Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • can't wait for the next one!
  • Plum Mania
  • Love Triangle is Getting Tired--Put it to rest
  • same ole story
  • A Winner for the Plum Series!
Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312349491
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Book Description

New secrets, old flames, and hidden agendas are about to send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most outrageous adventure yet! MISTAKE #1Dickie OrrStephanie was married to him for about fifteen minutes before she caught him cheating on her with her archnemesis, Joyce Barnhardt. Another fifteen minutes after that, Stephanie filed for divorce, hoping never to see either one of them again. MISTAKE #2Doing favors for super bounty hunter Carlos Manoso (aka Ranger) Ranger needs Stephanie to meet with Dickie and find out if he's doing something shady. Turns out, he is. Turns out, Dickie's also back to doing Joyce Barnhardt. And it turns out Ranger's favors always come with a price. . . .MISTAKE #3Going completely nutso while doing the favor for Ranger, and trying to apply bodily injury to Dickie in front of the entire officeNow Dickie has disappeared, and Stephanie is the natural suspect in his disappearance. Is Dickie dead? Can he be found? And can Stephanie Plum stay one step ahead in this new, dangerous game? Joe Morelli, the hottest cop in Trenton, New Jersey, is also keeping Stephanie on her toes---and he may know more than he's saying about many things in Stephanie's life. It's a cat-and-mouse game for Stephanie Plum wherein the ultimate prize might be her life.With Janet Evanovich's flair for hilarious situations, breathtaking action, and unforgettable characters, Lean Mean Thirteen shows why no one can beat Evanovich for blockbuster entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars can't wait for the next one!.......2007-10-17

I am enjoying the books and can't wait for the next
one to come out.

5 out of 5 stars Plum Mania.......2007-10-14

13 in the Plum mysteries is a delight as are the first 12. Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger continue to grow and develop and Ranger takes a bigger slice of Miss Plum's life. Good on him. Grandma Mazur continues to enthrall me as do all the characters. Excellent escapism reading to while away the hour before sleep each night.

3 out of 5 stars Love Triangle is Getting Tired--Put it to rest.......2007-10-08

The love triangle aspect of these stories is getting tired in my opinion. The humor is not as sharp anymore and with 13 books already published, I begin to wonder how fresh and witty the characters can remain over time? I hate to say this, but I think it's time to put the Stephanie Plum series to rest. The author needs to move on and begin something new and different.

2 out of 5 stars same ole story.......2007-10-07

I confess I have been a cupcake since book one. So as Janet has put Morelli on the back burner, domesticated him, emasculated him and increased Ranger's mystique, wealth etc. I have been very disappointed. This love triangle is boring plus dishonest. Stephanie was less of a s...(rhymes with "butt") in this one. But she professes love for Morelli while having an emotional and sometimes physical affair with Ranger. I have no respect for Stephanie plus she's incompetent. The jokes are old, the situations are old, the series is tired and needs to end. I've heard that Janet will end the series with two books: one for the cupcakes and one for the babes. I cannot imagine more of the same. Ugh. The first 6 books were the best.

4 out of 5 stars A Winner for the Plum Series!.......2007-10-05

I thought that "Lean Mean Thirteen" by Janet Evanovich was just a super winner for the Plumb series. She is one of my favorite writers and she has never disappointed me. Yes, there were some weak stories in the series, but overall Janet has been a real consistent writer and this book for me is no exception. The characters come alive in this story and the invigorating Stephanie keeps giving me one stimulating action packed adventure that is mixed with humor and intrigue. There are numerous excellent reviews, so I won't go into anymore detail about the story except to tell you that Ranger and Joe made the cut. A great read for the series.

Plum Lovin' (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Valentine Novella
  • crime and comedy books
  • Janet Evanovich does it again
  • A Short quick Plum read.
  • Loved it!
Plum Lovin' (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312306342
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Book Description

Watch your back Look both ways Because love is in the air And that means big trouble! Mysterious men have a way of showing up in Stephanie Plum's apartment. When the shadowy Diesel appears, he has a task for Stephanie -- and he's not taking no for an answer. Annie Hart is a "relationship expert" who is wanted for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Stephanie needs to find her, fast. Diesel knows where she is. So they make a deal: He'll help her get Annie if Stephanie plays matchmaker to several of Annie's most difficult clients. But someone wants to find Annie even more than Diesel and Stephanie. Someone with a nasty temper. And someone with "unmentionable" skills. Does Diesel know more that he's saying about Annie Hart? Does Diesel have secrets he's keeping from Stephanie and the two men in her life -- Ranger and Morelli? With Stephanie Plum in over her head, things are sure to get a little dicey and a little explosive, Jersey style!

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Valentine Novella.......2007-10-09

I was not overly excited reading this Valentine Novella by Janet. However, the story was much better than "Visions of Sugar Plums". Again, we have Diesel who pops into Stephanie's kitchen and who has no background or even a last name (as evidenced on the marriage certificate). Ranger is out of town and Joe is busy at work and barely makes an appearance. The interplay between Lula and Tank is good but the storyline about Valerie and the culmination of the book with the wedding was downright ridiculous and unbelievable even for Stephanie Plum.

4 out of 5 stars crime and comedy books.......2007-10-03

If you have never read this author, I highly advise you to read just one of her books in the series. You will be hooked on Stephanie Plum and her grandma in seconds...they are hysterical. This a must read anytime.

5 out of 5 stars Janet Evanovich does it again.......2007-09-28

Another great book in the Stephanie Plum series. If you haven't read any of these books, then you are missing out. Go right now and order One for the Money and start reading it. These books are hands down the funniest things, I've ever read. You'll be laughing so hard you are crying.

3 out of 5 stars A Short quick Plum read........2007-09-14

This was a real quick read for me, because the book was a wee bit small in the page department. It was a fun read with the irresistible bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, playing matchmaker by helping a few lonely hearts in the story. There are a few antics and some laughs, but the book is so short that the story never gets fully developed. Diesel is the leading man in this book which I was glad to see. Overall, if you're a Plum fan, you may find this book enjoyable. If you haven't read any of the books in the Plum series, I'd start with "One for the Money" because this book is not your typical Janet Evanovich novel.

4 out of 5 stars Loved it!.......2007-09-10

This book was great.....holds you over till the next installment comes through. Who could not love Steph!?
Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Way to go Janet
  • Loving the Plum series
  • Good read for fun junkies
  • Stephanie at her full blossom
  • Still my favorite series.
Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312349483
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Book Description

Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, where bounty hunter Stephanie Plums life is about to implode. FIRST A STRANGER APPEARS While chasing down the usual cast of miscreants and weirdos Stephanie discovers that a crazed woman is stalking her. THEN THE STRANGER REVEALS HER SECRETS The woman dresses in black, carries a 9mm Glock, and has a bad attitude and a mysterious connection to dark and dangerous Carlos Manoso....street name, Ranger. NEXT, SOMEBODY DIES The action turns deadly serious, and Stephanie goes from hunting skips to hunting a murderer. SOON, THE CHASE IS ON Ranger needs Stephanie for more reasons than he can say. And now, the two are working together to find a killer, rescue a missing child, and stop a lunatic from raising the body count. When Stephanie Plum and Ranger get too close for comfort, vice cop Joe Morelli (her on-again, off-again boyfriend) steps in. Will the ticking clock stop at the stroke of twelve, or will a stranger in the wind find a way to stop Stephanie Plum....forever? Filled with Janet Evanovichs trademark action, nonstop adventure, and sharp humor, Twelve Sharp is Janet Evanovich's wildest, hottest novel yet!

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Way to go Janet.......2007-10-09

My favorite numbers book. Ranger's character was developed to show a lot of differents emotions. Hilarious when Joe decides he has to live with Stephanie after Ranger has decided he needs to hide out at her apt. And Grandma Mazur in a rock band. No wonder poor Ellen tipples in the kitchen.

5 out of 5 stars Loving the Plum series.......2007-09-28

Go get this series and start reading it. These are the best. No really they are. I'm looking forward to number 14.

5 out of 5 stars Good read for fun junkies.......2007-09-10

I loved loved loved number twelve! Hadn't laughed that hard since eight and nine and was beginning to worry that Evanovich had run out of soap. NOT SO. I read her books strictly for the laughs and no-brainer entertainment. Made the mistake of reading it on a cross country flight and frightened fellow passangers with my hysterical laughter and tears. They must have thought I was off my medication. Will read thirteen with avid anticipation. Plum fans that whine about plot tedium are missing the point of this Jersey girl. She is NOT Scarlet O'Hara. She is just plan old fun and what's wrong with that? If you want War and Peace, then read it and leave the Plum novels for the rest of us fun junkies.

5 out of 5 stars Stephanie at her full blossom.......2007-09-10

Tremendous fun, interesting plot and some amazing details - Stephanie among two men and a few sex toys:)
Apart from the fun part, what's good about this book is that we are allowed to go deeper into Ranger's character. Characters in general are no longer static but evolving.
Good work, Ms. Evanovich, I had great time with it. Hope you are planning to write at least 12 more:)

5 out of 5 stars Still my favorite series........2007-09-08

I resisted reading Janet Evanovich's books for years despite all the encouragement of friends, co-workers, and family. I was really missing out. Her humor and writing style are absolutely wonderful and I picked up the first book in this series expecting to be only mildly entertained. I couldn't have been more wrong! I was laughing so hard at the hilarious events that I never wanted to put that first book down. I quickly devoured the rest of the series. I know the lines are fairly well defined between Evanovich's readers. You're either a Morelli fan or a Ranger fan. Morelli is good, but Ranger can't be beat. There's no competition between a playboy New Jersey cop and a dark and mysterious Cuban bounty hunter. Sorry. Cuban bounty hunter trumps playboy cop.
Sure the stories are getting a little wackier with time. And exactly how many cars has Stephanie destroyed? So it's predictable in some ways, but still highly enjoyable.
The glass gaffers of New Jersey, and their creations from 1739 to the present
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The glass gaffers of New Jersey, and their creations from 1739 to the present
    Adeline Pepper
    Manufacturer: Scribner
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Unknown Binding

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    ASIN: 0684104598
    The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Absorbing with some lose facts
    • Chilling, rivoting story
    • Awesome!
    • Very little Credibility
    • The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
    The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
    Philip Carlo
    Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0312349289
    Release Date: 2006-07-01

    Book Description

    Richard "The Iceman Kuklinski" led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Now, after 240 hours of face-to-face interviews with Kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author Philip Carlo tells his extraordianry story. Kuklinski was Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's partner in the killing of Paul Castellano at Spark's Steakhouse. John Gotti hired him to kill the neighbor who accidentally ran over his child. For an additional price, he would make victims suffer; he conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. By his own estimate, he killed over two hundred men, taking enormous pride in his variety and ferocity of technique. Kuklinski's story, once known, captivated the public and became the subject of three HBO documentaries about which the New York Times raved "Few viewers are ever likely to forget this thoroughly chilling portrait. As for possible movie competition, it would work on the level of The Silence of the Lambs." The Ice Man is the most complete portrait of a killer since Peter Maas' New York Times bestselling biography of Sammy the Bull, Underboss, or Gay Talese's Honor Thy Father.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Absorbing with some lose facts.......2007-10-14

    I found this book to be fascinating from cover-to-cover. This coming from an avid true-crime reader and author of the same genre. There were a few missteps from the author who seems as if he didn't throughly check out all Kuklinski's stories, in addiiton to the constant repetition which is littered throughout the book.

    I can understand that Kuklinski was a true psychopath, and we can't expect him to tell the truth about everything, like his involvement in the Paul Catallano murder. Men have been tried and convicted recently in that hit, and nowhere has Kuklinski's name surfaced. So if he lied there, did he lie about the Hoffa murder? Probabaly.

    Given Kuklinski's expertise with true weapons of mass destruction, how could he consistantly refer to a favorite method of dispatching his victims with a silencer-equipped .38 revolver? Even a novice genre writer knows that supressors on revolvers are useless.

    These gaffs (and others) lead one to believe that Kuklinski snowed the author on more than one occasion. I watched an interview on YouTube recently where Kuklinski describes his first murder, which is competley at odds with the depiction of his first murder in the book.

    Given all this, it still can't be denied that this book was a page turner and highly recommended.

    5 out of 5 stars Chilling, rivoting story.......2007-10-13

    This audio book was a gift for my husband who wanted to have it after hearing an interview with Richard Kuklinski. I didn't think I would want to hear about all the murders he committed but this book is addicting. From his horrible childhood through the end you couldn't help but actually feel for the "Big guy". You could understand why he was the way he was.

    5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2007-10-01

    I recently finished this book and found it to be incredibly insightful, thought provoking and extremely gruesome - but I loved it!!
    I think Mr. Carlo touched every aspect of Richard Kuklinski's life that you may have been wondering about - from his childhood, parents, wife, kids, etc. It's so unfortunate that all those people had to die, the families lives that were ruined (not to mention his own family), and the horrible beatings Richard had to endure - but this book did an excellent job portraying it all.
    I couldn't put this book down. I have since lent it to a friend who can't put it down either.
    Mr. Carlo deserves every 5 star review that's given!

    2 out of 5 stars Very little Credibility.......2007-09-30

    I bought "The Ice Man" because I had viewed the HBO documentary, which was terrifying. I read this book once and gave it away. According to Richard Kuklinski, hardly a major killing took place in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s without his involvement. Among his incredible assertions are that he participated in the murders of Carmine Galante, Paul Castellano, and even Jimmy Hoffa. Had he been somewhat older, it wouldn't have surprised me had he stated that it was he, and not John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Lincoln. Since it's been some time since I've read this tome, my recollection of many of his allegations are somewhat hazy, but I do remember questioning many of them. Philip Carlo's writing is flawless and gripping, but Kuklinski's credibility, in my opinion, is somewhat debatable.

    5 out of 5 stars The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer .......2007-09-22

    I saw a documentary on televison about this man so I was intrigued and bought the book. The book is excellent, but sad. It is a riveting story of so many lives lost. Excellent reading.
    Three Plums In One: One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great Read!
    • Stephanie Rocks!
    • Very funny series
    • gripping suspense full of comedy
    • Get Acquainted with Stephanie
    Three Plums In One: One for the Money, Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly
    Janet Evanovich
    Manufacturer: Scribner
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0743216393

    Book Description

    Three Complete Novels, One for the Money, Two for the Dough, and Three to Get Deadly, from the New York Times#1 Bestselling Author, Janet Evanovich!

    Here's where it all began -- the three novels that first brought us Stephanie Plum, that bounty hunter with attitude who stepped out of Trenton's blue-collar "burg" and into the heart of America.

    One for the Money: Stephanie's all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad and doing her best to sever the world's longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case. Out of work and out of money, Stephanie blackmails her bail-bondsman cousin Vinnie into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, el-primo bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli's the inamorato who charmed Stephanie out of her virginity at age sixteen. There's still powerful chemistry between them, so the chase is interesting.

    Two for the Dough: Stephanie takes to the mean streets of Trenton, armed with attitude (not to mention stun guns and defense sprays), to find Kenny Mancuso, who recently shot his best friend and is on the run. Aided by the enigmatic Ranger, who knows a thing or two about bounty hunting, and by her irrepressible Grandma Mazur, Stephanie forms a shaky alliance with her favorite cop, Joe Morelli, for a tumultuous chase through back alleys and Grandma's favorite funeral parlors.

    Three to Get Deadly: Stephanie is having a bad hair day -- for the whole month of January. She's looking for Mo Bedemier, Trenton's most beloved citizen, who was charged with carrying concealed and skipped bail. To help her, she's got Lula, a former hooker turned file clerk. Big, blonde, and black, Lula's itching to lock up a crook in the trunk of her car. And Morelli, the cop with the slow-burning smile, is acting polite even after Stephanie finds more bodies than the Trenton PD has seen in years. That's a bad sign for sure.

    Funny and fabulous, Janet Evanovich is at her sparkling best in these three novels that launched a bestselling phenomenon.

    Download Description

    Published to coincide with the release of Janet Evanovich's new Stephanie Plum mystery, Three Plums in One offers readers the trio of novels that launched the bestselling, award-winning Stephanie Plum phenomenon -- in a single, unabridged, hardbound edition. Introducing the madcap humor, colorful characters, and local flavor that have become Janet Evanovich's trademark, Three Plums in One invites readers to discover Stephanie Plum, America's favorite bounty hunter with attitude, at the beginning of her almost accidental career as an "apprehension agent". In One for the Money, an out-of-work and out-of-money Stephanie blackmails her bondsman cousin into giving her a job tracking down bail jumpers. Knowing nothing of the trade, she tags along with a veteran bounty hunter, Ranger, learning the ropes as they go in search of a cop on the run from a murder one charge -- a cop who happens to be Stephanie's first love. Two for the Dough and Three to Get Deadly find Stephanie back on the mean streets of Trenton, New Jersey, in hot pursuit of her bounty, each time a little more savvy, a little bit tougher, and as outrageously funny as ever. Die-hard fans and first time readers alike will delight in discovering Janet Evanovich at her sparkling, suspenseful best in the three Plums that started it all.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Great Read!.......2007-08-16

    The Stephanie Plum series is so great. I have read a few of her books that are outside the series but to finally get all the background is great! You will really fall in love with Stephanie Plum and all her antics.

    5 out of 5 stars Stephanie Rocks!.......2007-07-21

    Fast & Easy Read! Great for airplanes, but be prepared for some funny looks when you are laughing out loud. Grandma Mazur and Lula seem to find trouble wherever they go. (Although Stephanie is not really a very good bounty hunter!) :)

    5 out of 5 stars Very funny series.......2007-07-01

    A friend recommended this series to me; at first, I was skeptical, because I always think that mysteries are always the same. However, Stephanie Plum is completely different from the other detectives I've seen in mysteries. She's a Trenton bounty hunter with a slightly senile gun-wielding grandmother, a smoldering sexual tension with cop Joe Morelli, and a fondness for Pino's pizza. There's also Lula, a 230-pound ex-hooker-turned-file-clerk, who sometimes helps Stephanie on her cases. These three books, the first in the series, are hysterically funny; I can't wait to read more! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get a jump start on the Stephanie Plum series. I know that my next stop will be the bookstore for More Plums In One, the collection of novels four, five, and six.

    4 out of 5 stars gripping suspense full of comedy.......2007-05-09

    This book is so funny.... it keeps you reading to find out what other mess Stephanie is going to put her self in. I started the series by reading book 12, when I finished that one I ordered books 1 - 4. I just have to get the entire series.

    4 out of 5 stars Get Acquainted with Stephanie.......2007-03-09

    Great way to meet Stephanie Plum. This is a quick way to get going. Stephanie is not stereotypical in any sense. She's down to earth, smart, resourceful and has a long memory. If you've always wanted to do something out of the ordinary, do it vicariously through Stephanie Plum. You won't be disappointed.
    Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum Novels)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • I love this book series!!!!!!!
    • Stephanie Plum
    • Eleven on Top - is the Tops!
    • Still On Top!
    • Another fun read in the Stephanie Plum series
    Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum Novels)
    Janet Evanovich
    Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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    ASIN: 0312985347
    Release Date: 2006-06-20

    Amazon.com

    Stephanie Plum, Trenton's favorite bondswoman, is having a career crisis, which gives Janet Evanovich plenty of opportunities to showcase her series heroine in a variety of alternative vocations, from dry cleaner to factory worker. Most of them don't last a full working day, which is good for the reader, since it plunges Stephanie back into the always seedy, often dangerous, and always colorful world of fugitives who'd rather flee than face their day in court. She may be tired of having her life threatened, her cars torched or blown up, and her apartment broken into, but one thing she can say about her job is that it's never boring... and neither is she. Despite her intentions of going straight at a job with a little more security and a bit less excitement, an old client won't let her--he keeps leaving her threatening notes, stalking and scaring her, and making sure she needs the protection of the two men in her life--Joe Morelli, the sexy cop who's been bedding her since high school, and Ranger, the even sexier tough guy who can take down the meanest fugitive around but has a tender spot in his heart for the plucky Ms. Plum. All Evanovich fans' favorite characters people this sprightly caper novel, including Lula, the fast-food-chomping former hooker who's hot to take over Stephanie's job but really belongs in a WWE Takedown; Grandma Mazur, who'd rather go to a wake than a fancy-dress ball; Grandma Bella, the matriarch of the Morelli family whose evil eye frightens even the indomitable Stephanie; and Valerie, Stephanie's sister, who's about to embark on another trip to the altar. A great beach read, Eleven on Top is a guilty pleasure that will delight readers of the author's 10 earlier novels and should win her even more fans. --Jane Adams

    Amazon.com Exclusive Content


    Amazon.com's Significant Seven
    Janet Evanovich kindly agreed to take the life quiz we like to give to all our authors: the Amazon.com Significant Seven.

    Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?
    A: Uncle Scrooge adventures by Carl Barks. They gave me a lifelong love of the adventure story both in film and literature. And I wouldn't mind pushing my quarters around with a bulldozer in real life, either.

    Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?
    A: Book: The Neiman Marcus holiday catalog (I can pretend I'm shopping.)
    CD: MTV's Grind, Volume 1 (Happy music and I love the samba.)
    DVD: Shrek 2 (Happy movie.)

    Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?
    A: "No. Your butt doesn't look big in those pants." Said to myself.

    Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.
    A: No phone. Locked door. Room service. Silence. My cat (Gus) on my lap.

    Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
    A: "Later, Dudes!"

    Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
    A: Jim Henson (creator of the Muppets)

    Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
    A: The ability to eat Cheez Doodles and Krispy Kremes and never get fat.


    The Stephanie Plum Series

    One for the Money

    Two for the Dough

    Three to Get Deadly

    Four to Score

    High Five

    Hot Six

    See the entire Stephanie Plum series.

    Book Description

    Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as a fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She's been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Stephanie thinks it's time for a change. So she quits. She wants something safe and normal. But the kind of trouble she had at the bail bonds office can't compare to the kind of trouble she finds herself facing now...Stephanie is stalked by a maniac returned from the grave for the sole purpose of putting her into a burial plot of her own. He's killed before, and he'll kill again if given the chance. Caught between staying far away from the bounty hunter business and staying alive, Stephanie reexamines her life and the possibility that being a bounty hunter is the solution rather than the problem. After disturbingly brief careers at the button factory, Kan Klean Dry Cleaners, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket, Stephanie takes an office position in security, working for Ranger, the sexiest, baddest bounty hunter and businessman on two continents. Tempers and temperatures rise as competition ratchets up between the two men in her life-her on-again, off-again boyfriend, tough Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and her boss, Ranger. Can Stephanie Plum take the heat? Can you?

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars I love this book series!!!!!!!.......2007-10-01

    Janet Evanovich is so awesome, the Plum series is my favorite! I can not
    get enough of these books, can't wait till the next one comes out...
    Everyone I have turned on to this series has enjoyed them too, from
    my daughter in law who is 20 yrs. old, to my friend who is 49! These books are laugh out loud funny and just plain entertaining to read! You have to start with #1 and don't skip! They really build on eachother! Love them!

    5 out of 5 stars Stephanie Plum.......2007-09-11

    This is number 11 in a series of books by Janet Evanovich about a girl in New Jersey that gets a job as a bounty hunter. She has many adventures both serious and funny as both a bounty hunter and as a woman in love. This series of books keeps up my interest in reading. It's hard to put them down. I can't wait to see what happens next to Stephanie Plum!

    5 out of 5 stars Eleven on Top - is the Tops!.......2007-09-10

    Reading Janet Evonovich's books are always a lot of fun. Stephanie Plum is always fun - great imagination to keep putting her in jams that she has to get herself out of. I find myself laughing out loud. A lot of fun, entertaining, a quick, light read. A book you don't want to put down.

    5 out of 5 stars Still On Top!.......2007-09-06

    Another winner by Janet Evanovich! The continuing saga of Stephanie Plum continues to hold me captive until I finish each book. It is great humor mixed in with a little intrigue and romping through New Jersey! Loved it, as usual!

    5 out of 5 stars Another fun read in the Stephanie Plum series.......2007-09-05

    Very fun read. I have read all the Stephanie Plum novels and this is a lot of fun.
    One for the Money (Stephanie Plum Series, Book 1)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • funny and delightful read
    • Good read
    • Fun & entertaining reading
    • Fast pace, serious, but with a sprinkling of humor
    • Stephanie Plum series
    One for the Money (Stephanie Plum Series, Book 1)
    Janet Evanovich
    Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    1. Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum Series #2) Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum Series #2)
    2. Three To Get Deadly (A Stephanie Plum Novel) Three To Get Deadly (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
    3. Four to Score (Stephanie Plum Novels) Four to Score (Stephanie Plum Novels)
    4. High Five (A Stephanie Plum Novel) High Five (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
    5. Hot Six: A Stephanie Plum Novel Hot Six: A Stephanie Plum Novel

    ASIN: 0312362080
    Release Date: 2006-06-13

    Amazon.com

    Stephanie Plum is so smart, so honest, and so funny that her narrative charm could drive a documentary on termites. But this tough gal from New Jersey, an unemployed discount lingerie buyer, has a much more interesting story to tell: She has to say that her Miata has been repossessed and that she's so poor at the moment that she just drank her last bottle of beer for breakfast. She has to say that her only chance out of her present rut is her repugnant cousin Vinnie and his bail-bond business. She has to say that she blackmailed Vinnie into giving her a bail-bond recovery job worth $10,000 (for a murder suspect), even though she doesn't own a gun and has never apprehended a person in her life. And she has to say that the guy she has to get, Joe Morelli, is the same creep who charmed away her teenage virginity behind the pastry case in the Trenton bakery where she worked after school.

    If that hard-luck story doesn't sound compelling enough, Stephanie's several unsuccessful attempts at pulling in Joe make a downright hilarious and suspenseful tale of murder and deceit. Along the way, several more outlandish (but unrelentingly real) characters join the story, including Benito Ramirez, a champion boxer who seems to be following Stephanie Plum wherever she goes.

    Janet Evanovich shares an authentic feel for the streets of Trenton in her debut mystery (she developed her talents in a string of romance novels before creating Ms. Plum), and her tough, frank, and funny first-person narrator offers a winning mix of vulgarity and sensitivity. Evanovich is certainly among the best of the new voices to emerge in the mystery field of the 1990s. --Patrick O'Kelley

    Book Description

    Read the Dynamite Blockbuster that Started It All!

    Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash--fast--but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.

    Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water--wanted for murder.

    Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight--and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

    Download Description

    Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie's opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey. She's a product of the "burg", a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six. Now Stephanie's all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad's, doing her best to sever the world's longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler, and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case. Out of work and out of money, with her Miata repossessed and her refrigerator empty, Stephanie blackmails her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, fearless bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook. Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli is also the irresistible macho pig who took Stephanie's virginity at age sixteen and then wrote the details on the bathroom wall of Mario's Sub Shop. There's still powerful chemistry between these two, so the chase should be interesting. It could also be extremely dangerous, especially when Stephanie encounters a heavyweight title contender who likes to play rough. Benito Ramirez is known for his brutality to women. At the very least, his obsession with Stephanie complicates her manhunt and brings terror and uncertainty into her life. At worst, it could lead to murder. Witty, fresh,and full of surprises, One for the Money is among the most eagerly awaited crime novels of the season.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars funny and delightful read.......2007-10-15

    this is a very funny and witty mystery, with some slapstick which I have never read in a novel before! Good choice for pleasure reading.

    4 out of 5 stars Good read.......2007-09-26

    The book overall was a good read...This was my 1st book that I've read from her, and I am very eager to read the 2nd book in the Stephanie Plum series...In the beginning/middle (in between) you run across slow parts, but if you keep reading and get near the end, you will not want to put the book down until your done. Plus it had an interesting ending, you suspect one person, but it turns out to be someone else which makes sense.

    4 out of 5 stars Fun & entertaining reading.......2007-09-12

    A friend suggested this book and the series. It is purely pleasuable reading. This provides laughter as well as the who dunnit that I enjoy. It helps relax me after a long day at work.

    4 out of 5 stars Fast pace, serious, but with a sprinkling of humor.......2007-09-11

    I have read just about all the books in the Plum series, but somehow I missed the first book. I do remember that I really enjoyed "Two for the Dough" so I started dropping hints that I wanted this book for my birthday present and low and behold I got my birthday wish. I wasn't disappointed in this book even though it had a real frightening character in the story. Still there were many scenes where I found myself laughing, i.e, the car problems and the family and many other scenes. It humorous and serious and all in all just a wonderful story.

    5 out of 5 stars Stephanie Plum series.......2007-09-02

    I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!
    Hot Six: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Stephanie Plum Novels)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Janet Evanovich
    • Channel your inner Jersey Girl
    • Didn't Read It Yet - MysteryGuild Rates as Very Good
    • Stephanie Plum series
    • HOT SIX BY JANET EVANOVICH
    Hot Six: A Stephanie Plum Novel (Stephanie Plum Novels)
    Janet Evanovich
    Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    Similar Items:
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    2. Seven Up (Stephanie Plum Series #7) Seven Up (Stephanie Plum Series #7)
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    4. Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum Series #8) Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum Series #8)
    5. To the Nines: A Stephanie Plum Novel To the Nines: A Stephanie Plum Novel

    ASIN: 0312205406
    Release Date: 2000-06-20

    Amazon.com

    Never mind who did the deed with New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum at the end of High Five. Five months later, that night's only a dim, cherished memory, and Stephanie's freezing her butt off on a Trenton bridge trying to keep her friend Carol--caught shoplifting some crotchless panties she was too embarrassed to buy--from committing suicide.
    Truth is, I didn't for a minute think she'd jump. For one thing, she was wearing a four-hundred-dollar jacket from Wilson Leather. You just don't jump off a bridge in a four-hundred-dollar jacket. It isn't done. The jacket would get ruined. Carol was from the Chambersburg section of Trenton, just like me, and in the Burg you gave the jacket to your sister, then you jumped off the bridge.
    When Stephanie finally talks Carol down and makes it in to work at Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, it's only to find that her libido-boosting pal Ranger, the professional bounty hunter and sometime hit man, has disappeared. A building owned by black-market arms dealer Alexander Ramos has burned down, with Ramos's son Homer lying inside, dead from a gunshot wound. Ranger, who was caught on film there by video cameras, is wanted for questioning. Stephanie's boss Vinnie wants her to find him, but Stephanie, who knows she won't find Ranger if he doesn't want to be found, refuses. Soon everyone, from her cop boyfriend Joe Morelli to the two Laurel and Hardy wannabes who suddenly start following her around Trenton in a badass black Lincoln, thinks she's hot on Ranger's trail.

    And Stephanie's got other things to worry about. For one thing, Grandma Mazur's moved in with her, and so has Bob, a golden retriever who's only partly house trained. Then Ranger starts popping up at odd times of the night, with instructions for Stephanie to keep an eye on another Ramos son, Hannibal. Add to that one homicidal maniac, a couple more dead bodies, Stephanie's usual bad car karma, and the zit from hell, and you've got yourself one fine Stephanie Plum adventure. Will Stephanie triumph? You can bet a jelly doughnut on it. And there's another great cliffhanger waiting at the end. --Barrie Trinkle

    Book Description

    ISBN: 0312205406 TITLE: Hot Six AUTHOR: Evanovich, JanetEXCERPT: ONEFive months later.... Carol Zabo was standing on the outermost guardrail on the bridge spanning the Delaware between Trenton, New Jersey, and Morrisville, Pennsylvania. She was holding a regulation-size yellow fire brick in the palm of her right hand, with about four feet of clothesline stretched between the brick and her ankle. On the side of the bridge in big letters was the slogan Trenton Makes and the World Takes.'' And Carol was apparently tired of the world taking whatever it was she was making, because she was getting ready to jump into the Delaware and let the brick do its work.I was standing about ten feet from Carol, trying to talk her off the guardrail. Cars were rolling past us, some slowing up to gawk, and some cutting in and out of the gawkers, giving Carol the finger because she was disturbing the flow.Listen, Carol,'' I said, it's eight-thirty in the morning, and it's starting to snow. I'm freezing my ass off. Make up your mind about jumping, because I have to tinkle, and I need a cup of coffee.''Truth is, I didn't for a minute think she'd jump. For one thing, she was wearing a four-hundred-dollar jacket from Wilson Leather. You just don't jump off a bridge in a four- hundred-dollar jacket. It isn't done. The jacket would get ruined. Carol was from the Chambersburg section of Trenton, just like me, and in the Burg you gave the jacket to your sister, then you jumped off the bridge.Hey, you listen, Stephanie Plum,'' Carol said, teeth chattering. Nobody sent you an engraved invitation to this party.''I'd gone to high school with Carol. She'd been a cheerleader, and I'd been a baton twirler. Now she was married to Lubie Zabo and wanted to kill herself. If I was married to Lubie I'd want to kill myself too, but that wasn't Carol's reason for standing on the guardrail, holding a brick on a rope. Carol had shoplifted some crotchless bikinis from the Frederick's of Hollywood store at the mall. It wasn't that Carol couldn't afford the panties, it was that she wanted them to spice up her love life and was too embarrassed to take them to the register. In her haste to make a getaway, she'd rear-ended Brian Simon's plainclothes cop car and had left the scene. Brian had been in the car at the time, and had chased her down and thrown her into the pokey.My cousin Vinnie, president and sole proprietor of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, had written Carol's get-out-of-jail ticket. If Carol didn't show up for her court date, Vinnie would forfeit the walking money--unless he could retrieve Carol's body in a timely manner.This is where I come in. I'm a bond enforcement agent, which is a fancy term for bounty hunter, and I retrieve bodies for Vinnie. Preferably live and unharmed. Vinnie had spotted Carol on his way in to work this morning and had dispatched me to rescue her--or, if rescue wasn't possible, to eyeball the precise spot where she splashed down. Vinnie was worried if he'd be out his bond money if Carol jumped into the river, and the divers and cops with grappling hooks couldn't find her water-logged corpse.This is really a bad way to do it,'' I said to Carol. You're going to look awful when they find you. Think about it-- your hair's gonna be a wreck.''She rolled her eyes up as if she could see on the top of her head. Shit, I never thought of that,'' she said. I just had it highlighted, too. I got it foiled.''The snow was coming down in big wet blobs. I was wearing hiking boots with thick Vibram soles, but the cold was seeping through to my feet all the same. Carol was more dressy in funky ankle boots, a little black dress, and the excellent jacket. Somehow the brick seemed too casual for the rest of the outfit. And the dress reminded me of a dress I had hanging in my own closet. I'd only worn the dress for a matter of minutes before it had been dropped to the floor and kicked aside....the opening statement in an exhaustive night with the man of my dreams. Well, one of the men, anyway. Funny how people see clothes differently. I wore the dress, hoping to get a man in my bed. And Carol chose it to jump off a bridge. Now in my opinion, jumping off a bridge in a dress is a bad decision. If I was going to jump off a bridge I'd wear slacks. Carol was going to look like an idiot with her skirt up around her ears and her pantyhose hanging out. So what does Lubie think of the highlights?'' I asked.Lubie likes the highlights,'' Carol said. Only he wants me to grow it longer. He says long hair is the style now.''Personally, I wouldn't put a lot of stock in the fashion sense of a man who got his nickname by bragging about his sexual expertise with a grease gun. But hey, that's just me. So tell me again why you're up here on the guardrail.''Because I'd rather die than go to jail.''I told you, you're not going to jail. And if you do, it won't be for very long.''A day is too long! An hour is too long! They make you take off all your clothes, and then they make you bend over so they can look for smuggled weapons. And you have to go to the bathroom in front of everyone. There's no, you know, privacy. I saw a special on television.''Okay, so now I understood a little bit better. I'd kill myself before I'd do any of those things, too.Maybe you won't have to go to jail,'' I said. I know Brian Simon. I could talk to him. Maybe I could get him to drop the charges.''Carol's face brightened. Really? Would you do that for me?''Sure. I can't guarantee anything, but I can give it a shot.''And if he won't drop the charges, I'll still have a chance to kill myself.''Exactly.''I packed Carol and the brick off in her car, and then I drove over to the 7-Eleven for coffee and a box of glazed chocolate doughnuts. I figured I deserved the doughnuts, since I'd done such a good job of saving Carol's life.I took the doughnuts and coffee to Vinnie's storefront office on Hamilton Avenue. I didn't want to run the risk of eating all the doughnuts myself. And I was hoping Vinnie would have more work for me. As a bond enforcement agent I only get paid if I bring somebody in. And at the moment I was clean out of wayward bondees.Damn, skippy,'' Lula said from behind the file cabinets. Here come doughnuts walking through the door.''At five feet five inches, weighing in at a little over two hundred pounds, Lula is something of a doughnut expert. She was in monochromatic mode this week, with hair, skin, and lip gloss all the color of cocoa. The skin color is permanent, but the hair changes weekly.Lula does filing for Vinnie, and she helps me out when I need backup. Since I'm not the world's best bounty hunter, and Lula isn't the world's best backup, it's more often than not like the amateur-hour version of The Best of Cops'' Bloopers.Are those chocolate doughnuts?'' Lula asked. Connie and me were just thinking we needed some chocolate doughnuts, weren't we, Connie?''Connie Rosolli is Vinnie's office manager. She was at her desk, in the middle of the room, examining her mustache in a mirror. I'm thinking ofhaving more electrolysis,'' she said. What do you think?''I think it's a good thing,'' Lula told her, helping herself to a doughnut. Because you're starting to look like Groucho Marx, again.''I sipped my coffee and fingered through some files Connie had on her desk. Anything new come in?''The door to Vinnie's inner office slammed open, and Vinnie stuck his head out. Fuckin' A, we got some and it's all yours.''Lula screwed her mouth up to the side. And Connie did a nose wrinkle.I had a bad feeling in my stomach. Usually I had to beg for jobs and here Vinnie was, having saved something for me. What's going on?'' I asked.It's Ranger,'' Connie said. He's in the wind. Won't respond to his pager.''The schmuck didn't show up for his court date yesterday,'' Vinnie said. He's FTA.''FTA'' is bounty-hunter-speak for failure to appear.'' Usually I'm happy t

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Janet Evanovich.......2007-10-17

    ok, I admit it, I am hooked on Janet Evanovich's books. Her style, her characters, even if the story is not always deeply intricate (whose is?), I find myself engaged, and hoping I don't finish the book too soon.
    Can't wait to read more!!
    Ramona

    4 out of 5 stars Channel your inner Jersey Girl.......2007-10-13

    Hot Six was my introduction to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie's unabashed Jersey Girl-ness immediately captivated me. I loved how she wore more makeup when she felt like crap, how donuts were the cure for a rainy day, and her openness about her sexuality. I loved how her sexual feelings didn't come on like a refrigerator light when a man opened the door. I understood her to be Everygirl in the unexpected job of bounty hunter. And her choice between Ranger and Joe's was Everygirl's (at least in our minds, not in our lives!). Do we choose the cop we went to school with that our mom adores, or do we fall into the embrace of the mysterious, sexy, dangerous guy?

    Just to give some of the flavor, Stephanie needs to bring someone in. She finds the woman poised on the railing of a bridge, ready to jump because she is ashamed to have been arrested. Stephanie calls her bluff, because she knows no one from her neighborhood would jump into a river wearing such an expensive leather jacket. Believe me, in the hands of Janet Evanovich, this material is very funny.

    I went back to read one through five, and I've followed the series ever since right on to the most recent number 13. In the early books, the reader can begin the series anywhere. There aren't too many characters and although obviously you will miss some back-story you can catch up later.

    I would recommend the Stephanie Plum series (especially the earlier books) to anyone who likes both the detective and romance genres. If you read to escape and relieve stress, these books are just your ticket.

    4 out of 5 stars Didn't Read It Yet - MysteryGuild Rates as Very Good.......2007-09-11

    Expect it to be fairly good. Bought used here at Amazon - lots cheaper than MysteryGuild. How can I cut down on the Amazon used book $4.00 shipping charge? If you know how please email me at gemeigs@fastmail.fm

    ...

    5 out of 5 stars Stephanie Plum series.......2007-09-02

    I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!

    2 out of 5 stars HOT SIX BY JANET EVANOVICH.......2007-08-16

    SAME BASIC FORMAT AS PREVIOUS NOVELS. TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS.A FEW LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY.
    Penny from Heaven (Newbery Honor Book)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • A Gem of a Book
    • Strong Female Protagonist - strong writing
    • Courtesy of Teens Read Too
    • I like this pennie girl very much
    • Just Like Being Home Again
    Penny from Heaven (Newbery Honor Book)
    Jennifer Holm
    Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 037583687X
    Release Date: 2006-07-25

    Book Description

    It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!

    Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Book.......2007-08-20

    Being a Newbery Honor book, I had to give this book a read. I definitely wasn't disappointed! This was a beautifully written coming-of-age story that children and young adults will be able to enjoy for years to come. Jennifer Holm, author of the Newbery Award winning book, Our May Amelia, is back with another lovely book about children growing up faster than they should have too, but enjoying themselves on the journey.

    Penny, a half-Italian girl living with her mother and grandparents in New Jersey, longs to know more about what happened to her father. Her died when she was very young and her mother never speaks of him. The only time Penny is able to hear his name mentioned is when she is over at her Italian grandparents house, where her myriad of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins never fail to talk about her dad. Penny loves spending time in this boisterous household where food is always delicious and her best friend and cousin Frankie spends most of his time.

    Unfortunately, Penny's mother doesn't get along with her in-laws and doesn't like Penny spending all of her time over there. As her mother begins dating, Penny tries to break up the dates in order to matchmake between her mother and her father's brother, Dominic. Penny, more than anything, wants her two families to love each other as she loves them. After a tragic accident that puts the use of Penny's arm in jeopardy, the true colors of her family members really begin to shine.

    Set in the 1950's this book is so much more than family problems. It has exciting baseball games, friendships, and a mystery of buried treasure. The characters are incredibly real and lovable. Uncle Dominic was probably my favorite of the cast, because of his quirkiness and mystery. This is a true gem of a book.

    5 out of 5 stars Strong Female Protagonist - strong writing.......2007-07-06

    This delightful piece of historical fiction set in New Jersey in the 1950's explores the life of "Penny" who lives with a single mother and grandparents, but who has a whole other life on Sundays with her father's family, a large Italian American one with uncles who dote on her. The mystery that threads itself through this story is that no one will talk about her father, and how and why he died. Or, why the families do not intereact, except through her.

    Strong writing, a strong female protagonist, and interesting sub-plots all make for a delightful coming-of-age story, very appropriate for the upper elementary and middle school audience.

    5 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-06-23

    PENNY FROM HEAVEN, a new offering by author Jennifer L. Holm, is an excellent pick for middle grade readers. Set in the early 1950's, it tells a story of everyday life and rich Italian heritage.

    Penny lives with her mother and her grandparents. At the start of the novel, she's almost twelve. Most of her time is spent hanging out in the neighborhood with her cousin and best friend, Frankie.

    Bike riding would be fun, but Penny's bike was unfortunately backed over in the driveway. Going swimming in the city pool or taking in an afternoon matinee sounds like quality entertainment, but Penny's mom believes those places are breeding grounds for the dreaded polio everyone seems to be contracting. That doesn't leave much to do, but Penny and Frankie always seem to find something to get into. It might be an attempt to fix the leaky toilet that turns into a major repair job, or the secret mission to discover if great-grandma Nonny wears black underwear to match her old-fashioned black dresses.

    Penny is surrounded by tons of Italian aunts and uncles, but she misses her father. His death years ago is still shrouded in mystery, one that Penny seems unable to uncover. Her mother is becoming interested in Mr. Mulligan, the milkman. Penny's attempts to pair her mother up with favorite Uncle Dominic fail miserably.

    Day-to-day life is pretty predictable for Penny and her family until the unthinkable happens. After a tragic accident, Penny finds herself making plans for a very different life. Readers' emotions will be tested as Penny's story unfolds.

    Jennifer L. Holm is also known for Newbery Honor book Our Only May Amelia (Harper Trophy Books) and her Boston Jane Series: An Adventure series, which is my personal favorite.

    Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

    5 out of 5 stars I like this pennie girl very much.......2007-05-24

    She is a lot like alice, a girl in anothr book I like very much, only her mother died insted of her father. Pennie is very kind, and a little bit funny and a little bit sad. I like the way she thinks things over. I think I might read it again, if my sister will let me borrow it again. If I can think of something to trade. Books are like gold and chocolate around my house, people keep it for themselves. If you are thinking of buying this book, do it. You'll love it.

    5 out of 5 stars Just Like Being Home Again.......2007-05-05

    Since both my sets of grandparents came from Italy, I'm usually wary of books that contain Italian families; they are either ga-ga over the Mafia or do not seem authentic. I was in love with Penny's wonderful Italian family immediately; I knew all these people in my own family. My dad's mother even did her cooking at a gas-converted coal stove in the basement because it was cooler in summer and she didn't want to "mess up" the nice kitchen upstairs! The food (sfogliatelles!), the homes, the loving uncles, the men torn between pleasing their mothers or their wives, the one male cousin who's always in trouble, Grandma dressed in black making homemade macaroni and homemade gravy (not "pasta" and "sauce," which are "Med-i-gone" terms!)...wow, it took me all back. Holm has the early 50s atmosphere down pat...I wished I could open a door and go back to meet all her characters, visit the Sweet Shoppe and the family butcher shop, and listen to "Dem Bums" on the radio. I also was drawn into the growing mystery about Penny's father, which exposes a chapter in history that most people have never heard of. I'm glad I decided to purchase this book; if you are Italian, this is a must have.

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