Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich
My Rating: 3-1/2 of 5 Stars
Let me say right up front: this book is not serious literature. It isn’t to be compared to the “Great Works” of any literary genius I’m aware of. I didn’t learn a single thing about improving myself or making the problems of the world go away. Nor did I add any new words to my vocabulary, though I now know that “Unmentionables” can refer to something besides intimate lingerie. So, before any of you ask me why I could possibly give this book 3-1/2 stars (it was almost a four) when some have placed a far lower value on it, let me be clear. My rating for the Lizzy & Diesel series is just like my very consistent ratings for the Stephanie Plum series. In other words, it’s based on pure enjoyment, alone. These darn books make me smile. Sometimes they make me laugh, and we aren’t talking little, lady-like titters, here. More like belly-laughs. Or guffaws. Yep. I have actually guffawed at Janet Evanovich’s writing. Now how can I give a book that makes me feel that good a poor rating? The answer is, I can’t. The Guffaw Factor alone is worth at least 3 points, and then there’s Diesel. Diesel, the single-named Flirtmeister Extraordinaire, who is, in a word, HOT. Yep. HOT counts in some of my ratings. In this one, it’s the 1/2 point portion. So for those keeping score, that’s 3 points for making me guffaw and an extra 1/2 point for having a really hot guy who knows how to flirt like a pro.
In fact, the dialog between our main characters, Lizzy and Diesel, is so good, I find myself grinning like an idiot while reading it. My husband keeps stopping to stare at me, trying to figure out why I have such a sappy look on my face. I read him one of the lines once, but alas. He didn’t grin, idiot-like or otherwise. He just shook his head and left me alone, which was pretty much what I wanted, anyway. The better to get back to the snappy dialog, the fun–but not to be taken seriously–plot line, and the overall feeling of enjoyment. Sometimes I like a light-hearted romance with a touch of magic, and a few mildly spooky moments here and there. If any of this sounds like your cup of tea, Wicked Business should be just the ticket. Be sure to read Wicked Appetite first, though, for introductions to the many off-beat characters that are Janet Evanovich’s stock in trade. From Carl the monkey to Glo the Wannabe Witch, they’re all in fine form, and I predict you’ll get at least a few smiles out of the story, if not a full-on guffaw here and there.
Wicked Business: A Lizzy and Diesel Novel
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Thank you for the review. I’ve never read any of this author’s writing, but I might just try it now!
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Oh, she’s always good for a laugh, though once in awhile (especially in the first book, One For The Money) there can be some scary bits, too. Stephanie Plum is the world’s worst bounty hunter, and she is surrounded by the craziest group of characters you ever saw. (I didn’t go see the movie because I thought most of the casting was appalling, which is so often the case with Hollywood.) But the Plum series is a hoot, and this spin-off series is even funnier, at times. You can read it first if you want, with no problems, but since Diesel and Wulf are both introduced in the Stephanie Plum series, before they went to the Big Time and got their OWN, you might want to start with Stephanie’s world. The books have become formulaic over the years, for sure, but the formula still makes me laugh. I say give one or both of the series a try and see what you think. Start with either One For The Money (for Stephanie) or Wicked Appetite (for Lizzy & Diesel).
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