

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  12. It's rather daunting when a book ends up disappointing you. Sorry you didn't get those LOLs. I've never read anything by her, so I might have to try one of her earlier books. Thanks for the honest review!

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  13. Cecile,
    I used to buy them too, but I stopped at 8 since I saw no end near. I have always been cheap, perhaps since I live here, in no books town.
    Grandma, Lula, Ranger and morelli, oh they should make a movie! but they would surely just mess it up.

    Aww thank you!! :D

    Krista,
    Do read the first plum one, this was still great. it's just that the others are hilarious :D

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  14. I've seen mixed reviews of this one. I haven't read any of the series, and I'm not sure I will. I'll have to think on it some more. Thanks for the review.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  15. Anna,
    I know, some are getting tired of some things. Still a good book but she needs to think of some new stuff. Cos if it's still the same when book 20 comes...hm.
    but I do still love her

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  16. I really loved what you thought about this one!! Me being a Ranger fan am totally o.k. with BABE...just wish it was me that he was saying it o!! I love Grandma Mazur too!! The farting was just a bit much but Lula is a great character. Let's hope #16 makes us laugh more!!

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  17. Excellent review. I haven't try this series, I don't know why, so maybe I'll see if my library carries these books. Looks and sounds great.

    Thanks B!

    Dottie :)

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  18. Oh, man, I love this series, though I am bummed over the less than stellar reviews #15 has received. I love both Morelli & Ranger, though I have to admit, I prefer Ranger just a teensy bit (odd considering my love of detective heroes *grin*). I even bought a bottle of Bvgari shampoo so I could know what Ranger smells like...LOL Pathetic, huh?

    I see you're reading There's Only Been You. Hope you enjoy it as much as you did Meant To Be. :-)

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  19. Staci,
    Hehe yes I could figure out that a Ranger fan would love all the babe, but I am a Morelli kind of gal.
    Grandma Mazur is the best! But yes too much farting done by Lula, that is just nasty

    Dottie,
    Try it, try it!!!!!! You will laugh yourself silly. i promise, oh and hot guys that will make you drool.

    Hi Donna,
    Yes I started on it this week, after crazy school quieted down. Now I can enjoy it in peace and yes I am enjoying it :) Keep thinking that I wish they will end up together even though I know the answer lol.

    I should not have read all those reviews, it made me so critical :( Ohhh I would smell that bottle all day long, even if I am a Morelli woman.

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  20. What sucks is my husband doesn't like the way it smells, so I have this $30 bottle of shampoo just sitting in my shower, waiting for me to open the cap and take a sniff...LOL

    But don't get me wrong, I LOVE Morelli. It's a tight race, trust me. ;-)

    And I love Mooner, he cracks me up...LOL

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  21. Donna,
    LOl, really, too bad, now if he had liked it, then it would have been perfect. Don't sniff to hard now or you'll get Ranger addicted ;)

    Oh I know, sometimes I just feel a bit more for Ranger, it's very tight, but Morelli can just be so cuddly.

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  22. I agree, and I've always been attracted to the sexy detective types. But once Ranger cut his hair and Janet E. started developing him more, I just fell hard and fast. In fact, Hard Eight is my favorite...and all Ranger fans will know why...LOL

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  23. Same for me, I just wanted more and more and more. Oh Hard Eight,was that when they finally....
    Can't remember now, but I sure know there was one book I liked, a lot.
    Still he can never take Morelli's place, cos Joe is just so stable

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  24. Ever think about how you'd like the series to end, or how you think it might end? I imagine Stephanie becoming pregnant by one of them, but they get hurt bad. Before they die, they ask the other to take care of Stephanie & the baby. LOL

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  25. Donna,
    You have thought about it, and love your version, so heartbreaking!

    I do want her to get pregnant, marry Morelli, have 2 kids, and continue to bounty hunt.

    ...yes your version so much better.

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