No. 10) (Stephanie Plum Novels) - Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum

I adore Stephanie Plum, the feisty, sassy, suma cum laud bond enforcement agent, (bounty hunter), from Trenton, NJ - the bane of every psycho criminal in the Garden State, and destroyer of at least 10 cars. I love Grandma Mazur, Stephanie's maternal grandmother, and a pistol-packin,' roller blading clotheshorse. The super sexy men in Steph's life, hot cop, live-in lover Joe Morelli, and "The Ranger," who is beyond description in a simple book review, are the best - as are all the other wacky eccentrics who populate Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries. To tell the truth, I would probably read a plotless Stephanie novel, just to visit with the cast. However, "Ten Big Ones," the 10th volume of her adventures, is far from plotless and will keep you on the edge of your seat, scared, spellbound, and roaring with laughter, while you enjoy the frequently hilarious capers. Steph's less dangerous bail-jumpers, and their crimes, are too funny, and the humor balances the dangers she faces.

Stephanie, as always, is on the wrong side of every door. She and her partner, trigger happy, reformed prostitute Lula, go out for nachos and walk into a robbery at the local convenience store. The robbery leads to an explosion which inevitably leads to the destruction of another car. Stephenie did get a look at the devil-masked hold-up man's face. Because she can identify the "Red Devil," his gang wants to eliminate her. She decides to hide, with the help of the enigmatic Ranger who offers her sanctuary, while she figures out how to capture the dangerous killer known as "The Junkman." Her long suffering boyfriend, Joe Morelli, is not thrilled with her hiding place or with the entire situation. He never is. He'd love for Stephanie to become a stay-at-home Mom. Hah!

This is one of the most suspenseful novels yet. I love this series. What a trip!!

JANA

Stephanie Plum is back in "Ten Big Ones," watching her latest car explode (I think she's lost a car in every book so far), annoying Joe Morelli, being marked for death by a totally scary local gang because she can identify one of them as an arsonist/robber/murderer, and, as if that's not enough, squatting in (one of) Ranger's mysterious apartments without permission.

The story moves along at a gratifyingly rapid pace. We have that scary gang tagging every place she touches. Stephanie's sister is finally getting married, and might be looking for a wedding coordinator - if she can find the right one - at which point she'll move out of Stephanie's apartment (at last). Vinny the bondsman is short-handed, so we have creative bail jumpers Stephanie must apprehend all over the place. And we have Joe in his usual state of irritation over Stephanie's job, Ranger, lack of commitment, gangs, and whatever else comes to mind.

I'm not quite sure what the "ten big ones" were - maybe the bail jumpers? - but I'm starting to spot a formula here: Stephanie watches car explode (feelings of chagrin, police humor, maybe slapstick). Ranger gives Stephanie amazing tricked out car and a smoulder (sexual tension). Stephanie gets death threat related to explosion (family and Joe pressure to get better job). Stephanie has distracting bail jumpers to catch (much slapstick humor involving hooker-turned-filing-assistant Lulu, sometimes Vinny's receptionist Connie gets roped in for some laugh-out-loud moments). Stephanie starts to solve crime (pressure from Joe to let police solve crime, followed by female empowerment moment after which Stephanie usually falls smack on face). Stephanie has near-death experience because she's solved crime (tension, police humor, more slapstick) and day is saved. Yaay!

I really hope I'm wrong, because this was a darn good one, and I'm hooked into #11. Or maybe it doesn't matter, because Evanovich is entertaining no matter what.

The Stephanie Plum series has been going on for quite some time now. I have read the majority of the books in this series over the years. After reading the reviews here and on Evanovich’s other books it would appear that some people like the Plum books; others not so much. Odd thing is though that each book sells a lot and this series has a very large following. I personally enjoy this series and while I fully realize that some of the books are better than others, for me all them are a joy to read and I get a kick out of the zany situations Stephanie gets herself into and the plethora on one liners and running jokes that go from book to book.

Now to be honest a person can read two of the books in this series; any two in any order and pretty well know that the rest of the books are going to be like. Hint: If you did not like the first two you read then you will not like the rest of them. On the other hand, if you like what you read...well, read on because you now know what you will be getting in the rest of the books.

In this one Stephanie is still balancing Ranger with Joe. There are new bad guys but the over all cast of characters are pretty much the same. I will say that the body count in this one is a bit higher than in some of the other books I have read.

I suppose these books; their over all tone and nature, would be that of the old I Love Lucy Show...lots of ridiculous situations and lots of slap-stick. This book just drips with these two factors.

In this one Stephanie is being targeted by a hit man brought in from the West Coast and her life is in constant danger. We get a lot of Lulu in this one and many of the situations the two get into are hilarious.

While this book and the others in the series cannot be considered ‘high literature” by any stretch of the imagination, they are fast and fun reads and most certainly entertaining. I liked this one.

This was a library find.

PLOT OR PREMISE:
Ten Big Ones (St. Martin's Press, 2010, ISBN/ASIN: B00179FNRI, Plum (10)) is the tenth outing in the Plum series, and this one has Stephanie starting a mini-war with a gang after she sees one of them committing a robbery.
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WHAT I LIKED:
Hijackers of chip trucks, Sally Sweet still in a dress, and school buses all show up to enliven the plot.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The whole shower thing for Valerie gets old real fast, adding nothing to the story. And I don't really care about wannabe gang kingpins.
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DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

Janet Evanovich's, Ten Big Ones is funny, funny, funny! This writer has a sense of humor that make me laugh out loud. Steph Plum is at it once again. Torn between her Italian lover and Ranger is funny in and of it's self. Her sister falling for a lawyer and pregnant with his child, they decide to marry. But whom do they ask to help with the wedding? None other than Sally the guy who plays in a small band. Slayers have placed a price on Plum's head and Morelli is trying to keep her safe. Plum moves in with him once again but it is not a good move. Something happens to cause her to move once again. But where to? Yes, again she needs a car for her latest car is burned because of a guy in a devil's mask. Read this novel by Evanocich and you'll want to read all of her books. Rated not for children under eighteen. Strong language, sexual descriptions, and violence. DP. Castro Valley, CA.

Stephanie’s latest caper could be her most dangerous, and possibly most deadly. We’ve grown accustomed to the blur of lightning fast capers that always include dead bodies, broken vehicles, and FTAs that seem to outsmart her at every turn. And this book doesn’t disappoint in that aspect. As usual, Stephanie’s wacky family and unlikely allies help her to bumble her way to successfully solving another impossible situation. The push/pull of her attraction between to Morelli and Ranger always adds an extra element of drama. But, I’m team Joe all the way so the continuing tension between them in this book makes me very sad.

This might be the most ridiculous one yet. Stephanie is with Lula at the store. Lula shoots a bike tire and the owner comes out in a mask having just robbed the store. He then firebombs the store but is so annoyed he removes his mask leaving Stephanie able to identify the new gang banger criminal on a string of burglaries. She gets in more trouble when she goes into gangland to see if she can ID him. Then because shes a lucky girl a hit is put on her and she goes into semi hiding using Ranger resources. The ending is ridiculous beyond words. So insane you have to enjoy but doesn't mean I don't feel guilty afterwards that I spent a couple hours with this twaddle.

The Stephanie Plum novels are consistently great. This week I wanted to read a book that would make me laugh which is why I started in on Ten Big Ones. Once again, Evanovich knocks me off my feet and makes me giggle as I am reading. I really liked this book and for many reasons.

FIRST…
Stephanie Plum once again goes after the bad guys as her bounty hunting job depends on it. With hijinks that ensue one cannot help but laugh out loud at many points in this book. What with the weight loss –sigh—and slightly going after gang members that want her dead, Plum makes the book entertaining and keeps readers on their toes in anticipation as to what will happen next.

SECOND…
Lula is HILARIOUS. This is typical for the character and without her in the book it just would not be as entertaining.

Third…
Grandma Mazur. All fans of the series know why SHE makes the series excellent. She is by far the most HILARIOUS character of them all. While I wish she played a bigger role in this story, I can’t wait to see what she’s up to next

FINALLY…
Ranger and Morelli. Both of these characters add an edge to the book, but I would like to see some more developments with them in future books.

Overall rating: 4.5 GREAT

Would I read again? YES!

My Love of Books

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on hand to witness the robbing of a store by the Red Devil, a masked guy who robs stores, sets fire to them and gets away on his bike. Discovering he’s part of one of the local gangs, she makes the mistake of cruising through their territory trying to spot him, and to escape when her car is mobbed, has to run a few of them over. Now there’s a contract on her head and they seem to find her wherever she goes.

To add to her problems, Ranger is out of town, although this turns out to be a good thing as she discovers the location of the Bat Cave. While trying to lay low and avoid gang members, she still has to bring in skips, deal with the preparations for her sister’s wedding and her relationship with Morelli.

As with the prior stories, chaos reigns and there is both plenty of action as well as humor and sexual tension. And the ending is rather unexpected.

Forget common sense and the fact that Stephanie doesn’t seem to grow and many of the gags have been used before. It’s still a fun story and a great way to escape reality for a few hours.

This is the tenth book in Janet Evanovich’s hysterical Stephanie Plum Series. It follows in the same footsteps as its predecessors. It’s a laugh-out-loud, very funny mystery that is ridiculously unrealistic, sometimes silly, but always thoroughly enjoyable. 

Ditzy NJ bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and her ex-ho sidekick Lula find themselves witnessing a gang related robbery. The thief, Red Devil becomes aware that Stephanie Plum can positively ID him. So to the Red Devil, crazy bounty hunter Stephanie Plum becomes a problem…a problem that needs to be eliminated a.s.a.p. A contract for her head is instituted and suddenly Stephanie’s life is no longer her own. She is not only the hunter, but now she is also the hunted.  
Stephanie always has two male rescuers in her life – Joe Morelli, a NJ.cop and her long-time lover, and Ranger, a mysterious, too sexy for his own skin ex-special forces bounty hunter. Each book in this series tends to focus on Stephanie’s attraction to and her romantic interludes with, either Joe Morelli or Ranger, except for in this book. There is very little romance in it, which I found disappointing. I also found the way both these men behave in her life did not always ring true to their character’s nature.  

For instance, Stephanie is afraid for her life, and since Ranger is away, she breaks into his apartment for a safe place to stay. While there, she makes herself at home and enjoys (even though she feels guilty) Ranger’s personal items. I find it very uncharacteristic for control freak, over-protective cop, Italian Stallion Joe Morelli to be okay with Stephanie staying in Ranger’s apartment. It is unclear whether he even knows that Ranger is away, or if he is aware, then he doesn’t know when Ranger will be returning. And Ranger, who doesn’t do relationships beyond sex, ends up having a feelings conversation with the woman he finds in his bed. 
But all in all I enjoyed this book and if I didn’t know the characters as well as I do, these inconsistencies wouldn’t have bothered me at all. The book has lots of witty dialogue and funny outlandish situations. As a bonus, I have a new favorite character…Sally Sweet the transvestite. Just wait until you meet him, you are going to just love him..her. 

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich is another hilarious tale. Adventure as always with Stephanie Plum. A woman sleuth who gets into ore trouble than she should. Even with help, Stephanie still lands into danger. This time, involving a powerful gang out to quiet her. Stephanie Plum, doesn't just solve crimes but catches the bad guys too. Entertaining as ever...with a bit of romance. Risks are something that the protagonist lives for....it's funny watching her go stir crazy with nothing to do. Overall, Ten Big Ones is a great read.

I bought this from my local Human Society store.

Stephanie Plum is out of control. Seriously, she needs to get it together.

She's still living in a dump, still working for her uncle, still can't do her job even half-way decently. Her on again/off again relationship with a great guy is definitely off again and she can't help put push him away. All that is mostly the plot of the book which is mixed in with some really bad criminals who are determined to kill her, again. She goes to the only person who doesn't mind bending the rules for her, again. She skates by on the skin of her teeth, again. This girl. I feel like starting a fund so she can get a life coach.

I feel the plot in the last book was starting to wear a bit thin, but this book made a bit of comeback. I'm hoping it might be a turn-around for Plum. I've been through ten books with her, but it's getting a bit monotonous to watch her make the same mistakes without learning anything, kind of like Rex on his gerbil wheel. Fingers crossed that #11 will bring something new.

This had to be my favorite one so far. I've been told by quite a few people they do not like this series and do not understand why I read it. Well, let me tell ya this series makes me actually laugh out loud. They are a joy to read, because of the stupid luck Stephanie has. The trouble, her band of back up, and the triangle between Ranger, Steph, and Joe. I mean really in her position I would probably do the same things.

Stephanie manages to get herself in deep this time with the gangs of Trenton. Her sister is getting married, Sally Sweet makes a return appearance (which excites me because I really like his character), Steph yet again loses another car and Ranger comes to the rescue. This time I was surprised she manages to lose and have all three cars destroyed or in need of repair, but manages to keep all three of Ranger's vehicles clean.

Ten big ones, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie band together to get answers from a gang member they bonded out of jail. To the Nines I really enjoyed the three working together in Vegas, but in Ten big ones it was hilarious their inability to interrogate the gang member.

The love triangle going on between Ranger, Stephanie, and Joe sometimes bugs me a little bit, because Joe wants her to quit her job and do as he says. However we all know that if she did that would Joe really be happy? Less stressed yes, but why else has Stephanie always kept his attention. If she changed and got out of Bounty Hunting and stayed out of trouble. It really wouldn't be Stephanie anymore.

She decides to hide in Rangers apartment. I thought we were getting closer to the BatCave. Sadly we haven't yet, but I feel Stephanie will finally find it at some point. Ranger doesn't want Stephanie hurt either but he approaches it in a different way. He knows she will go against any demand that is made of her she doesn't like so he is smart enough to send someone to protect her if he can't. This is what Joe needs to learn. Yes he's Italian and a cop, but still. He's known Stephanie for how long???? Just ask her instead of demanding. She usually knows the danger she's in and is admitting it until Joe makes a demand that sends her usually into more trouble. I cannot wait to pick up the next book and read the next adventure.

I received a paperback of this as a birthday gift from a friend who didn't know my feelings for Janet Evanovich changed drastically around book six. Still, I tried. Until book nine. But because my friend gave me this, and I'd always loved the series so much, I went into this with an open mind. Sadly it seems like recycled crap, just like book nine, and maybe worse.
Other readers whom I hooked on this author and her once delightful series, assume most 4 & 5 star reviews come from Evanovich's/Plum's first time readers who haven't been through the redundant dialogue for six or seven other novels. Enough is enough. Either write a new and intriguiging storyline or kill off this series.

Cute, clumsy, Stephanie Plum went from being fun to watch with various hijinks, to turning flat out stupid. STUPID! As was one of Ms. Evanovich's biggest fans who recommended her novels to everyone I met (until I tired of her repetitive stories) I refused to write a bad review based on her first five novels. But what was once original and funny has become "Not that line, again!" Maybe the author (or whomever is penning her books now, thinks slightly rewriting used lines is something her readers aren't sophisticated enough to notice. We do.

No grammatical errors, just errors in judgment. Too sad for this once great author. Retire the series, already!

I am reading the Stephanie Plum series in order and while there are some issues, overall I enjoyed the continuing saga that is Stephanie's life. I love that Sally is back, and I am enjoying all the antics. I laughed out loud at several places in this one. It is a fairly funny installment. I am a little restless over the romantic situation and feel that it needs to move in one direction or another, but I look at this series like I would a TV series, it's all for entertainment. The end of the book left a lot to be desired. I thought it was missing a few chapters. It also was a little over-the-top in the suspension of belief category. Overall though, when I compare this series to what's out there, it's better than most. So, it still gets 4 stars. Of course I didn't pay $9 for it either.

There is marriage in the making , apartment seeking and of course mischief in the new Stephanie Plum novel. Stephanie's sister Valerie is getting married to Albert Kloughn , the father of their new baby. During a bond pick-up our two favourite gals Lula and Stephanie re-connect with Sally Sweet - the tranvestite from the early books. He is now working during the day as a School bus driver and since of course he is such a fashionista , Sally takes on the role as Valerie's Wedding Planner. What's a Stephanie Plum novel without a bit of car blowing up , trouble and the chemistry between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. In Ten Big Ones , Stephanie and Lula stumbled into the middle of a gang war and Stephanie is able to identify the leader known as Red Devil. Now hot on her tail is a contract killer known as The Junkman . Can Morelli keep Stephanie safe ? What happens when Stephanie has enough and finds herself staying at one of Ranger's apartments ? Will this along with the new car that Stephanie has to borrow from Ranger add her even deeper to his debt and favours ? What will happen when Lula, Stephanie along with the help of Connie take matters into their own hands and end up kidnapping the "Red Devil" ? Will they find themselves out of a job and their employer Vinnie having to bail them out ? As we all know Vinnie is a slimy sex fiend we find out in Ten Big ones who he calls and what his nickname and preference is ?.
Another awesome installment in the Stephanie Plum series and the one major thing I love about these books is the chemistry between Joe Morelli and Stephanie / Ranger and Stephanie and of course the zany friendship and characters that Lula and Stephanie meet.
The biggest question that remains in Ten Big Ones is though readers .....
Is Stephanie Plum pregnant and if so is it Ranger's or Morelli's bun in the oven ?

Stephanie is in the middle of a robbery on her lunch break, Lula shooting the tires of the robbers bike tires, and a bomb cocktail sets off another of Plum's zany escapades. She has gotten herself involved now with a bad-ass gang who now has put her on a hit list and there is a new leader from LA called "Junkman" who wants to do some really bad things to her, then kill her in the end. She gets in an arguement with her long time lover, Joe Morelli after her car and his house is graffitied from the gang. Not feeling safe to go home, back to Morelli's or her old apartment where her engaged sister, fiance and baby live, she uses Ranger's GPS and finds his hideout. With the elusive, sexy and mysterious Ranger gone for two weeks, she makes herself at home in his apartment. She becomes addicted to his body gel, towels and bed. Wait until Ranger comes home to find "Goldilocks Stephanie sleeping his bed. She has a big dilema, not only trying not to be passed around by gang members and then killed, but the conflicting feelings and thoughts she has for the two men.
I found this book still funny, but a bit more on the darker side With the gang issues, suggested torture and the conflict between Morelli and Ranger. I sort of thought it more suspenseful than hilarious. Still, Lula, Grandma Mazur and all of Stephanie's family, adding in the return of Sally the transvestite/singer, still keeps you chuckling.

I came in to see what was being said about this, because I'm confused, and wanted to know if I was alone. I read Full House, one of Evanovich's early works, and liked it so much, I decided to start looking into her other works.
(Full House has nothing to do with Plum) I am listening to the DVD, and I find it repetative from some of her other novels. I am finding this a lot in contemporary writers. They keep hashing out things already revealed in earlier works, etc., and for the real fan, this is boring. I just can't figure that out, Why they do that, if they didn't do that, wouldn't a reader be tempted to buy the earlier work to see what the background was?
I get so bored with 'Lenny' (I think is) the guys stingy slimy, unapprecitive character, and I keep waiting for Plum to tell him where to go and strike out on her own. What the heck harm could it do? Who needs a 'boss' like that? Especially in fiction????
I find Diesel rather amusing, but where the heck did he come from? I'd like to know more about the hunk. And the ex-prostitute's voice is almost overcoming and unbelieveable. I guess I'll finish it, I mean, I have it. But, I am reading it at night...it's putting me to sleep. I'd like to see more Full House type stories from JE. That one is a winner.

TEN BIG ONES is the tenth book in the hugely popular Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

This time Stephanie is in more trouble than ever as she becomes the focus of local gangs, who plan to hunt her down and kill her. In between avoiding the gangs Stephanie becomes deeper in her lusting for Ranger and trying to define her relationship with Morelli.

I'm not sure I would define TEN BIG ONES as a cozy mystery as there was no real "murder mystery". There were murders but it was pretty clear to the killer since the reader was told right away.

Nonetheless the series is a mystery/crime series so I'm going to review it for my mystery blog.

I've loved this series from the very beginning. The first book, ONE FOR THE MONEY, was one of my all time favourite books, but now, ten books later, the plot lines seemed very thin. Instead TEN BIG ONES mainly centres on the romantic interaction of the love triangle between Stephanie, her copy boyfriend, Morelli, and sexy bounty hunter, Ranger.

TEN BIG ONES was a fun read and I still find the love triangle enjoyable (I'm #TeamRanger). However the plot lines were pretty weak so this is just a 3-star read for me.

I will likely read the rest of the series but I won't be going out of my way to read them right now.

This is my routine for beginning a Stephanie Plum novel: I grab a few peanut butter Oreos and a glass of milk and curl up on the couch in my comfy pants. I open the book and read the first paragraph: "The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don't really know what it's about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it's good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt." And that's when I burrow just a little deeper into the couch cushions, confident that Janet Evanovich has written another laugh-out-loud winner I won't be able to put down.

Moments of hilarity abound in TEN BIG ONES, Evanovich's tenth foray into the world of Stephanie Plum. In this outing, Stephanie (out of that sheer bad luck she can't seem to escape) witnesses one of a chain of robberies by the "Red Devil," a gang member who's been terrorizing Trenton's convenience stores and delis for months. Not only does she see the robbery (and, inevitably, get her car blown up), but she also sees the Red Devil's face--which, unfortunately, makes her a target for two of Trenton's most prominent, scariest gangs.

Since she doesn't want to put on-again love Joe Morelli or her family in danger, Steph retreats into hiding in the only place she knows no one will ever find her, a place she only stumbled upon by sheer luck (good this time): Ranger's apartment (be still my heart). More bad news is awaiting her outside the walls of Ranger's plush digs, however: The Red Devil's gang has hired a contract killer called "The Junkman" to ferret her out--and to show no mercy when he finds her. But Stephanie still has a job to do, and reading about her attempts to bring in her FTAs while at the same time being on the lookout for her assassin is pure entertainment.

All our favorite characters are back--including Sally Sweet, rock-star drag-queen extraordinaire. He hasn't been around since FOUR TO SCORE, and he makes a triumphant return in TEN BIG ONES by adding school bus driver (think Otto, from The Simpsons) and wedding planner for Steph's sister Valerie to his résumé. There's Lula, of course, whose closet has no end of hot-pink and animal-print spandex clothing (if you could call it clothing); and Granda Mazur, who's 70 but looks 100; and Joe Morelli, who loves Steph almost as much as he is exasperated by her; and, of course, there's Ranger--enigmatic, good-smelling, sexy man of mystery who Stephanie (and me, too) finds completely irresistible. Steph's FTAs are great characters, too, as usual; among them is a woman who robbed a Frito Lay truck and has since developed an addiction to Doritos.

Whether you like this installment or not will come down to your individual preference. People who prefer the more action-packed Plum plots (say THAT five times fast!) may not be in love with this one; the plot of TEN BIG ONES tends to meander--Stephanie takes lots of showers, eats lots of doughnuts, and feeds Rex quite a few morsels in this one. But those who read the Stephanie Plum books for the characters, who feel like Evanovich's Trenton gang is a second family--you will LOVE this one. All our favorites are there, in all their glory, being just as goofy as we remember.

I'm a member of the second group of readers; I really enjoyed TEN BIG ONES. Aside from a rather abrupt ending, Janet Evanovich has offered up another winner.

On to Number 11...I can already hear the Oreos calling my name!

As usual, Stephanie Plum is up to wacky antics in Ten Big Ones. The only problem is, she has crossed paths with gang members who consequently want to find her and kill her. This is not a new type of predicament for Stephanie, but it's the first time she seems genuinely scared. Terrified enough to find a safe place to hide out that is not her cop boyfriend's house. The typical characters are all present and accounted for in Ms Evanovich's 10th installment in the series. Lula continues to be Stephanie's bounty hunter assistant, Grandma Mazur is still wacky as ever, Ranger & Morelli continue to be Stephanie's love/lust interests, and Stephanie's sister is planning a wedding which is inconvenient for Stephanie since she happens to be in hiding from the gang that wants to kill her. Ten Big Ones is another quick and fun read in this series. I will say the plot lines and some of the characters have become very formulaic, but I still enjoyed this novel from the series.

Janet Evanovich has a large and loyal following and I am sure those of us who rushed out and bought TEN BIG ONES will go out and buy her next book just as quickly. However, and I think this is an important "however", if her next book is as bland as TEN the fan index will drop off. Bland and regurgitated, which although not bland isn't inviting either, describe the dialogue and subplots in this Plum novel. Of course, as readers we are spoiled by previous episodes and have come to expect laugh out loud plots and dialogues. These were few in TEN. I agree with another reviewer, I just couldn't find the humor in the dog humping episode, and the unidentified glob in Stephanie's hair,(think "Something About Mary" but really weird and kinkier) went on too long and fell flat.
Perhaps, it is the total void of humor when dealing with gang bangers, although Ms Evanovich managed to make a book around a sociopathic boxer humorous, but in TEN Ms Evanovich seemed tired and uninspired. Even the sexual byplay was pretty pathetic. Ms Plum has been having regular relations with Morelli (who apparently is rather proficient) so the Ranger shower gel overkill was just that overkill. It didn't work. Finally the ending, I realize this is fiction but after being slugged so hard your teeth go through your bottom lip, manhandled by men who are going to gang rape you, and then watching numerous people get shot to death, I think a bit more of a reaction would have been elicited by Ms Plum and by the men in her life. Personally I think the wedding shower would have made a more humorous comic situation with a chance at introducing different facets to regular Plum characters.
Finally, I think Ms Evanovich needs to "fish or cut bait" with the never resolved Morelli vs Ranger. The part where I was rather intrigued was the Stephanie pregnant or "is she just fat" incident, just think of LuLu as a godmother or Morelli's grandmother's reaction if Stephanie refuses to marry or ...well I'm not an author but it does give one something to ponder.

Ten Big Ones is your average Stephanie Plum novel. The one thing that pushed the book past mediocrity was the ending. I loved the ending. It was one of those never saw it coming, awesome surprises. Probably the best ending of the first ten books.

Stephanie leaves Morelli (yet again). This time she's claiming it's for his safety. In fact, Stephanie seems to be trying to keep herself out of danger this time around. She's not as bumbling as usual and it's about time. She's still not great at her job, but at least she seems slightly less likely to be killed.

Lots of Ranger, though only a little Ranger action - in both senses of the word. Ranger actually starts to seem like a real live person in Ten Big Ones, rather than super hot, action-figure Ranger. He's even funny on occasion.

A great balance between Stephanie's home and work life as usual. Valerie's planning her wedding with Sally Sweet as her wedding planner. And he's good at it. Lula and Connie help Stephanie in a hysterical "torture" scene that'll leave you thinking less of all of them. All in all, an interesting addition to the series that leaves me wondering if Stephanie's days as a bounty hunter are numbered.

It must be hard to keep such colorful characters fresh after ten books. For all those of us who love Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, Grandma Mazur, Lula, et al., I personally hope they go on forever. I will thoroughly enjoy each book, because I love the characters so much. That said, I have thought for several books that someone was ghostwriting for Janet. Sometimes the jokes are just too formulaic and we've heard them all at least ten times. This book was better than the last few, in places really sounding like Janet, but the ending was too abrupt and implausible. I was left thinking, well that was fun, but, c'mon, what really happened??? And please, Stephanie shared a bed with Ranger, but nothing else???? No breathing woman would do that. I disagree with those critical of Janet's use of racial stereotypes, since it is so much a part of the series' personality and never done maliciously. Stephanie and her family are themselves stereotypes, caricatures of the Catholic, working-class, Jersey family. I miss the kookier Stephanie, the one who got handcuffed to the shower rod or drove off with Morelli's clothes, leaving him naked in the road. I also miss the depth of plot and characters that made up the first three books. I agree with other reviewers that I'd rather wait longer for the next book and have it be more complex than pressure Janet to slam-bam out a book every year. But, Janet, we love you and the whole Stephanie crowd. I'll eagerly read them up to any number!

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and her co-worker Lula are off to buy nachos, but in the meantime witness a robbery from the "Red Devil". No one was hurt, but yet another one of Stephanie's cars gets destroyed.

Stephanie finds out the hard way that she is now being targeted by a gang. Now she's on a hit list for the famous "Junkman", and Stephanie has to stay in hiding to protect herself. Morelli and Stephanie are having a rocky relationship, and with fear that she might be endangering anyone she lives with, she sets off to find a good location. However, Stephanie manages to find her way to Ranger's apartment while he is away.

Ranger has returned just in time to get a lead on Junkman, but has also hired several bodygaurds to keep Stephanie safe. All the while, Valerie is planning a wedding, but Junkman has confronted and threatened Stephanie.

---

I want to tell you the end so badly, but you'll just have to read it for yourself! I must say I was somewhat disappointed with "Seven Up" and "Hard Eight", but this one exceeded my hopes. I didn't beat the last novel, but it still is a classic.

Janet Evanovich has done yet another great job adding an unusual twist to the life of Stephanie Plum, and I never would have expected it to even begin the way it did!

I know I can always count on these novels to be packed with plenty of thrills, and I still laughed. The best part was that we finally got more information on what Ranger is about. We didn't exactly see his "Bat Cave", but I was happy to hear Stephanie had finally managed to scope out his apartment, and so cleverly too!

This tenth Stephanie Plum adventure starts off with a bang (literally) as a trip to the convenience store for Stephanie Plum and her sidekick Lulu turns into an explosion. It turns out that Stephanie and Lulu with their bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time have interrupted a hold-up of the store, and the Molotov cocktail intended for the store ends up destroying yet another of Stephanie's cars. However, Stephanie gets a glimpse of the gang member who torched her car, and then she learns that his Gang, the Red Devils, is out to silence her, permanently.

After she finds out that she's on the gang's hit list, Stephanie goes into hiding, ultimately spending most of the book hiding in fellow bounty hunter Ranger's apartment. I felt that there wasn't nearly as much action in this story as in the previous Stephanie Plum books. Plus, I did get tired of Stephanie moaning about her weight gain one minute, then eating a dozen doughnuts the next minute.

I honestly couldn't recommend this book to a reader unfamiliar with the Stephanie Plum series. "Ten Big Ones" just doesn't pack the laughs and zany action of the other books. However, the last few pages are great, vintage Stephanie Plum. I just wish the rest of the book was of the same caliber.

Stephanie Plum usually encounters danger during her job as a bounty hunter, but this time it happens while she's off-duty. While buying nachos at a local deli, she witnesses a robbery and gets a good look at the robber's face. He wants Stephanie dead, but she refuses to stay inside Joe Morelli's (her on and off again boyfriend) house all day long, angering Morelli. She hides at Ranger's apartment (one of his apartments, that is), while trying to catch the gang leader before he has her killed.

Janet Evanovich's books always have plenty of humor and this is no exception. Especially funny is the hiring of "Sally", a transvestite, as the wedding planner for Stephanie's sister's weeding. But nothing new really happens in this book although we get a glimpse of Ranger's apartment, and how he lives, at least part of the time. Connie is in the book a little bit more and the scene where she, Stephanie, and Lula "kidnap" someone is hilarious. But this book mostly reads like every other book in the series. Stephanie's car gets blown up, she eats too much and then worries about her weight, she and Morelli fight, she lusts after Ranger, etc. etc.

Fans of Stephanie Plum will like this book, but it isn't the best in the series.

number 10 here we are. I read these books and felt it only fair to post a review even though i read them several years ago. You see when I found and read the first book I was hooked. I had to know what was coming next now I am truly stuck. I have a hard time waiting patiently for the next book so I keep watching and waiting for a release date. then that day I get the book and finish before bed. Maybe I should slow down a little but I can't I have to know whats going on with Morelli and Ranger as well as whomever she is sent out to pick up for Vinny.

Deja Vu! I think I've read this book before. Everything in this book felt familiar; maybe because Janet Evanovich found her best-selling Stephanie Plum madcap romp formula. And she's laughing herself all the way to the bank. Ever since the books started going straight to the top ten lists, it feels like originality is sacrificed for "safe" humor. Follow a plotline or situation that has worked once before - just put a tiny new twist on it.

I love the books about Stephanie Plum. This one is no exception. My problem with the book was that I expected so much more from an author as creative and talented as Janet Evanovich. The books were different from the norm, and highly amusing. Now, they feel like a rerun of the Nanny - enjoyable, but you can always predict what is going to happen next, and with the lack of anticipation, some of the humor fades away to annoyance.

Several times I wanted to shake Stephanie for being so stupid. Since she remembers so much from her younger years, you think that she would remember things that happened recently (ie: from other books). I couldn't understand what motivated her behavior for most of the story: she should know better by now, learning from experience.

The book has WAY too much Lula and Grandma. I love these characters, but we see them so much that they're wearing themselves out. I've heard the fat and funeral parlor jokes one too many times for them to be as funny as they once were.

Unfortunatly, I don't see many of the legitimate fans opinions doing too much to change the direction of the series. The author merely has to slap her name on the book to sell a ton of copies, why change what is working?

Save your money, buy in paperback. You won't be as disappointed.

Stephanie Plum's the target of a hit man in the newest Evanovich episode ...her 10th book in the life of the funny New Jersey bounty hunter. She's got to find a place to hide, and she doesn't want to endanger her sister (now staying at Stephanie's pad) or Joe Morelli, or her parents. Naturally, with fellow bounty hunter Ranger out of town, Stephanie can hide out in his secure digs, if she can find them. Aside from the laughs, in this episode of Evanovich's series, Stephanie has serious trouble and is in real danger when she witnesses first-hand the "Red Devil", a dangerous and violent robber. She's trouble for the Red Devil and also for a local gang, the Comstock Street Slayers....together, they arrange for a hit on her. Gone are the days when Plum's bail bondsman adventures are all madcap...she's involved with real criminals, now.

In this episode, there are the usual jokes about the men in Stephanie's life, Krispy Kreme donuts and assorted fattening foods, Stephanie's crazy family and her office cohorts, Lula and Connie....and of course, Stephanie's dilemma about her "men". Will it be Morelli or Ranger? There are enough laughs, coupled with enough suspense, for the seasoned Evanovich reader. Nothing new here, but just as entertaining as Plum's former escapades.

Best of all, Sally Sweet, the cross-dressing bus driver from "Four to Score" is back, and displaying new talent as the wedding planner for Stephanie's sister's nuptials. Too funny for words!

Read it for a great escape into fun and light suspense from the woman (Evanovich) who really launched this genre.
Highly recommended...don't be fooled, no one really expects great characterization or intricate plotting from the Plum series. It's pure fun.

The latest is this long running series finds Stephanie Plum having one outrageous misadventure after another. She, somehow despite previous disasters and near misses along with some success, is still a Bond Enforcement Agent working for her cousin Vincent Plum. And she still manages to get herself into major trouble with or without Lulu's help. In this case, Lulu helped.

While standing in a parking lot debating lunch choices with Stephanie, Lulu decides to show Stephanie her gun. In so doing, she manages to shoot the rear tire of a bicycle leaned against the window of the local deli-mart. Seconds later, they witness the robbery of the deli-mart by a man in mask, known as the Red Devil robber. A number of things go wrong, including the fact that his escape vehicle, the bike, has a flat tire. In the ensuing chaos, not only does Stephanie lose her car to yet another fiery explosion, she can identify the robber. He is a member of the local gang known as the "Slayers." Of course, gangs thrive on violence and intimidation and they can't have Stephanie messing up their plans. So, while she is out chasing various people who failed to appear, the Slayers put out a contract on her life as well as three others.

All the usual characters are back in this adventure, which includes separate storylines on Grandma Mazur as well as Valerie and her love life. The sexual tension between Stephanie and Ranger continues while at the same time she might be finally ready to admit she loves Morelli. The humor is back as well, a hallmark of this series, with several downright hysterical scenes.

But, a word of warning as well. The risqué parts are back as well and more over the top with graphic descriptions than ever before. This is a trend that started several novels ago and shows no sign of stopping. As such, some of this may offend some readers. This is a good series but this novel certainly pushes the boundaries, as there is considerable sexual innuendo as well as graphic descriptions of suspects who have lost their pants, for one reason or another.

If you have read the series then you know what to expect. If you haven't, I would strongly suggest you start at the beginning, which was "One For The Money." Not only because this is an ongoing series with continuous character development and exploits, but also because of the risqué factor.

Book Facts:

Ten Big Ones

By Janet Evanovich

[...]

Random House Large Print

[...]

2004

ISBN # 0-375-43203-5

Hardback-Large Print

421 Pages

$27.95 US

$39.95 Canada

This entire review previously appeared online at the Blue Iris Journal Blog.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2004

I did enjoy this book, I've been waiting forever for the next installment in the Plum series. Sadly, I had it read in a little over two hours and put it down feeling very unsatisfied.
First of all, the book seems rushed. She builds up well and then loses it by wrapping everything up so quickly and neatly. This seems to be a trend with authors of series that start out paperback and then move to hardback and end up rushing and leaving everyone dissatisfied with the layout of cash for the HB that seems hurried along.
The book is hilarious though. The scene with the mad (...) dogs had me laughing so hard tears ran down my face. There's the usual insanity of the Plum family and the happy return of Sally Sweet who is now a school bus driver moonlighting as a cross dressing rock star. Grandma Mazur is her usual self and mom is drinking a heck of a lot of whiskey. Albert chokes and valerie gets cold feet, Morelli is sexy but insistent that Stephanie quit and Ranger is, as always, dark, dangerous and very very hot.
The mystery was good but again, I felt that it had good build up and ended up getting rushed. Where most books have at least a hundred pages that are superflous, this book needed at least another hundred pages.
Uh and Stephanie is in Ranger's bed in a tee shirt and (...)and we only get a hastily written kiss? The scenes between her and Morelli got a few paragraphs. I wanted more, the usual definition she gives so that you get a great feel for what they all mean to each other - that is the heart of a Plum book and that is what's missing in Ten Big Ones.
Evanovich can write well, she's got a great sense of humor and the characters are all interesting and have great chemistry together, which is a rare thing. I felt like this book had so much more potential and it got wasted.

I agree that Stephanie should be developing as a bounty hunter. It does get annoying when she leaves her gun at home and trusts these skips to go with her. Some of the books in the series do sound alike, but I also think that's part of the charm.

I disagree that the love triangle needs to be resolved. I think Evanovich should really consider giving Stephanie and Ranger a chance, but I wouldn't want to see Stephanie give up Morelli or Ranger. I like the fact that she's not tied down to either one. Both are described as delicious men and it would be ashame for Steph to lose out on either one.

I LOVED the fact that Stephanie found one of Ranger's hideouts. Let's be serious though, if you woke up next to a man described like Ranger would you simply get out of bed and conduct business as usual?? I think there was definitely a missed writing opportunity there.

As for the rest of the crew Lula is my absolute favorite. I also loved the return of Sally Sweet. Definitely added to the story. I love when Connie, Lula and Steph all get together, too. Read book 9 about when they go to Las Vegas. I almost wet my pants laughing so much! 10 wasn't the greatest this time, but I still finished the book in 3 days. Can't wait for book 11! I'll never stop reading the Plum series!

By now, faithful readers of Ms. Evanovich will already know the plot: goofy bounty hunter mediocre Stephanie Plum, in the midst of some bond enforcement shenanigans, ticks off the wrong person and is targeted for car fires, smacking around and death. Mixed in are some fighting with Morelli (will Steph commit or won't she), lusting after Ranger, abuse of Rex the hamster who only seems to get fed junk food and lots of zany sidekick action from Lula, Connie and the infamous Grandma Mazur. Ten books in, Evanovich sees no reason to mess with a winning formula, and it works again, only sort of this time.
Defying all logic, inept Steph manages to locate and infiltrate the Ranger Bat Cave, keep ahead of a major assassin, string Morelli along one book longer and yet again encounter the strangest people the burbs have to offer. The laugh-out-loud moments are fewer than in any other Plum book, but there are enough of them to keep you interested, if not glued to the pages. If you've read any of books 1-9, you already know the ending and you already know there won't be any resolution of the relationship issues.
Writing a long-term series strains the talents of even the best authors (J.D. Robb, Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell, among others), so Evanovich can be excused for some of the plot fatigue. I just can't help but think these characters should be moving along beyond the limits set within the first few books by now rather than replaying the same old schtick.
Ten Big Ones is a well-written and well-crafted book that reads fairly quickly. What disappoints is that it could and should have been a lot more. I hope Evanovich takes a little extra time with the eleventh installment and gives her loyal readers a better story next time around.

I am tired because I have been up late finishing this book! Evanovich has done it again!! If you are a Stephanie Plum fan than you will NOT be disappointed! If you have not read these books then you are in for a real treat! Get all ten of them, take a few days off of work, (because you won't want to put these down), and dive in! This light hearted series features the misadventures of one Stephanie Plum. The situations that Stephanie and her pals get themselves into are so crazy and off the wall that you can't help but laugh. Who else can blow up so many cars with such style?
There are two reasons why I love these books so much. Number one is the crazy situations. Being the kind of person who seems to attract natural disaster, I find that Stephanie is a kindred spirit. Number two is the hilarious dialogue. The way the characters react and talk to each other is a trip. Evanovich is a great writer with a lot of wit.
In Ten Big Ones a major lunch decision leads to a disaster and Stephanie ends up on a hit list. Car trouble, family drama, the sexual tension of her love triangle, and a couple of gang members provide the reader with comic relief and keep Stephanie firmly in trouble. What is amazing is that after ten books this stuff just doesn't get old. If anything it keeps getting better and better!
Warning...you will crave doughnuts while reading this book...

I have read most of the Stephanie Plum books and some of Janet Evanovich's other collaborative efforts. I think the Stephanie Plum series is a lot of fun. It is not a hard core mystery or suspense or even romance. It is light-hearted, some silly potty humor, some sexual FUN (jokes, innuendo, etc.) and lots of very weird but sometimes true-to-life characters. I could match a few people I know with Stephanie's sister Valerie (huh, that's my name too!) and her dad!

Ranger is the mysterious man of very few words. I think Ranger and Joe Morelli really love Stephanie and are both exasperated by her, sometimes frightened for her, but at the same time almost anticipate what trouble she might get into next.

This story has Stephanie and her sometimes-partner Lulu stopping at a convenience store that is being robbed by the "Red Devil" who is called that due to his manner of dress and because he firebombs the store upon leaving. Lulu and Stephanie hear the robbery going on so Lulu grabs her gun and accidentally shoots out the tires of the Red Devil's bike. He comes out of the store and throws in the fire bomb, sees his bike and starts coming after Lulu and Stephanie, the store owner comes out with the fire bomb in his hand and lobs it at the Red Devil so what does it do? Remember Stephanie's luck with cars?

Lots of menace and mayhem ensue as Lulu and Stephanie try to track the Red Devil, apprehend some bondees, get ready for Valerie's wedding and "borrow" Ranger's truck.

Are most of the situations improbable to impossible to believe? Sure but for me that is what a FICTION NOVEL is for -- to have fun with scenarios that would NEVER come up in real life.

If you just want some comic relief or craziness, you will have fun with this book. If you want serious plots, etc., don't bother!

Starting with the tenth book in a series probably isn't the place to start, but then I've always liked doing certain things backwards, like looking through magazines. Ten Big Ones is my first Evanovich book. The humor is a bit sophomoric, but I found myself LOL at some of the antics of its characters. One of my favorite characters turned out to be Sally, the transvestite. Snap. Snap.

The story opens with the destruction of yet another of Stephanie's vehicles, which, of course, is not her fault-not much is her fault. She spends her days going after "skips" - those who don't show up for their court date after the bail bonds company she works for posts bond. Because Stephanie happened to see the face of the Red Devil during a robbery, she's in more danger than the usual stuff of catching up with skips. Therein lies the plot, such as it is.

Between Stephanie's bounty hunting escapades; her romantic trysts and fantasies; and her quirky family and friends, she has her hands full. Grandma Mazur is a pip, while sister, Valerie, and her live-in-boyfriend-father-of-her-new-baby, Albert Kloughn (yes, it's pronounced Clown), make everyone sick with their Cuddle Umpkins, Cutie Uggums baby talk to each other. Then there's Lula, the office file clerk, and ex-ho, who is Stephanie's sidekick as she makes her rounds in the Trenton area of New Jersey. Lula's physical presence, demeanor, and antics add considerable comedy to the story. Then there's Taskykakes, doughnuts, shower gel and Chez Doodles. If you're looking for light fare this is it. Ms. E is a master craftsman at writing light comedy with a tinge of suspense.

If you'll excuse me now, I'm going to go cuddle with my Snuggy Uggums.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

The problem with being a best-selling author is that expectations run very high -- everyone says "oh, it's not as good as her earlier work." Sometimes that's true, but sometimes I think it's a question of expectations being higher.

OK, there were parts of this book that I would have edited out -- I would have edited out quite a bit, in fact. The whole dog scene was stupid and didn't contribute to the plot. The obsession about Ranger's apartment, soap, and underwear just went on for too long. And this book was long on romance and short on mystery. There's way too much about cheeze doodles and dieting in this book. All of that is true. I enjoyed it anyway.

Maybe it was the reading? I wasn't all that happy with the way Stephanie sounded as read, but the rest were right on. I hadn't realized before how funny Lula is. Morelli sounded just like I imagined him, as did Grandma Mazur.

The plot is basically Stephanie Plum, world's funniest bounty hunter, trying to avoid getting killed by a gang. The only mystery involves a motive. This is basically a framework for funny scenes and steamy romance. But there are some very funny lines and the romance is definitely hot, although this book is long on yearning and short on action.

I think Evanovich should work more on plot lines and having a real mystery to solve (she is, after all, basically a romance writer and does that extremely well in the context of the mystery genre). And I think that some of the jokes went on for too long and were overdone. There's only so much you can laugh about junk food.

Is this the best in the series? Probably not. Is it pretty good anyway? I thought so.

To Stephanie Plum fans it is no surprise that her car gets blown up! Maybe this is really what life is like in New Jersey and that explains the high car insurance rates in that state?

Well, actually, I know better. This series is fiction and a parody of the hard-boiled detective. So, not to worry Jerseyans!

Anyway, back to the book. To those who have read the others, this one continues the madcap adventures of our intrepid boutny hunter. Many of the pages are comfortable repetitions of the issues that have occupied our heroine in the other adventires. She is still a lowsy detective, still gets paid very little, still manages to find her way into some truly bizarre situations and still carries along the cast of supporting characters that have endeared her to many thousands of fans.

Grandma Mazur, Lula, Morelli, Ranger et al are back and in great form. So are Tank, Hal, Sally Sweet and many others that have made occasional appearances in this series. And yes, they provide at least half the yacks in this book!

In this volume, Stephanie manages to find her way into the gang scene and in typical Plum style, she is both in over her head ... and able to resolve the situation in an improbable way.

But no one reads a Stephanie Plum book expecting it to be even remotely close to the truth. These books are simply fun. The writing is hilarious and the situations that are described in the book are side-splitting fun.

One warning about this book and the series as a whole. Do NOT read them in public places, especially not in the New York City area on one of the trains. I made the mistake of reading it during my daily commute and suffered from having repeated bouts of flat-out laughter which caused everyone around me to give me the evil eye!!

Oh nevermind, they are uproariously funny. Quick reads. Buy and enjoy!

I am a Jersey girl (minus the big hair and the spandex) and live about 20 minutes from "The Burg." Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series was a perfect fit. But with her latest effort, Ten Big Ones, I feel that Evanovich is starting to lose some of her momentum. This isn't the caliber I have come to expect from her.

I fell in love with Stephanie Plum because this series is different: the plots are quirky, the characters are hysterical and the antics are a scream. When I first started reading the series, I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard. In Ten Big Ones, Stephanie finds herself pitted against the mob. The plot is rather trite and Stephanie makes one stupid decision after another. Even the subplots (which are usually entertaining) are boring. Who cares about Stephanie's sister and her impending marriage? When will Plum ever decide between Morelli and Ranger? Even Grandma Mazur disappoints. The ending wraps up way too quickly and is very contrived. Either Evanovich rushed this book to meet a deadline, or her editor dropped the ball on this one.

Toward the end of Ten Big Ones, Ranger tells Stephanie that "the guys like you-you're entertaining." Well, Ten Big Ones does not provide us with the entertainment we've come to expect from Evanovich. I will continue to read the Plum series, but hope for a better effort with number eleven.

It's been a while since I've read one of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, but a sudden need for light reading found Ten Big Ones at the book store. Plum's biggest worries tend to be about whether she is lusting after Joe Morelli or Ranger, how to get the latest bond jumper down to the police station, and how she is going to replace whatever vehicle just got destroyed. Definitely light fare, even if her current problem is how to avoid death identifying the thief in a grocery store heist and then turning the local gang leader into a careening pinball in traffic. He not only wants Stephanie dead, but he also wants her end to be spectacular.

Stephanie's response is to break up with her steady boyfriend, Joe Morelli, again, gorge on jelly donuts, and go into hiding at one of Ranger's lairs. Of course, this doesn't work as well as it should because even Ranger's soap is too sexy for words. And Stephanie, glutton for punishment that she is, she has to go out and make sure everyone knows that she is trying to keep a low profile. So, you see, this is standard Stephanie Plum fare - lighthearted mayhem and a heroine who is half macho and half wuss, usually with bad timing.

My issue with Evanovich's books isn't with any particular one, but with what happens if you read too many at one time. Stephanie's biggest problem is herself - a decided lack of common sense. Which is what you would expect from someone who works as a bounty hunter, but leaves her gun in the cookie jar. In four hundred pages this is funny, but if you've been reading a lot in a row, the steady diet of vaudeville sight gags is déjà vu all over again. After a break of a year or so this goes away and I found Ten Big Ones a pleasure to read. It introduces a whole ne order of plot complication and one of the more remarkable bus drivers in literary history. By all means, if you need a break from the weight of the world, take the time to read this.

TEN BIG ONES by Janet Evanovich

January 14, 2007

the store rating 4/5

Number ten in the Stephanie Plum series, TEN BIG ONES is another fun read by Janet Evanovich. I can never get enough of these books. I just love the characters, especially Stephanie, who always has at least one vehicle blow up (or catch on fire) and is currently living with cop Joe Morelli and his huge dog. (She's also got her hamster with her). Ranger, the huge gorgeous bounty hunter is also still in the picture, always showing up when she least expects him. In fact, while Ranger is out of town, Stephanie finds a way to locate his apartment and lives there for a period of time while she is hiding out from gang members who are trying to kill her. (Morelli doesn't know where she is, except that she's safe).

Lula is back, the ex-prostitute who now works for the bailbonds company that's owned by Stephanie's sleazy cousin Vinnie, and the two of them (Lula and

Stephanie) are working together. Even crazy Grandma Mazur is in on the act this time, which is always good for laughs. Sally, the transvestite from an older Stephanie Plum novel, has returned and is a welcome addition to the cast of zany characters. And let's not forget Stephanie's sister Valerie, who is pregnant and about to wed her geeky boyfriend Albert Kloughn...

While as always these books are funny, I felt this had a lot more tension and suspense, as it seemed like Stephanie was in really big danger from the gang member that wanted her dead. Even Morelli knew the odds of her staying alive while running around town were slim, and she was safe only if she kept indoors and in a secret location. Unfortunately, Stephanie has a problem with staying put....

Janet Evanovich is probably one of my favorite authors. I was hooked on the Stephanie Plum series from the very start. I've met this lady and she's a real sweetheart, so it hurts me to read a mediocre piece of work that she's written. Perhaps I expect too much. I have to agree she needs to write something new and different. She's got a good thing going with Joe and Ranger, and her relationships with both men will keep you guessing. But this book has a bit too much silliness in it for me. I think a person getting arrested for stealing chips off a potato chip truck is a little far-fetched. And even though Janet had a good idea for a great plot with this one, the ending just didn't fit at all. It seemed like she was at a loss for words and just didn't know how else to end this story. There were times when the writing didn't even sound like Janet, so I had to wonder about this one. Like I said, she's one of my very favorite authors, so I won't give up reading her future novels. I just hope she takes more time with the next one.

When I first discovered the Stephanie Plum series (I started with Four to Score, then backtracked), I was delighted with the character of Stephanie Plum. Although she was down on her luck, she was plucky, endearing, and canny enough to make the best of any situation she encountered. In earlier books, Stephanie was kind to her family and friends even though they drove her crazy, held her own in her on again/off again relationship with boyfriend cop Joe Morelli, and walked a fine line during her curious encounters with Ranger. She even showed some attitude with her smarmy cousin Vinnie, her ex-husband, and her nemesis Joyce Barnhardt. But now, Stephanie Plum has morphed into someone who is selfish, stubborn and just plain stupid. She has develped a childish mean streak and displays little regard for anyone but herself.

In Ten Big Ones, Stephanie is stalked by a gang hit man and, being the intrepid bounty hunter that she is, Stephanie walks right into the eye of the storm. Deciding that Joe's concern for her safety is too oppressive, she moves out of his house and into Ranger's unoccupied apartment. In one of her silliest schemes yet, she wrangles Lula and Connie into helping her kidnap a gang member, putting them all in jeopardy. And as her sister's nuptuals approach, Stephanie becomes more and more obnoxious. All this is played for laughs, but it misses the mark. The plot is deja vu, the characters predictable.

Sadly, the loveable characters created long ago by Evanovich are now stuck in a time warp where they never grow up, never change and they go through similar events again and again. Come on, bring back the old Stephanie and give Morelli something to do other than walk his dog Bob and answer his cell phone. I'm taking a vacation from this series. Bring on James Patterson, Laurie King, Lisa Gardner....

I love this series,I'm on eleven on top so far.book ten had me going crazy,probably my favorite so far! Although I will say that once I found out book one was a movie it kind of ruined the image of Joe for me and I want Stephanie to ditch him and go for ranger lmao.I never watched it but the images are imprinted on my brain.the characters in the books are nothing like the actors that play the role.not disappointed about Katherine being Stephanie though,love her acting!and ranger ?

Spoilers.
I'm a big fan, but absolutely agree with others that the book seemed rush and under-developed. I would rather read a fully-cooked book every two years than a half-cooked book every year. Sally Sweet arriving on the scene with his automatic weapons to conclude this episode was just one of many obvious plot cop-outs.
Evanovich keeps churning out new Stephanie Plum books without facing the inevitable fact that she's written herself in a corner. She cannot realistically develop Stephanie as a character and keep her trademark ultra-light tone. Every time she ventured down a dark path in TBO (torturing a kid, being kidnapped and threatened with gang rape) Evanovich stopped dead in her tracks. The result was a disjointed plot. It seems she doesn't want her character to suffer any real trauma, which is kind of silly when your character is a seasoned bounty hunter.
In my opinion, if Evanovich is not willing to write about the dark side of being a bounty hunter, not to mention the third point of a sloppy love triangle, she really should wrap up the series soon, while the characters still have their charm and dignity. Otherwise, she's going to have to take a few risks and go outside the "light reading" box she's put herself in and have Stephanie experience some pain.
Having Rex choke on a grape would be a start.

This tenth installment of the Stephanie Plum novels is by far one of the best. Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's notorious bounty hunter and her sidekick LuLu are out to lunch when the witness the Red Devil robber in action. Stephanie's ability to identify the Red Devil quickly makes her a target for the vicious street gang the Slayers. Soon after, her boyfriend Trenton detective Joe Morelli informs her that the Slayers have recruited Junkman from the west coast to murder her, as she is at the top of his hit list. Morelli's protective nature and Italian ego instantly put the two head to head and Stephanie declares her intention to move out. The gang crimes are escalating and Stephanie fears for her own life as well as the lives of her friends and family. On the outs with Joe and with no safe place left to hide, Stephanie turns to the one man who is capable of protecting her, Ranger. The only problem is that Ranger is incognito, but he did loan her his truck, which also happens to include the keys to his private apartment. Stephanie finds herself living lush in Ranger's seductive home but fears the consequences that will arise when he returns home. Beyond having a price on her head, Stephanie has to deal with her sister's engagement and the wedding plans rolling forward. Sally Sweet reappears and is officially declared the wedding planner. Running short on time, patience and sexual exploitation Stephanie constructs a plan to remove herself from Junkman's hit list before he gets to her. Ten Big Ones is a stellar book, and exciting read. In classic Evanovich style, the writing is superb, the plot is miraculous and the emotions run right off the page. Packed with humor, suspense, passion and action Ten Big Ones proves that Janet Evanovich is at the top of her game. Readers will want to reread this book over and over and enjoy it each time around. Valerie Jones [email protected]

I thoroughly enjoyed going a little deeper with the character of Ranger in this story. I also liked seeing the contrast of comfy life with Morelli to slick life with Ranger laid out so well. Girls got a tough choice to make! And, while many people seemed to enjoy the mystery and action of book nine to this, I did not. I figured out 50% of the jump in book nine as soon as we met the cast of characters, and watching Stephanie be blind to who the psycho really was was tedious. In this book there was no big mystery, and as a result no annoyance if you solved it early. I found the villan to be scary, and felt the tension.

Now the bad.... If there is one device that will ruine a book for me hands down every time it is the "I'm so independent and stubborn I will risk death not to be babysat" line I see in so much woman's fiction. I really can't take it. Stephanie is going to stir crazy after a day at home that she is willing to risk certain death just to get out? Really?! Has this girl never spent a quiet day home? Please. This guy is looking for me to murder and maim? Don't care. Won't let a man take care of me. It's literally nauseating. Please, please, please find a better reason to get your character out of their safe place then this forced fierce independence.

I will first start out and say that I really did enjoy Ten Big Ones. It had lots of funny moments that had me laughing out loud, and it was great to revisit Lula and Grandma Mazur and all the other characters that make the Stephanie Plum series so funny. I even enjoyed the storyline.
Stephanie saw the face of the Red Devil who has been robbing gas stations and the like, so she is suddenly put on the hit list of the Comstock Street Slayers, whose insignia funnily enough is that of a cat paw print. She's also being targeted by the hit man Junkman who is determined to make his kill. Stephanie needs some place safe to stay and she finds that in the home of Ranger who is currently away from Trenton. Nevertheless, she's still getting into plenty of trouble.
Like I said, I really did enjoy the plot, but I was hoping for more character growth. Stephanie is still involved in her love triangle, and though she did resist Ranger, I'm getting sick of this storyline. I think it's time she made a committment, and while that would seemingly signify the end of the series, I think Evanovich could still make it work. But let it not be said that there wasn't any character growth, because there was. We finally see Joe making a point of saying what he would like in a future wife, and we see Steph contemplating her future with Joe.
Also the ending left a lot to be desired. It was funny and it was interesting and it really did start out with a bang, but it quickly fizzled. I wasn't impressed and felt that there should have been another chapter or two to round out the book. Maybe that's just me, but I like closure, and I really didn't find any closure with this book.
Overall, this book had plenty of laughs and it was a quick read. Unless you are a diehard Evanovich fan though, I wouldn't recommend buying this in hardcover, wait for paperback. It was funny and an enjoyable read that did keep me hooked from page one, but I thought it could have been thicker on character developement.

In this book, Stephanie manages to become the target of a gang. This situation forces her to go into semi-hiding - her family, her job, and her own desire not to stay cooped up all the time keeps her from going fully into hiding. Not to mention, the safe route would've made for a boring book. Lula's back, although she is, for me, becoming less funny and more annoying, since several of the problems in this book are the result of Lula's involvement. Morelli isn't around much, since Stephanie spends most of her time avoiding him so that he won't lock her in his house for her safety. Ranger is also back, although he isn't in most of the book - in spite of this, Stephanie finds out a lot about him, even though I'm sure she's only scratched the surface.

This series is still funny, although, in this book more than most of the others, I am supremely glad that I don't have Stephanie's life. It's way to dangerous, and she doesn't seem to have to sense to stop that. Maybe, after all this time as a bounty hunter, she doesn't really want to. Whatever else you say about her job, it isn't boring. I missed seeing more of Morelli and Ranger, although I liked what there was. I'm hoping that the next book includes more of them both.

Three stars because I still laugh out loud every once in a while. But this book feels like Evanovich is trying to check off various elements that must occur in every Plum novel. Exploding car -- check. Description of Lula's "ho" attire -- check. Hardening nipples at thoughts of Ranger and/or Morelli -- check. Disgusting substance in hair -- check.

In the other books (particularly the first 6 or so) it works, even when it's over the top, but in this one, it feels forced -- and it's boring.

This is also the first Plum novel that I have felt was racist, which is a shock. Of course Lula is hardly a fair representative of her race, but when she's the only black character, it's easier to overlook. This book contains lots of black characters, and they are all criminals of some type: car thieves, gang members, drug dealers, fences, etc., or at the very least, girlfriends of same. It's pretty hard to avoid the impression that Evanovich thinks there's no such thing as a law-abiding black person, or one who doesn't live in the projects or the slums.

I did like the return of Sally Sweet in his new incarnation as school bus driver / wedding planner. His effort not to cuss so much was one of the few running gags that really hit my funnybone. And it was nice to see a bit more of Steph's sister Valerie, though she remains kind of a blank.

After finding "To the Nines" to be an almost perfect Plum, I was wondering how Ms. Evanovich could hope to match that wonderful book. You may recall that I found the mystery of "To the Nines" a little too easy to solve in the last 60 pages.
I am delighted to report that Ms. Evanovich has written a perfect Plum this time. What an accomplishment!
To be this good, Ms. Evanovich must have gone back and reviewed every review she has ever received . . . and looked for ways to improve her writing.
Ten Big Ones has generous doses of all your favorite characters form the earlier books including Grandma Mazur, Lula, Morelli, Ranger, Connie, Valerie, Albert Kloughn, her Mom and Dad, and Sally Sweet . . . along with delightful cameos by such stalwarts as Vinnie Plum, the usual eye-rolling members of the Trenton PD, and Ranger's crew.
Ten Big Ones has more bounty hunts in it than ever before, and Stephanie plays a more complete role in trying to solve everyone's problems . . . not just bring in the felon for a body receipt.
Cars play a big role. There's romance. There's action. There's threat. There's family drama. It's marvelous!
Unlike other books in the series, you could begin with this one and still understand what is going on with few problems. The opening has a wonderful reintroduction of Stephanie and her life. But this book is so good, it will spoil you for the others. So please go back and start with One for the Money if you haven't read the others.
This book builds around being in the wrong place at the wrong time . . . and lets events develop from there. Stephanie and Lula are trying to decide what kind of lunch to get when Lula decides to take a little target practice . . . and hits a bike. That's the beginning of many misadventures in the book. If you like gun-toting humor, this book is filled with it.
Unlike many of the other books in the series, this one seems to have a more serious theme: What is the correct role for a single woman in a dangerous, demanding society? Stephanie craves the action, doesn't want to be "protected" too much . . . but does want to survive the experience. She's also torn in other ways, and the emotional development of her personality is quite interesting in this book.
But the humor is what I liked best about the book. The characterizations and descriptions are wonderful. Consider this one from the first paragraph: "The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don't really know what it's all about until you bite into it." Stephanie goes on to describe herself physically, ". . . I inherited a lot of unmanageable brown hair and rude hand gestures from my father's Italian side of the family."
I thought that the comic elements of the scenes were beautifully constructed. Each scene was more complex than I expected, and the complexity left a reward of a more detailed understanding of the characters as well as heartier laughs along the way. No one does comedy better!
As I finished the book, I realized that there's more than one way to get things done. But we do need to be persistent . . . so that eventually we get our man or woman!

I'm not a large or long-time Stephanie Plum fan, so perhaps that's why I liked Ten Big Ones while many fans didn't. Ten Big Ones delivers a roller coaster ride in an amusement park, no more and no less. We don't get the depth of, say Nevada Barr or Margaret Maron, but we don't get half-baked attempts, either.

Evanovich's heroine, Stephanie Plum, gets herself into one scrape after another. Her car gets shot up. She sees a killer she's not supposed to see. She hides out in an apartment belonging to a dangerous man. And as soon as she manages to handcuff a bail jumper, you know something's going to go wrong.

Parts of this book hover on laugh-out-loud slapstick, especially episodes with Carol the chip junkie and Grandma Mazur. And yet the writing remains consistently high quality, often a model for other writers: "Morelli was lean and hard muscled, with wary cop eyes that softened in the bedroom." Now that's description!

So if you can take a deep breath and accept the surreal quality of Stephanie Plum and her life, you're in for a carnival type treat...just don't let yourself wonder what Stephanie Plum says to her insurance company and what they'll charge for comprehensive and collision next year.

I've been a fan of Stephanie Plum and Janet Evanovich for years and I eagerly await each new book...Ten Big Ones is the first one I've been disappointed in.
I bought the book at 10pm the day after it came out and finished it around 3am the same night. The suspense of the book didn't keep me up reading though, I am just naturally a night owl and often stay up reading this late. Ten Big Ones seemed very rushed me...hurry, hurry to the next funny scene, hurry, hurry to the next encounter with Joe or Ranger. It never seemed to all gel together, the plot itself seemed like an afterthought, something to mix in with all the repeated family and Joe issues and the business with Ranger's shower gel! How many pages were devoted to that shower gel? I was thinking "Ok, Ok, I GET IT already!"
I love the characters of this series and I'm sure I will be reading #11, but not with the same anticiaption as the others. I don't want to say it's time to wrap up the series, but I will say it's definitely time to give it a facelift. The back and forth between Joe and Ranger is getting old. Pick one or dump them both already.

I find my liking of Stephanie Plum books is directly correlated to how much ink her grandmother gets. In this one, she gets some time, but not enough for my liking. I find the series is getting progressively less funny and more violent. I also think Stephanie needs to make some sort of progress on which guy she wants. In short, I'm finding I still enjoy the books, but it's becoming more of an effort. They are not the easy-to-like books they was were. I think it's the whimsy that's missing.

Stephanie Plum is back in "Ten Big Ones." After losing yet another car in the first few pages of the book, Stephanie finds that she has accidentally enraged a local Trenton gang called the Slayers. The Slayers have called in a professional gang hitman that is called Junkman to kill Stephanie. While trying to dodge the gang related hit on her life, Stephanie happens upon the discovery of her young lifetime - Ranger's house, the so called "Batcave". Stephanie must apprehend several small time bail skippers and buy a gift for her sister's wedding shower before the gang members make their move on her.

Evanovich has done it again! Ten Big Ones is absolutely hysterical. I laughed out loud all through this novel! Grandma Mazur and Lula are absolutely priceless. If you enjoy a good mystery, a really quick read, and some plain old fashion fun, then I highly recommend the Stephanie Plum series.

As Lula would say, Unhn! And as Steph herself would say (and often does): same old, same old. Ten Big Ones is still funny, hilarious in parts, but the Burg has lost its sparkle. There are just so many times one can revisit the formula without getting the teeniest bit bored, even though I am a rabid fan of the Stephanie Plum series.

I can't say that anything is wrong with the book, other than it seemed like I had read it before--and I had, in the nine other ones, just slightly different. All our old favorites are on board, from Lula and Grandma Mazur to Morelli and Ranger (even that is getting boring; it's gone from two sexy guys between whom Stephanie can't make up her mind to "who cares?") to one of our old friends, Sally the Transvestite.

This time out, Stephenie inadvertently (however else?) gets mixed up with a deadly and dangerous street gang--who put a contract out for her murder. And of course she does not listen to Morelli the cop or Ranger the--what--spy? We never really know. And she gets herself right smack in the middle of the worst and most deadly plot of her career.

It should be cute. It WAS cute. But I would advise those who have never read a Plum novel not to start with this one. For the rest of us, I guess it's on to Number Eleven!

Stephanie's latest adventure begins when she witnesses the latest Red Devil robbery and shoots the robber's bike, somehow in the process getting her car destroyed, again. Now, she has an extremely mean gang angry at her, and she just keeps on aggravating the situation. Hoping to keep her alive, Joe tries to convince Steph to stay at home, which is his place since Valerie, her three daughters and future husband are living in Stephanie's apartment. Unfortunately, Stephanie does not like being ordered around, feels things are getting too serious, and so moves out. Fortunately, Ranger is out of town and with a bit of detective work, Stephanie finds the Bat Cave to hole up in until a better idea comes along. In the meantime, a hitman is imported from the coast and her name is on his list. By this time, Ranger is back to take Stephanie into protective custody, and she's not too sure whether living with Ranger is any less dangerous than being on the street.
***** Evanovich's trademark humor is augmented by Granny Mazur, the return of Sally, Stephanie's transvestite friend, and plans for Val's pumpkin and eggplant colored wedding. Ranger is at his sensual best, defining the meaning of sexual tension, which is alone worth the price of admission. *****
Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

I had a horrible dream the other night, I dreamt I went into my local bookshop to buy the new Stephanie Plum novel, only to find that it had been co-authored by Charlotte Hughes. I awoke screaming. Happily, it was only a nightmare. 'Ten Big Ones' is pure Evanovich, and is as funny, exciting and utterly delightful as all the rest.I started laughing as soon as I started reading it, and hardly stopped till the end. Stephanie Plum, incompetent but lucky Bounty hunter, falls foul of a nasty street gang who are out to get her. She wants somewhere safe to hide, so finds her way to what she thinks is the BatCave, or is it? Morelli, naturally, is less than delighted about where she is staying. What with hiding from the gang, trying to sort out how she feels about Morelli and Ranger, and getting ready for her sister Valerie's weding to Albert Kloughn, Stephanie has a busy time of it. All the favourite characters are here, outrageous Grandma Mauzer, irrepressible Lula, and of course Stephanie's remarkable immortal hamster Rex (he must be about 500 in hamster years by now). There is a welcome reapperance of Sally Sweet, as Valerie's wedding planner. And of course Morelli and Ranger are as devastating as ever. There's a bit where Morelli puts handcuffs on Stephanie at the dinner table, I had to break off reading and go and have a cold shower.As always, I find myself torn between admiration for Stephanie wanting to continue her bounty hunter careet, and exasperation when she gets huffy with Morelli because he wants her to quit. "He loves you, you silly girl" I want to yell at her"Of course he doesn't want you getting into danger, what kind of a man would he be if he did?" I like to think that if it was me I'd stick to my guns and carry on bounty huntering, but honesty compels me to admit that I'd probably hand in my notice in a second if Morelli turned his charm on me.(actually, though, although Morelli and Ranger are great fun to encounter in a book, I think they'd be a bit of strain to have about the house in real life, all that gorgeousness would be so hard to live up to). If you have read th other plum novels you'll love this one, and if you haven't read the others it doesn't really matter, like all the others this one can stand on its own.

I love the Plum series and last summer I read all nine of them. I loved every minute, and could not wait for Ten Big Ones. Unfortunately, I feel that perhaps Ms. Evanovich is spreading herself too thin with Plum books, the romance collaboration and the new Metro Girl book coming out. This book wasn't as witty as the others and it borrowed themes from other works. Like the kidnapping scene where they round out of the car to check to see Anton in the trunk. That, and other scenes, was so much like the movie Nine To Five. I was expecting Dolly, Lily and Jane to come in at any moment.
Still, I love the characters. I wish there was more progress in their lives, like someone else here said. I wished the book was longer and had more humor. I also think that it may be getting harder for Janet to write about Trenton while living in New Hampshire. It may be starting to show.
I'm still eager for the next one, though, and I hope Janet reads some of these commenets and views them as constructive.

It's too bad there was no clicker handy to log the chortles, chuckles, laughs and outright guffaws in Janet Evanovich's tenth anniversary collector's edition of the trials and tribulations of Stephanie Plum. In this world of trauma and travail, TEN BIG ONES offers a lighthearted romp through Trenton, New Jersey with surely the most famous, if inept, bounty hunter in America.
Stephanie and her wisecracking sidekick, Lula, are on the trail of the usual cast of wacky bail bond jumpers: a snack food freak who robs a Frito-Lay truck, a rosebush piddler, and crossdressing rocker Sally Sweet, accused of assault. Lounging against the fender of her brand new Ford Escape during a lunch break, they become not only eyewitnesses to a violent crime but also the victims. Well, the Ford becomes a victim. This leads to a confrontation with Trenton's most dangerous street gang, and because she can ID the perpetrator, Stephanie finds herself the target of a hit man from out of town. She is left without wheels and running for her life.
Enter Ranger --- or rather, exit Ranger, because he's leaving town. But he loans Stephanie his car and a key ring with a fascinating set of keys.
Longtime fans will remember crossdressing rockster Sally Sweet --- the dumpster-mouthed drag queen who we encountered first in FOUR TO SCORE. Sally's new day job is driving a school bus, which has forced him to clean up his vocabulary. He is hauled into the principal's office when parents and teachers complain about their little darlings' street language after he drops them off. He is instructed to enter into aversion therapy by wearing an elastic band on his wrist and snapping it sharply after each bad word. Sally's dialogue is punctuated with quite a lot of snapping, until he begins to get the hang of suitable language, which offers some of the book's funny moments. Sally proves helpful in his own bumbling way as Stephanie dodges the bad boys in baggy pants.
TEN BIG ONES scores with many laughs and plenty of action. Whiney sister Valerie, preparing to marry her feckless lawyer boyfriend, benefits from Sally Sweet's blossoming wedding planning talent. Grandma Mazur rides along with her mirthful meddling, Mom and Dad cook and groan, respectively, and Morelli --- poor, patient, macho Joe Morelli --- agonizes over his inability to keep our heroine safe.
Pure Evanovich --- pure entertainment gold.
--- Reviewed by Roz Shea

Another mediocre installment in a series that is obviously becoming more about the Morelli-Ranger-Stephanie love triangle and less about bounty hunting. In this one, Stephanie strays too far into Trenton gangland and is targeted by a contract killer. However, Evanovich spends less time on that aspect of the plot, and a LOT more time describing Stephanie's love affair with Ranger's soap (which is Bulgari, if anyone cares). Also, there's a lot of questionable issues in this one: Morelli's disturbingly caveman attitude towards "protecting" Stephanie, Stephanie's flirtation with Ranger (perpetually unresolved, because Evanovich is going to drag out the tension for as long as possible), the ethics of kidnapping someone, bus drivers who carry Uzis, etc.

Although there were a few laughs, mostly the book felt rushed and distracted, where all the characters contribute a few familiar lines--Morelli does the usual vague references to marriage, Grandma Mazur wants to go to Stiva's for a viewing, Mom is cooking dinner--then Stephanie goes back to mooning over shower gel and sheets for a few more pages. At this point, I'm as interested in reading the eleventh book as Evanovich obviously is in writing it.

It is very rare for a series to reamain fresh after 10 installments, even less common for one to get better, but Evanovich has done it! I only regret that I have already finished it!
Stephanie is up to her usual tricks, cars exploding, dealing with her looney family and her feelings for Morrelli and Ranger. This time, she seems to actually becoming better at her job. Some of her apprensions go awire, but in the end she always gets her FTA. As she says, she isn't the best bounty hunter, but she isn't the worst either. In this book, Stephanie, by no fault of her own witness a hold up and is the only one who can identify the bad guy. Morrelli wants to protect her, and when the gang members come after her, she leaves him to keep him out of danger. Of course, that means Ranger gets involved. Her confusion over her feelings, while struggling to be independent make Stephanie real. Of course there are the usual laugh out loud moments. If you havn't read the other books, do it now! I am a little disappointed in the loose ending, and the fact that I have to wait an entire year to see what Stephanie decides to do about her love life, but I will wait anxiously for number 11!!

I like this book. I like it a lot. Stephanie still has her moments of madcap zaniness, but Evanovich seems to have decided to clean up her protagonist's act. Stephanie, it is still made clear, is not the best bounty hunter around (that would be Ranger), but she isn't the worst either. She actually seems like she knows what she's doing. She witnesses a crime, takes appropriate action and can accurately describe the get away vehicle and perpetrator to the cops. She knows how to handle herself in a tight spot. She's no longer a joke, and personally, I like her a lot better this way. The relationships still vacillate between Ranger and Morelli, and I suppose the author will milk this for as long as she can, but the series is taking a new, and far more entertaining direction.

Stephanie Plum, girl bounty hunter, is back at it again. This books starts innocently with Stephanie in search of some nachos, but of course, it soon ends in mayhem as she interrupts a robbery and manages to get on the wrong side of one of New Jersey's most notorious gangs. They soon have a contract out on her, so what's a girl to do but hide in Ranger's apartment, without his knowledge, of course. Her boyfriend Joe would not approve of such goings-on so she has to hide her whereabouts from him as well as the gang members. Then there's her buddy Lula who abandons any pretence of her office filing job and accompanies Stephanie on her bounty-hunting business. Along wih these complications, Stephanie's sister is getting married (with the help of a cross-dressing wedding planner) and Stephanie is expected to wear an eggplant-colored dress to the wedding. This is another laugh-out-loud, over-the-top book in this enjoyable series.

I've been waiting to read this book after not really enjoying the last few books in this series. I am so glad that I picked this book up. A laughfest from pg.1, I eagerly dove into this book and just finished it. Will not go into a synopsis of this book because so many others have,but I enjoyed this book and to me it's one of my favorites. Sweet Sally makes a comeback,Grandma Mazure is at her funniest,Lula is a riot and Stephanie loses another two cars and gets kidnapped,just like old times. I know that sometimes these books have a way repeating each other, but so far I have enoyed all but two of the series. And the best of all is Ranger and Joe Morelli two of the hottest hunks and the suspense builds between both. Who will Stephanie end up with? Knowbody knows. I highly recommend this enjoyable book.

Hey! I rated this novel "3 stars" and I can't figure out how to edit that.

I have read most, if not all of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series of novels. In this installment, Plum, the reluctant but intrepid bounty hunter finds herself targeted for a ritual death by the would-be leader of the "Slayers" gang, "Junkman." There are some extremely funny moments in the tale, but far too few suspenseful ones for my taste.

This is the first of the series that I have listened to on audio book. Perhaps that is why its repetition of small details on Plum's life was so apparent to me. How many times do we have to hear (or read) that she "parked 2 blocks away" or fed the hamster, or enjoyed the smell of Ranger's shower gel, or entered the Bail Office by the back doorm or dressed in a hooded sweatshirt? To me these iterated details slowed the pace of the novel and were redundant to the poing of irritation.

Other than that, Ten Big Ones is a breezy, enjoyable, sometimes laugh-out-loud "read" and it has an exquisite, ironic ending.

I enjoy the Plum series but this was the first time that Stephanie out and out annoyed me. She is being targeted for death by a nasty gang and she still chafes under the protective measures Joe and Ranger attempt to provide. There is being independent and there is being stupid and Stephanie came across as plain old stupid in this one.

I'm also getting a bit tired of Grandma and Lula - they are bordering on cartoon characters as opposed to lovable eccentrics. Lula held up better for me than Grandma, but we need to learn more about their characters. Lula always carrying a gun and Grandma tagging along is not development.

I fall on the Ranger side when it comes to Stephanie's relationships. I like Morelli, but I think Ranger accepts Stephanie for who she is as opposed to Joe who wants to change her. I thought with Stephanie staying at Ranger's apartment we would see more movement with their relationship, but nothing.

And I can't even talk about the ending and Sally saving the day - it was ridiculous. Flat out ridiculous.

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next one...

Not a bad effort from Evanovich...just not one of her better ones. The story and characters needed more "fleshing out." Not enough development went into either. Perhaps another 25-50 pages would've alleviated those problems. And yeah, I'll probably buy #11 when it comes out as I've enjoyed the series over the years. I just hope this series won't go the way Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who..." series has gone: flat writing, weak characterizations, and (rumor has it) ghostwritten books. C'mon, Janet...spend more time on your Stephanie Plum books. If you can't do justice to both series (Plum and the "Full" series), than dump or hand off one of them. Your readers deserve better, especially considering the $26 cover price.

The tenth book in the Stephanie Plum series kept me up all night. In this novel, Stephanie manages to see the face of a robber who has been robbing and burning down mini marts. In doing so, she attracts the attention of the gang he belongs to and marks herself for assasination. Afraid to endanger Joe, her parents, or her multitude of friends, Stephanie is once again looking for a place to stay.... which Ranger provides without his knowledge!The ending was abrupt but the book was vintage Plum... full of mass consumption of junk food, exploding cars, botched bounty huntering attempts and two sexy guys! All in all, I enjoyed "Ten Big Ones." Of the four books I've recently read (this one, "The Wedding" and "He Never Called Again", "The Rule of Four", are quite entertaining. Still, if your an Evanovich fan, you'll have to take this book on,just to be sure you're not missing anything.

I've read many books in this series. Ten Big Ones was not my absolute favorite, but I would have to say that I did enjoy the time spent reading it.
When reading a book of hers, I judge how well I like it by how many times I burst out laughing. In some of her other books, I couldn't stop laughing. Ten Big Ones produced a few laughs from me, so that's why I gave it 4 stars.
Also, a few new things in her personal life kept me turning the pages.
Overall, not a fantastic read, but worth the time.
No Child Left Behind? The True Story of a Teacher's Quest

I love these books. Stephanie's adventures just keep getting better and better. I access them through my local library and because of Evanovich's popularity, I have to read out of sequence but each book could be a stand-alone. Love them!!!

I have loved the Stephanie Plum novels from the beginning, and I'm always eager to read the next installment. But this one was really a disappointment. Stephanie has always been ditzy, however being ditzy is one thing -- being a total idiot is another. She really crossed over into stupidity this time. Plus, the love triangle is getting old, for god sakes pick a guy! I'm getting to the point where I feel sorry for Morelli and wish he'd just dump her since she keeps stringing him along. What guy would put up with all that crap? If you're a huge fan, and want to read it anyway, I'd recommend the library, or waiting for the paperback.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Stephanie Plum series, and I mean LOVE this series but I get the feeling that Ms. Evanovich is more concerned with churning out books then actual storytelling.
Stephanie, has once again managed to destroy yet another car and get herself into trouble. What will she do? Who will she turn to? Her hapless cop boyfriend Joe, or her fellow bounty hunter, the mysterious and sexy Ranger? Did I miss something somewhere or didn't Ranger and Stephanie already get it on in a past book? But I digress . . .
Anyway, the ending was confusing and just kind of lame, don't get me wrong, I'll be out buying the next book as soon as it comes out, but I'm wondering how long Ms.Evanovich can carry this schtick on.

I have read several of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and this is certainly one of the best. Stephanie remains a Calamity Jane, and the other characters - work associates and her family are a kick! This one was so funny, I found myself laughing out loud. You don't figure out where the name originates until the very end.

As Lula would say, Unhn! And as Steph herself would say (and often does): same old, same old. Ten Big Ones is still funny, hilarious in parts, but the Burg has lost its sparkle. There are just so many times one can revisit the formula without getting the teeniest bit bored, even though I am a rabid fan of the Stephanie Plum series.

I can't say that anything is wrong with the book, other than it seemed like I had read it before--and I had, in the nine other ones, just slightly different. All our old favorites are on board, from Lula and Grandma Mazur to Morelli and Ranger (even that is getting boring; it's gone from two sexy guys between whom Stephanie can't make up her mind to "who cares?") to one of our old friends, Sally the Transvestite.

This time out, Stephenie inadvertently (however else?) gets mixed up with a deadly and dangerous street gang--who put a contract out for her murder. And of course she does not listen to Morelli the cop or Ranger the--what--spy? We never really know. And she gets herself right smack in the middle of the worst and most deadly plot of her career.

It should be cute. It WAS cute. But I would advise those who have never read a Plum novel not to start with this one. For the rest of us, I guess it's on to Number Eleven!

Stephanie's latest adventure begins when she witnesses the latest Red Devil robbery and shoots the robber's bike, somehow in the process getting her car destroyed, again. Now, she has an extremely mean gang angry at her, and she just keeps on aggravating the situation. Hoping to keep her alive, Joe tries to convince Steph to stay at home, which is his place since Valerie, her three daughters and future husband are living in Stephanie's apartment. Unfortunately, Stephanie does not like being ordered around, feels things are getting too serious, and so moves out. Fortunately, Ranger is out of town and with a bit of detective work, Stephanie finds the Bat Cave to hole up in until a better idea comes along. In the meantime, a hitman is imported from the coast and her name is on his list. By this time, Ranger is back to take Stephanie into protective custody, and she's not too sure whether living with Ranger is any less dangerous than being on the street.
***** Evanovich's trademark humor is augmented by Granny Mazur, the return of Sally, Stephanie's transvestite friend, and plans for Val's pumpkin and eggplant colored wedding. Ranger is at his sensual best, defining the meaning of sexual tension, which is alone worth the price of admission. *****
Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

I had a horrible dream the other night, I dreamt I went into my local bookshop to buy the new Stephanie Plum novel, only to find that it had been co-authored by Charlotte Hughes. I awoke screaming. Happily, it was only a nightmare. 'Ten Big Ones' is pure Evanovich, and is as funny, exciting and utterly delightful as all the rest.I started laughing as soon as I started reading it, and hardly stopped till the end. Stephanie Plum, incompetent but lucky Bounty hunter, falls foul of a nasty street gang who are out to get her. She wants somewhere safe to hide, so finds her way to what she thinks is the BatCave, or is it? Morelli, naturally, is less than delighted about where she is staying. What with hiding from the gang, trying to sort out how she feels about Morelli and Ranger, and getting ready for her sister Valerie's weding to Albert Kloughn, Stephanie has a busy time of it. All the favourite characters are here, outrageous Grandma Mauzer, irrepressible Lula, and of course Stephanie's remarkable immortal hamster Rex (he must be about 500 in hamster years by now). There is a welcome reapperance of Sally Sweet, as Valerie's wedding planner. And of course Morelli and Ranger are as devastating as ever. There's a bit where Morelli puts handcuffs on Stephanie at the dinner table, I had to break off reading and go and have a cold shower.As always, I find myself torn between admiration for Stephanie wanting to continue her bounty hunter careet, and exasperation when she gets huffy with Morelli because he wants her to quit. "He loves you, you silly girl" I want to yell at her"Of course he doesn't want you getting into danger, what kind of a man would he be if he did?" I like to think that if it was me I'd stick to my guns and carry on bounty huntering, but honesty compels me to admit that I'd probably hand in my notice in a second if Morelli turned his charm on me.(actually, though, although Morelli and Ranger are great fun to encounter in a book, I think they'd be a bit of strain to have about the house in real life, all that gorgeousness would be so hard to live up to). If you have read th other plum novels you'll love this one, and if you haven't read the others it doesn't really matter, like all the others this one can stand on its own.

I love the Plum series and last summer I read all nine of them. I loved every minute, and could not wait for Ten Big Ones. Unfortunately, I feel that perhaps Ms. Evanovich is spreading herself too thin with Plum books, the romance collaboration and the new Metro Girl book coming out. This book wasn't as witty as the others and it borrowed themes from other works. Like the kidnapping scene where they round out of the car to check to see Anton in the trunk. That, and other scenes, was so much like the movie Nine To Five. I was expecting Dolly, Lily and Jane to come in at any moment.
Still, I love the characters. I wish there was more progress in their lives, like someone else here said. I wished the book was longer and had more humor. I also think that it may be getting harder for Janet to write about Trenton while living in New Hampshire. It may be starting to show.
I'm still eager for the next one, though, and I hope Janet reads some of these commenets and views them as constructive.

It's too bad there was no clicker handy to log the chortles, chuckles, laughs and outright guffaws in Janet Evanovich's tenth anniversary collector's edition of the trials and tribulations of Stephanie Plum. In this world of trauma and travail, TEN BIG ONES offers a lighthearted romp through Trenton, New Jersey with surely the most famous, if inept, bounty hunter in America.
Stephanie and her wisecracking sidekick, Lula, are on the trail of the usual cast of wacky bail bond jumpers: a snack food freak who robs a Frito-Lay truck, a rosebush piddler, and crossdressing rocker Sally Sweet, accused of assault. Lounging against the fender of her brand new Ford Escape during a lunch break, they become not only eyewitnesses to a violent crime but also the victims. Well, the Ford becomes a victim. This leads to a confrontation with Trenton's most dangerous street gang, and because she can ID the perpetrator, Stephanie finds herself the target of a hit man from out of town. She is left without wheels and running for her life.
Enter Ranger --- or rather, exit Ranger, because he's leaving town. But he loans Stephanie his car and a key ring with a fascinating set of keys.
Longtime fans will remember crossdressing rockster Sally Sweet --- the dumpster-mouthed drag queen who we encountered first in FOUR TO SCORE. Sally's new day job is driving a school bus, which has forced him to clean up his vocabulary. He is hauled into the principal's office when parents and teachers complain about their little darlings' street language after he drops them off. He is instructed to enter into aversion therapy by wearing an elastic band on his wrist and snapping it sharply after each bad word. Sally's dialogue is punctuated with quite a lot of snapping, until he begins to get the hang of suitable language, which offers some of the book's funny moments. Sally proves helpful in his own bumbling way as Stephanie dodges the bad boys in baggy pants.
TEN BIG ONES scores with many laughs and plenty of action. Whiney sister Valerie, preparing to marry her feckless lawyer boyfriend, benefits from Sally Sweet's blossoming wedding planning talent. Grandma Mazur rides along with her mirthful meddling, Mom and Dad cook and groan, respectively, and Morelli --- poor, patient, macho Joe Morelli --- agonizes over his inability to keep our heroine safe.
Pure Evanovich --- pure entertainment gold.
--- Reviewed by Roz Shea

Another mediocre installment in a series that is obviously becoming more about the Morelli-Ranger-Stephanie love triangle and less about bounty hunting. In this one, Stephanie strays too far into Trenton gangland and is targeted by a contract killer. However, Evanovich spends less time on that aspect of the plot, and a LOT more time describing Stephanie's love affair with Ranger's soap (which is Bulgari, if anyone cares). Also, there's a lot of questionable issues in this one: Morelli's disturbingly caveman attitude towards "protecting" Stephanie, Stephanie's flirtation with Ranger (perpetually unresolved, because Evanovich is going to drag out the tension for as long as possible), the ethics of kidnapping someone, bus drivers who carry Uzis, etc.

Although there were a few laughs, mostly the book felt rushed and distracted, where all the characters contribute a few familiar lines--Morelli does the usual vague references to marriage, Grandma Mazur wants to go to Stiva's for a viewing, Mom is cooking dinner--then Stephanie goes back to mooning over shower gel and sheets for a few more pages. At this point, I'm as interested in reading the eleventh book as Evanovich obviously is in writing it.

It is very rare for a series to reamain fresh after 10 installments, even less common for one to get better, but Evanovich has done it! I only regret that I have already finished it!
Stephanie is up to her usual tricks, cars exploding, dealing with her looney family and her feelings for Morrelli and Ranger. This time, she seems to actually becoming better at her job. Some of her apprensions go awire, but in the end she always gets her FTA. As she says, she isn't the best bounty hunter, but she isn't the worst either. In this book, Stephanie, by no fault of her own witness a hold up and is the only one who can identify the bad guy. Morrelli wants to protect her, and when the gang members come after her, she leaves him to keep him out of danger. Of course, that means Ranger gets involved. Her confusion over her feelings, while struggling to be independent make Stephanie real. Of course there are the usual laugh out loud moments. If you havn't read the other books, do it now! I am a little disappointed in the loose ending, and the fact that I have to wait an entire year to see what Stephanie decides to do about her love life, but I will wait anxiously for number 11!!

I like this book. I like it a lot. Stephanie still has her moments of madcap zaniness, but Evanovich seems to have decided to clean up her protagonist's act. Stephanie, it is still made clear, is not the best bounty hunter around (that would be Ranger), but she isn't the worst either. She actually seems like she knows what she's doing. She witnesses a crime, takes appropriate action and can accurately describe the get away vehicle and perpetrator to the cops. She knows how to handle herself in a tight spot. She's no longer a joke, and personally, I like her a lot better this way. The relationships still vacillate between Ranger and Morelli, and I suppose the author will milk this for as long as she can, but the series is taking a new, and far more entertaining direction.

Stephanie Plum, girl bounty hunter, is back at it again. This books starts innocently with Stephanie in search of some nachos, but of course, it soon ends in mayhem as she interrupts a robbery and manages to get on the wrong side of one of New Jersey's most notorious gangs. They soon have a contract out on her, so what's a girl to do but hide in Ranger's apartment, without his knowledge, of course. Her boyfriend Joe would not approve of such goings-on so she has to hide her whereabouts from him as well as the gang members. Then there's her buddy Lula who abandons any pretence of her office filing job and accompanies Stephanie on her bounty-hunting business. Along wih these complications, Stephanie's sister is getting married (with the help of a cross-dressing wedding planner) and Stephanie is expected to wear an eggplant-colored dress to the wedding. This is another laugh-out-loud, over-the-top book in this enjoyable series.

I've been waiting to read this book after not really enjoying the last few books in this series. I am so glad that I picked this book up. A laughfest from pg.1, I eagerly dove into this book and just finished it. Will not go into a synopsis of this book because so many others have,but I enjoyed this book and to me it's one of my favorites. Sweet Sally makes a comeback,Grandma Mazure is at her funniest,Lula is a riot and Stephanie loses another two cars and gets kidnapped,just like old times. I know that sometimes these books have a way repeating each other, but so far I have enoyed all but two of the series. And the best of all is Ranger and Joe Morelli two of the hottest hunks and the suspense builds between both. Who will Stephanie end up with? Knowbody knows. I highly recommend this enjoyable book.

Hey! I rated this novel "3 stars" and I can't figure out how to edit that.

I have read most, if not all of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series of novels. In this installment, Plum, the reluctant but intrepid bounty hunter finds herself targeted for a ritual death by the would-be leader of the "Slayers" gang, "Junkman." There are some extremely funny moments in the tale, but far too few suspenseful ones for my taste.

This is the first of the series that I have listened to on audio book. Perhaps that is why its repetition of small details on Plum's life was so apparent to me. How many times do we have to hear (or read) that she "parked 2 blocks away" or fed the hamster, or enjoyed the smell of Ranger's shower gel, or entered the Bail Office by the back doorm or dressed in a hooded sweatshirt? To me these iterated details slowed the pace of the novel and were redundant to the poing of irritation.

Other than that, Ten Big Ones is a breezy, enjoyable, sometimes laugh-out-loud "read" and it has an exquisite, ironic ending.

I enjoy the Plum series but this was the first time that Stephanie out and out annoyed me. She is being targeted for death by a nasty gang and she still chafes under the protective measures Joe and Ranger attempt to provide. There is being independent and there is being stupid and Stephanie came across as plain old stupid in this one.

I'm also getting a bit tired of Grandma and Lula - they are bordering on cartoon characters as opposed to lovable eccentrics. Lula held up better for me than Grandma, but we need to learn more about their characters. Lula always carrying a gun and Grandma tagging along is not development.

I fall on the Ranger side when it comes to Stephanie's relationships. I like Morelli, but I think Ranger accepts Stephanie for who she is as opposed to Joe who wants to change her. I thought with Stephanie staying at Ranger's apartment we would see more movement with their relationship, but nothing.

And I can't even talk about the ending and Sally saving the day - it was ridiculous. Flat out ridiculous.

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next one...

Not a bad effort from Evanovich...just not one of her better ones. The story and characters needed more "fleshing out." Not enough development went into either. Perhaps another 25-50 pages would've alleviated those problems. And yeah, I'll probably buy #11 when it comes out as I've enjoyed the series over the years. I just hope this series won't go the way Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who..." series has gone: flat writing, weak characterizations, and (rumor has it) ghostwritten books. C'mon, Janet...spend more time on your Stephanie Plum books. If you can't do justice to both series (Plum and the "Full" series), than dump or hand off one of them. Your readers deserve better, especially considering the $26 cover price.

The tenth book in the Stephanie Plum series kept me up all night. In this novel, Stephanie manages to see the face of a robber who has been robbing and burning down mini marts. In doing so, she attracts the attention of the gang he belongs to and marks herself for assasination. Afraid to endanger Joe, her parents, or her multitude of friends, Stephanie is once again looking for a place to stay.... which Ranger provides without his knowledge!The ending was abrupt but the book was vintage Plum... full of mass consumption of junk food, exploding cars, botched bounty huntering attempts and two sexy guys! All in all, I enjoyed "Ten Big Ones." Of the four books I've recently read (this one, "The Wedding" and "He Never Called Again", "The Rule of Four", are quite entertaining. Still, if your an Evanovich fan, you'll have to take this book on,just to be sure you're not missing anything.

I've read many books in this series. Ten Big Ones was not my absolute favorite, but I would have to say that I did enjoy the time spent reading it.
When reading a book of hers, I judge how well I like it by how many times I burst out laughing. In some of her other books, I couldn't stop laughing. Ten Big Ones produced a few laughs from me, so that's why I gave it 4 stars.
Also, a few new things in her personal life kept me turning the pages.
Overall, not a fantastic read, but worth the time.
No Child Left Behind? The True Story of a Teacher's Quest

I love these books. Stephanie's adventures just keep getting better and better. I access them through my local library and because of Evanovich's popularity, I have to read out of sequence but each book could be a stand-alone. Love them!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love the Stephanie Plum series, and I mean LOVE this series but I get the feeling that Ms. Evanovich is more concerned with churning out books then actual storytelling.
Stephanie, has once again managed to destroy yet another car and get herself into trouble. What will she do? Who will she turn to? Her hapless cop boyfriend Joe, or her fellow bounty hunter, the mysterious and sexy Ranger? Did I miss something somewhere or didn't Ranger and Stephanie already get it on in a past book? But I digress . . .
Anyway, the ending was confusing and just kind of lame, don't get me wrong, I'll be out buying the next book as soon as it comes out, but I'm wondering how long Ms.Evanovich can carry this schtick on.

I have read several of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and this is certainly one of the best. Stephanie remains a Calamity Jane, and the other characters - work associates and her family are a kick! This one was so funny, I found myself laughing out loud. You don't figure out where the name originates until the very end.

Just this past fall I was turned-on to the Plum series by my neighbor. I've just completed the run with this one. Ten Big Ones was better than book Nine. The laugh-out-loud bits had returned, so through most of the book I was happily satisfied. But after the ending, I felt jipped! The ending was, to me, just silly. And once our heroine was saved (again), that was it! No wrap-up. No teasing of things to come with Stephanie's romances. Very disappointing! And, please, Ranger (one of my favorite characters) is turning into a comic book character. His one word dialogue (that being "Babe") is getting very boring. I'm hoping for better things in Eleven!

I really enjoyed how she actually became a detective and discovered what everyone was trying to find. I also enjoyed the fact that her friends and lover were their to defend her, especially Sally Sweet: he/she was awesome. This is the first book I shared with my mother who is an avid reader becaue I think it is Janet Evanovich's best.
I hope she picks a man soon. I like Morelli for the long term although both men are providers and protectors. Morelli puts up with a lot form her and her family.

Yes, time for guilty pleasures again... It's Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum novel, Ten Big Ones. Every time one of these come out, I always fear it's going to be the start of a downward spiral a la Patricia Cornwell. I'm happy to report that Evanovich is still on track with fun reads.
Stephanie Plum (a "fugitive apprehension agent") starts out at the wrong place at the wrong time when she witnesses a robbery by someone wearing a red devil mask. She also sees his real face, and she's the only person who can identify him and stop a string of increasingly violent hold-ups by this guy. Turns out he's part of a gang who wants her dead. Plum, her "partner" Lula, and Grandma Mazur end up dodging gang members who are hunting her down. Her cop boyfriend Morelli wants her to quit the job and hole up in his apartment, but she wants none of that. Ranger, the mystery man who excites and scares her, loans her his truck after her car gets blown up (again!). She hides out in his apartment, and then has to figure out how she feels about him vs. Morelli when he returns unexpectedly and finds her camping out there. Throw in her sister's impending wedding and a transvestite wedding planner/bus driver/singer, and you once again have a wacky read with unforgettable characters.
I've yet to read one of these novels that I haven't liked. There is less Vincent (the head of the bond agency) in this one, but much more Lula. In fact, Lula ends up going out with Stephanie on most of the collections, and adds plenty of color to the apprehensions. You also learn more about Ranger, and there's a fair amount of room there for the next installment. Which I already am looking forward to...

I had grown a little bored with the last couple of books in the Stephanie Plum series, but this one grabbed my attention and found me hooked yet again. Lets be honest, we don't read these books because they're great literature, we read them because they're fun. But the formula had grown a little tired for me. I think this book is an improvement over the last for two reasons. One, Stephanie is starting to grow somewhat as a character. She is even able to apprehend some fugitives with -- dare I say it? -- a minimum of disasters. She's starting to ask herself why she and Morelli have the same on-again, off-again, encounters year after year. But the real reason this book held my attention was the increased level of sexual tension between Stephanie and Ranger. Personally, I find the Morelli relationship played out anyway. But with ranger, this volume definitely turns up the heat!

I absolutely love the Stephanie Plum series. They are so much fun to read and I can count on them putting me in a good mood and making me laugh out loud through out.
I would honestly devour them all if it wasn't for the fact that I savor them and only read them when I really need that little extra something to make my week.
If you haven't tried this series yet you really should, you won't be disappointed. All the characters are funny and real and just amazing.

A fun, easy read about Stephanie Plume as she hunts down people who have skipped out on bail. She always gets her man/woman, but in the craziest, funniest ways. This time she has a killer on her trail, and sure enough she gets caught. She is saved by an unlikely hero, and funny all the way.

Stephanie Plum es una Caza-Fugitivos, quien en esta ocasion se hace acompañar para llevar a cabo sus busquedas de la aistente de oficina Lula y...porque no? de su abuela!... Tiene un Novio formal que es policia y muy guapo y sexy.... pero tambien tiene un "siempre admirador" que es caza fugitivos... dilema para Stephanie..

En esta serie se tiene que enfrentar la pandilla mas temible de Trenton y estos a su vez la quieren.. pero muerta.
Con una serie de actos un poco fuera de lo normal va saliendo paso a paso de todas las anomalias a las que se enfrenta...

Para contrarestrar sus emociones... Las ansiedades las cura con unas ricas donas y pasteles, las depresiones con una ida al Mall... y porque no comprar algo?...

Es secuestrada por lospandilleros y recibe ayuda de... Un trasvesti Armado con una Uzi en cada mano!

Es literatura refrescante, entretenida y que te llevan un poco mas alla la imaginacion..

...but still worth a read. Although I jumped on the bandwagon kinda late, I'm a big fan of the Stephanie Plum novels.
In this latest screwball story, Stephanie witnesses a gang member's robbery and becomes the key witness against him. This of course gets the other gang members down on her ass. Not the best novel ever, but full of the typical Evanovich humor we've grown to love. Recommended to readers who are already familiar with the main characters like Stephanie, Lula, Joe, Ranger, etc. Not just for high school chicks, this is a good lite summer read for many readers.
David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"

Evanovich continues the comedic life of Stephanie Plum the Bounty Hunter. I loved this episode, especially learning more about one of Ranger's hide-outs. The Chapter 3 scene around the Plum family dinner table while Albert Kloughn describes that "his guys" could swim is LOL funny. A+

I love the Stephanie Plum novels and for the past few summers have waited eagerly for the release date of the newest chapter in this entertaining series. Prior to the new releases I've gone back and read one or two of the preceding books just to refresh my memory and "gear up" for the continuing story.

My main problem is this: the story is NOT continuing! It's the same old song and dance every time. Stephanie's in trouble, Morelli's mad, Ranger's hot, Grandma's nutty -- not an issue. But nobody is progressing. Stephanie and Morelli (and Ranger) continue their dance, and it's just getting old. And for the first time I found myself irritated with Stephanie's reckless behavior and disregard for safety. She always says she's lazy, but she can't stand to stay inside and watch TV for one day?! I mean, c'mon already!

I wholeheartedly agree with the reviewer who said that Janet is "coasting." This was still a decent read; Janet remains true to the characters we all love, and there are still laugh-out-loud moments. Just not as many as in the past. And at points I was actually bored!

All in all, Janet's got me. I will buy the next book (and probably the next) without hesitation in the hopes of rediscovering some of the earlier magic of characters and plot lines. But I feel like "Ten Big Ones" is the first crack in the dam. I hope I'm wrong.

If you love this series, then this book was definetly worth reading. It was better than some in the middle of the series that I thought got a little slow. One high point was getting more into Rangers life and finding (at least one of) the "bat caves." The biggest let down for me was the ending. If feels like the book has a lot more to go, then in ten pages or less it goes from climax to caput! There needed to be much more winding down time. I love this series and I will read them all but I hope the next one is longer and finally wraps up some story lines that have been left 'to be continued,' a little to long.

It's not the best of the Stephanie Plum serial novels from Janet Evanovich, but it still made me burst out laughing like all the others before it. If you have read the series then of course you must continue, it's still too good to stop. And if you've never read Janet Evanovich or the Stephanie Plum novels then start right now (but obviously start with One For the Money). I gave all my friends the first book for Christmas and by New Year's they were addicts and now are buying the others in the series like mad. I've read other Evanovich novels and I still like Stephanie Plum the best out of all her characters. Can't wait for more.

Amazing is all I can say. Janet is my Wonder Women. She can tell a story like no one else can. If you love drama, murder, love and laughter read this series. I promise read one of Janet's books and you will have to read another one.

This book felt like abut 2/3 of what we expect from Janet Evanovich: too many loose details, scenes that start well and fizzle, characters acting too far out of character. It was a fun read, but nowhere near what I expected for either humor or plot. Worst of all, Stephanie seems to be regressing toward adolescence instead of maturing in this story, and that was particularly annoying.
FYI: there seem to be a lot of defective copies of this book - pages 281 to 312 missing, repeats of chapter 12 and 13, etc, so check the volume carefully before purchasing. Every single one in my local store was screwed up.

While this book had some funny scenes and some sexual tension, it was disappointing. I agree with the reviewer who said Ranger and Joe were flat. I also didn't get the feeling that either relationship had moved or changed.
There was only one car fire and even Grandma Mazur and Lula were boring in this one.
I got a strong feeling that someone else had a large part in writing this book; it just didn't feel like Janet's work and the writer seemed to have forgotten several important interactions between Ranger and Stephanie.
The book definitely has some good spots that make it worth reading, but if this had been the first in the series, I would not have bought the next one.
Hopefully, Janet's true writing will reappear in number 11. It's just too bad we have to wait another year to find out.

This one had real potential. There was an interesting plot introduced, but not developed. I like the gang related idea and the kidnapping. Lula had me laughing so hard I was in tears, but the ending was a major disappointment. It was like the air going out of a balloon. I finished the novel in just one afternoon, which was another disappointment. When you buy a hardcover book you want to be entertained for longer than a few hours. It was like a two minute romp in the hay. It got you all hot and bothered and left you wanting.

Well, the Stephster is at it again....she's in search of the usual FTAs (Harold Pancek aka SpongeBob, Carol the frito robber)....but she's also managed to get her name added to the hit list of a notoriously ruthless local gang. Of course, there's the usual car fire...and Stephanie borrows one of Ranger's many black vehicles, all of which are equipped with GPS tracking systems. The borrowing of the Ranger ride leads to a fight with Morelli--and Steph moves out--again----but this time with nowhere to go. Not wanting to endanger her family, Steph simply follows the GPS backwards.....has she discovered the BatCave?
With the usual "help" from Lula in all of her spandex glory and now the hormone-challenged Connie, Evanovich fans are in for the usual rollicking ride.
Fours stars only, however, for a couple of reasons. Evanovich and her sterotypical portrayal of African-Americans is troublesome at best. The only Black person who is a mainstay in her novels is Lula--who is of course a former "ho"--and now of course the gang in Ten who is out to get Stephanie. They are, of course, black, and involved in drugs and murder and the like. Ho Hum. Ms. Evanovich, you are doing a serious disservice to your African-American fans (of which I am one) by constantly portraying them in a negative manner. Or do you also believe that we don't read?
The other reason for the 4 stars is the abrupt ending to this story. What happened? I don't know, it seems like this one shut down right in the middle of everything.
DYB

Stephanie is at it again. I love how she keeps reintroducing old characters later in the series. Sally was one of the best and of course there is Ranger and Monelli and the continuing rivalry between the two. I wish she would pick one and get it over with but it now seems that Ranger wants sex without obligation and Monelli wants love without marriage.
The gang writing was very good, the nihilidm and hopelessness of the inner city "lifestyle" described to a "T". I suppose in a series one can't help but repeat oneself but I, for one, am tired of the car burnings and smart alecky Grandma Mazur. Both are good in small doses.
The "plot" to this one was more obvious yet not nearly as complex as some of the other books.
GOOD: Sally, Kloughn (the wedding), Ranger's hangout, the cornchip gal
BAD: Car bombing, Grandma Mazur, breakup with Monelli (again)
A great read for the beach.

I enjoyed Ten Big Ones more than I expected, but then again, I did wait for the paperback to come out. Loved the return of Sally to the story line. Loved that Connie, Lula and Stephanie discovered they had some moral lines they would not cross. Enjoyed Stephanie's dad and his frustration over the crazy women in his life. Appreciated that the donuts are finally impacting Stephanie's waist line. No one should eat that much junkfood and escape the consequences.

Thought it was interesting to see more hard core crime, in the form of gangs, move into Trenton. Appreciated that this crime scourge was harder to work against than the "mob".

I would categorize this as light summer readiing appropriate for the beach or a plane ride.

I look forward to each new Stephanie Plum book for the the humor and quirky characters, but this book lacked the spark of the others. I usually laugh outloud throughout her books - this one only provoked some smiles. Even Evanovich's usual selection of oddballs - Lula, Sally, Grandma Mazur - just weren't as funny and original as usual. Lula and Grandma were kind of tired with little new humor that I can recall, though Sally is fun and has a lot of potential. A lot of the book was repetitive - How many times do we have to read about the smell of Ranger's shower gel and the feel of his sheets? I hope Evanovich can crank up the outrageousness in number 11.

Nonetheless, it was fun and Plum-fans should spend an evening or two with it to keep up with the series.

I have read all of the Stephanie Plum books; loved them at first, but they have gotten monotonous. The characters are just rehashing the same things in different settings. The writing is juvenile. The story was just plain stupid. I realize this is not to be taken seriously, but come on - some of the situations were just plain ridiculous. The blown up car bit has really had it. I just did NOT like this book. The only character that made me laugh was Sally - snap snap. It could have been written by a 12 year old; just plain awful. The ending? There was none. I think this will be the last Plum book that I read. A good series to read are the Sue Grafton books; much better writing and interesting stories. I am really sorry to see the Plum series degenerate into dribble.

If you've listened to Evanovich's first nine books on audio, prepare yourself for a monumental disappointment with number ten in the series. Loreili King flattens the Stephanie Plum character, delivering an uninspiring and boring interpretation of one of the most entertaining characters in print today. Having just read quotes from publishers on the quality of King's narration for the upcoming release of Twelve Sharp, it's difficult to believe that any listened to C.J. Critt's narration of books one through nine. Critt brought Stephanie Plum to life and seemed to innately grasp the essence of the character. Critt's narration deftly presented the listener with a Stephanie Plum that was utterly believable--sassy, funny, vunerable--and left the listener anxious for the next track.

Ten Big Ones isn't one of Evanovich's best works. The storyline isn't terribly exciting and the mainline characters like Grandma Mazur, Joe Morelli, Lula, and Ranger, are lackluster. This, combined with King as the narrator, makes for a ho hum listening experience, and is guaranteed to make you yawn.

Stephanie, Lula, Grandma Mazur, and the rest of the group always keep me smiling or outright laughing. Sally shows up again and adds to the chaos. This is just a fun series of books. I'm totally enjoying these as light-hearted reading.

The first Stephanie Plum novels were fun, laugh-out-loud affairs; they provided a good escape without requiring much effort. Unfortunately what was once amusing has become annoying in many cases. The series is becoming stale - too formulaic. The escapades get more and more ridiculous. The requisite car demolition is no longer interesting. The back-and-forth between Joe and Ranger is forced. Her love life is silly. Perhaps she needs a new love interest - she isn't able to really commit to either Joe or Ranger. Some of the peripheral characters are still amusing, and sometimes I still laugh. But overall, Ten Big Ones was a big disappointment.

Janet Evanovich can do no wrong with the Stephanie Plum series. I can't wait to read each no book and in preparation I start at the beginning with book one and re-read each book up to the newest addition.

Oh, I admit it. I love all things Plum. Evanovich's books are just a much needed jovial punch in the arm in a culture that takes itself far too seriously. "Ten Big Ones" may not be the best of the 10, but heck, who's counting? Still lots of self-deprecating humor, hijinx and hilarity. And the mysterious Bvlgari shower gel...so intriguing I sought the stuff out myself. My guess is that sales have soared. You can check out the Q & A at [...] The Plum books are the literary equivalent of a homemade grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup on a dreary day. Nothing fancy, but there's simply no substitute for down-home comfort food to warm the bones. Especially your funny bone.

I enjoy this series very much and this book was no exception. These books make me laugh out loud. Stephanie Plum may be conflicted about some issues (Joe vs.Ranger) and her family may drive her batty (her grandmother wants to help Stephanie in her bounty hunter duties, especially if she gets to bring the gun; her mother has a direct connection to insty-gossip -- no mistake or accident goes unnoticed) but Stephanie always gets her collar. Perhaps by accident or sheer dumb luck, and sometimes with actual skill, but the process is always entertaining. If Stephanie needs backup Lula is there for her. Lula is the ex-hooker with extra attitude. If the going gets too tough she can always count on Ranger to assist, but it might cost her.

Stephanie may be confusing to others but she knows who she is. She's the woman with big hair, commitment problems and a Jersey attitude who always gets her dessert first. She will never convince herself that her job is the most important thing in her life. If you want to read a novel in which "stuff happens" is just the beginning, this series is for you. As for the Joe (gorgeous first-love hunk) vs. Ranger (gorgeous, dangerous hunk) question, I bet you can't decide either. **grin**

I've read several reviews in which the readers have complained that this book is too formulaic. While I agree that each novel is similarly structured, it's because Evanovich has found a style that works for her, and she has OWNED it. As a child, I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series and looking back on it, each of those mystery stories followed a formula as well. Whether it's just me being nostalgic or not, I have taken to calling the Stephanie Plum series: "Nancy Drew for adults". When reading these novels in public spaces, I frequently receive strange looks, as I frequently emit loud bursts of laughter. I recommend this series to anyone who feels like enjoying a sit-com in paperback format.

She's always on the best seller list but this is the one and only Evanovich novel I've ever read. Definitely a cozy, 10 Big Ones is delightful not because of its plotting, but because of the personality that Evanovich has breathed into her heroine, Stephanie Plum. The supporting cast of characters is also entertaining, especially Grandma. This book had me laughing at least once every chapter. Very funny, very amusing, not necessarily a great mystery but a really good time. Stephanie, you go, girl!

Always entertaining, but I find the theme is repetitious. At some point Stephanie has to be able to defend herself -- at least a little bit. After all, anyone who always has killers after her should be smart enough to do the basics.

This was the first book that I started reading out of the series. I read it back in high school and ended up reading this one first because it was the first one that I found in my school's library and I did not realize at the time that it was part of a series. I absolutely loved this book and it made me read more of the series! I have now read books number 1 through 12. I haven't picked up a book in a while but when I do, it has always been a Janet Evanovich book. Each book has its own thrilling mysteries and plenty of excitement in many meanings. I believe that I need to catch up and start reading book number 13. I would definitely recommend any of these books in the series to someone looking for some comedic suspense with some spice mixed in.

I don't know what it is about these about these books but they are more addictive than Tastycakes! They have just the right balance of mystery, hot guys and all the comforts of my east coast home that I just can't get enough! The writing is light enough that I feel like I am escaping from my life as a busy doctor when I read, but of a caliber that I feel like Stephanie and I could be friends and carry on an intelligent conversation if she came into my office to get patched up after one of her adventures. Can't wait to read the next book!!!!

Just when I thought Stephanie had finally gotten her act together and was finally on right track to being a successful bounty hunter after reading "To the Nines" it appears she's back to being the same old Stephanie who doesn't have a clue, who can't decide what man she wants in her life and always Ranger/Morelli running to the rescue, another car lost (what insurance company would give her car insurance?), no bullets in gun or for that matter where is the gun? Enough already!!!

Why do I keep doing this to myself? Because I keep wanting to see Stephanie grow up and stop being the bumbling idiot that she is, but will that ever happen? At this point I am doubtful.

I have read all Janet Evanovich books in fact have all Stephanie books in hard back but wanted to read again. I now only use kindle due to eye problems.WMD. SO NOW HAVE THEM ON KINDLE! Always enjoy but think Steph should choose her man may e soon. I choose Morelli! Plan to read on!

One turns the pages, but the thrill is mostly gone.
As much as I admire Janet Evanovich and love the Stephanie Plum series, I have to say, at this point, she is stagnating. The problem is that her characters are not growing and changing, Stephanie in particular. One can only spend so much time going through the same old tired routines, car burned in first chapter, people angling in and out of cars, Big Blue, Grand'ma M, Morelli vs. Ranger, the family dinner scenes, etc. I mean, the only person who seems to be making any progress here is Sally Sweet, rubber band therapy and all.
And the humor suffers as a result. Carol Cantell and her Cheese Doodles, and the botched kidnap/intimidation of Anton Ward aka the devil guy are more painful than funny. The best, and most revelatory line in the whole thing is when Ranger tells Stephanie she's a line item in his budget.
I usually read Evanovich laughing out loud all the way through; this one rated about one good laugh (the dog humping scene), an occasional Ranger half-smile and a lot of Stephanie-style eye rolls.
I feel like I should get a refund on this one. Borrow it from a friend or wait for the paperback. Time to send Evanovich a message.

This was the most disappointing Stephanie Plum novel to date! There were laughs don't get me wrong there.
But the whole premise behind this book was all hype and the only things you really learn about Ranger only leave more questions and a feeling of loss at what we were given.
Morelli has become a whiney character who berates Stephanie's job and who at every opportunity tries to get her to quit. YES WE KNOW THE JOB IS DANGEROUS, but please this has gotten very old very quickly! How many times does Steph have to move in and out with Morelli and how many times does he have to suggest marriage in order to change the subject of an argument?
Lula, Grandma Mazur, Sally Sweet, Kloughn and the rest all made this book worth going through all the mess with Ranger/Morelli. They were funny and fresh.
The bad guys this time are a gang and one main guy the Red Devil along with a hitman they hire to kill Stephanie, but it falls flat in the end and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
The usually cliff hanging ending wasn't even here in this book. It was over and I was looking back to see if I'd read correctly.
My finally complaint is the description cover of the book says the only place Steph has to turn to is Ranger. Well, he is barely even in the book he goes out of town and returns towards the end of the book. His scenes were brief and lacked the heat of previous books.
This is the worst book of the series in my opinion.

I've never laughed so much from reading a Stephanie

Plum book before. Kudos to Janet Evanovich for 10 Big Ones. These

books just seem to get better and better with each increasing number.

SP returns with all of her familiar characters. And this time there's a contract out, on her life. She takes refuge

in the 'Bat Cave'.

This book kept me involved to the very

last page. Keep up the good work, Janet:)

If you've listened to Evanovich's first nine books on audio, prepare yourself for a monumental disappointment with number ten in the series. Loreili King flattens the Stephanie Plum character, delivering an uninspiring and boring interpretation of one of the most entertaining characters in print today. Having just read quotes from publishers on the quality of King's narration for the upcoming release of Twelve Sharp, it's difficult to believe that any listened to C.J. Critt's narration of books one through nine. Critt brought Stephanie Plum to life and seemed to innately grasp the essence of the character. Critt's narration deftly presented the listener with a Stephanie Plum that was utterly believable--sassy, funny, vunerable--and left the listener anxious for the next track.

Ten Big Ones isn't one of Evanovich's best works. The storyline isn't terribly exciting and the mainline characters like Grandma Mazur, Joe Morelli, Lula, and Ranger, are lackluster. This, combined with King as the narrator, makes for a ho hum listening experience, and is guaranteed to make you yawn.

Stephanie, Lula, Grandma Mazur, and the rest of the group always keep me smiling or outright laughing. Sally shows up again and adds to the chaos. This is just a fun series of books. I'm totally enjoying these as light-hearted reading.

The first Stephanie Plum novels were fun, laugh-out-loud affairs; they provided a good escape without requiring much effort. Unfortunately what was once amusing has become annoying in many cases. The series is becoming stale - too formulaic. The escapades get more and more ridiculous. The requisite car demolition is no longer interesting. The back-and-forth between Joe and Ranger is forced. Her love life is silly. Perhaps she needs a new love interest - she isn't able to really commit to either Joe or Ranger. Some of the peripheral characters are still amusing, and sometimes I still laugh. But overall, Ten Big Ones was a big disappointment.

Janet Evanovich can do no wrong with the Stephanie Plum series. I can't wait to read each no book and in preparation I start at the beginning with book one and re-read each book up to the newest addition.

Oh, I admit it. I love all things Plum. Evanovich's books are just a much needed jovial punch in the arm in a culture that takes itself far too seriously. "Ten Big Ones" may not be the best of the 10, but heck, who's counting? Still lots of self-deprecating humor, hijinx and hilarity. And the mysterious Bvlgari shower gel...so intriguing I sought the stuff out myself. My guess is that sales have soared. You can check out the Q & A at [...] The Plum books are the literary equivalent of a homemade grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup on a dreary day. Nothing fancy, but there's simply no substitute for down-home comfort food to warm the bones. Especially your funny bone.

I enjoy this series very much and this book was no exception. These books make me laugh out loud. Stephanie Plum may be conflicted about some issues (Joe vs.Ranger) and her family may drive her batty (her grandmother wants to help Stephanie in her bounty hunter duties, especially if she gets to bring the gun; her mother has a direct connection to insty-gossip -- no mistake or accident goes unnoticed) but Stephanie always gets her collar. Perhaps by accident or sheer dumb luck, and sometimes with actual skill, but the process is always entertaining. If Stephanie needs backup Lula is there for her. Lula is the ex-hooker with extra attitude. If the going gets too tough she can always count on Ranger to assist, but it might cost her.

Stephanie may be confusing to others but she knows who she is. She's the woman with big hair, commitment problems and a Jersey attitude who always gets her dessert first. She will never convince herself that her job is the most important thing in her life. If you want to read a novel in which "stuff happens" is just the beginning, this series is for you. As for the Joe (gorgeous first-love hunk) vs. Ranger (gorgeous, dangerous hunk) question, I bet you can't decide either. **grin**

I've read several reviews in which the readers have complained that this book is too formulaic. While I agree that each novel is similarly structured, it's because Evanovich has found a style that works for her, and she has OWNED it. As a child, I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series and looking back on it, each of those mystery stories followed a formula as well. Whether it's just me being nostalgic or not, I have taken to calling the Stephanie Plum series: "Nancy Drew for adults". When reading these novels in public spaces, I frequently receive strange looks, as I frequently emit loud bursts of laughter. I recommend this series to anyone who feels like enjoying a sit-com in paperback format.

She's always on the best seller list but this is the one and only Evanovich novel I've ever read. Definitely a cozy, 10 Big Ones is delightful not because of its plotting, but because of the personality that Evanovich has breathed into her heroine, Stephanie Plum. The supporting cast of characters is also entertaining, especially Grandma. This book had me laughing at least once every chapter. Very funny, very amusing, not necessarily a great mystery but a really good time. Stephanie, you go, girl!

Always entertaining, but I find the theme is repetitious. At some point Stephanie has to be able to defend herself -- at least a little bit. After all, anyone who always has killers after her should be smart enough to do the basics.

This was the first book that I started reading out of the series. I read it back in high school and ended up reading this one first because it was the first one that I found in my school's library and I did not realize at the time that it was part of a series. I absolutely loved this book and it made me read more of the series! I have now read books number 1 through 12. I haven't picked up a book in a while but when I do, it has always been a Janet Evanovich book. Each book has its own thrilling mysteries and plenty of excitement in many meanings. I believe that I need to catch up and start reading book number 13. I would definitely recommend any of these books in the series to someone looking for some comedic suspense with some spice mixed in.

I don't know what it is about these about these books but they are more addictive than Tastycakes! They have just the right balance of mystery, hot guys and all the comforts of my east coast home that I just can't get enough! The writing is light enough that I feel like I am escaping from my life as a busy doctor when I read, but of a caliber that I feel like Stephanie and I could be friends and carry on an intelligent conversation if she came into my office to get patched up after one of her adventures. Can't wait to read the next book!!!!

Just when I thought Stephanie had finally gotten her act together and was finally on right track to being a successful bounty hunter after reading "To the Nines" it appears she's back to being the same old Stephanie who doesn't have a clue, who can't decide what man she wants in her life and always Ranger/Morelli running to the rescue, another car lost (what insurance company would give her car insurance?), no bullets in gun or for that matter where is the gun? Enough already!!!

Why do I keep doing this to myself? Because I keep wanting to see Stephanie grow up and stop being the bumbling idiot that she is, but will that ever happen? At this point I am doubtful.

I have read all Janet Evanovich books in fact have all Stephanie books in hard back but wanted to read again. I now only use kindle due to eye problems.WMD. SO NOW HAVE THEM ON KINDLE! Always enjoy but think Steph should choose her man may e soon. I choose Morelli! Plan to read on!

One turns the pages, but the thrill is mostly gone.
As much as I admire Janet Evanovich and love the Stephanie Plum series, I have to say, at this point, she is stagnating. The problem is that her characters are not growing and changing, Stephanie in particular. One can only spend so much time going through the same old tired routines, car burned in first chapter, people angling in and out of cars, Big Blue, Grand'ma M, Morelli vs. Ranger, the family dinner scenes, etc. I mean, the only person who seems to be making any progress here is Sally Sweet, rubber band therapy and all.
And the humor suffers as a result. Carol Cantell and her Cheese Doodles, and the botched kidnap/intimidation of Anton Ward aka the devil guy are more painful than funny. The best, and most revelatory line in the whole thing is when Ranger tells Stephanie she's a line item in his budget.
I usually read Evanovich laughing out loud all the way through; this one rated about one good laugh (the dog humping scene), an occasional Ranger half-smile and a lot of Stephanie-style eye rolls.
I feel like I should get a refund on this one. Borrow it from a friend or wait for the paperback. Time to send Evanovich a message.

This was the most disappointing Stephanie Plum novel to date! There were laughs don't get me wrong there.
But the whole premise behind this book was all hype and the only things you really learn about Ranger only leave more questions and a feeling of loss at what we were given.
Morelli has become a whiney character who berates Stephanie's job and who at every opportunity tries to get her to quit. YES WE KNOW THE JOB IS DANGEROUS, but please this has gotten very old very quickly! How many times does Steph have to move in and out with Morelli and how many times does he have to suggest marriage in order to change the subject of an argument?
Lula, Grandma Mazur, Sally Sweet, Kloughn and the rest all made this book worth going through all the mess with Ranger/Morelli. They were funny and fresh.
The bad guys this time are a gang and one main guy the Red Devil along with a hitman they hire to kill Stephanie, but it falls flat in the end and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
The usually cliff hanging ending wasn't even here in this book. It was over and I was looking back to see if I'd read correctly.
My finally complaint is the description cover of the book says the only place Steph has to turn to is Ranger. Well, he is barely even in the book he goes out of town and returns towards the end of the book. His scenes were brief and lacked the heat of previous books.
This is the worst book of the series in my opinion.

I've never laughed so much from reading a Stephanie

Plum book before. Kudos to Janet Evanovich for 10 Big Ones. These

books just seem to get better and better with each increasing number.

SP returns with all of her familiar characters. And this time there's a contract out, on her life. She takes refuge

in the 'Bat Cave'.

This book kept me involved to the very

last page. Keep up the good work, Janet:)

The new Plum adventure was OK, but not great! Not as many laughs as past books. I hate to see the series end, but it might be time? This back and forth with Joe and Ranger started out interesting, but is now just frustrating! The book shouldn't refer to Stephanie as Joe's girlfried and then have her kissing Ranger. Come on Janet one or the other, but don't make Stephanie a cheating girlfriend!

I love all of the characters in these books and that's what keeps me reading them. As the series progresses there is less and less to them: less plot and less pages. Just compare "One for the Money" to any of the subsequent novels and you'll see what I mean. I enjoyed reading "Ten Big Ones" but I only wish there had been more to it. Will we be looking for the Stephanie Plum novels in the easy reader section for children soon?

I have read all the Stephanie Plum novels and waited patiently for "Ten Big Ones," however, I was disappointed for several reasons.
The novel was short. I read it in one afternoon. It also lacked the excitement that we Plum lovers have seen in the past between Stephanie and Ranger. Ranger was hardly in the book at all and the exchanges between Stephanie and Joe were boring. It seems as though they have fallin into a so-so relationship that is more like a good friendship than a love affair.
The story-line started out really good and then fizzled at the end. I was expecting so much more from the plot but the ending left me feeling like there should have been more.
While I loved Lulu, Grandma Mazur and Sally Sweet ,the story still lacked something. If it hadn't been for these characters the book would have totally bombed.
Sorry, but Janet Evonovich wasn't ready for the "Ten Big Ones."

Omg, I am really getting a little sick of stephanies's character. I mean, is she really that stupid? So naive? She'd stay out of trouble if she wouldn't go looking for it. But then, there wouldn't be reason to write another book or another story about someone trying to kill her because she's too stupid or stubborn. I'm so rooting for her & joe & then she decides to "use" ranger's apartment. Now she knows that's going to piss joe off. Again, she just begs for trouble. Stephanie really needs to grow up. If I can't get the next download free from my local library, I think I'm done with this series.

I loved the previous 9 books in this series but just couldn't quite get into this one. The humor was great, as usual, and I laughed out loud more than once. I enjoyed reading more about Sally and finding out alittle more info on Ranger. The problem for me was that the story was so uneven. Stephanie sees the face of a guy who's holding up stores and suddenly there's a hit man and an entire gang after her. I actually skimmed thru the part where they kidnapped the "Red Devil" which I didn't think added anything worthwhile to the story. I also agree with other reviewers that the ending was poor. I'm sure I'll read the next book in the series if only to see if Ms Evanovich is back to her old form! Glad I borrowed this one from the library.

I love Stephanie Plum and all of the situations she finds herself in. It is always a laugh out loud read but this time I felt short-changed at the ending. I got the sense that the book was printed with the last chapter or two missing. I felt like I was left hanging and that things were not wrapped up with Joe and Ranger and the rest of the crazy bunch. Other than that it was pure Plum action. I guess I'll just have to wait for 11!

for the "no ending." But Janet Evanovich can really write a story - a perfect example of writing the same characters over and over again and still making them interesting. I love the way her mind works. Love all the quirky characters! They'd make a great movie! Stephanie=Jennifer Garner, Joe=David Boreanaz(Angel), Ranger=The Rock, Sally=Cojo(Today Show), Lula=Mo'nique, Connie=Debbie Mazur, Vinny=Steve Buscemi.

Great Series!

Stephanie has annoyed a local gang and now a hit-man is hunting for her. She's trying to decide just what to do with the two men in her life, and deal with being in her sister's soon-to-be wedding. The icing on her cake is the funny little rolls of fat that seem to be oozing around the waistband of her jeans.
Ten Big Ones is tons of fun!! Janet Evanovich is in prime form!

Bond Enforcement Agent Stephanie Plum and her sometimes partner Lula are outside the deli-mart trying to decide what to eat when a man wearing a red devil mask runs out of the store. He has a Molotov cocktail that he throws into the store he just robbed but the manager catches it and throws it back bouncing it off the culprit's head into Stephanie's car. The car catches fire and the criminal takes off his mask and Stephanie realizes she can identify him.
Her live in lover Joe Morelli tells her he is associated with the street gang Comstack Street Slayer. Without thinking of the consequences, Stephanie and Lula go into Slayer territory to look for the Red Devil robber when gang members, some of which jump on her car, surround them. She drives away, throwing the gang members into the street and the next thing she knows the Slayers have imported the hitman Junkman to take her and a few other people out. Stephanie comes up with an deliciously felonious plan to find out who is on the Junkman's hit list and why but she is still in danger with Joe and Ranger, the sexy bounty hunter who is Joe's rival doing their best to protect a woman who needs her freedom.
This is obviously the tenth Stephanie Plum novel and unbelievably it is one of the best in the series. It is fresh, funny, upbeat, and populated with the quirky characters readers have come to love. Stephanie's relationship with Ranger is definitely heating up. It is delightful to watch the heroine doing her job while hiding out from the gang members. Janet Evanovich score again with an undeniably great crime novel. This author has so much talent it is no wonder she is always on the bestseller lists.

Like many of the readers, I agree that Ms. Evanovich seems to have run out of ideas. The series could be written by a twelve year old. Just give them a checklist- blow up car, eat donuts, feed Rex a donut/grape/piece of pizza, eat donuts, vascilate between Ranger and Joe, eat six tastykakes. You get the idea. Ms. Evanovich did expand the plot a little with this book, though. She added in Ranger's shower gel to the list. It was only mentioned every other paragraph. Might I add that I have never smelled a shower gel that lingers quite like his supposedly does. Seriously, the books went downhill after the sixth installment. If Ms. Evanovich cannot expand the plots and allow more character growth rather than rehashing the same events over and over, perhaps she should consider ending the series.

Evanovich's Plum series is fantastic, eagerly awaited each year and a must read. All of her Plum books are good some are just superior in quality. Having said this I have to state that "10" isn't superior and it barely makes it to borderline good category. For a high quality/established author such as Evanovich it's a disappointment. The story drags and it shouldn't since she introduces alot of plot material that she doesn't follow through on. "10" has an interesting story line but it seems like Evanovich relies on her old material for character development and nothing new or exciting happens to any of her characters. If anything, some of her characters seem like shadows of their former glorious past stories. Parts of "10" are extremely funny but they simply can't carry the whole book. At the end I felt like I had been left hanging without a clever cliff hanger or ending that Evanovich usually manages to pull off for Stephanie & company.

It was too short in a good way. I had a great time reading this one as I always do with her books. It had me laughing the whole way. I wouldn't have put it down if I could have managed but work and a two month old baby have their own ideas. Looking forward to her next one...a year is too long to wait. If you haven't read any of her books I recommend you do..she is a great author and her books are very entertaining, are fast paced reads and overall a pleasure.

Stephanie, you are now trying to hide from gangbangers...very dangerous people who have called in a hit man. Now is the time to call upon Ranger. Oh, yes, you resort to sleeping in Ranger's hidden apartment. His Bulgari soap makes you swoon! Once again the characters over plot make for a wonderful read!
This one is scary, and you wonder how Stephanie will get out of
her predicament!

The tenth book in the Stephanie Plum series kept me up all night. In this novel, Stephanie manages to see the face of a robber who has been robbing and burning down mini marts. In doing so, she attracts the attention of the gang he belongs to and marks herself for assasination. Afraid to endanger Joe, her parents, or her multitude of friends, Stephanie is once again looking for a place to stay.... which Ranger provides without his knowledge!
The ending was abrupt but the book was vintage Plum... full of mass consumption of junk food, exploding cars, botched bounty huntering attempts and two sexy guys!

I have read other reviews and I think people are being really hard on Janet Evanovich. If she changes the formula too much people are going to freak. I admit the book is not the best of the series ( for me personally it was one, four, five and six) It was still an enjoyable read. The characters are fun and entertaining. The only thing I must admit is the ending was very rushed. The real Stephanie fans will enjoy this book.

I marvel at the fact that some writers can be consistently humorous over a long series of books, and this author is one of those people. Not only do we get an interesting story, but there is humor all throughout the book, some coming from the situations, and a lot from the totally wierd people that inhabit its pages. This series is one that, occasionally, I have to laugh out loud. It doesn't bother my wife, however, since she's already read the books first and done her out-loud laughing already. I hope this series continues ad infinitum!

Goofy and exciting at the same time. I love the adventures Stephanie Plum gets herself into. All the women in my family have read or listened to and loved this book. We had a multigenerational discussion on who we liked better - Joe or Ranger! What a great story - it was fun and exciting at the same time. I listened to the unabrided CD version and recommend it for a long car trip. It will definitely keep you awake.

I love the Stephanie Plum series. Absolutely hilarious. GREAT writing, great stories that all seem to overlap with each other in one form or another. You can start anywhere and know what is happening and just enjoy each one on it's own.

This is the first of Janets books I have read, sent to me in error by my bookclub..I am glad they did!!!!!I read it and finished it in about 24 hours. I loved it!I even reread some of the funny parts and they still were funny. I laughed so hard at some of the parts, I woke up my husband several times(now that wasnt funny btw :-)I plan on reading them all starting from the beginning! I too can not wait for the next one.

I have never really enjoyed reading because I thought it was boring. Janet E's writing makes me laugh...out loud, even! It is fun & nonsense & with all the serious stuff going on in our world, laughing is a great thing! I am sharing this series (yes, I have them all and have #14 on pre-order!) with my family & friends. It is great to enjoy reading just for the fun of it! I am sure the author wrote the books for the readers' enjoyment & I, for one, am VERY grateful!!

I really like the series and enjoy Stephanie's typical little mishaps - but this one just didn't "feel right". As some reviewers have already remarked, the love triangle gets boring and her ditzy-ness in this installment really is more annoying then funny... I hope book 11 will return to its former class and charm.
It is still a decent read, especially if you are a Stephanie Plum fan - but it's far from the charm and quality of the first few books in the series.

In the past I devoured the Stephanie Plum books and couldn't wait until the next one was out. The past 2 have been declining but #10 was the worst. Where is the snappy, funny, original dialogue? Everything is soooo tired. I realize plot was never the strength of this series but puhlease.

I am not looking forward to the next one and it pains me to say I don't really care about the characters anymore. I'm just glad I didn't spend any money on this junk and read a library copy.

I think Evanovich needs to take a break from this series for a while. She's disappointing die hard fans and for me, that's saying something.

I am quite disappointed with Evanovich's latest, 10 Big Ones. Like other readers, I could easily see that she probably wrote the first third and had a chance to develop it more (or her editor) and then rushed the rest. Where was her development editor?? It was his/her job to point out the weaknesses in the story and be the reader's advocate. Good endings should have some loose ends to spur me to eagerly anticipate the next book, but the sheer number of loose ends in this book just makes me frustrated. I definitely felt that I should have kept my money and waited in line at the library. If Evanovich is finding it this hard to write and is making the struggle so evident, perhaps it is time to wrap up the series and find some fresh material.

I have always liked Stephanie Plum, but this latest was a stinker. I know that this series is not meant to be taken seriously and Stephanie is a crazy girl, but the formula is getting old. The love triangle is never resolved, and the characters have become cardboard cutouts. I had a real problem with the end of the book - there wasn't one. It just seemed to come to a screaching halt with no resolution and a completely dumb final scene. I would not recommend purchasing this book. It left me hanging....and disappointed.

Janet doesn't disappoint in this volume when it comes to the laughs. I found several Laugh out loud moments in volume 10 in the Stephanie Plum series.
Now for the negative.
Without giving away the story too much I will begin by saying that the hype surrounding this book was about the fact that the only place Steph has to turn to in this volume is Ranger! Well, Ranger isn't really involved in the story he is briefly in the beginning then leaves for a trip out of town and is brought back towards the very end of the book. A very clear revelation to me that all the information we do learn about him is completely in vain because the whole love triangle has gone out the window and he will forever remain the elusive HOT guy with no real connection to Stephanie. I found this fact very annoying considering although Stephanie does love Joe Morelli and he's a great leading character he hates her job and continuously holds that elusive "wedding" idea up to her if she'll only QUIT her job as a bounty hunter!
Yes she's in danger that's what we love about the series, the next nut chasing after her.
However, I find it very boring that for her to have a relationship with Morelli he is throwing that little morsel of marriage at her at times when he is either scared for her safety, trying to get her in bed or just out of the blue but never really plays out as part of the story.
By book 10 I have finally had it. We sat back as the triangle was built between Steph, Ranger and Morelli. When she and Ranger finally do the deed it is brief and only skimmed over in later books. So they flirt, big deal it's lost something because no matter what we are pummelled with the fact that Ranger doesn't "LOVE her that way".
I'll keep reading the books because I am now hooked with Janet's wonderful writing style, but the story needs serious work it is time to make a serious decision in this series and go with it whether I like where it goes or not.
Because after this volume it only makes me think that Stephanie is willing to put up with anything from Morelli just as if there are no other men in the universe. I know she loves him but after 10 books isn't it enough?

This was my first Stephanie Plum novel and it will probably be my last. I didn't think it was as funny as the author was intending. (could be a "chick book" thing?)And it constantly gave me junk food cravings that I thought I had conquered years ago. Especially the TastyKakes butterscotch krimpets.
It gets 1 star because I did manage to get through it as I became used to the author's style and storytelling. But I could've/ should've missed this one.

I had been eagerly anticipating this book...However, I was thoroughly disappointed. The themes were nothing that I had not read in the previous 9 books. The only glimmer to this book was a little insight into Ranger's private life...that's it...The storylines followed the same genre...it became predictable ie., you knew that the crazy dogs were going to "hump on Stephanie." That was no surprise. It did appear to me that the author lost interest in keeping the reader's interested. I love Stephanie Plum...that's not going to change. I don't enjoy reading a book in which I can predict what is going to happen. This includes the car rides with grandma and Sally. I would have liked to have seen Morelli and Stephanie get a little closer and it appeared as though that would be the case, but that was taken in another direction as well. What about the family wedding? The end of the book was like being dropped off a cliff and I don't mean an actual cliffhanger, but being left wondering...is this it???????????
I really don't know where the author can go from here...I'm sorry Janet, I've loved your work, but this one left much work to be done.

I loved "Ten Big Ones" and as with the previous nine Plum books, was pleasantly entertained. Stephanie, Lula, Grandma and the gang were funny, inventive, and witty. They caused me to laugh out loud and want more. A little insight was given into mystery-man Ranger, but not enough to give away his mystique. I read and reread the Stephanie Plum books and always come away a little lighter! I highly recommend this book!!

There seemed to be too much repetition of trivial facts but not much actual interaction of Stephanie with any of the other main characters. Seemed more like fluff to me than the first books she wrote. I probably won't reread this one as I have the others. Would like to see more Joe or Ranger.

Again, the cast of characters was great. The dialogue was again snappy but not enough Grandma for me. The sexual tension between Stephanie and Ranger was really intense this time. I needed a fan during some parts of the book (HaHa). The ending was a bit disappointing - a big drop! I needed just a bit more, but a great tease for the next book - which, of course, I am looking VERY forward to.

This formula is getting a bit tiresome. I love all these books but I really didn't care if I finished this one or not. Ranger is barely in this book even though he is the best to read about. Stephanie's family is hilarious as ever but something new needs to happen or she should end this series gracefully.

Exactly how many novels is it going to take before Stephanie Plum stops being a colossal idiot? The first 30 times her ineptitude prevents her from bagging somebody that any normal human could catch in their sleep were fairly humorous. Now, it's just plain annoying. She can't do anything right- ever. It's time for Stephanie to either improve at her work or hang up her cuffs. Of course, she doesn't HAVE any cuffs, since she continues to lose them. All I kept thinking through this entire book is, "She is the biggest moron ever!" I did not used to think this. I used to be amused by her. No more. Please, stop with the Lula and Grandma going out on busts. Pretty please. I'm only going to read one more book and if it's the same as the last 5 books, then Stephanie is on her own.

I have waited impatiently for this book since I put down #9. How many people can say they have two sexy men interested in them. Oh Steph, you lucky, lucky woman. I still love all the characters.
When I finished the book, I felt like there should have been more to it. It left me hanging. I was hoping to see Lula with one of Rangers guys. I know Steph can't choose between Ranger or Morelli because then there would be no story line. But why not let Lula have some lovins.
Thanks Janet for another good books. I just there was another chapter or two to it. What about the wedding? What fun a Plum wedding? Who Steph take as her escort?

It hurts me to have to say this about a Stephanie Plum novel, but this book was tired and dull. Nothing new to the story line, Stephanie hasn't grown or progressed much, and this book was missing the normal laugh out loud moments so prevalent in the past Plum books. I hope that the next installment will be reenergized.

Goofy and exciting at the same time. I love the adventures Stephanie Plum gets herself into. All the women in my family have read or listened to and loved this book. We had a multigenerational discussion on who we liked better - Joe or Ranger! What a great story - it was fun and exciting at the same time. I listened to the unabrided CD version and recommend it for a long car trip. It will definitely keep you awake.

I love the Stephanie Plum series. Absolutely hilarious. GREAT writing, great stories that all seem to overlap with each other in one form or another. You can start anywhere and know what is happening and just enjoy each one on it's own.

This is the first of Janets books I have read, sent to me in error by my bookclub..I am glad they did!!!!!I read it and finished it in about 24 hours. I loved it!I even reread some of the funny parts and they still were funny. I laughed so hard at some of the parts, I woke up my husband several times(now that wasnt funny btw :-)I plan on reading them all starting from the beginning! I too can not wait for the next one.

I have never really enjoyed reading because I thought it was boring. Janet E's writing makes me laugh...out loud, even! It is fun & nonsense & with all the serious stuff going on in our world, laughing is a great thing! I am sharing this series (yes, I have them all and have #14 on pre-order!) with my family & friends. It is great to enjoy reading just for the fun of it! I am sure the author wrote the books for the readers' enjoyment & I, for one, am VERY grateful!!

I really like the series and enjoy Stephanie's typical little mishaps - but this one just didn't "feel right". As some reviewers have already remarked, the love triangle gets boring and her ditzy-ness in this installment really is more annoying then funny... I hope book 11 will return to its former class and charm.
It is still a decent read, especially if you are a Stephanie Plum fan - but it's far from the charm and quality of the first few books in the series.

In the past I devoured the Stephanie Plum books and couldn't wait until the next one was out. The past 2 have been declining but #10 was the worst. Where is the snappy, funny, original dialogue? Everything is soooo tired. I realize plot was never the strength of this series but puhlease.

I am not looking forward to the next one and it pains me to say I don't really care about the characters anymore. I'm just glad I didn't spend any money on this junk and read a library copy.

I think Evanovich needs to take a break from this series for a while. She's disappointing die hard fans and for me, that's saying something.

I am quite disappointed with Evanovich's latest, 10 Big Ones. Like other readers, I could easily see that she probably wrote the first third and had a chance to develop it more (or her editor) and then rushed the rest. Where was her development editor?? It was his/her job to point out the weaknesses in the story and be the reader's advocate. Good endings should have some loose ends to spur me to eagerly anticipate the next book, but the sheer number of loose ends in this book just makes me frustrated. I definitely felt that I should have kept my money and waited in line at the library. If Evanovich is finding it this hard to write and is making the struggle so evident, perhaps it is time to wrap up the series and find some fresh material.

I know. Evanovich is mindless braincandy. So why do I read these books?

The truth is that I am secretly,desperately in love with Ranger. Sadly,it is a relationship that is going nowhere. I dread reaching the last page with every Evanovich; I know that's it for my love affair with Ranger for the year. And, now that I've finished page 312 and closed the book, dadgumit, that's it.

Favorite Quote: "It was a great kiss, but I didn'tknow what the heck it meant. It seemed to me that a breaking-up kiss would have had less tongue."

I have always liked Stephanie Plum, but this latest was a stinker. I know that this series is not meant to be taken seriously and Stephanie is a crazy girl, but the formula is getting old. The love triangle is never resolved, and the characters have become cardboard cutouts. I had a real problem with the end of the book - there wasn't one. It just seemed to come to a screaching halt with no resolution and a completely dumb final scene. I would not recommend purchasing this book. It left me hanging....and disappointed.

Janet doesn't disappoint in this volume when it comes to the laughs. I found several Laugh out loud moments in volume 10 in the Stephanie Plum series.
Now for the negative.
Without giving away the story too much I will begin by saying that the hype surrounding this book was about the fact that the only place Steph has to turn to in this volume is Ranger! Well, Ranger isn't really involved in the story he is briefly in the beginning then leaves for a trip out of town and is brought back towards the very end of the book. A very clear revelation to me that all the information we do learn about him is completely in vain because the whole love triangle has gone out the window and he will forever remain the elusive HOT guy with no real connection to Stephanie. I found this fact very annoying considering although Stephanie does love Joe Morelli and he's a great leading character he hates her job and continuously holds that elusive "wedding" idea up to her if she'll only QUIT her job as a bounty hunter!
Yes she's in danger that's what we love about the series, the next nut chasing after her.
However, I find it very boring that for her to have a relationship with Morelli he is throwing that little morsel of marriage at her at times when he is either scared for her safety, trying to get her in bed or just out of the blue but never really plays out as part of the story.
By book 10 I have finally had it. We sat back as the triangle was built between Steph, Ranger and Morelli. When she and Ranger finally do the deed it is brief and only skimmed over in later books. So they flirt, big deal it's lost something because no matter what we are pummelled with the fact that Ranger doesn't "LOVE her that way".
I'll keep reading the books because I am now hooked with Janet's wonderful writing style, but the story needs serious work it is time to make a serious decision in this series and go with it whether I like where it goes or not.
Because after this volume it only makes me think that Stephanie is willing to put up with anything from Morelli just as if there are no other men in the universe. I know she loves him but after 10 books isn't it enough?

This was my first Stephanie Plum novel and it will probably be my last. I didn't think it was as funny as the author was intending. (could be a "chick book" thing?)And it constantly gave me junk food cravings that I thought I had conquered years ago. Especially the TastyKakes butterscotch krimpets.
It gets 1 star because I did manage to get through it as I became used to the author's style and storytelling. But I could've/ should've missed this one.

I had been eagerly anticipating this book...However, I was thoroughly disappointed. The themes were nothing that I had not read in the previous 9 books. The only glimmer to this book was a little insight into Ranger's private life...that's it...The storylines followed the same genre...it became predictable ie., you knew that the crazy dogs were going to "hump on Stephanie." That was no surprise. It did appear to me that the author lost interest in keeping the reader's interested. I love Stephanie Plum...that's not going to change. I don't enjoy reading a book in which I can predict what is going to happen. This includes the car rides with grandma and Sally. I would have liked to have seen Morelli and Stephanie get a little closer and it appeared as though that would be the case, but that was taken in another direction as well. What about the family wedding? The end of the book was like being dropped off a cliff and I don't mean an actual cliffhanger, but being left wondering...is this it???????????
I really don't know where the author can go from here...I'm sorry Janet, I've loved your work, but this one left much work to be done.

I loved "Ten Big Ones" and as with the previous nine Plum books, was pleasantly entertained. Stephanie, Lula, Grandma and the gang were funny, inventive, and witty. They caused me to laugh out loud and want more. A little insight was given into mystery-man Ranger, but not enough to give away his mystique. I read and reread the Stephanie Plum books and always come away a little lighter! I highly recommend this book!!

There seemed to be too much repetition of trivial facts but not much actual interaction of Stephanie with any of the other main characters. Seemed more like fluff to me than the first books she wrote. I probably won't reread this one as I have the others. Would like to see more Joe or Ranger.

Again, the cast of characters was great. The dialogue was again snappy but not enough Grandma for me. The sexual tension between Stephanie and Ranger was really intense this time. I needed a fan during some parts of the book (HaHa). The ending was a bit disappointing - a big drop! I needed just a bit more, but a great tease for the next book - which, of course, I am looking VERY forward to.

This formula is getting a bit tiresome. I love all these books but I really didn't care if I finished this one or not. Ranger is barely in this book even though he is the best to read about. Stephanie's family is hilarious as ever but something new needs to happen or she should end this series gracefully.

Exactly how many novels is it going to take before Stephanie Plum stops being a colossal idiot? The first 30 times her ineptitude prevents her from bagging somebody that any normal human could catch in their sleep were fairly humorous. Now, it's just plain annoying. She can't do anything right- ever. It's time for Stephanie to either improve at her work or hang up her cuffs. Of course, she doesn't HAVE any cuffs, since she continues to lose them. All I kept thinking through this entire book is, "She is the biggest moron ever!" I did not used to think this. I used to be amused by her. No more. Please, stop with the Lula and Grandma going out on busts. Pretty please. I'm only going to read one more book and if it's the same as the last 5 books, then Stephanie is on her own.

I have waited impatiently for this book since I put down #9. How many people can say they have two sexy men interested in them. Oh Steph, you lucky, lucky woman. I still love all the characters.
When I finished the book, I felt like there should have been more to it. It left me hanging. I was hoping to see Lula with one of Rangers guys. I know Steph can't choose between Ranger or Morelli because then there would be no story line. But why not let Lula have some lovins.
Thanks Janet for another good books. I just there was another chapter or two to it. What about the wedding? What fun a Plum wedding? Who Steph take as her escort?

It hurts me to have to say this about a Stephanie Plum novel, but this book was tired and dull. Nothing new to the story line, Stephanie hasn't grown or progressed much, and this book was missing the normal laugh out loud moments so prevalent in the past Plum books. I hope that the next installment will be reenergized.

I'm listening to Ten Big Ones but the narrator is CJ Critt. I don't like the Lorelei King versions. I accidentally got a couple of Lorelei King books and there is just no comparison (IMO) to CJ Critt.