Month: January 2019

Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, MysteryLeave a comment

Look Alive Twenty-Five (Stephanie Plum, #25)Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Stephanie Plum #25
Publication Date: 11/13/18
Number of Pages: 320

This series is both addictive and annoying. The annoying didn’t start until a number of books into the series and it is because of a relationship that just can’t seem to get resolved. I’m sure that if the situation is resolved, then the series will end – but maybe it is time. Then, there is the perpetual hamster who should be well beyond his life expectancy by now. Speaking of that relationship issue – to me, personally – it doesn’t appear that there is any real love there on any side. The books are always zany and funny and you just can’t help but chuckle at the antics.

I’ve rated this story 3.5 rounded up to 4 mainly because Stephanie didn’t get herself into quite as many pickles as she normally does and not a single car exploded. The appearance of Wulf from the Lizzy and Diesel series didn’t add anything to the story either and he’s just always annoying.

Stephanie Plum is an inept bail enforcement agent for her cousin Vinny – who is married to the daughter of a big-time mobster – Harry the Hammer. Connie is the only competent one at the agency. Stephanie’s assistant is Lula, a former ‘ho who still dresses like one. Add Morelli, Stephanie’s boyfriend who is a cop and Ranger, the ultra-sexy owner of Rangeman security (who also wants to be Stephanie’s boyfriend) and you have quite an interesting mix of personalities.

Vinny and his father-in-law have taken over a deli that was forfeited when the owner jumped bail and disappeared. Now, the managers keep disappearing and leaving behind nothing except one shoe. Vinny has Stephanie and Lula take over running the deli in addition to her bail enforcement duties. Lula is convinced that aliens are taking the managers and she is convinced that Stephanie is next.

Ranger and Morelli take turns protecting Stephanie and the antics are, as always, very amusing. Lula fancies herself the queen of sandwich making at the deli and creates something new for each order – no matter what the patron requested. Ranger even gets into the sandwich making. All of this is going on while they are trying to figure out what happened to the previous managers.

Will Stephanie and Lula still be working at the deli when the next book is released? Can’t wait to see.

Please check out my reviews at:
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), OtherLeave a comment

The Wrong Highlander (Highland Brides, #7)The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Highland Brides #7
Publication Date: 1/29/19
Number of Pages: 384

I think I enjoy this series more and more with each new book. Each book is witty and humorous while still being tense, exciting and romantic. The writing, as always, is excellent and the story is tightly plotted and well executed. I love the main characters as well as the re-appearances of the large and boisterous Buchanan family. You can read this book as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend the rest of the series – otherwise, you’ll miss out on some lovely stories and great background on some of the characters appearing in this story. Including this story, we’ve found HEA’s for 5 of the 8 Buchanan’s – only three more to go. I’ve loved each of their stories and they are all wonderful. So far the only sister, Saidh, has married along with Dougall, Niels, Aulay and now Conran. We only have Rory, Alick, and Geordi left. I can’t wait for their stories.

Conran Buchanan doesn’t think he has any real talents. It doesn’t bother him overmuch though. He loves helping his brothers with the things at which they are good and he has learned a lot from each of them. He’s more a jack-of-all-trades. He’s learned about horses from Dougall, sheep and wool from Niels, being a good Laird from Aulay, and healing from Rory. So, it isn’t surprising to find Conran out with Rory looking for medicinal herbs. Conran’s saddlebags are so full that he can hardly close them.

After hunting for Rory’s medicinals all morning, Conran is hot and itchy and is looking forward to stripping down and enjoying some time beneath the waterfall. UGH, he feels as if there are creepy-crawlies under his clothes. He knows there isn’t, that it is just the wool of his plaid against his damp, sweaty skin, but still – he can’t wait. As soon as Rory heads back to see a patient, Conran strips and heads for the waterfall.

Evina Maclean has ridden non-stop from her home, a good two-day ride, to fetch the healer, Rory Buchanan. He’d accompany her to her home whether he wanted to or not. Her father lies dying and she’ll do anything to help him. So, she’ll ask Buchanan nicely, but if he was unwilling, she’ll kidnap him!

Evina has spent her life doing as she pleased. Her mother died when Evina was ten, and her father just closed off and left everything to Evina to take care of – even the care of her newly arrived and orphaned two-year-old cousin, Gavin. She wears trewes under her skirts, carries a sword, rides astride and runs the clan in her father’s stead. Everybody in her clan loves and respects her.

Imagine a completely naked Conran suddenly finding another fully naked man joining him in the waterfall. Yep, that meeting didn’t go well and the two end up fighting and tumbling from the waterfall into the stream where they continued the fight. Suddenly – out of nowhere – there is the hilt of a sword coming toward his head. Then, nothing, just blackness.

Conran’s nude and unconscious trip to Evina’s home is quite an adventure. You’ll wonder how he ever makes it alive, but it is quite entertaining to read.

Once Conran revives, he learns that they think he is Rory and he certainly doesn’t intend to tell them differently until he finds out what is what. However, when he sees the dying Laird Maclean, he decides he’ll do what he can to save him. Even though Conran is not Rory, he has learned a bit from him – and there is nobody else to help.

Conran is drawn to Evina but knows that he has no chance of courting her. He’s the fourth son and she’s a Laird’s daughter. Then, there is an attempt on Evina’s life – and another – and another. Don’t try to figure out who the villain is – you won’t, but it is fun to try.

One of the fun things about this read is that you really believe the love between Evina and Conran. She challenges him rather than following meek and ladylike – and he admires her for that. Great romance.

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview

“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”