Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Author: Janet Evanovich
Title: Notorious Nineteen
Release: November 2012
Reviewer: Teresa
Series: Stephanie Plum #19
Source: Library
Purchase: | Book Depository

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . .

Janet has done it again. She’s created new FTA’s for Stephanie to catch, and two of the three she’s after re creating bigger problems for her. Not to mention she’s working security for Rangeman. Stephanie’s Ranger’s security.

After I finished reading this installment a few Dolls and I were chatting about the story. They asked if the love triangle was still a major part of the story and I’d said yes. I’m now listening to the story, I would’ve listened to it sooner but Flyboy wanted to discuss Cold Days by Jim Butcher so I listened to that first. Now that I’m listening to Stephanie, I think my initial thought about the love triangle was incorrect.

I get the feeling that Stephanie is starting to realize who she wants to be with. She still finds both Ranger and Morelli sex as all get out and let’s be honest who of us wouldn’t. So I don’t think the sexual attraction she has for either man should be considered in the love triangle for this book. With that thought in mind and the decisions Stephanie makes brings me to the conclusion that she’s closer to ending the love triangle.

That being said Stephanie how has to see which guy wants her. We see in this book that either guy cold be considering Stephanie for a long term relationship. One maybe ready before the other but both are thinking about it. And if one says something first the other may have words to say about it.

Without giving away to much of the story I’ll let you in on a few details. At least three cars get destroyed. I’m sure you can guess who’s cars at least the owner of one of them. ;) There’s one mental killer whom Stephanie has to deal with, and mental may not be the right work. He’s more sociopathic. She also has to deal with a crazy homeless man, who has done quite a few drugs in his day. There’s security for Ranger which Stephanie really isn’t excited about, but leads to a few chuckles from her and the reader.

You’ll find all of your favorite characters make an appearance. Overall the story is pretty good. If I had to rate it I’d give it three and three quarter points. It’s almost a four, but I didn’t laugh as much as I have before. Those are the ones I rate as fives. This one had a lot going on and I think that took away from my overall enjoyment. I think there were a lot more deaths in this book than others but I could be wrong. There was three major plot lines going it seemed, two for Stephanie’s job and the other working security for Rangeman. Because of that I feel the love triangle was secondary and at the bottom of that list.

I do think its worth reading, there are a few laugh out loud moments an it was a good read.

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