Sizzling Sixteen

This installment is more of the same that we found in the previous fifteen books. Yes, we all know what to expect with the Stephanie Plum books, and no, they are not intense reads, but rehashing the same tired themes does get old. I like Janet Evanovich’s writing style, overall, and find the Plum books to be a lighthearted & enjoyable read. That being said, I really wish Ms. Evanovich would make some interesting changes with the main characters.

The primary thing that is wearing on me at this point of the series is the continuing going nowhere saga that involves Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger. Even with fiction, where the limits of plausibility are stretched thin and readers are okay with that, this whole deal has gotten old. The fact that Stephanie keeps waffling between these two guys — and they let her get away with it!! — is nothing short of annoying after sixteen books. Where I thought it was entertaining in the first several books, it has now just gotten irritating. I think a lot of it has to do with stagnant character development. None of them ever do anything different. Stephanie has never decided to take a chance on one of them, which makes her appear immature and, let’s face it, kind of slutty. Sleeping in one man’s bed yet not having sex with him doesn’t make her some kind of virtuous saint. It makes her a tease.

I absolutely LOVED this series when it first started. It was fun and unique and held my interest like nothing else in the fiction genre. I’m not expecting reality (I read fiction for brief escapes from the realities of life), so that’s not the issue. It just seems that each book is another rehashing of the same basic (thin) plot lines of previous books. This is why I won’t pay full price for any of these books anymore. If I can’t find the next one I need in the series at a bargain rate, I just won’t buy it.

Bottom line: if you’re reading these books in order, you will probably find this one to be acceptable. If you’re reading them out of order, you might really like it. Even if you’re like me and you really wish the main characters would do something different already, it’s still an enjoyable read and is a well-written book. I don’t think it’s worth the regular Kindle price, though, especially considering this book is now several years old.

I am reading/rereading this series & to this point, this is the best & most interesting book of all.
Tho I am sure that each book could be read as a stand alone novel, why would anyone WANT to do thaaat?
Knowing each character a little bit better – as each story passes along, the enjoyment magnifies.
Even if one has to purposefully ignore the standard ploys, such as the heroine “requiring” 2 boyfriends who cannot be chosen between … etc, this series is STILL an enjoyable series of stories, which have few equals.
My rules are: Interests me, Avoids in-ur-face violence or sex, Makes me smile or laugh sometimes … probably other stuff that will come to me later

in this installment of the Stephanie Plum series, she has inherited her Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle and this may not be her good luck charm as she may soon be unemployed. Cousin Vinnie has run up a huge debt with his bookie, who in turn is heavily indebted to a mobster. When Vinnie disappears the ransom is the huge sum, with interest. To save her job, and the business, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie must raise the money while trying to track down where Vinnie is held to free him while they try to raise the huge sum of money. Vinnie’s rich father in law is no help as Vinnie’s wife threw him out just before he was kidnapped. The usual plot lines include demolished cars and Ranger saves. Still a five star story

Wow, that’s a long summary! I understand that there are a lot of people who were disappointed with Sizzling Sixteen. You cannot approach the Stephanie Plum series expecting the rules of the “real world” to apply. That’s why these books are the perfect summer reads: they are light-hearted, funny, sometimes silly, and totally implausible. Implausible, you say? Yes! In what dimension can you:

Eat everything you want and not gain weight
Blow up/wreck/irreversibly damage multiple cars
Have an ongoing sexual-tension filled flirtation with two unbearably sexy men and never have either one of them give you an ultimatum
Be saved from danger by grown adults dressed up as hobbits
Never load your gun but manage to get away unharmed every time you’re taken hostage (at least one time per book)
Distract an alligator with fried chicken…can you see how I could keep going with this?

If anyone knows a place where things like this actually happen, sign me up—I want to live there. Especially if Ranger will be there too…

Just One Gripe:
The plot is kind of weak, as usual. This is overshadowed by the fact that the series is so funny.

The Best Thing About This Book:
I read the Stephanie Plum series for the humor. They are laugh-out-loud hilarious! I bust out laughing at least five times per book and Sizzling Sixteen did not disappoint in that respect. Grandma Mazur, Lula, Mooner, the Hobbits, all of it was awesome!

I think this series of novels should be brought to a conclusion. The first 8, even 10, were incredibly funny; Grandma Mazur was a hoot, and Stephanie’s misfortune with vehicles was hilarious. Funny enough that I was brought to tears of laughter. Living in the US for many years, and on the East Coast, I could easily picture, and hear in my mind’s eye, the Jersey characters, very accurate.

The last few novels are the same old stuff, in effect a re-hash. Ms Evanovich could have written them from past manuscripts with minor changes. The only reason ‘fans’ are still buying this series is to find out who Stephanie chooses – Ranger or Morelli. Ms Evanovich is taking advantage of her devotees by stringing out the final resolution.

The novels are shorter in length, and if anything the continuing characters have less involvement. There is no evolvement of the regular cast, they are all, without exception, just like Rex – treading the wheel going nowhere.

If I hear again about Lula’s diets, too tight spandex tops and skirts, Cluck-in-a-Bucket fried chicken and doughnuts it will be too soon!

Enough already Ms Evanovich, write one last Stephanie Plum novel tying up all loose ends, and move on to a new series.
Your talents could be put to better use.

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