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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I listened to most of this when it first came out as an audio book, but then I got distracted, and since I have the sequel out from the library, I finally decided to finish it. I liked this book, but I think the effect was ruined by reading the last 50 pages a year or so later. I started from the beginning, and while parts of this were amusing the second time around, I was concentrating more on whether I had read it before or not, and I think it lost something.
This book was so much fun. I've only started reading Janet Evanovich in the past few months and I'm kicking myself for not picking up her stuff earlier, but better late than never I guess. I can't give this book a 5 because the plot was a little thin, but the humor in the book definitely made me give it a solid 4.
I found myself giggling while I listened to this book (I read it as an audio book) quite often. I loved almost all of the characters. I haven't read any of the Stephanie Plum books yet (but I'm going to in the new year for sure) so I can't comment on some of the reviews saying that there isn't anything really original in them, but I don't care. When I read, I just want to be entertained, and I was with this book. I especially loved Cat #4173 and Carl. It's hard to give animals solid characters, but they certainly had character in this book. And Glo... I think she was my favorite of the bunch. That gobbledy-gook spell she cast was HILARIOUS.
And I have to say something about the narrator Lorelei King. I see that she is the same one that does almost all of Janet Evanovich's books, and I LOVE her. She brings a LOT to the table with Janet Evanovich's books. I'm sure I'm liking this books as much for the humor as for Lorelei's delivery.
I've got a glut of books coming up in my library hold's queue (I'm sure I'm going to get 3 dumped on me in the next couple days), but as soon as that is cleared up, I'm moving on to the next two books in short order.
I found myself giggling while I listened to this book (I read it as an audio book) quite often. I loved almost all of the characters. I haven't read any of the Stephanie Plum books yet (but I'm going to in the new year for sure) so I can't comment on some of the reviews saying that there isn't anything really original in them, but I don't care. When I read, I just want to be entertained, and I was with this book. I especially loved Cat #4173 and Carl. It's hard to give animals solid characters, but they certainly had character in this book. And Glo... I think she was my favorite of the bunch. That gobbledy-gook spell she cast was HILARIOUS.
And I have to say something about the narrator Lorelei King. I see that she is the same one that does almost all of Janet Evanovich's books, and I LOVE her. She brings a LOT to the table with Janet Evanovich's books. I'm sure I'm liking this books as much for the humor as for Lorelei's delivery.
I've got a glut of books coming up in my library hold's queue (I'm sure I'm going to get 3 dumped on me in the next couple days), but as soon as that is cleared up, I'm moving on to the next two books in short order.
I can sum this review up in one word...Unmentionable. I don't say this very often because I rarely meet a book I don't like, but come on Ms Evanovich! My kids (13, 11, 10) would probably get a big kick out of this book, but it's the same old unfunny crap reguritated Plum book after Plum book. If I'm not wowed by Plum Book 17 I'll have to wash my hands of one of my favorite authors without even cracking open an Unmentionables #2 and that will be a sad day. I loved the Plum series before it started getting old and tired at about #12, but I enjoyed the between-the-numbers books involving Diesel. Sorry, but he just can't carry his own book especially when it's as poorly written as this one. I love to read a bit of fluff now and again, but it at least needs to be decently written fluff.
I loved this book! It is pure entertainment and laugh out loud funny. It's fast paced and an easy one-day read and I can't wait for the next one! Although I have to say I could do without quite so much Carl...
I freely admit that Diesel was not my favorite part of the Stephanie Plum series. Quite the opposite. I am a Morelli fan and Stephanie really doesn't need any more confusion than Ranger already provides. His powers, which are Unmentionable apparently, confused me then and do still. I am somehow very bothered by the cross between realistic, if silly, fiction and fantasy. I want the story to stay within the framework set within the original series. I love fantasy and I love Stephanie Plum, but I do not like the weird mixture.
However, if I pretend to myself that this series is not a spin-off, but its own fantasy series, this is a pretty fair opening. The characteristic Evanovich humor, animals and love of food are all present and accounted for (my goodness will you want a cupcake while you read parts of this book, although others will make you want never to eat again).
Differences between the Diesel series and Stephanie Plum:
1) Way less action for the main characters, as a result of some magical taboos
2) Lizzy has some conception of what she is good at (cooking) and what she is not (fighting)
3) Lizzy has only one love interest and it is obvious, by the nature of the series, that she will end up with Diesel (no, I do not consider this a spoiler). This is actually pretty neat, since Evanovich keeps stringing her fans along with Stephanie's indecisiveness.
All in all, this promises to be another great series. I do not expect to like it as much as Plum in its heyday, but I will be reading every other installment in Diesel's books. Evanovich is just too darn fun to pass up!
However, if I pretend to myself that this series is not a spin-off, but its own fantasy series, this is a pretty fair opening. The characteristic Evanovich humor, animals and love of food are all present and accounted for (my goodness will you want a cupcake while you read parts of this book, although others will make you want never to eat again).
Differences between the Diesel series and Stephanie Plum:
1) Way less action for the main characters, as a result of some magical taboos
2) Lizzy has some conception of what she is good at (cooking) and what she is not (fighting)
3) Lizzy has only one love interest and it is obvious, by the nature of the series, that she will end up with Diesel (no, I do not consider this a spoiler). This is actually pretty neat, since Evanovich keeps stringing her fans along with Stephanie's indecisiveness.
All in all, this promises to be another great series. I do not expect to like it as much as Plum in its heyday, but I will be reading every other installment in Diesel's books. Evanovich is just too darn fun to pass up!
Hated it. I keep coming back to her books hoping that she's recaptured the magic of the earlier Stephanie Plum books but I keep getting disappointed. Diesel is a character from that series and I thought, good a fresh start. Nope.
On my second read, I still really like this book. It has a little sexual tension without getting graphic, it avoids some of the really grossly common tropes. For example, Evanovich names Wampanoag as part of a character's heritage instead of generic "Native American" or a nation that was never in the area where the book is set but that everyone's familiar with like Cherokee.
Some of it occasionally feels a little too convenient or forced but honestly it's a nice fluffy little book and I don't just mean the cupcakes.
Some of it occasionally feels a little too convenient or forced but honestly it's a nice fluffy little book and I don't just mean the cupcakes.
More like 2.5 stars but I am a generous soul. There isn't much in the way of plot, world building, or even sense in some places, but it's not bad if you are looking for some mindless fun. I was listening to the audio book and fell asleep for 30 minutes and missed nothing if that's any indication of how intricate the plot is. I keep hearing that Lizzy is just like Evanovich's other main character Stephanie Plum. As I have not read any of the Stephanie Plum series that didnt bother me. Lizzy isn't the smartest main character but her reactions make sense even if her actions don't always do. Diesel is a little too laid back and a bit caddish for my tastes but not wholly unlikable. As for our antagonist Wulf, I'm waiting for his character turnabout when he inevitably falls in love with Lizzy.