A Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers Novel (A Between the Numbers Novel Book 3)

Evanovich missed by a mile with this one. Sad, because I have enjoyed so many of her Stephanie Plum novels. There is very little plot, other than a drab grandma being kidnapped and returned O'Henry style. This is a pretty lame offering coming from a once skilled, gifted writer. Hope she perks up.

ok so this was bought before I started reading the 'between' books, what can I say. When I like a series I get them all and start reading. Also the first two 'between' novellas came as freebies with a collection I bought. I have no excuse for buying this one. Granted this one has less of the whimsy of the first two, until the very end. I like the familiarity of the characters from the series and that really is the only good part of them, except of course for that fact that they are short. I would not waste my money on the between series anymore, now that I have read them. Thank heaven 2 of them were free, because now it is only my time that I have wasted.

Great short novel, love all Janet Evanovich's books. I bought this one as I'm waiting for the next Stephanie Plum series one to come out and just wanted to read one of Janet's books now. Only problem is they are never long enough.

I love this book series, so it was worth the wait. I think the main reason it took so long to ship - and by long I mean a couple more days than usual - was because I ordered another item from a different vendor, as well as asked for as few shipments as possible. Eh, it happens. But I'm happy to read the classic tales of this lady bounty hunter.

I do have to say that I enjoyed PLUM LUCKY a lot more than the previous "Between the Numbers" books. I always enjoy the Stephanie Plum books regardless of how silly they get, but reading the first two BtN books (PLUM LOVIN', VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUSM) had more of a paranormal element to them that took it a little outside of the normal fun-loving but (moderately) realistic Stephanie sagas. In each BtN book, we get a glimpse of Diesel, who's kind of like Ranger only he deals with the fantasy/paranormal worlds and sometimes appears and disappears at will. I think the magical aspect takes away from the normal Stephanie story lines that I always love. PLUM LUCKY dealt with leprechaun luck, but it was much more enjoyable because we just see another zany criminal who thinks he's a leprechaun and keeps trying to act like one, but really he's just an average Joe like everyone else.

I'm never a fan of the Stephanie/Diesel interactions -- no, scratch that. They're always decently enjoyable but I always find myself pining for the real stories. Even though it's been going on for 14 books, I still love the Stephanie/Joe/Ranger love triangle. I still can't make up my mind how I want that to end (I think I'm on Joe's side! But Ranger... Oh, Ranger) and I find that to be one of the more enjoyable parts of the Plum books.

Realistically, I like to take these books for what they are: fun fillers. I can't take them too seriously because clearly they aren't intended that way! They're even labeled as "Between the Numbers" and aren't the meat and potatoes of the series, so I like to take them in their proper context.

I imagine this is what the Keystone Cops would read like. It’s completely improbable and infinitely hilarious. There were several scenes that left me doubled over laughing. I’ve been lucky enough to read this at exactly the right time of year. I enjoy reading the out-of-this-world capers that Diesel gets Stephanie involved in, but I do much prefer the longer stories we get in his own series. I love the message we see with all these hot alpha men panting after wonderfully “ordinary” Stephanie, but I’ve never been a fan of love triangles (or squares in this case).

Plum Lucky is a “Between the Numbers” Stephanie Plum novel in the highly popular series by Janet Evanovich which currently ranges from One for the Money to Takedown Twenty. Such books may be likened to a generic versus a name brand product: the main ingredients are there, but it is not quite the same packaging. For example the hunk role is played by Diesel who may be describes as “Ranger-lite.” In this novel we find virtually all of the wacky characters that inhabit the standard novels, but some are in diminished roles. The story this time centers on Grandma Mazur who finds a bag filled with a lot of money and promptly heads off to an Atlantic City casino. The money, of course, turns out to be stolen, in this case by Snuggy O’Connor, a jockey who thinks he is a leprechaun and can become invisible and talk to animals. Snuggy had a good reason for wanting the money. It seems that , Doug, a racehorse, is injured and Snuggy needs it to help him recover. The money was stolen from a local hood, Lou Delvina, who naturally wants it back and kidnaps grandma and the horse to show he means it.

All sorts of nutty things happen, including Stephanie’s car getting blown up as usual and in the end things work out. As with all of Evanovich’s novels, this one is fun to read and not too taxing on the mind. If you are looking for a way to while away the time any of her novels is a good bet including this one.

Janet Evanovich's "Plum Lucky" is a bit of a departure from the Stephanie Plum series only in the sense that our heroine is taken out of her comfort zone for most of the novel. In this case, most of the action is focused on the casinos of Atlantic City and not the back streets Trenton (although it's still Jersey). The other comforts that are, for the most part, missing are Ranger and Joe Morelli who figure only marginally in "Plum Lucky". On the other hand, we spend a lot of time with the intriguing Diesel, who may or may not be from another world. That's okay: other characters are possibly losing their minds or are leprachauns or can speak to animals (a la Dr. Dolittle). Fortunately, Stephanie is grounded by the relative sanity of Lula and Connie. ("Relative" being the operative word.)

But the glue holding "Plum Lucky" together is the cantankerous, curmudgeon Grandma Mazur. Even when she is not there--like when she is snoring fitfully in another room or stowed away in the trunk of a car--she's still there. I don't have a problem with her stealing the show from her granddaughter in this novel. How can you argue with an old woman who finds a million bucks in a duffel bag in an alleyway on St. Patrick's Day and believes it is the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? And what better way to invest that money than by haunting the slot machines of Atlantic City? Stephanie Plum has a lot readers and devoted fans among mystery readers but so does Grandma Mazur. And, in "Plum Lucky" she hogs her moment in the spotlight!

I think the Stephanie Plum series works so well for me because I was born and raised in New Jersey. Even when the story gets a little repetitive (blown up car anyone?), Stephanie's always going somewhere I know. Janet Evanovich's descriptions of these places are so funnily (and occasionally sadly) accurate that I get sucked right into the story, sometimes despite the less than thrilling mystery.

In Plum Lucky, Stephanie heads down to Atlantic City on a hunt for the missing Grandma Mazur. The first half of this short book, set in Atlantic City, was wonderful. Grandma's doing the senior in a casino thing. Lula has a potential career as a plus sized model. Diesel is incredibly lucky, or just really good at cheating. Even Randy Briggs is back and doing pretty well with the ladies.

Once the gang returns to Trenton, the story starts to feel like same old, same old. Grandma Mazur is kidnapped (as opposed to it always being Stephanie) and the search for her lacks the humor we've come to expect from the Plum series. More and more often the situations Stephanie finds herself in are mob related. Perhaps this is the Sopranos effect, but not everyone in Jersey has an interest in or can relate to the mafia angle.

Stephanie doesn't have the kind of chemistry with Diesel that she does with Ranger and the scenes that should be hot feel forced. There is no will they or won't they possibility between them.

Plum Lucky is a good book, but I probably would have liked it more if the characters remained in Atlantic City the entire time. There's a limit to how much stuff you can blow up in Trenton and I think Stephanie may have finally hit it.

Needing a quick read ? Something light-hearted and easy to digest ? Enjoying the Stephanie Plum Series ?

Plum Lucky takes us to the month of March where the world of Trenton is celebrating St. Patrick's Day and Grandma Mazur is missing and Stephanie's hunky random guy Diesel has shown up once again. I have to say firstly that Stephanie is never short of hunky guys, the only problem is that they are all labelled with that prone to non-commitment label attached. The journey to find Grandma Mazur will take Stephanie, Connie and Lula alongside Diesel to the world of Atlantic City and a casino called Daffy's. Not named after the duck but a dog. It seems that Grandma Mazur has come into a bag of "lucky" cash, the downside is the guy who stole it wants it back and he happens to be the guy Diesel is trying to track down - an Unmentionable by the name of Snuggy. Is the cash lucky as Lula lands a plus-size modelling job and Connie a handsome date and of course Grandma Mazur's $12 win on the pokies or is it the reason for the season - the luck of the irish ?

#This was a library book

Grandma Mazur finds a duffel bag full of money so she takes it, buys an RV, and takes off for Atlantic City to gamble. Since this is obviously her lucky day, she is sure that she will make lots more money. However, this is a Stephanie Plum story, so complications are inevitable. One of them is that the duffel bag was actually left in front of Grandma by Snuggy O'Connor who think he is a leprechaun. The next complication is that Snuggy stole the money from Lou Delvina - a local crime boss who is not amused by these antics. Then, Diesel shows up, and so Stephanie ends up engaging Connie and Lula to hightail it also to Atlantic City to get Grandma back and that's when the real complications start. Grandma ends up getting kidnapped; Doug the horse makes an appearance; A house catches on fire; and Stephanie's car gets blown up by an anti-tank missile. In other words, a typical Plum novel.

Like all of these, the action is fast and furious. There are many jokes and laughs all around. Lula has the most "interesting " outfits and becomes a very big star of her own, and so on. The only missing components are Ranger and Morelli, although both make cameo appearances as does the baby blue Buick. The story comes to the expected conclusion and all is well until the next novel will come.

There is really no need to have read all the other Stephanie Plum books to understand this one, it pretty well stands on its own; however you will enjoy it more if you are fully cognizant of the Plum universe. Definitely a fun read - also very quick.

Sometimes, all you want is mind candy and entertainment that doesn't demand much in terms of time or effort. I picked up Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich from the library two days ago, and breezed through it in less than a day (only 166 pages). It's a "between-the-numbers" installment of the Stephanie Plum series, which means it's smaller than normal and isn't as involved as the main novels involving that character. Unlike some of her other filler titles, this one is fun, has the flavor of a regular Plum story, and is worth the small investment of time.

Stephanie ends up on a quest to find and rescue Grandma Mazur, who disappeared from her parents home. She stumbled upon a duffel bag full of cash, and decided to buy a Winnebago, drive to Atlantic City, and live it up on the slots. The problem here is that the short man who claims the money is rightfully his (after he stole it from a crime family boss) wants it back so he can save the life of a horse that he's rather attached to. And if that's not complicated or strange enough, Diesel (another one of those mystery detectives in her life) also wants the short guy for a case he's working on, tied to (you guessed it) the stolen money. Stephanie, Connie, and Lulu all head off to the casinos where *everyone* converges at one place. Of course, life is never normal with Lulu or Grandma Mazur around, and Stephanie's life continues to take odd and "unusual" turns. And yes, yet another car gets toasted...

If you're a fan of the Grandma Mazur character, then you'll really like this installment. She's a prominent player here. The interplay between Diesel and Stephanie is also fun and delivers some humorous moments. Plum Lucky is like watching an episode of a favorite comedy. Some you like better than others, but you're mainly there for the entertainment and the characters. Sit back, enjoy it for what it is, and get ready for #14 due out in June.

Based on other reviews that I've read, it appears that the Stephanie Plum "Between the Numbers" books ("Visions of Sugar Plums", "Plum Lovin'" and "Plum Lucky") are something that Stephanie Plum fans either love or hate. All three books are very similar. All are relatively short books about Stephanie's adventures with Diesel, the supernatural bounty hunter, and the Unmentionables (people with supernatural powers), and each is centred on a particular holiday (Christmas, Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day respectively). They're all light-weight fluff (even more so than Evanovich's other books) and particularly silly.

"Plum Lucky" continues in the tradition as the other two "Between the Numbers" book. This time the story takes Stephanie and Diesel to Atlantic City in pursuit of Stephanie's Grandmother, who has gone missing, and a little man with an Irish accent who claims he is a leprechaun. Anyone who is thinking of reading this book has probably already read "Visions of Sugar Plums" and "Plum Lovin'", so based on what you thought of those books, you can probably figure out if you'll like this one. It's essentially more of the same. If you like the other "Between the Numbers" books, you'll like it, otherwise, just skip forward to "Fearless Fourteen".

I hate the Stephanie Plum "between the numbers" books almost as much as I love the regular series. The supernatural element introduced by Diesel, who is one hot stud of an angel, is really hard to take and not even funny after the first book. But after FEARLESS FOURTEEN it seemed apparent that much of the energy and fun has been drained from the original series. PLUM LUCKY reads more like a regular Stephanie Plum romp than the last book of the numbered series. I laughed hard and often all through the last half of this book.

The plot involves a bag of money, a trip to Atlantic City, a retired racehorse who needs an operation and an ex-jockey who having stolen the horse needs to steal back the money he stole to pay for the horse's operation. The scene where Stephanie's regular boyfriend calls her and she tries to explain about the two men and the horse in her apartment is pretty funny but possibly not the funniest scene in this short madcap romp. Possibly everything seemed funnier because of the horse. If you can get it cheap or from your local library, this is a fun book to read while getting a tan.

Plumb Unlucky

Janet Evanovich meets her January 2008 deadline with Plum Lucky. This New York Times Best-selling author sells herself short with this release. Short on character, short on romance, short on mystery - perhaps she was short on time - Evanovich disrespects her audience of faithful readers by sending this nightmare to press. I've had dreams that were both more thrilling and more believable.

In Plum Lucky, Evanovich's characters are thinner than the pages on which they're printed. Evanovich has been writing about Stephanie Plum since 1994, and newer readers may have to venture backwards in order to learn who her characters really are and avoid being left wafting on a cloud of confusion.

Our protagonist, Stephanie Plum describes herself the same way this novel comes across, "a little boring and incredibly pale." Evanovich shies away from creating a real visual of Stephanie, a bounty hunter, by supplementing her description with the word "unexceptional." Stephanie has "shoulder-length, unexceptional, curly brown hair." It's questionable what this really means, and leaves Evanovich's readers' imaginations to make up for the writer's use of subjective language.

Despite her plain appearance, three hunky men adore Stephanie: her boyfriend, Joe Morelli; coworker, Ranger; and friend, Diesel. Stephanie's obvious lack of charm causes readers to wonder why three exceptional men are pursuing her. Does she possess a special un je ne se sais quoi? Douse herself in pheromones? Does her strong and stubborn demeanor leave men hoping to be the only one to whom she'll succumb? Or, is Stephanie the Xena: Warrior Princess of the bail bonds world and Evanovich failed to tell us? With so little said about our protagonist, our other characters barely merit mention.

In Plum Lucky, Stephanie Plum and her cohorts travel between Trenton and Atlantic City, New Jersey in a somewhat comedic rescue attempt of Grandma Mazur. Faced with certain predictable obstacles, including a shortage of cash, a lack of appropriate transportation and threats from the mob, Stephanie must save Grandma from the many perils of living in Jersey.

Stephanie's need to retrieve Grandma Mazur and return her to her home propels the story forward while certain unrealistic circumstances lead the reader to wonder if Grandma Mazur will make it back to Trenton alive. Mob boss, Lou Delvina, asserts regularly that he "really [wants] to shoot the old lady" and would even forego the ransom for such an opportunity.

Besides Grandma, Lou Delvina also kidnaps an injured racehorse named Doug. Regaining custody of the steed provides for the impossible feats of transporting and accommodating a full-size horse in a recreational vehicle, an elevator, and a one-bedroom apartment. Because her content is less than breath taking, Evanovich insists on literally taking one's breath away when she describes doug farting in the elevator. Anyone who has smelled a horse fart is surely holding his or her breath.

Mutated mobsters, heavy artillery, and leprechauns help to distract readers from the fact that this cozy is missing two essential elements: mystery and romance. Amidst the first twenty pages lies a great question - not a mystery, but the closest thing this novel offers: Where's Grandma? Unfortunately, opening Grandma Mazur's bedroom door and picking up the pamphlet for Daffy's Casino in Atlantic city provides an efficient and tidy answer. I have spent longer contemplating the lost socks in the dryer phenomenon than Stephanie Plum spent deducing Grandma Mazur's whereabouts.

The love square that Stephanie finds herself in adds more to the novella's classification as a romantic mystery novel than it does to the story itself. Stephanie's suitors - Morelli, Ranger, and Diesel - are all strong, handsome men who supply resources and come to her aid as needed, but fail to contribute to the breadth of the story. Instead, these three serve as a writer's convention for rescuing Stephanie from unconceivable situations and eliminating barriers to progress when Evanovich has written herself into a corner. In fact, the introduction of new characters to supply a need appears to be one of the most-used literary devices in Evanovich's repertoire.

Need a car? Enter Lula and her firebird. Need to house a horse? Enter the rarely mentioned Ranger and his own parking garage. Need to identify or locate a suspect? Enter Diesel, armed with a current case file that just so happens to correspond. Need romance? Well, you're not going to find that here.

Plum Lucky falls short of Evanovich's previous novels as her deadline, or her standards, appear to have interfered with her creative abilities. Character descriptions from previous novels could remedy the absence of character. A focus on Diesel as her "leading man" could fuel a reader's desire for romance. And the mystery? Perhaps it's time for a more leisurely schedule. Or time to fire the ghostwriter responsible for Plum Lucky.

-0-

Author Janet Evanovich writes an excellent fictional series of books based on a young woman, Stephanie Plum, who is a bounty hunter. I hope "bounty hunter" doesn't turn prospective readers away. The books are not technical, and not all guns and crooks. She earns money by finding and turning in people who were bonded out of jail by her cousin's bondsman's office, skipped their court date and, therefore, caused the bond money to be lost. She has a hilarious helper, an ex 'ho, an eccentric family that is marvelously funny, and a couple men in her life she seems to not be able to choose from.

In 'Plum Lucky', Stephanie's grandmother is kidnapped by a mobster for stealing his money. Tossed into the mix are a horse that can communicate with people, a man that thinks he is a leprechaun, and "Diesel" - a big guy who helps Stephanie and that some people think has alien powers.

This is one of the funniest Stephanie Plum novels I've read. The book is a fast read and a good page turner.

On their way for a midday snack at Cluck-In-A-Bucket, Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula, spot a little old lady tugging a duffel bag from a street corner, kicking and slapping a tiny man in green pants. When he tackles her and wrestles her to the ground, Stephanie realizes it is Grandma Mazur who has just landed a roundhouse swing on the little man's ears. She wades into the action, pulls him off Grandma and he flees in his car without the bag. Grandma claims that the bag is hers because she found it unattended on the sidewalk, and the nasty little green man tried to grab it. That's her story and she's sticking to it. Stephanie and Lula give Grandma and her mysterious bag a ride home and get on with their day.

The next morning, Diesel, the disheveled hunk who walks through walls and clutters Stephanie's already overburdened romantic life, has just popped unexpectedly into her apartment looking for a place to stay while he tracks down an escaped felon. Stephanie's mom calls in a panic when Grandma is a no-show for breakfast. The promise of sausages and a cheese omelet lures Diesel and Stephanie to her mother's, where they find a brochure for Daffy's Atlantic City casino on Grandma's dresser. Since Grandma just cashed her Social Security check, it's no stretch to assume that she has hopped a bus and is off for a day at the slots. However, a quick look around her room reveals that the duffel bag is also missing.

Stephanie drops by the bond agency and picks up Lula and the agency office manager, Connie, in order to make a run to Atlantic City, find Grandma and keep her out of trouble. Diesel is having little luck locating his felon, and when they put pieces of information together, it begins to sound like Grandma's purloined duffel bag, the little green man and Diesel's fugitive may be connected.

So begins another "Between-the-Numbers" Stephanie Plum holiday comic novel. Grandma, convinced it was leprechaun money and therefore legal loot, buys herself a Winnebago camper and heads for Atlantic City, where she rents a luxury suite at the Daffy Casino. She proceeds to blow what is left of the duffel bag booty, which turns out to contain a million dollars of stolen drug money, into the poker slots. The man in green pants, who has a soft spot for the horses, had liberated the money and a racehorse owned by a Trenton mobster. His plan is to pay for surgery for the champion who has outlived his studliness and faces the glue factory unless somebody will pay to fix a bad leg.

PLUM LUCKY evolves into a caper involving stashing a stolen, injured but housebroken racehorse in a hotel suite, a Winnebago trailer, several elevators and Stephanie's apartment; dodging the baddest mob guy in Trenton; keeping track of the little guy in green pants who thinks he's invisible; Diesel, who can be invisible when he wants to be; Lula; Connie; Stephanie; and Grandma Mazur and her Winnebago. And of course, the blue Buick.

You may recall the Christmas stocking stuffer treat, VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS, and the Valentine's Day confection with the infamous Trenton Bakery Elf cookie battle in PLUM LOVIN', when Stephanie turned into a matchmaker. PLUM LUCKY celebrates St. Patrick's Day as Grandma's leprechaun gold turns to horse biscuits. Fans can't help but wonder what Janet Evanovich will do with April Fool's Day. I can imagine puzzle-meister Sally Sweet in his big hair and five-inch heels cooking up a prank to dazzle us all.

--- Reviewed by Roz Shea

An "in-between" read indeed...

Had some laugh-out-loud moments in this one. Overall it felt forced and just something to put out there and not necessarily the best it could have been; really did not live up to its potential.

If you don't already know, there are two types of stories about Stephanie Plum, Trenton's most discombobulated bounty hunter of those out on bail who fail to show up in court when scheduled. The better ones are full novels and involve a number in the title (there are 13 to date with a 14th in the wings). The less good ones are novellas called "Between-the-Numbers" novels. Plum Lucky is one of the latter.

If you haven't read any of the books before, Ms. Evanovich does a fine job of bringing in the background in the first ten pages or so. Feel free to start here . . . although you won't like it as much as if you start with One for the Money and proceed through the numbers from there.

Grandma Mazur (Stephanie's man-loving, good-time-seeking older relative) is first seen fighting off a man who is trying to take a shopping bag away from her. Before long, grandma is gone and Stephanie's long-suffering mom wants her mother found. The trail soon leads to a casino in Atlantic City where Grandma Mazur is living it up, senior citizen style. That seemingly straightforward story is soon complicated by an injured race horse that needs a home, a Mob baron who looks more toad-like every day, and a marriage that needs repairing. With Lulu exploring her super model potential, Diesel looking to find a missing man who thinks he's a leprechaun, Connie taking target practice, and Stephanie trying to bring grandma home, it's a wild, but brief, ride.

The frenetic story has a predictability to it that makes potential humor a ho-hum affair in many cases. In addition, there's little interaction with either Joe Morelli (her main squeeze) or Ranger (her sometimes wannabe squeeze). Although there's a little sexual tension between Stephanie and Diesel, the huge finder of smart people who don't want to be found, it's just not the same as when Morelli and Ranger are raising Stephanie's hormones.

If you cannot survive until the next full-blown Plum, this one will do. But don't expect to be thrilled. Instead, you'll be looking for the action surprise on every page. William Faulkner used to put one remarkable sentence on every page that kept you reading closely. Janet Evanovich in Plum Lucky throws a major comic plot development onto every page. It's like reading a serial that changes episodes every 30 seconds.

If you like St. Patrick's Day, you might find you'd enjoy this book if you first drank some green beer and then settled down with Plum Lucky.

pick up Janet Evanocich's "Plum Lucky". Continuing her hugely popular Stephanie Plum series, this novel is called a 'between the numbers' book, referring to naming her books after numbers, starting with "One For The Money" up through last year's "Lean Mean Thirteen".

The 'between the numbers' novels are shorter, more self-contained books, perfect for people to pick up and start with if they haven't read any of the previous Stephanie Plum novels. You won't be lost if you haven't read any others; Evanovich gives enough background information that the reader can jump right into the fast-paced story.

Stephanie Plum is a somewhat-reluctant New Jersey bounty hunter, working for her cousin, a bail bondsman. "Plum Lucky" features one of my favorite characters, Grandma Mazur. Stephanie's grandma is a real pistol, and she is the catalyst for this adventure when she finds a big bag of money on the sidewalk and decides to take it to Atlantic City for a gambling jaunt.

The unfortunate part is that the money belongs to a crazy gangster, Lou Delvina, a bad man with whom Stephanie has had a previous run-in. Joining Stephanie on her quest to retrieve Grandma and the money before Lou finds them first are Connie, the bail bonds office manager, and Lulu, former-hooker-turned-Stephanie's partner. Lulu is another character who provides comic relief to the story.

Throw in a jockey, a limping racehorse, an RV and Diesel, a sexy man who has some seriously mysterious powers and you've got a wild ride, full of car chases, gunfire, firebombing, and as per usual, Stephanie's junky car gets destroyed. Fans of the series will enjoy the unique method of destruction that accomplishes this task.

Janet Evanovich always tosses in some things that just make me laugh out loud. Grandma Mazur's escape attempt, hiding a racehorse in Stephanie's apartment, and the description of the daytime denizens of the casino are all fodder for the author's crackling wit.

"Plum Lucky" is a fun little novel, and at just 166 pages, it's a breeze to read in one sitting.

Audio books make the commute fly by on most occasions and Janet Evanovich's Plum Lucky (A Between-the-Numbers Novel), a Between-the-Numbers novel, is no exception. My husband and I seem to be hooked on these Between-the Numbers novels because they are humorous, ridiculous in some instances, and fast-paced.

Stephanie Plum and Diesel are back on the hunt, but not for Sandy Claws this time--Snuggy O'Connor who thinks he's a leprechaun. This little person not only thinks he's a leprechaun, but that he can disappear from sight on a whim to steal from mobsters and others. Oh, he also thinks he can talk to animals, like horses.

This reader would have snorted coffee through her nose if she were drinking any when Snuggy talks to a doberman at a mobster's home and the dog convinces him to merely take his clothes off to disappear in front of everyone's eyes. Can you say the emperor's new clothes?

Grandma Mazur returns and finds a bag of money on the sidewalk, which happens to be stolen from a mobster by Snuggy. Grandma doesn't know, heads off to Atlantic City, and is in gambler's paradise before disaster strikes and she's kidnapped by a mobster, Delvina. Snuggy wants to pay off Delvina to get his horse, Doug, back from the mobster and Stephanie and Diesel must team up with Snuggy to recoup the gambled money and pay off Delvina to get Grandma back.

From the snarky comments between Stephanie, Snuggy, Diesel, Grandma Mazur, Lula, and Connie to the details of Atlantic City and Daffy's casino, Evanovich paints a vivid scene with an eclectic cast of characters. Ranger even makes an appearance in this one, along with Morelli.

This made the commute fly by, and I am looking forward to the next Between-the Numbers novel on audio.

I am a huge fan of Janet, and I've read the entire series up to Plum Lucky. I'm not a real huge fan of the between-the-numbers books, but I read them anyway. I thought Visions of Sugar Plums was ok. Plum Lovin was really cute and I enjoyed the read. Plum Lucky was absolutely pitiful.

Janet's writing is just plain sloppy. It's almost as if she didn't even write the book. The things these characters do in this book are things they wouldn't do in any other book. I'm ok with the supernatural aspect of this series, but her writing is just plain poor in this book. Also, there were two times in the book where her storyline didn't match up. For instance, how did Delvina not know they stole the money from the safe a second time when they gave him the SAME EXACT DUFFEL BAG they did before? It's insulting that she would write such a terrible book after all the good ones she's written and expect us to go out and buy it.

I've read most of the Stephanie Plum books, and I loved the first ten. They are funny and action-packed, but light and easy to read when your brain needs a break. Plum Lucky was no different, except that it has Stephanie interacting with Diesel instead of Ranger or Morelli, which is a nice change because typically Stephanie is continuously going back and forth between Ranger and Morelli, and it gets old after a while. I think the series has run it's course personally. It is great fun, but I couldn't tell you any difference between the last 5 or so that have come out.

Plum Lucky was a (very) short, light read, and it was fairly entertaining. I hope she wraps the series up soon and moves on to something else.

Statisically speaking, luck has a normal distribution, that is, it has a bell shaped curve. Most people are in the middle with an average amount of luck, but some people are at an extreme point on the curve and are unlucky all the time (like that character in Lil Abner who walked around with a black cloud over his head), and some are at the other end and are lucky all the time. So goes life.

It's St. Patrick's Day and there is a rainbow in the air. Grandma Mazur stumbles into a duffle bag full of money - lots of money. She thinks that it is lucky money and hers to keep. Let the good times roll. She is off to Atlantic City. But other people have claims on the money. The story has an interesting cast of characters including an ex-jockey who thinks that he is an invisible leprechaun (he is always lucky, but manages to fumble it away); of course there are Stephi, Lula, and Connie from the bailbonds office; Diesel appears from Stephi's past - another man in her life; a short guy hired by Grandma Mazur; the gangster Delvina; and a horse to add to the adventures and misadventures. Of course there is the money.

You will have to read the novel to see how it all shakes out. The novel is not great literature, but is extremely funny. ROFL. Some scenes towards the end had me laughing so hard I had trouble continuing.

It is a short novel, and a quick read, at 166 pages with 28 lines per page somewhat widely spaced in easy reading type. It contains what a friend would call earthy language. I would personally classify it as PG-13.

Sometimes, all you want is mind candy and entertainment that doesn't demand much in terms of time or effort. I picked up Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich from the library two days ago, and breezed through it in less than a day (only 166 pages). It's a "between-the-numbers" installment of the Stephanie Plum series, which means it's smaller than normal and isn't as involved as the main novels involving that character. Unlike some of her other filler titles, this one is fun, has the flavor of a regular Plum story, and is worth the small investment of time.

Stephanie ends up on a quest to find and rescue Grandma Mazur, who disappeared from her parents home. She stumbled upon a duffel bag full of cash, and decided to buy a Winnebago, drive to Atlantic City, and live it up on the slots. The problem here is that the short man who claims the money is rightfully his (after he stole it from a crime family boss) wants it back so he can save the life of a horse that he's rather attached to. And if that's not complicated or strange enough, Diesel (another one of those mystery detectives in her life) also wants the short guy for a case he's working on, tied to (you guessed it) the stolen money. Stephanie, Connie, and Lulu all head off to the casinos where *everyone* converges at one place. Of course, life is never normal with Lulu or Grandma Mazur around, and Stephanie's life continues to take odd and "unusual" turns. And yes, yet another car gets toasted...

If you're a fan of the Grandma Mazur character, then you'll really like this installment. She's a prominent player here. The interplay between Diesel and Stephanie is also fun and delivers some humorous moments. Plum Lucky is like watching an episode of a favorite comedy. Some you like better than others, but you're mainly there for the entertainment and the characters. Sit back, enjoy it for what it is, and get ready for #14 due out in June.

Based on other reviews that I've read, it appears that the Stephanie Plum "Between the Numbers" books ("Visions of Sugar Plums", "Plum Lovin'" and "Plum Lucky") are something that Stephanie Plum fans either love or hate. All three books are very similar. All are relatively short books about Stephanie's adventures with Diesel, the supernatural bounty hunter, and the Unmentionables (people with supernatural powers), and each is centred on a particular holiday (Christmas, Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day respectively). They're all light-weight fluff (even more so than Evanovich's other books) and particularly silly.

"Plum Lucky" continues in the tradition as the other two "Between the Numbers" book. This time the story takes Stephanie and Diesel to Atlantic City in pursuit of Stephanie's Grandmother, who has gone missing, and a little man with an Irish accent who claims he is a leprechaun. Anyone who is thinking of reading this book has probably already read "Visions of Sugar Plums" and "Plum Lovin'", so based on what you thought of those books, you can probably figure out if you'll like this one. It's essentially more of the same. If you like the other "Between the Numbers" books, you'll like it, otherwise, just skip forward to "Fearless Fourteen".

I hate the Stephanie Plum "between the numbers" books almost as much as I love the regular series. The supernatural element introduced by Diesel, who is one hot stud of an angel, is really hard to take and not even funny after the first book. But after FEARLESS FOURTEEN it seemed apparent that much of the energy and fun has been drained from the original series. PLUM LUCKY reads more like a regular Stephanie Plum romp than the last book of the numbered series. I laughed hard and often all through the last half of this book.

The plot involves a bag of money, a trip to Atlantic City, a retired racehorse who needs an operation and an ex-jockey who having stolen the horse needs to steal back the money he stole to pay for the horse's operation. The scene where Stephanie's regular boyfriend calls her and she tries to explain about the two men and the horse in her apartment is pretty funny but possibly not the funniest scene in this short madcap romp. Possibly everything seemed funnier because of the horse. If you can get it cheap or from your local library, this is a fun book to read while getting a tan.

Plumb Unlucky

Janet Evanovich meets her January 2008 deadline with Plum Lucky. This New York Times Best-selling author sells herself short with this release. Short on character, short on romance, short on mystery - perhaps she was short on time - Evanovich disrespects her audience of faithful readers by sending this nightmare to press. I've had dreams that were both more thrilling and more believable.

In Plum Lucky, Evanovich's characters are thinner than the pages on which they're printed. Evanovich has been writing about Stephanie Plum since 1994, and newer readers may have to venture backwards in order to learn who her characters really are and avoid being left wafting on a cloud of confusion.

Our protagonist, Stephanie Plum describes herself the same way this novel comes across, "a little boring and incredibly pale." Evanovich shies away from creating a real visual of Stephanie, a bounty hunter, by supplementing her description with the word "unexceptional." Stephanie has "shoulder-length, unexceptional, curly brown hair." It's questionable what this really means, and leaves Evanovich's readers' imaginations to make up for the writer's use of subjective language.

Despite her plain appearance, three hunky men adore Stephanie: her boyfriend, Joe Morelli; coworker, Ranger; and friend, Diesel. Stephanie's obvious lack of charm causes readers to wonder why three exceptional men are pursuing her. Does she possess a special un je ne se sais quoi? Douse herself in pheromones? Does her strong and stubborn demeanor leave men hoping to be the only one to whom she'll succumb? Or, is Stephanie the Xena: Warrior Princess of the bail bonds world and Evanovich failed to tell us? With so little said about our protagonist, our other characters barely merit mention.

In Plum Lucky, Stephanie Plum and her cohorts travel between Trenton and Atlantic City, New Jersey in a somewhat comedic rescue attempt of Grandma Mazur. Faced with certain predictable obstacles, including a shortage of cash, a lack of appropriate transportation and threats from the mob, Stephanie must save Grandma from the many perils of living in Jersey.

Stephanie's need to retrieve Grandma Mazur and return her to her home propels the story forward while certain unrealistic circumstances lead the reader to wonder if Grandma Mazur will make it back to Trenton alive. Mob boss, Lou Delvina, asserts regularly that he "really [wants] to shoot the old lady" and would even forego the ransom for such an opportunity.

Besides Grandma, Lou Delvina also kidnaps an injured racehorse named Doug. Regaining custody of the steed provides for the impossible feats of transporting and accommodating a full-size horse in a recreational vehicle, an elevator, and a one-bedroom apartment. Because her content is less than breath taking, Evanovich insists on literally taking one's breath away when she describes doug farting in the elevator. Anyone who has smelled a horse fart is surely holding his or her breath.

Mutated mobsters, heavy artillery, and leprechauns help to distract readers from the fact that this cozy is missing two essential elements: mystery and romance. Amidst the first twenty pages lies a great question - not a mystery, but the closest thing this novel offers: Where's Grandma? Unfortunately, opening Grandma Mazur's bedroom door and picking up the pamphlet for Daffy's Casino in Atlantic city provides an efficient and tidy answer. I have spent longer contemplating the lost socks in the dryer phenomenon than Stephanie Plum spent deducing Grandma Mazur's whereabouts.

The love square that Stephanie finds herself in adds more to the novella's classification as a romantic mystery novel than it does to the story itself. Stephanie's suitors - Morelli, Ranger, and Diesel - are all strong, handsome men who supply resources and come to her aid as needed, but fail to contribute to the breadth of the story. Instead, these three serve as a writer's convention for rescuing Stephanie from unconceivable situations and eliminating barriers to progress when Evanovich has written herself into a corner. In fact, the introduction of new characters to supply a need appears to be one of the most-used literary devices in Evanovich's repertoire.

Need a car? Enter Lula and her firebird. Need to house a horse? Enter the rarely mentioned Ranger and his own parking garage. Need to identify or locate a suspect? Enter Diesel, armed with a current case file that just so happens to correspond. Need romance? Well, you're not going to find that here.

Plum Lucky falls short of Evanovich's previous novels as her deadline, or her standards, appear to have interfered with her creative abilities. Character descriptions from previous novels could remedy the absence of character. A focus on Diesel as her "leading man" could fuel a reader's desire for romance. And the mystery? Perhaps it's time for a more leisurely schedule. Or time to fire the ghostwriter responsible for Plum Lucky.

-0-

Author Janet Evanovich writes an excellent fictional series of books based on a young woman, Stephanie Plum, who is a bounty hunter. I hope "bounty hunter" doesn't turn prospective readers away. The books are not technical, and not all guns and crooks. She earns money by finding and turning in people who were bonded out of jail by her cousin's bondsman's office, skipped their court date and, therefore, caused the bond money to be lost. She has a hilarious helper, an ex 'ho, an eccentric family that is marvelously funny, and a couple men in her life she seems to not be able to choose from.

In 'Plum Lucky', Stephanie's grandmother is kidnapped by a mobster for stealing his money. Tossed into the mix are a horse that can communicate with people, a man that thinks he is a leprechaun, and "Diesel" - a big guy who helps Stephanie and that some people think has alien powers.

This is one of the funniest Stephanie Plum novels I've read. The book is a fast read and a good page turner.

On their way for a midday snack at Cluck-In-A-Bucket, Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula, spot a little old lady tugging a duffel bag from a street corner, kicking and slapping a tiny man in green pants. When he tackles her and wrestles her to the ground, Stephanie realizes it is Grandma Mazur who has just landed a roundhouse swing on the little man's ears. She wades into the action, pulls him off Grandma and he flees in his car without the bag. Grandma claims that the bag is hers because she found it unattended on the sidewalk, and the nasty little green man tried to grab it. That's her story and she's sticking to it. Stephanie and Lula give Grandma and her mysterious bag a ride home and get on with their day.

The next morning, Diesel, the disheveled hunk who walks through walls and clutters Stephanie's already overburdened romantic life, has just popped unexpectedly into her apartment looking for a place to stay while he tracks down an escaped felon. Stephanie's mom calls in a panic when Grandma is a no-show for breakfast. The promise of sausages and a cheese omelet lures Diesel and Stephanie to her mother's, where they find a brochure for Daffy's Atlantic City casino on Grandma's dresser. Since Grandma just cashed her Social Security check, it's no stretch to assume that she has hopped a bus and is off for a day at the slots. However, a quick look around her room reveals that the duffel bag is also missing.

Stephanie drops by the bond agency and picks up Lula and the agency office manager, Connie, in order to make a run to Atlantic City, find Grandma and keep her out of trouble. Diesel is having little luck locating his felon, and when they put pieces of information together, it begins to sound like Grandma's purloined duffel bag, the little green man and Diesel's fugitive may be connected.

So begins another "Between-the-Numbers" Stephanie Plum holiday comic novel. Grandma, convinced it was leprechaun money and therefore legal loot, buys herself a Winnebago camper and heads for Atlantic City, where she rents a luxury suite at the Daffy Casino. She proceeds to blow what is left of the duffel bag booty, which turns out to contain a million dollars of stolen drug money, into the poker slots. The man in green pants, who has a soft spot for the horses, had liberated the money and a racehorse owned by a Trenton mobster. His plan is to pay for surgery for the champion who has outlived his studliness and faces the glue factory unless somebody will pay to fix a bad leg.

PLUM LUCKY evolves into a caper involving stashing a stolen, injured but housebroken racehorse in a hotel suite, a Winnebago trailer, several elevators and Stephanie's apartment; dodging the baddest mob guy in Trenton; keeping track of the little guy in green pants who thinks he's invisible; Diesel, who can be invisible when he wants to be; Lula; Connie; Stephanie; and Grandma Mazur and her Winnebago. And of course, the blue Buick.

You may recall the Christmas stocking stuffer treat, VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS, and the Valentine's Day confection with the infamous Trenton Bakery Elf cookie battle in PLUM LOVIN', when Stephanie turned into a matchmaker. PLUM LUCKY celebrates St. Patrick's Day as Grandma's leprechaun gold turns to horse biscuits. Fans can't help but wonder what Janet Evanovich will do with April Fool's Day. I can imagine puzzle-meister Sally Sweet in his big hair and five-inch heels cooking up a prank to dazzle us all.

--- Reviewed by Roz Shea

An "in-between" read indeed...

Had some laugh-out-loud moments in this one. Overall it felt forced and just something to put out there and not necessarily the best it could have been; really did not live up to its potential.

If you don't already know, there are two types of stories about Stephanie Plum, Trenton's most discombobulated bounty hunter of those out on bail who fail to show up in court when scheduled. The better ones are full novels and involve a number in the title (there are 13 to date with a 14th in the wings). The less good ones are novellas called "Between-the-Numbers" novels. Plum Lucky is one of the latter.

If you haven't read any of the books before, Ms. Evanovich does a fine job of bringing in the background in the first ten pages or so. Feel free to start here . . . although you won't like it as much as if you start with One for the Money and proceed through the numbers from there.

Grandma Mazur (Stephanie's man-loving, good-time-seeking older relative) is first seen fighting off a man who is trying to take a shopping bag away from her. Before long, grandma is gone and Stephanie's long-suffering mom wants her mother found. The trail soon leads to a casino in Atlantic City where Grandma Mazur is living it up, senior citizen style. That seemingly straightforward story is soon complicated by an injured race horse that needs a home, a Mob baron who looks more toad-like every day, and a marriage that needs repairing. With Lulu exploring her super model potential, Diesel looking to find a missing man who thinks he's a leprechaun, Connie taking target practice, and Stephanie trying to bring grandma home, it's a wild, but brief, ride.

The frenetic story has a predictability to it that makes potential humor a ho-hum affair in many cases. In addition, there's little interaction with either Joe Morelli (her main squeeze) or Ranger (her sometimes wannabe squeeze). Although there's a little sexual tension between Stephanie and Diesel, the huge finder of smart people who don't want to be found, it's just not the same as when Morelli and Ranger are raising Stephanie's hormones.

If you cannot survive until the next full-blown Plum, this one will do. But don't expect to be thrilled. Instead, you'll be looking for the action surprise on every page. William Faulkner used to put one remarkable sentence on every page that kept you reading closely. Janet Evanovich in Plum Lucky throws a major comic plot development onto every page. It's like reading a serial that changes episodes every 30 seconds.

If you like St. Patrick's Day, you might find you'd enjoy this book if you first drank some green beer and then settled down with Plum Lucky.

pick up Janet Evanocich's "Plum Lucky". Continuing her hugely popular Stephanie Plum series, this novel is called a 'between the numbers' book, referring to naming her books after numbers, starting with "One For The Money" up through last year's "Lean Mean Thirteen".

The 'between the numbers' novels are shorter, more self-contained books, perfect for people to pick up and start with if they haven't read any of the previous Stephanie Plum novels. You won't be lost if you haven't read any others; Evanovich gives enough background information that the reader can jump right into the fast-paced story.

Stephanie Plum is a somewhat-reluctant New Jersey bounty hunter, working for her cousin, a bail bondsman. "Plum Lucky" features one of my favorite characters, Grandma Mazur. Stephanie's grandma is a real pistol, and she is the catalyst for this adventure when she finds a big bag of money on the sidewalk and decides to take it to Atlantic City for a gambling jaunt.

The unfortunate part is that the money belongs to a crazy gangster, Lou Delvina, a bad man with whom Stephanie has had a previous run-in. Joining Stephanie on her quest to retrieve Grandma and the money before Lou finds them first are Connie, the bail bonds office manager, and Lulu, former-hooker-turned-Stephanie's partner. Lulu is another character who provides comic relief to the story.

Throw in a jockey, a limping racehorse, an RV and Diesel, a sexy man who has some seriously mysterious powers and you've got a wild ride, full of car chases, gunfire, firebombing, and as per usual, Stephanie's junky car gets destroyed. Fans of the series will enjoy the unique method of destruction that accomplishes this task.

Janet Evanovich always tosses in some things that just make me laugh out loud. Grandma Mazur's escape attempt, hiding a racehorse in Stephanie's apartment, and the description of the daytime denizens of the casino are all fodder for the author's crackling wit.

"Plum Lucky" is a fun little novel, and at just 166 pages, it's a breeze to read in one sitting.

Audio books make the commute fly by on most occasions and Janet Evanovich's Plum Lucky (A Between-the-Numbers Novel), a Between-the-Numbers novel, is no exception. My husband and I seem to be hooked on these Between-the Numbers novels because they are humorous, ridiculous in some instances, and fast-paced.

Stephanie Plum and Diesel are back on the hunt, but not for Sandy Claws this time--Snuggy O'Connor who thinks he's a leprechaun. This little person not only thinks he's a leprechaun, but that he can disappear from sight on a whim to steal from mobsters and others. Oh, he also thinks he can talk to animals, like horses.

This reader would have snorted coffee through her nose if she were drinking any when Snuggy talks to a doberman at a mobster's home and the dog convinces him to merely take his clothes off to disappear in front of everyone's eyes. Can you say the emperor's new clothes?

Grandma Mazur returns and finds a bag of money on the sidewalk, which happens to be stolen from a mobster by Snuggy. Grandma doesn't know, heads off to Atlantic City, and is in gambler's paradise before disaster strikes and she's kidnapped by a mobster, Delvina. Snuggy wants to pay off Delvina to get his horse, Doug, back from the mobster and Stephanie and Diesel must team up with Snuggy to recoup the gambled money and pay off Delvina to get Grandma back.

From the snarky comments between Stephanie, Snuggy, Diesel, Grandma Mazur, Lula, and Connie to the details of Atlantic City and Daffy's casino, Evanovich paints a vivid scene with an eclectic cast of characters. Ranger even makes an appearance in this one, along with Morelli.

This made the commute fly by, and I am looking forward to the next Between-the Numbers novel on audio.

I am a huge fan of Janet, and I've read the entire series up to Plum Lucky. I'm not a real huge fan of the between-the-numbers books, but I read them anyway. I thought Visions of Sugar Plums was ok. Plum Lovin was really cute and I enjoyed the read. Plum Lucky was absolutely pitiful.

Janet's writing is just plain sloppy. It's almost as if she didn't even write the book. The things these characters do in this book are things they wouldn't do in any other book. I'm ok with the supernatural aspect of this series, but her writing is just plain poor in this book. Also, there were two times in the book where her storyline didn't match up. For instance, how did Delvina not know they stole the money from the safe a second time when they gave him the SAME EXACT DUFFEL BAG they did before? It's insulting that she would write such a terrible book after all the good ones she's written and expect us to go out and buy it.

I've read most of the Stephanie Plum books, and I loved the first ten. They are funny and action-packed, but light and easy to read when your brain needs a break. Plum Lucky was no different, except that it has Stephanie interacting with Diesel instead of Ranger or Morelli, which is a nice change because typically Stephanie is continuously going back and forth between Ranger and Morelli, and it gets old after a while. I think the series has run it's course personally. It is great fun, but I couldn't tell you any difference between the last 5 or so that have come out.

Plum Lucky was a (very) short, light read, and it was fairly entertaining. I hope she wraps the series up soon and moves on to something else.

Statisically speaking, luck has a normal distribution, that is, it has a bell shaped curve. Most people are in the middle with an average amount of luck, but some people are at an extreme point on the curve and are unlucky all the time (like that character in Lil Abner who walked around with a black cloud over his head), and some are at the other end and are lucky all the time. So goes life.

It's St. Patrick's Day and there is a rainbow in the air. Grandma Mazur stumbles into a duffle bag full of money - lots of money. She thinks that it is lucky money and hers to keep. Let the good times roll. She is off to Atlantic City. But other people have claims on the money. The story has an interesting cast of characters including an ex-jockey who thinks that he is an invisible leprechaun (he is always lucky, but manages to fumble it away); of course there are Stephi, Lula, and Connie from the bailbonds office; Diesel appears from Stephi's past - another man in her life; a short guy hired by Grandma Mazur; the gangster Delvina; and a horse to add to the adventures and misadventures. Of course there is the money.

You will have to read the novel to see how it all shakes out. The novel is not great literature, but is extremely funny. ROFL. Some scenes towards the end had me laughing so hard I had trouble continuing.

It is a short novel, and a quick read, at 166 pages with 28 lines per page somewhat widely spaced in easy reading type. It contains what a friend would call earthy language. I would personally classify it as PG-13.

The say that laughter is the best medicine. Janet Evanovich is obviously good for my health. I knew that this was a "tween" and was prepared to pay the price to add this to my collection. So what if it was a bit short? I laughed until I cried, and my husband thought I was losing my mind. I read this in one sitting and skipped the evening news on TV. I highly recommend giving this time period a try!
Evanovich has a rare talent- I find myself shaking my head, wondering where on earth she comes up with her hijinks. It's also a rare talent that is able to paint such a vivid picture. (SPOILER ALERT) The scene with Lula causing a major distraction in a casino is possibly one of the funniest I have read in a very long time! As I read, I can actually see the characters in my mind. If my mental images are anything to go by, Ms Plum is indeed Plum Lucky!
PS They say that laughter is a full body workout. I'm really considering reading all of the Plum books back-to-back. I figure I will have six pack abs by the time I am finished!

The sequel to Plum Lovin' was a riot! In Plum Lucky, Stephanie Plum, sexy bounty hunter, part-time comedian is trying to track down Grandma Mazur who is headed for Atlantic City to spend money ($1 million) that she found on the street. The money was stolen by a green pants wearing, ex-jockey/animal whisperer who thinks he is a leprechaun. The "leprechaun" stole the money from the mobster that Stephanie and Diesel (who is searching for the ex-jockey and seems to be really great at cards) battled it out with in Plum Lovin'. And he needs the money so that he can pay for an ex-race horse's surgery. Of course, Louie (the Tough Guy/ Mob Leader) is still suffering from the effects of the rash that he believes Diesel hexed him with, and is now popping pills like an addict. And on top of that, he is even more convinced that Diesel is "an alien", and at one point wears a tin foil hat on his head to prevent the horse and Diesel from invading his thoughts. He wants his money back and is willing to kidnap the horse and Grandma Mazur to get it back.

Lula (ex-hooker/bounty-hunter) appears in gold spandex and is funnier than ever while pursuing a career as plus sized supermodel career. Connie (office manager to Vinnie) is utilizing her sharp shooting skills. Sexy, black wearing Ranger and lovable/dependable Joe Morelli make brief appearances, but Diesel steals the scenes in this novel. And what we appreciate is the fact that like Ranger, Diesel never invades Stephanie's space more than she will allow, but admires her from afar. And this provides wonderful tension between Diesel and Stephanie, especially since she is determined to remain faithful to Joe, who undoubtedly trusts her. I enjoyed this short Stephanie Plum story and would recommend it to anyone who is a lover of the series, and would like a good laugh.

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich is a Stephanie Plum "Between-the-Numbers" novel and at a mere 166 pages, it can best be described as Plum Lite. Parts of it are rather funny, but there just aren't enough of these moments. Plus as in Plum Lovin', the plot is definitely a stretch.

Grandma Mazur, Trenton bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's grandmom, has gone missing. The last time Plum saw Grandma Mazur, she was toting a bag of cash in Trenton with a midget (little person) trying to get it away from her. It turns out that Grandma stumbled across some stolen dough (from a Trenton mob boss) and she has taken it down to the casinos in Atlantic City. Stephanie and friends (Lula, Connie and Diesel) set off to Atlantic City to find Grandma before she gets in even bigger trouble. The one really decent scene involves Lula acting as the "Queen of Chaos" in the casinos. She creates a diversion by spilling a huge cup of nickels and while trying to chase them down, loses various parts of her anatomy as they fall out of her skintight spandex outfit. Unfortunately, most of the plot was dumb and the part about the horse was definitely over the top.

It seems that Evanovich is just punching out these "Between-the-Numbers" books to fill in the gaps between her longer length number series. As a Plum fan, I'm game for everything Evanovich writes but next time, I just might stick with the numbers. Either that or I'll wait until these smaller novellas come out in paperback.

When I find a series where I like the first 2-3 books, I generally keep buying them so I can have the whole set. Even though I've gone off the Stephanie Plum books in general (get over the Ranger/Morelli dilemma! Figure out that sharing information helps people figure things out!), I'm stuck continuing to buy them so I have the whole series. I mean, I was up to 11 before I started disliking them. This is a very quick read, not really a "novel" as marketed. It's still mildly entertaining in the usual way, but I'd only recommend buying it if you're planning to have all the Stephanie Plum books. Otherwise, strictly a library read.

"Plum Lucky" is well written and absolutely hilarious. While Morelli and Ranger are mainly absent, the usual cast of characters including Grandma Mazur, Lula and Connie are present along with the supernatural Diesel. Also making a return is mafia boss, Lou Delvina, and little person Randy Briggs. In this story we are introduced to Snuggy, the wannabe leprechaun, and Doug, the horse. In reading this story I got the sense that the author had a lot of fun writing it. Her wit is top notch. Some of the events and exchanges are laugh out loud funny. Well done, Ms. Evanovich!!!

I am a long-time fan of Stephanie Plum, and these little "between-the-numbers" books are a lot of fun. They give us a chance to catch up with Stephanie and some of her crew, and we also get to see them in some very crazy situations. In this one Stephanie is linked up with the dishy Diesel, and they are trying to keep one step ahead of the mob. We have Grandma Mazur, Lula and Connie in a "plum" role. The story is set around St. Patrick's Day, and the luck is supposedly flowing, but Stephanie can't seem to see it. Instead, she has to rescue Grandma when she is kidnapped, and she is involved in a few car chases, a few car burnings, and a shooting at the car wash. And of course the book is laugh-out-loud funny all the way through. Just another outing with Stephanie Plum!

Wow, this story is quarky, funny, and amazing! The characters are still phenomenal and loving and as crazy as ever! I love Lula and Grandma Mazur. If it weren't for their shenanigans, these stories wouldn't be as awesome as they are!!

I borrowed this book from my local library.

I read this while waiting in a three and a half hour line to get my taxes done. It made the time zip by very nicely. I was sad when it was over.The characters are very colorful and easy to care about. It really annoyed me that the one african american character is kind of a bad stereotype. The plot is mindless but too funny.Also the writer has a very punchy style and how can you not like a story that involves a leprechaun , a free spirit grandma and a crazy mobster ?

I love how Janet Evanovich writes. These in-between books help you keep up until the next book comes out. I had all my daughters read these and the big thing you can't help but laugh outloud at Stephanie and her family and the perils they get into. I would so recommend these books just for the laughs. I love her grandma and how she likes to visit funeral homes and carry her big gun in her bag. How Stephanie has two hunks in her life and they both love her and her heart will always go to Moreli even though Ranger is in the background. Ranger is her dangerous side and I think Morelli is her safe side. The both can't understand the trouble she gets into. Her poor cars everyone of them get blown up. Just keep the writing going on her and her family. I am a big fan of Janet Evanovich's books even all the other books she has written.

Very bad of Janet Evonovich to write small book and not do a very good job. Nothing in this book was entertaining or funny to read like other books in this series. I only buy this series in hardcover, but from now on, like another reviewer, I will use the library first to see if I continue to buy. I love this series, it is or was a very fun read and escape from everything except laughter and enjoyment. but this one is not up to the authors's previous books.I also would like for Stephanie to really get into a relationship or to flat out play the field and be honest with all her men. She seems to be floundering in growing up and developing into a more mature, funny individual, who still does not seem to think her job is worth much and herself as much either. She needs more positive attitudes toward herself. I love all the characters, but Stephanie seems so down and out at times.

Ugh, this was terrible. I hate the way this book was written. No passion. No emotion. No sympathy for Miss Stephanie either. She bored me to tears. I couldn't care any less about her after 3 pages. I had only read one other Plum book before this, and I struggled finishing that one. I just couldn't go on past about 5 pages of her nonsense. There was no romance in this at all, either. The story was so stupid, the plot dumb and not funny. It's so hard to relate or connect with a main character who has no depth.

Fun vacation reading. Not really about luck, but definitely about leprechauns. The author is very smart and very good at developing an engaging little tale for those looking for an entertaining read. It's the only book of the series I've read, but it's clear that Ms. Evanovich has attained bestselling-author status for very good reasons - an excellent facility for dialogue, likeable characters and, most of all, the ability to make us double over with laughter without warning. She does so using a spare, deadpan prose that doesn't beg for a chuckle, and therefore results in that very thing.

Stephanie's at it again. Diesel and Stephanie make an awesome team for action, drama and laugh out loud moments. I love Janet's books she knows how to tell a story that will have you looking for her next book.

In this book, Stephanie Plum is helpless (page 131 asking Ranger for help), careful, and worried (about grandma). The "original" Plum is stupidly fearless, bumbling, and emotive. Ranger talks in sentences. Page 130 and 131. "You look worried." Ranger would, at most, cock his head questioningly or say "Worried?" Lulu talks in complete sentences like she has a college education. Page 130 "I'm going inside to talk to Connie. You have a visitor." Lulu doesn't talk like that. "I was gonna have Connie try to find Mr. Supermodel Photographer, but, ho, I'll stick around for Mr. Tall, Hot, and Handsome."

The dialog is not crisp or true to the characters. Even Grandma has lost her razor edge. I'm not sure what is going on, but this book is a disappointment... big time. I found myself wanting to substitute my own dialog.

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich was released in 2007. Another great Stephanie Plum novel, with lots of acvtion and funny scenes. Secondary characters are well written too. Fans of Janet Evanovich will like this the most.

I know these books always hit the bestseller lists even before they are released, then ride the lists for months. But I just don't get it. After chapter two of this (short story bound and sold as a) book, I tossed it aside, incredibly annoyed with the inane dialogue and make-it-up-as-she-goes-along plot. Remember when you were little and you played Barbies, and you'd say as you plunked Barbie along the carpet, "Barbie is putting her sweatshirt on now and running out to meet Ken," and your friend would say, "Ken is pulling up in his car and they are going out to eat cheeseburgers and then find a bank robber." This book is like that. When Stephanie finds her grandmother hours away in the casino and doesn't even bother to phone her frantic mother, who sent her looking for the old lady who had been missing for a few days...that is just sloppy and annoying writing. Z-

Absolutely awful. I see some have tossed it aside after a couple chapters. I gave it a chance going to the end thinking at some point it had to improve. Wrong. It was like sitting through a root canal.
It has an inane, silly plot as thin as the paper it's printed on. The novel is so bad one wonders how & why it was written. It seems the author made the storyline up as she went along. The plot really has no point.
There are constant attempts at humor throughout. Most all of it falls flat on it's face.
There is one bright spot to this novel. Mercifully, it's short

Plum Lucky is one of Janet Evanovich "between the numbers" novellas. Stephanie Plum and Grandma Mazur are back at it, running into trouble every way they turn. Diesel's back too, along with a strange man wearing green pants who claims to be a leprechaun and who believes he can talk to animals. Then there's Doug, the horse, who's been kidnapped, or stolen, or maybe both. Lula's on her way to becoming a supermodel and Briggs is driving Grandma's new used RV, which has been outfitted for little people, but somehow manages to accommodate the horse. And don't forget Mr. Delvina, who may or may not have been turned into a toad by Diesel.

All in all, just your typical Stephanie Plum! Thoroughly entertaining.

In this latest installment of the Plum series, Stephanie is on another crazy adventure with none other than Diesel.

When Grandma Mazur finds a duffel bag filled with loot she disappears, Stephanie tracks her down at a casino in Atlantic City where the craziness ensues. Grandma has the money; Stephanie, Lulu and Connie are after Grandma. A Leprechaun is after the money and Grandma. A mobster is after the Leprechaun and money. And Diesel is after the Leprechaun. Things get hectic.

At 166 pages and giant print, this hardcover could easily have been read in a couple of hours, had I been drawn in to the story, I would have. The thing is I think the thrill is gone for me on this series and that bums me out tremendously. I have been on board with this series and loving every minute of it up until Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels). I feel like with that book, and now this one, I am reading the same story over and over. Nothing really new or exciting is happening. I didn't laugh at all during this book and I think I only giggled once when a joke is made about the size of the Leprechauns anatomy.

This is the first Janet Evanovich book I haven't purchased. Normally I rush to the store on the release date. This time I let my sister go it alone and I waited for her to be done with her copy and that's what I read. I don't want to be done with this series, but if she doesn't shake things up in Fearless Fourteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Stephanie Plum Novels), I am done. I will reread the old ones and have to be content with that.

This is the 1st book I have read by this author, so perhaps my complaints would not hold true for her other novels. The best way I can describe my annoyance with this book is that it reminded me of a junior high essay where a student has to have a certain number of words &, therefore, tries to repeat things & use as many words as possible. Many times in this story an event would transpire & a character would say something & another character would come into the picture & the event and/or the previous remark would have to be repeated or rehashed with that person. I found it extremely tiring. I thought this book was written at a fifth grade level or something. I don't mean to be a snob, but I felt like the author was writing "down" to me. Sorry, I just didn't like this book.

Stephanie Plum is back with the usual funny cast of characters. Grandma Mazur has found a bag full of money and is off to Atlantic City to play the slots. Lula has an offer to be a plus-size model. Diesel is the main man in this book, but Morelli and Ranger make brief appearances too. A leprechaun wannabe talks to animals, a horse is kidnapped, and oh yes, there are some exploding cars. You know, the usual stuff in a Stephanie Plum novel. The action is fast and furious and the laughs just keep coming as this short, between-the-numbers book rolls to a climax. Don't miss it!

I really enjoy the Stephanie Plum novels, but these short ones are beginning to annoy me. You could combine this one and its predecessor "Plum Lovin'", and get one good sized book. Is this just a marketing strategy to get more consumer dollars for a novella? That being said, I did enjoy what there was of this book. The usual gang of characters appear, although Ranger and Morelli are only on for cameos. The focus, as in the last shortie, is on Diesel, who really doesn't engage me as a character at all. The plot's a bit thin, but amusing at times, and there are two new characters who seem to make the whole thing go along. I'll keep reading these books, but I'm not going to shell out good money for such a thin work. This is a "borrow from the library" book.

I positively cannot get enough of Stephanie Plum! If I could sit at home and read these books all day, I would, without question. This in-between novel was too short, yet all of the in betweens are...Grandma Mazur is funny as ever in this book. She stumbles over a duffle bag of money and decides it is good luck, so she does what any ordinary person would do, and heads off to Atlantic City. Of course, Stephanie has to follow her to get the money back for her friend Diesel who shows up again in this story.

Lula, of course, is funny as ever as she tries to make her way as the next best Plus Size Supermodel. Lula steals many of the scenes with some hilarious antics that will leave you laughing until it hurts. I had to read some of the lines over and over again because they were that good.

Then there is an leprechaun, a horse named Doug, and the gangster Delvina to add to the craziness that is Stephanie Plum. The only thing I did not like was the fact that Ranger and Joe don't make much of an appearance in the in-between novels. I look forward to those moments...probably a little too much. :)

I'm sure that I will enjoy Ms Evanovich's story about Stephanie Plum. I have read them all. I just received PLUM LUCKY in today's mail and was chagrined to see a small page format, 14-16 pt type face and page 166 at the end of the "book." I know that in the world of sound bites and 500 word news stories we are all being told that we don't have the attention span of a mosquito, but I had hoped that St Martin's Press would not fall prey to such tactics. Disappointed in North Carolina.

Ron Veenker
Holden Beach, NC

I really enjoyed this little short read from Janet. I've read all the numbered novels and picked up Plum lucky, Plum Spooky and Plum Lovin at a closeout sale. Plum lucky had me laughing out loud and I've since let several friends borrow the book who thought the same. It gives you a break from Ranger and Morelli without totally diverting from the characters. It is a fast paced cheer you up book and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh.

Grandma disappeared. You know it's going to be fun from there. You'll meet old Snuggy O'Connor who believes himself to be an invisible Leprechaun who is able to communicate with animals.

Then you'll meet Doug, the racehorse. He is unhappy and needs surgery. Snuggy is unwilling to let Doug's owner give him euthanasia. So he springs Doug and pays for the surgery --- that sets the stage for the story.

A great, fun read.

I read several of the Stephanie Plum books and enjoyed all the characters, but this one had me laughing out loud. The story line was the usual crazy yet it was short enough I could read it in a couple hours and its just what I wanted for a rainy Sat afternoon.

The fun continues to be back in Plum. This book had great moments of hilarious antics and snappy dialogue, as well as a return of favorite skip, Randy Briggs. Connie and Lula were a riot in this book. Connie got to shine even more in Plum Lucky than when the girls went to Vegas in TTN and I loved it. Plenty of hijinks to go around with laugh out loud moments throughout the book.

I'm still not sure what to make of Diesel's character. He sometimes affects the same arrogant and patronizing air with Stephanie that Ranger does, which is off-putting. But he has a smart sense of humor like Joe's that provided many of the laugh out loud moments for me throughout the book and overall I enjoyed him.

As is customary with the between the number novellas, Joe and Ranger are virtual no-shows. At least, Joe is a virtual no show after a very fun opening scene with Steph and Joe together. And, if you're looking for forward strides in the resolution of the triangle, many of these were made through various conversations with and about the two male characters. Most interesting was Steph's unequivocal statement to Diesel that she doesn't 'mess around' on her boyfriend, sure words and actions from a woman who's clear there's one man in her life. JE also mines Joe and Steph's rich history in one of my favorite scenes in the book.

A little romance, a lot of fun. A very enjoyable entry into the Plum series.

What initially got me hooked on Stephanie Plum's novels was Grandma Mazur - she is a hoot! I found myself laughing uncontrollably more than once and there are very few books I can say this about.
This book is short and funny and a perfect way to while away a summer afternoon. But I have to warn you there is very little of Morelli and the Rangerman...can't have it all!

I really enjoyed this one. Lots of funny stuff. I like the Unmentionables storyline -- I'd love to see Evanovich do something with it in a non-Stephanie book. Still, this was a good bridge between Stephanie's world and the Unmentionable one. In previous Between-the-Numbers books, the 'magic' seemed at odds with the usual world of the series books. In this one, the juxtaposition seemed less jarring.

This book was so much fun to read. I was a little skeptical at first to purchase this book but I am so glad that I did. I laughed and laughed through the whole book. Diesel is so much fun and sexy to boot. I was getting tired of the same ole same ole between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. This was so refreshing that the book didn't focus on the threesome. The main characters Grandma, Lulu and Connie are a riot. I was glad to see Randy was back on the sene as well. This is a great book. I just loved it.

Evanovich doesn't disappoint. This one caused me to laugh uncontrollably near the end (frightening my 26 pound cat, I might add) and just thinking about the last half of the book still makes me chuckle.

Evanovich didn't hit her usual marks with this it was not up to her usual standards. I was disappionted. It had only one real laugh out loud which she gave to LuLa this just felt like it was written to make money an nothing else. For Evanovich this is Ok for me who pays to be entertained it missed the mark. Please do not read as your first Evanovich novel this may turn you off to her

I am a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. As much as I like how unpredictable the stories can go, I didn't care for this between-the-numbers novel. It seems like too many regular characters of her series were thrown in for good measure, and this book would have been fine without a phone call from Ranger, just to show face. I wouldn't recommend starting the Stephanie Plum series with this book.

Great Book! Huge fan of the Stephanie Plum Series. This book is about Stephanie getting in trouble with a guy that is in the mob. Her grandmother found stolen money and heads off to gamble away. Stephanie has to track her down to retrieve it before the mobster guy finds her first. Diesel is there for all the excitment. Great Book!!

The fun continues to be back in Plum. This book had great moments of hilarious antics and snappy dialogue, as well as a return of favorite skip, Randy Briggs. Connie and Lula were a riot in this book. Connie got to shine even more in Plum Lucky than when the girls went to Vegas in TTN and I loved it. Plenty of hijinks to go around with laugh out loud moments throughout the book.

I'm still not sure what to make of Diesel's character. He sometimes affects the same arrogant and patronizing air with Stephanie that Ranger does, which is off-putting. But he has a smart sense of humor like Joe's that provided many of the laugh out loud moments for me throughout the book and overall I enjoyed him.

As is customary with the between the number novellas, Joe and Ranger are virtual no-shows. At least, Joe is a virtual no show after a very fun opening scene with Steph and Joe together. And, if you're looking for forward strides in the resolution of the triangle, many of these were made through various conversations with and about the two male characters. Most interesting was Steph's unequivocal statement to Diesel that she doesn't 'mess around' on her boyfriend, sure words and actions from a woman who's clear there's one man in her life. JE also mines Joe and Steph's rich history in one of my favorite scenes in the book.

A little romance, a lot of fun. A very enjoyable entry into the Plum series.

What initially got me hooked on Stephanie Plum's novels was Grandma Mazur - she is a hoot! I found myself laughing uncontrollably more than once and there are very few books I can say this about.
This book is short and funny and a perfect way to while away a summer afternoon. But I have to warn you there is very little of Morelli and the Rangerman...can't have it all!

I really enjoyed this one. Lots of funny stuff. I like the Unmentionables storyline -- I'd love to see Evanovich do something with it in a non-Stephanie book. Still, this was a good bridge between Stephanie's world and the Unmentionable one. In previous Between-the-Numbers books, the 'magic' seemed at odds with the usual world of the series books. In this one, the juxtaposition seemed less jarring.

This book was so much fun to read. I was a little skeptical at first to purchase this book but I am so glad that I did. I laughed and laughed through the whole book. Diesel is so much fun and sexy to boot. I was getting tired of the same ole same ole between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. This was so refreshing that the book didn't focus on the threesome. The main characters Grandma, Lulu and Connie are a riot. I was glad to see Randy was back on the sene as well. This is a great book. I just loved it.

Evanovich doesn't disappoint. This one caused me to laugh uncontrollably near the end (frightening my 26 pound cat, I might add) and just thinking about the last half of the book still makes me chuckle.

Evanovich didn't hit her usual marks with this it was not up to her usual standards. I was disappionted. It had only one real laugh out loud which she gave to LuLa this just felt like it was written to make money an nothing else. For Evanovich this is Ok for me who pays to be entertained it missed the mark. Please do not read as your first Evanovich novel this may turn you off to her

I am a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. As much as I like how unpredictable the stories can go, I didn't care for this between-the-numbers novel. It seems like too many regular characters of her series were thrown in for good measure, and this book would have been fine without a phone call from Ranger, just to show face. I wouldn't recommend starting the Stephanie Plum series with this book.

Great Book! Huge fan of the Stephanie Plum Series. This book is about Stephanie getting in trouble with a guy that is in the mob. Her grandmother found stolen money and heads off to gamble away. Stephanie has to track her down to retrieve it before the mobster guy finds her first. Diesel is there for all the excitment. Great Book!!

this is very enjoyable reading. As with all the "Plum " number series, and I have read almost all of them, so far, it keeps you interested throughout the story and you are almost sorry when you have finished the book and anxious to get to another of Janet Evanovich's writings. I have really enjoyed reading the number series and the books "in between the numbers" as well.

I loved this book. This book was even more fun than the previous between the numbers book. It was very funny and it was great having Connie and Grandma along on Stephanie's adventure. It was a quick read, but was lots of fun.

Like all the Stepahnie Plum books this one is a cute very fun book to read. This is one of the fastest ones that I have read. I love in this book that they get out of Trenton for a little trip to Atlantic City. My only change for any of these stories is that they were longer. Plum Lucky is one of my favorite of the in-between-the numbers books.

Love the Plum series and am usually disappointed with the between the numbers books. This one is actually pretty funny. Grandma, Lula and Connie make this one worthwhile. If you haven't read the Plum books, I wouldn't start with this one, but if your a fan of the series you'll want to pick it up.

If you like Janet E's funny series on Stephanie Plum - this is another lighthearted comedy that will make you laugh out loud. Her Grandmother is in rare form with a lot of hope from LuLu and the rest of the crew.

I HATE paying so much money for such a little book--this one is barely over 100 pages with lots of white space. But I can never wait--and I instantly fall back into the land of Plums--and love it. After all these books, I'm still laughing. (BTW, this the store price is great--it's $3 less than I paid at Target and $1 less than Sam's was tonight. . . )

I have read and looked forward to each new Plum novel, but, like every other between the numbers book, I HATED IT!! As a matter of fact, I never even finished reading it. I will never waste another dime on a between the numbers book again. And I hope you don't either.

Silly stupid at times and unbelievable...and I loved it! Stephanie and her gang are always fun and this between the numbers book is no exception. I always look forward to spending time with the characters that Janet Evanovich creates.

For fans of the Stephanie Plum novels, this is a slim, but hilarious, "Between-the-Numbers" volume. Grandma Mazur goes missing with a million dollars in a duffel bag, pursued by a leprechaun who gets naked; there's a horse in Stephanie's apartment; Lula exposes herself in an Atlantic City casino, a Mob boss is out to whack Grandma, Stephanie and the horse; and naturally, there are fires and explosions--hey, just another day in the 'Burg! A fun read!

I read before I go to bed at night. And the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is very enjoyable night time reading. Sometimes I am only able to read a couple of pages before falling asleep, but the next evening the story engages me quickly from where I left off. Fun laughs too.

Yet another great Stephanie Plum story by Janet Evanovich. I can always count on Evanovich for a wonderfully humorous adventure! This one is well worth the time and you'll probably want to read it a couple of times!

I never miss a "numbered" Evanovich, but since this had no number in the title, I wasn't sure about buying it; however, I did and I enjoyed!! WHERE Janet Evanovich comes up with Stephanie Plum's quirky characters and situations, I have no idea but I know I love and laugh at them all!
Every visit with Ms. Plum is downright enjoyable reading.

I have been a big fan of the Stephanie Plum books for several years...they are laugh out loud funny...this is a novella "between the numbers" within the series...a nice little tidbit to keep us going until the next numbers novel comes out. If you have not read the Plum books, pick one ,read it, and you will soon get them all, they are that good! Enjoy!

Janet Evanovich is my favorite author and I'm always anxiously waiting for the publication of her latest "number" book. Bless her heart for filling the gaps with another wacky Stephanie Plum story. Plum Lucky made me laugh out loud. Janet puts the "fun" in dysfunctional families and makes you wonder about your own friends!

Another great book by Evanovich- but way too short to be in hard back form. You can read it in an hour or two. It is not one of her more detailed and intricate plots. When I ordered it I did not know it was such a small book, I looked forward to many hours of reading so I was disappointed in the number of pages. It was more like a short story.

Plum Lucky is a root beer float kind of book. It bubbles and tickles your nose and makes you laugh. There is not one serious word in this book. I laughed out loud more than once. At our house the reviews are not rated with stars, they get laughing snorts and I give this a 5 snort rating.

Joe and Ranger both make cameo appearances and neither cares for Diesel. There is, however, a new male in Steph's life. His name is Doug and he makes quite an impression.

If you want angst and social commentary, this isn't your book. If you don't care if you snort when you laugh, go get it right now!

Mooch

I read this book three times in a week (I needed a laugh). Stephanie's man troubles leave the reader wondering how she will ever choose just one,and Grandma's antics make me wish I could be at least a little bit like her (I'm 86,but not that brave). Lula helps keep things moving. She's a favorite. I hope Janet never stops writing Stephanie novels.

I have enjoyed all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series from One throught 13, so I thought perhaps this would be a good one too since this is the same character. It was okay, but not as great as the series.

Fans will like this quick read with the usual chaos of Stephanie's life. It's a quick read that most will agree is a classic of the genre. Quick and sticks to story with little involvement of Joe and Ranger.

Although the blurb sounded interesting, this turned out to be mediocre. I don't think a lot of effort was put into this book. It just didn't have the zip of a Stephanie Plum novel. It's almost as if Janet E didn't really care about the plot. I guess she figured we would buy it because we like this series.

This will be short because I am not an unbiased reviewer. I absolutely love all of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. She is an amazing writer. Like all of the others, this book is filled with laughs. I can even reread these books and enjoy them because they are still funny, even though you know how the book ends. I only wish she could write them faster!

Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors. If you want to laugh, be intrigued, or get a little steamy, she provides it all. Her "between-the-numbers" series will satisfy and leave you laughing for months after everytime. I love Lula and Grandma Mazur! I've recently started reading her early romance novels and intend to read them all. Ms. Evanovich, Thank You.

I always enjoy Janet Evanovich books. This one was no exception. It's short, light & fun. Just the type of book I needed when I read it. There's nothing heavy to absorb and it's plainly entertaining. I enjoyed it very much as a "between-the-numbers" novel.

I was suprised at how much I loved this book because the between the numbers book have yet to live up to the regulars, but this one changed that!! This book was hilarious, and was filled with all the crazy antics Stephanie Plum is famous for. Wonderfully entertaining, this book is a must read.

Evanovich was starting to lose me as a big fan, but Plum Lucky is a very quick, and fun read. You will laugh out loud more than once. Another ladies' funny read is by newcomer Jennifer Parello and it's titled Dateland

I LOVE Janet Evanovich!! The in between the number books with Diesel are a fun read. Plum Lucky is the best of the in between the numbers books so far. Randy Brigs is back and helping Grandma Mazur.

This was my first Janet Evanovich book. It was chosen by someone in my book club. I don't even want to finish it, it is so ridiculous! I didn't think the characters were very well developed and it was just too silly, not even entertaining. I really don't know what there is going to be to discuss about this book at book club. There was no depth to it at all.

Anything that Janet Evanovich has written always makes me laugh. I particularly enjoy Grandma Mazur and her antics. I also enjoy the men in Stephanie's life ... my friends and I have already picked out who might play them in a movie!!

Can't wait for the next numbered book to arrive.Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum Novels)

Slightly disappointed with the brevity of the story. However, the laughs were there as usual and the fact that there was more Gram Mazur was a plus for this "in between" Stephanie Plum adventure/mystery. The horse was a stretch but hysterical.