Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

Synopsis:After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape...or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money -- or maybe just desperate -- Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again -- a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone... or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . . . 


My Thoughts: Well, at least it was a quick read. I know when I pick up a Stephanie Plum book what I'm in for. I'm going to get a healthy dose of explosions, a lot of food talk, Lula in Lycra, Grandma Mazur being, well, Grandma Mazur,  a hot dose of Morelli and hopefully some smokin' sexy Ranger sightings. I got all of that. I also got a couple chuckles from past character Randy Briggs and a little giggle from a potentially cursed Hawaiian Tiki.

But....that is all. Nothing new. Stephanie is still a hot mess and continues to play along with the best, yet, the most annoying love triangle ever. Ranger or Morelli? Mr Sexy or Mr Hawt? A man who'll melt your panties off or a man who'll feed you beer and pizza? I know it's a hard decision but come on!!! Make one already! This has been going on for too long. It's time to end it Janet! For reals.

In addition to the triangulation of Stephanie's love I really think she should be a bit more, um, competent at her job by...well, 12 books ago. Granted she has made progress but if you had been poisoned and your apartment almost blown up by a crazy man wouldn't you be a bit more cautious when entering said apartment? The apartment that every Tom, Dick and Psycho-killer can break into with ease? Not our Stephanie.

Now, I know this sounds super negative but it wasn't an awful book. It was exactly what I expected. Nothing more. Nothing less. Do not read this book expecting a great mystery and do not read this book expecting something different than the last 18 Plums. Read this book for a quick escape from your reality. Read this book because you've read all the other books in the series and your OCD will not let you stop. Or just read this book because of Ranger (because he's worth it...truly.)