"Smitten" is pure fluff. But it is fluff that I loved! If you're looking for a complex plot, and characters with some heft, this is not the book for you. This is a short romance novel with lots of humor, that showcases Janet Evanovich at a much earlier point in her career. I could easily see the talent that grew to author the fabulous Stephanie Plum series, i.e., "One For The Money," etc. It is in this novel(ette) that the character of Stephanie's grandmother emerges, (one of my all time favorite people), in Aunt Elsie. So, if you have a few hours to spare for some delightful entertainment, this is a good choice.

Lizabeth Kane is a recently divorced mother with 2 very active little boys and no way to pay the bills. She had devoted 10 of her 32 years to being a wife, (of an ambitious and wealthy philanderer), and a mother. Now she needed a job. Her Aunt Elsie was coming to spend the summer to care for the kids, but so far - no luck in the job search. Lizabeth had graduated years ago from Amherst College with a degree in history. Her resume is that brief, and her liberal arts education, minus experience, certainly does not make her competitive in the job market.

She stumbles on to a construction site where she meets Matt Hallahan, a real estate developer and CEO of his own company, as well as a carpenter, man-of-all-trades...and gorgeous hunk to boot! He is immediately smitten by Lizabeth and hires her as a laborer-in-training - on the condition that she work with him. He is terrified that she will kill herself while hammering nails. And so begins the love story, with a minor mystery, and about 180 pages of smiles. Go for it!!!

hello everyone! i just wanted to sure with you that this was a very wonderful read.. however i sincerely warn you not to read this book out in public.. unless you a acquainted with curious stares and looks of disbelief.. (speaking from second-hand experience that is.. hehehe) but if not, then read it in the privacy of your own home. This was a splendid read; you'll fall in love with Lizabeth and Matt (the falling-fast-for-each-other couple) and most of all lizabeth's eccentric yet VERY comical aunt.. this book is brimming with laughs and tender moments! don't pass this one up.. its a keeper!

In this book Lizabeth decides she needs a job and fast so she can support her two kids and to afford home repairs. So, she applies for a carpenter position for this hunk's company. He hires her and then one thing leads to another. Matt helps with the home repairs and then decides he should move in due to the "flasher" whom Aunt Elsie thinks is cute.

I rarely laugh out loud while reading, but Stephanie Plum and her motley gang of friends always has me laughing until I cry.

In book three Stephanie is after the neighborhood candy store owner, the beloved Uncle Mo. Everyone in town is mad at Stephanie for trying to bring Mo in on a FTA (failure to appear)
The only support Stephanie is getting is from her friend ex hooker Lula, a wanna be bounty hunter in training.

Steph's usual gang of friends and cohorts make appearances here, including Grandma Mazur, the mysterious Ranger and the sexy and dangerous Joe Morelli.

As the body count rises, it is apparent that there is something a little strange about saintly Uncle Mo. And who are the guys in ski masks threatening Stephanie and her beloved hamster Rex? And why is Stephanies hair bright orange? The answers to all these questions and more will be answered, if only you can stop laughing long enough to finish reading!

The hilarious family-tied bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum is back is the third book in Janet Evanovich's series. In this one, Stephanie finally makes some progress.

Stephanie Plum, the lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter, is after "Uncle Mo," the local candy store operator, known by everybody in the neighborhood as the man with the biggest heart. Uncle Mo skips his court appearance for carrying a concealed weapon, and Stephanie, against her better wishes, goes after him to get him to "reschedule." Mo is nowhere to be found, and the body count of the local drug dealers around his store continues to rise. Stephanie gets no help from the locals, seeing as how they all think he deserves a medal. Throw in her off-and-on flirtations with Joe Morelli, her seemingly wacky impulse shopping sprees and mounting car woes, and you have one entertaining mystery novel.

Stephanie is at her finest in this book, despite her hair troubles, and lack of a sex life. But that's what makes her New Jersey's most unconventional bounty hunter. Lula, the prostitute turned file clerk, has a much greater voice in this novel, and she truly adds color to the story with her witty dialogue. Police officer Joe Morelli and fellow skip trcaer Ranger are back again to add some professionalism to Stephanie's life, and of course, what would this book truly be without her clan of family in the background. Dinner time just wouldn't be the same.

The book flows at a blistering pace, and Evanovich's cogent writing style is peppered with just the right amount of humor. The plot has its fair share of twists and turns, and the storyline maintains its interest throughout. The suspense is outstanding. It is hard not to enjoy this book.

Stephaine Plum is back and this time she is trying to pick up the burg's favorite man, Uncle Mo. Mo owns the candy shop/ice cream parlor in the burg and everybody's favorite guy. Mo skipped his court appearance for his concealed weapons charge. What appears to be an easy pick up turns deadly as Stephanie is once again being blackmailed, shot at and threatened. What would a Plum book be without Morelli and Ranger in on the action? Morelli working in homicide and as dead drug dealers start turning up he also wants in on a piece of the action. Grandma Muzar isn't helping Stephanie this time but instead she has Lula, ex streetwalker now file clerk in Vinnie's office. Lula has declared herself a bounty hunter in training and she is here to help Stephanie at all costs, of course adding to the laughter.

_One for the Money_:

The first book I read by Janet Evanovich was _Hot Six_, in which I fell in love with all of the characters, and vowed to read the entire series. The first book in that series, _One for the Money_, didn't disappoint.

Stephanie Plum is someone that nearly any woman can easily relate to, thanks to Evanovich's singular ability to make her characters incredibly human. On nearly every page, there is something to make the reader chuckle in appreciation and self-recognition, and the belly laughs are liberally sprinkled in as well. The wit and humor aren't the only draws to this book, as they were with Dave Barry's _Big Trouble_; Evanovich has a good plot, and she develops it well, cultivating suspense and curiosity throughout the story.

As Plum learns How to Be a Bounty Hunter while chasing after a cop charged with murder, she develops very believable relationships with her partner, (Ranger,) the cop she's chasing, (Morelli,) and sundry other people throughout the book. We follow her as she's chased by a sociopathic champion boxer, lives through really bad financial times, rummages for the keys to the car she's "comandeered" from Morelli after he throws them into a
dumpster, deals with her overly-protective mother, and suffers through numerous embarrassing situations that rarely feel too contrived.

A thoroughly enjoyable and quick read that'll keep you turning the pages. Evanovich writes the way I truly wish I could, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

_Two for the Dough_:

Sadly, _Two for the Dough_ lacked the sparkle of the first story in this book others. The belly-laughs were largely missing, as was a compelling plot. The characters are not as lively, and it felt like the whole thing was forced rather than enthusiastically and easily written.

Grandma Mazur plays a larger role in this book, and is generally enjoyable, but the idiosyncracies that were so entertaining in the first book are overdone and feel contrived here. The chemistry between Morelli and Stephanie doesn't sizzle as convincingly in _Two for the Dough_, and Ranger is almost entirely absent.

This book was fairly disappointing, and I found myself wishing it would end much sooner than it actually did. Still, I have high hopes for the remainder of the Evanovich books, though, because she has incredible talent. I just think _Two for the Dough_ was a bit rushed and that she didn't have a lot of passion for it. Hopefully, her spark and humor will return in _Three to Get Deadly_.

_Three to Get Deadly_:

Thankfully, halfway through _Three to Get Deadly_, Evanovich once again found her fantastic wit and seems to regain her footing in the characters. Stephanie's self-deprecating humor and bumbling about learning to be a bounty hunter buoys the luke-warm plot during the first half of the book; there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and a myriad of snorts and chuckles. I really enjoy the character of Stephanie - I see much of myself in her, and a lot of the laughter was from self-recognition in her assorted neuroses and thought processes. The development of Lula's character was a very nice addition to the story as well.

One thing which disgruntled me during the first half of the book was the almost total lack of the spark that Stephanie had in the first two books; her character virtually crackled with life previously, but here it feels more like plodding until the second half of the story. Additionally, in the first two, she was 5'7" and a basically unapologetic 145 pounds - sturdy, and chuckling at how she was really "not fragile." In _Three to Get Deadly_,
she is 125 pounds and fretting about her weight. 5'7" and 125 pounds is not a weight to fret about! Alas. Pleasantly, though, Ranger is much more a part of this story than he was in the second book, and the tension between Stephanie and Morelli picks up steam again in the last quarter of the story.

I'm hoping Evanovich will continue the tradition of vivid characters who continually surprise the reader in the
other books in the series. Grandma Mazur thankfully drops back into the role where she adds a wonderful element to the story, but isn't a driving part of the plot.

I'm glad there are many more already written, so I don't have to wait. If only Patricia Cornwell and JaneT Evanovich could kind of merge into one fabulous writer, we'd have Evanovich's tremendous sense of humor and character, with Cornwell's ability to write a suitably complex and interesting crime plot.

If you're new to Evanovich, _Three Plums in One_ will definitely give you a taste of her style, to let you know if you'll enjoy the series or not. Having the first three volumes compiled together in one handy volume is a nice way to save bookshelf space, too.

If you haven't read the first book in this series, I really recommend picking it up to learn how Stephanie gets into the whole bounty hunter business. Skipping the second book wouldn't leave much of a gap, as important points are mentioned in _Three to Get Deadly_. _Three_ is worth the time to read, though, and I'm looking forward to _Four to Score_.

This has to be the most enjoyable book I have read this summer. I had never read Evanovich before. I came across this book while strolling through a "Message Board" from Kelly Rippa's book club (Regis and Kelly Show). Someone had mentioned it and I'm so glad that I picked it up.

In all three books there are colorful chartacters starting with Joe Morrelli, Ranger, Grandma Mazur and Lula. Stephanie Plum the main chartacter is a delight to follow as she takes on a new job as a bounty hunter.

I can't say that the series is particularly suspenseful OR that it is not predictable BUT I can promise that you will find yourself pulled in ... and along for the ride. In all three books I found myself laughing out loud ... even in the middle of the night ...and wishing there was someone I could share the storyline with. If you like a fast read, good writing and a lot of laughs ... This is the book for you.

In 'Three Plums in One' you get the first three books in the Stephanie Plum series, 'One for the Money', 'Two for the Dough' and 'Three to Get Deadly'. Evanovich has created one of the most endearing, hilarious and completely entertaining characters to populate any genre of fiction you could hope to read in your lifetime.

Stephanie Plum is an out-of-work lingerie buyer who falls into bounty hunting through a combination of a family acquaintance and a pressing need for food, shelter and neon shades of makeup. When you think of a Bounty Hunter you think of a smart, cunning, confident law-enforcement type, but after you meet her, you will think "Oxymoron" whenever you hear the phrase "Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter."

Stephanie bungles her way through several fugitive apprehensions, as well as a rocky, quasi-romantic relationship, all the while giving us all the hilarious details in her frank, rambling narrative. Joe Morelli, a Trenton, New Jersey vice cop, plays Tracy to Stephanie's Hepburn, and Evanovich will have you in tears with her talent for writing the sardonic and sarcastic dialogue that takes place between these two.

Each episode has an underlying mystery to solve, but soon after you start reading you will discover that no matter what Stephanie is describing in her narrative, you would happily read along, much in the same way you would listening to a master storyteller describe a root canal.

'Three Plums in One' is a fast, sometimes suspenseful and often (very often) hilarious read. The three novels run together seamlessly, creating a sense of continuity that will have you thinking it was written as one novel, and then divided.

Read this book now. You will not be sorry. And, just for fun, count the cars.

This is a short and simple, well-written romance. If fluff offends you, steer clear of "Manhunt," written in the days when Janet Evanovich was developing the talent that authored the terrific Stephanie Plum series, i.e., "One For The Money," etc. However, if you're looking for an entertaining read to wile away a few hours, this could be it.

Alexandra Scott, a New Jersey resident with a high powered Wall Street career, is burnt out. She cannot take another 80 hour work week, and she doesn't want any of the perks that go along with it. She is tired of speeding through her rat race life before she has Lived it - with a capital "L." So, she of the analytic brain and practical mind, trades in her luxury condo for a cabin in the backwoods of Alaska - sight unseen! She always knew that Alaska, where men outnumber women by a large percentage, would be the place where she could find the perfect husband. And she wants to get married and start a family before it is too late.

Alex, an upbeat, self-sufficient woman, travels with small sports car and large dog across the country and heads due north. She eventually finds her Alaskan wilderness cabin, which needs a lot of work before the deep freeze sets in, and she meets her nearest neighbor, Michael Casey, an incredibly hunky pilot. Sparks fly but he is a confirmed bachelor. She is as undaunted by his resistance as by the frequent disasters that befall her while learning to be a wilderness woman.

This is a good, fun read. It is also interesting, if you are an Evanovich fan, to read one of her early novels and compare it, and her humor, with her latest work. Enjoy!!

This series is toooooo good to cut a single word. I adore the analogies, characters, and descriptions in these books - I was sorely dissapointed to find these audio versions abridged.
DO THEM OVER UNABRIDGED and I will purchase every single audio and enjoy what I've already read and fell in love with.
Who makes these decisions and what in the world were they thinking????

Janot Evanovich, author of the Stephanie Plum mystery series, has a hilarious writing style that both pulls readers into her stories and makes them laugh out loud. The audio versions of these stories are no different and in fact are possibly more amusing thanks to the vocal talents of Debi Mazar. Her Jersey-girl accent makes it feel like Stephanie is in the room with you and telling you about her mishaps, of which there are many. If there is ever a movie starring this plucky and clutzy bounty hunter, I would encourage casting agents to seriously consider Mazar. Her attitude and way of speaking fit the stories to perfection. These audio versions are abridged, which saves time but cuts out parts of each book. For anyone who has yet to read the books, I would encourage you to do so before listening to this format.

I didn't know Janet Evanovich wrote romance stories earlier in her career, but I stumbled across this title and couldn't resist seeing how she did before she got famous with her Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series. The good news is: Janet is just as funny and whimsical here as are her better known recent works. The bad news is, the plot synopsis can be stated in about 20 words: man hires woman to pose as wife, they immediately fall insanely in love, and will they stay together after the gig?? Bet you can guess! Between the heated blood coursing through their veins at every touch, to -- well you get the drift. I guess that's why they call these bodice rippers! For a nice easy read, no mental stress, little doubt about the story line, and some heart warming (I guess) relationship study (with no explicit sex), coupled with that great Evanovich sense of humor, give it a try. Supposedly she did a few others for Loveswept, but I'll take my chances on missing those.

Hank Malone was the town bad boy. He's returned to take up his inheritance - an apple orchard in Vermont. He has plans to turn it into a serious organic business, but in the town's eyes, he's still the same troublemaking stud he used to be, and the bank won't take him seriously for a loan. To change his image, he decides to hire a wife for six months, to give the illusion of stability and hopefull get the business loan. He hires Maggie Toone in New Jersey and brings her to his farm. She's eager to escape her small town life and job as a teacher, and relishes the chance to fulfill her dream of writing a book based upon her aunt's diaries. One small problem - her aunt was the local madam.

This is a very funny and witty book. Hank and Maggie's relationship is romantic and sexy. The dialogue is classic Evanovich - she easily writes in the rhythm of natural speech so the reader feels as though he/she could step right into the conversation. Hank falls in love with Maggie right off the bat and plots to make their marriage a real one; she is not so sure that she wants to be stuck in another small town. Elsie Hawkins, a reoccuring character in Ms. Evanovich's romances, is present here as a temporary housekeeper. She is the prototype of the Grandma Mazur character of the Stephanie Plum series - a feisty, blunt-speaking senior who drives a '57 Cadillac, packs a gun, and is in serious pursuit of the male species (in her age group, they tend to drop dead unexpectedly so she tries to act quickly).

Hopefully, someday these early Evanovich books will be reissued, but until then, this definitely one used-book worth finding.

I anxiously awaited the 7th Plum novel since the 6th one was a such a riot. I should not have been in such a rush. The books were never much on plot, but that was forgivable because the characters were so much fun. This time, even with the addition of Valerie, everyone seemed to be doing the exact same things as they did in the last book(s). The action happens so fast - there's barely a reflective moment from anyone, including Stephanie. And we've been through the Morelli/Ranger thing before. They both had very little to do other than be part of the whole love-triangle thing. The most exciting part was Stephanie's mom deciding to go back to school and eating a whole cupcake instead of the broken ones. I'd like to see this developed more - maybe next time leave Grandma Mazur home and take mom out to apprehend an FTA! I know I'll read the next book, but will probably wait til it hits the library instead of buying off the shelf.

Stephanie Plum, the "bounty hunter from hell" is back for her seventh book by Janet Evanovich. With all of her previous wacky, off-the-wall adventures, there is only one really important question left to answer in this novel: Will Stephanie blow up another car?

You'll have to read SEVEN UP to find out, but I will tell you this. She does finally do something with her hair. In this book, Stephanie is after Eddie DeChooch, an aging mobster who failed to appear at his court date for smuggling cigarettes. It's amazing how Stephanie can't seem to apprehend the depressed, next-to-blind senior citizen, but it wouldn't be a Stephanie Plum adventure if that weren't so.

All of the regular cohorts are back. The back-of-her-mind love triangle between the hunk-of-a-cop Joe Morelli and her hot professional partner-in-crime Ranger is blossoming quite nicely, and the cliffhanger at the end of this book will leave you speechless. Grandma Mazur is her same colorful, scene-stealing self, and we finally get to meet Stephanie's sister, Valerie. And does she ever make a great first appearance! Mooner and "the Dealer" are also back with more prominant roles, filling out a wonderful cast of characters.

As always, Evanovich writes a fast-flowing hilarious novel. Evanovich likes to throw you off guard every once in a while, whether it be with inept, bufoonish bad guys, a crazy funeral viewing a Stiva's, or even a small taste of mud wrestling. She is seemingly always on top of her game, and in touch with pop culture. Hey, for you professional wrestling fans out there, there is even a reference to the Rock. SEVEN UP will keep you guessing throughout, taking you on a wild ride. It is a very entertaining read.

Although this latest Plum novel didn't have the humor and strong plot as the other I still could not give it less than five stars. This book went fast and was very enjoyable.

The end was a long waited surprise with Ranger! Stephanie calls Ranger for help and the heat is turned up on the relationship between Ranger and Stephanie.

Joe and Stephanie and speaking of the idea on marriage. Of course Stephanie's family is all for the idea!

Mooner, who was introduced in the last book plays a bigger role.
Stephanie and Lula are riding a Harley this book.

Even though the laughter was not there as in the others this book should not be missed. If you follow this series. If you are a new reader then start with the first book and work your way through. You will be glad and really enjoy it!

i thought it was not very good

These morsels are ideal for bedtime delectation. To quote "Death of the Mallory Queen" narrator Chip Harrison, the 'Archie' of Lawrence Block's laugh-out-loud take-off on Nero Wolfe and assorted generic conventions: "If this were novel length I'd say what each of them was wearing and who scowled and who looked interested, but Haig says there's not enough plot here for a novel and that you have to be more concise in short stories ... ." Lack of complexity and lightning-quick resolutions aside, pleasures are many. First published in 1949, Talmage Powell's "Her Dagger Before Me" reads like a picture postcard of the era come to life on the page. "Chee's Witch" spread lore. In "Snow," a new story, Stuart Kaminsky's Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov is a uniformed police whose future depends on his ability to woo his damaged left leg. Stories are arranged by age, from masters to the "new breed," the former being primarily male [with the exception of Maxine O'Callaghan, creator of Delilah West,according the editor, the first modern female P.I.] and the latter being women. The modern female sleuths -- Shugak, Matelli, Plum, Monaghan -- are fearless about defining for themselves the meaning of guilt and justice.

Robert Randisi has succeeded masterfully in pulling together a single volume of works that provides his reader with a brief, thorough, and excellent overview of contemporary mysteries. The stories in this collection feature the "first" cases of many of today's leading sleuths. Unlike many short story anthologies, there is a great range in tone and subject matter in this FIRST CASES volume. Some stories are cozies while others are hardboiled. All fit somewhere across our genre's spectrum.

I was pointed to this short story collection by my favorite mystery bookseller. I told her I needed a fresh text for this upcoming semester's course on writing mystery short stories that I regularly teach in the California State University system. Students in that class usually have a wide range of writing interests, and FIRST CASES--VOLUME 3 provides models that can apply to their varying literary efforts. It features stories by Tony Hillerman, Gar Anthony Haywood, Laura Lippman, Lawrence Block, Maxine O'Callaghan, and Anne Perry, among others. There is even a Talmage Powell story dating from the mystery genre's pulp fiction years. I am quite pleased with this collection, and it is now among my course's required texts when this semester's course begins soon.

Hard Eight is a great addition to the Stephanie Plum series. It gives you everything the other seven books have. Hillarious scenes with the classic characters of wacky Grandma Mazur, Lula, and the rest of the Plum family plus unexpected new twists that break away from the romantic plot line. New involvement with Ranger and Joe, he is still in the running.

This installment is about the search for a missing woman named Evelyn and daughter Annie. Evelyn's grandmother Mabel is a neighbor of the Plum family and she asked Stephanie for her help. Evelyn's ex-husband is about to get a child custody bond funded by Mabel as she put her house up for this. Mabel fears she'll lose her home if Evelyn isn't found and she fears for her great-granddaughter. So, Stephanie, our bounty hunter and her good friend Lula start snooping around and before long they have a run in with Evelyn's landlord, Eddie Abruzzi. Abruzzi, is a nasty man who adds a much needed dark edge to this story.

The humor you expect in a Stephanie Plum book is still there. Stephanie is still between Joe and Ranger. Stephanie still is blowing up cars and the drama from her friend Lula is still a riot. I liked this book the least out of the series but it is still well worth the read and I still found myself laughing out loud several times. If you enjoy this series and who couldn't, this is a must read!

As always, devouring the latest Stephanie Plum novel took far too little time, and left me wishing I'd savoured the book instead. Not possible. I was on it faster than Vinnie on the aleged duck, and I don't regret it a bit.

Fans will not be upset with the typical crazy-life Stephanie events. Her sister Valerie is still about, and losing her perfect sainthood. Grandma Mazur is alive and kicking and still ready with the perfect ill-timed comment. Lula buys boots and dyes her hair. Cars explode. Bob vomits. Crazed rabbits, bears, and ex-presidents are chasing down Steph... and just you wait until you get to the geese incident.

Then there's the romantic confusion. Morelli, Ranger, and Stephanie hit the peak of their sexual tension in this book, and tip over in a way that knocked me reeling. I wasn't expecting who ended up sleeping with who, and what it meant. How's that for a vague way to avoid plot spoiling? It was definitely worth the ride, though.

Aside from the zany and the romantic, however, there's a darker tone that we've not seen since the very first book. Echoes of the psychotic boxer return in another character, and the whole issue of battered wives fleeing their husband with children they've snatched away in the middle of the night is not your usual Plum story. That said, it fit. As the stakes rose - and grew more serious than the usual Steph life-catastrophes of the previous books - so did the emotional reactions of the characters involved. And the ending will blow you away: I refuse to give it away, but I was left with a real bit of gutwrench. This one doesn't leave you dangling with a romantic "Oh gosh!" It leaves you stunned with a "Yow... harsh!"

The story does wind up a bit quickly after dancing and drawing itself out - the pace is a bit breakneck at the end as things suddenly all reach the denouement, the book's only real failing. But otherwise, prepare to laugh out loud throughout, and be a little surprised at the content in this one. "Hard Eight" is hard indeed.

'Nathan

The book is just a bit different from previous Stephanie Plum novels. Stephanie has just moved a bit into the darker side (but so has Spielberg in Minority Report).

Stephanie Plum fans will enjoy the book, still has the humor and the fun characters you've come to know and love.

New readers looking for mystery will enjoy the story and should appreciate the humor which is far different than any other mystery writer.

If you are looking for humor and romance with a touch of mystery in the background....read one of the other seven Stephanie Plum books first.

As an avid reader of Janet Evanovich's stephanie plum series I was ecstatic when I saw that she has now decided to resurrect some old romance novels and revamp then in her now famous style.
When I read the first book in this series (Full House), I thought wow - cool - now I don't have to wait til June for the next stephanie plum. But then, unfortunately, I picked up full tilt. What a let down.

Clearly my opinion is not shared by everyone - in fact one of the reviewers that I usually respect - harriett klausner clearly really enjoyed the book. However, I think if you are a fan of romantic suspense and janet evanovich as well, you will be left unfulfilled by her latest novel. Unlike Full House, in which billie and nick drew you in as characters, I found Max to be generally uninteresting and unlikable - which seems like it would be hard to do with a character who is a genius, rich, and comes from a zany yet troubled past.

In addition to a boring (sorry but he is) male character, there is the relatively forgettable female lead, the head of a truly uninspired newspaper (a potentially interesting subplot which was really never explored). There is also Vera, an obnoxious semi-mother figure who really made me yearn for Grandma Mazur, and God help us all, a talking computerized Car - named Muffin. Please make it stop. To all the authors out there (Catherine Coulter this means you too) please stop with the artificial intelligence in anything from a car to a calculator - it is manufactured, unconvincing, and overall - not funny!

I really felt like full tilt had major potential, including characters and locations that could have been creatively utilized, but the story just did not gel - nothing came together. In fact, I practically had to force myself to slog through this sucker. My recommendation - read full house instead and put your seven fifty in a fund towards To the Nines, coming out in June - at least that is what I wish I had done.

No, this series is not like Stephanie Plum. This is not for Mystery fans, but more Romance fans. The Characters are well developed, but a bit far fetched, and the plots are a bit unbelievable. Even after all this I don't think it is a bad read. The story moves very quickly and is a page turner, it is not like you are getting bored throughout the book. I still am a fan and we will see as the series grows it may get better, there is a lot of room for that.

Max and Dee Dee are back from Full House, twenty years later. Dee Dee's Husband, Frankie, is running for mayor and is looking for missing tax dollars. His brother-in-law, Max Holt, comes to town to help him out. Max is helping out one of his sister's friends, Jamie Swift, by investing in her news paper. There is an instant connection there!

This was a fun, quick read, and full of adventure!

Max Holt the 16 year old boy genius from FULL HOUSE is 20 years older and something of a cross between James Bond and Bill Gates. Frankie the Assassin stays married to Max's wacky sister Dee Dee, and after retiring from wrestling, he decides to run for Mayor. The resulting comic romp is fast and funny.

Death threats to Frankie extend to Max and his silent partner Jamie Swift, who must catch the killer before their time runs out! DeeDee, a former beauty queen, has hot flashes, Max's car has more personality than most modern heroines, while a host of other zany characters make this book super fun to read. The romance between Max and Jamie is reminiscent of the Moonlighting Couple.

Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes are a great team, and while this is more of an adventure than a mystery, the Plum fans will be pleased that this book is something of a page turner/mystery as well. Fans of Ms. Hughes will enjoy her fun and fast pace (especially the second half, where the pace reminds me of her HOT SHOT). I can't wait for the next in the series!