Review: Visions of Sugar Plums

I hope y'all have had a GREAT holiday season so far. Christmas at the Kirk house was pretty amazing! I ended up getting "everything" I asked Santa for, got to spend good times with family and remembered what the true meaning of Christmas is! All that's left now is to box up the remaining decorations, ring in the new year and hopefully watch my alma mater win their bowl game! (GOOOOO Dawgs!!)

But as we all know the busyness of the holiday season can take a toll our regularly scheduled programming. For me that means I have read a LOT less than I usually do, unfortunately. So I picked something short and seasonal to read this week. Visions of Sugar Plums is "A Stephanie Plum Holiday Novel" by Janet Evanovich.

Visions is a fun little story set around Christmas time involving our favorite bounty hunter. Per her usual, there is a "bust" that doesn't really go well, procrastination, and car to blow up. Everything you want in a Plum novel, except Ranger. And though I missed him, there is a new cutie to drop in (literally) on Steph. Diesel is some kind of supernatural being that shows up and "helps" Steph with her skip. I'm still a little confused with Diesel's story line but he is fun addition to the cast of characters and I was certainly left with wanting to know more!

I give Visions of Sugar Plums 4 out of 5 stars for being an easy escape from one's own holiday madness! After all, no one does dysfunction like the Plums!

Teaser Tuesdays (Oct.16)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm listening to Hard Eight 

by Janet Evanovich.

It's very funny and I have giggled out loud quite a bit.

Photo and more info from Goodreads.

My Teaser: 

'"You can't wash away death cooties," he said. 

"Once they're on your couch, they're they to stay."'

Review: Plum Lovin'

I read Plum Lovin' because I needed a reading change of pace. I wanted something easy, short, and funny and I was not disappointed!

Plum Lovin' is a Between-the-Numbers Stephanie Plum novel and is number 12.5 in the series. I've only read up to number seven so there were a few references I didn't get. I prefer to read series in order but I wasn't too lost by reading ahead this time. It's still the same old Stephanie and the gang with a new character for me, Diesel. Who is a lot like Ranger (if you are familiar with the series), but not really. Stephanie's boyfriend, Morelli, says, "They both run in the fast lane with their lights off," Plum Lovin' page 113.  (How does that Stephanie Plum get so many hot suitors?!) This novel is based around Valentine's Day and even though it was a bit cheesy it was cute to see Stephanie play cupid. 

Grandma Mazur was hilarious in this one! That woman is such a hoot and keeps me reading these books! I was reading this in a down moment at work and giggling so hard people were asking me what was laughing at. If you haven't read any of the Plum novels then you just can't understand the hilarity that is Grandma Mazur.

I felt Plum Lovin' was very enjoyable. It was a quick read and I felt refreshed after reading it. I give is 4 out of 5 stars. I am so looking forward to reading through the rest of this series.

More info on Plum Lovin' from Goodreads.