Barbara’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Fox and O’Hare #6
Publication Date: 3/26/19
Number of Pages: 320

Wow! I’m not sure where to go with this review and this rating. I enjoyed the story, the humor was good and the plot was interesting, I even enjoyed the addition of Cosmo, who gave a good bit of comic relief to the story. What has me confused is the changes in the overall series. Up until this book, Nick and Kate were a ‘couple’ and I loved the two of them together. In this book, the relationship has regressed back to about the point it was in the first book of the series. Another thing is that kick-ass Kate isn’t so kick-ass anymore. Yes, she was tough, but Nick seemed to be the one with all of the physical skills. I’m sure a lot of it is because of the new co-author, but Janet Evanovich was still there and should certainly have seen to the continuity of the series. Kate and Nick’s relationship is what made the series work and I hope that their lack of a relationship in this book doesn’t sound the death-knell for the series.

Kate and Nick are handed an assignment to find a missing Silicon Valley billionaire. Since neither Kate nor Nick are good at doing the required paperwork, another member, Cosmo, is added to their team. Most reviewers didn’t seem to appreciate Cosmo, but I did. I thought he added a good bit of comic relief – he made me think of a Tim Conway type of character.

The missing man, an excellent pilot, took off in his plane and just disappeared. His wife and business associates want him declared dead, but Nick and Kate won’t declare that until they have proof of his demise. The only clue to his location is his game-playing, weed-smoking son who lives on a farm in Hawaii. When Nick and Kate arrive at the farm, it is to find several heavily armed mercenaries approaching the farmhouse. They manage to get rid of the mercenaries and then plan to follow the son to wherever his father might be hiding.

The story is action-packed and interesting. We travel from Hawaii to New Zealand to the Czech Republic and along the way we sink boats, blow up mountains, and set fire to vineyards. We have lots of page time with Kate’s father and I liked that part, but none of Nick’s entourage appeared at all and I missed them.

So, I’m rating this a three-star because it is such a departure from the previous books in the series. Had this been the first book, perhaps I wouldn’t have been disappointed, but as it was the sixth book, it should have added to the series rather than regressing it – no matter how good the story was or wasn’t.

 

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.

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