Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Takedown Twenty (Stephanie Plum book 20)

by Janet Evanovich

Book Blurb:
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

Well lets face it. I'm invested in this series and I wouldn't dream of stopping now! Besides, these Stephanie Plum books do what I want them to do for me. They make me smile, they make me laugh and they make me feel good. I know that many fans are very tired of the Ranger/Stephanie/Morelli love triangle. I guess I'm a wee bit tired as well but I don't read this series for the romance angle. There is so much more enjoyment that I get out of the Plum books. Having said that, it would be good to have the series wrap up and perhaps a very cool Rangeman spin off series. I would totally be into that!

As much as I LOVE Ranger, lets face it, Morelli is her man. I think Takedown Twenty also had Stephanie thinking along the lines of a more domestic role as well. Who knows? Maybe Takedown Twenty will be the wind down book? 

There was a lot of repetitious jokes from previous books; 

• Lula not wanting to kick a door in because it would damage her knock-off shoes. 
• Grandma Mazur thinking that she is younger than she is. 
• Mom inviting another man to dinner to hopefully rid Stephanie of her single life
• Stephanie's life in peril one time or another
• A strange animal to be the glorified scene stealer in the story

These are just to name a few but if you've read the previous books, you know exactly what you are in for. I wish with all my heart, Janet Evanovich dove a bit deeper into the mystery aspect of her stories like she did in the earlier books. The silliness is all fun and games but I loved the magic of an awesome crime/mystery story mixed in with that silliness. 

Having said that, if Janet Evanovich writes them, I will buy them. 

Teasers: The Eye, butcher shop Stephanie, bridge plunge, Kevin the giraffe

24 Insanely Clever Gifts For Book Lovers

All I can say about all the gifts found on this link....

24 Insanely Clever Gifts For Book Lovers:

is YES PLEASE!!!!!

Some fabulous ideas for any book lover out there. I am totally checking into some of them. 


'via Blog this'

Fatal Affair by Marie Force

Samantha "Sam" Holland and Nick Cappuano




Fatal Affair (Fatal book 1)

By Marie Force

Book Blurb:
Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career--and her confidence--after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O'Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O'Connor's friend and chief of staff...and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can't afford--especially when the bodies keep piling up.

*fist pump* YES! A new series to fall in love with. I've had Fatal Affair on my Kindle for awhile now and I've finally gotten around to reading it. Fatal Affair was an Amazon free Kindle purchase at one time. Giving away the first book of a series is such a great idea because I am hooked and I will gladly purchase more books in this Fatal series. 

Sam is a heroine to be admired. She was a well respected detective in her police precinct with a reputation of being smart. I loved that the author wrote that Sam was admired among her peers. I was really hoping I wouldn't be dragged down a road where Sam was involved in a stereotypical battle where "a woman was working in a man's world". Thankfully the author didn't go there and instead I was treated to a fabulous story.  

I found myself imagining the character Kate Beckett from the TV show Castle while picturing Sam Holland. She is a strong and capable female police sergeant that has a great insight and instincts. Yet, she is still feminine and venerable. Sam was a huge draw for me on how much I loved Fatal Affair. Well I'll be honest, Nick (the male protagonist) was also an excellent character. I loved how realistic his character was. He threw up when he encountered a gruesome murder crime scene just like a civilian would. Nick understood that Sam had a tough job to do and although his manly pride got a bit wounded during a couple of scenes, he was bright enough to realize that Sam was damn good at her job and he had to swallow his pride. 

The location of the story is set in Washington DC and the the flavour of the story is political as well as being deeply ensconced in the law enforcement environment. The mix was suspenseful, the murders to solve were brutal and the mystery kept me engaged the entire story.  

I will happily seek out book 2 and read it soon. 

Teasers: excellent father/daughter relationship, secrets in the closet, brutal murders