Sunday, September 5, 2010

Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

Plum Lovin'
Summary:Paris Kaye
Janet Evanovich introduces her latest installment, Plum Lovin’, in the Stephanie Plum series which currently sits atop the New York Times Best Seller listing.

In Evanovich’s latest adventure, skip tracer (i.e. bounty hunter) Stephanie Plum is placed in a unique position. Fellow skip tracer Diesel has the one thing that Stephanie needs to collect her latest bounty, Annie Hart.

Before Diesel will produce Annie Hart, Stephanie must fulfill five specific conditions as they relate to Annie Hart’s profession as relationship expert. Evanovich masterfully blends and interweaves adjoining subplots that strictly deal with matters of the heart and, as we all know, these matters rarely run their expected course.

A parallel plot evolves as we learn that Diesel is providing protection for Annie Hart as the rash infective Bernie Beaner tries to exact revenge for the dissolution of his “200 year old” marriage as he believes that Hart initiated these difficulties.

As any reader of the Plum series knows, Stephanie is in need of her own relationship rescue as she delicately balances her relationships with Morelli and Ranger. Now, she must wear the hat of relationship expert as Diesel teasingly dangles before her.

It is not long before Lulu joins in on this wacky adventure as they race against the clock, trying to resolve relationship issues for five people before Valentine’s Day. Lulu plays the part of a collective conscience that presents the reality of each situation, no holds barred.

Having a strong interest in this case, Diesel works both ends as he attempts to locate the elusive Bernie Beaner while assisting Stephanie with the five relationship subplots. Let’s just say that the closer Stephanie works with Diesel, the greater the flirtatious tension.

Evanovich creatively draws into the story the lives of a bureaucratic DMV clerk and unwed mother of four leading a no thrills lifestyle, a veterinarian who’s being manipulated by a bold and beautiful barmaid, an introverted butcher who can not string a sentence together whenever in the presence of a certain coffee shop waitress, a thirty something year old virgin who must take a crash course in love anatomy and, finally, a relationship involving Stephanie’s very own sister.

The reader is taken on a roller coaster ride of twist and turns, racing toward the denouement. The action packed end leaves the reader turning pages racing to see what will happen next as these plots draw to their collective conclusion.

Plum Lovin’ is a fast read (two to three hours), and offers something for everyone. Followers of the Plum series will particularly enjoy watching yet another chapter of Stephanie’s life unfolds. Those new to the series are not left in the cold as Evanovich artfully draws the new reader into the series and character without feeling like something is unknown or lacking. That is why readers are loving Plum Lovin’.

Plum Lovin' Originally published in Shvoong: http://www.shvoong.com/books/mystery-and-thriller/2047771-plum-lovin/

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