Sizzling Sixteen

Sizzling Sixteen
Janet Evanovich
320 Pages
St. Martins Press












Amazon Blurb -

In this tepid Stephanie Plum adventure from Evanovich (Finger Lickin' Fifteen, etc.), a personal case distracts the Trenton, N.J., bondswoman from tracking the usual group of eccentric skips--the kidnapping of her cousin, Vinnie, who's being held for ransom in the high six figures. As Stephanie, sidekick Lula, and office manager Connie soon realize, Vincent Plum Bail Bonds is seriously in the red due to Vinnie's gambling. Vinnie's also gotten caught up with local mobster Bobby Sunflower in a complicated scheme. Even though her sleazy cousin isn't her favorite person and chasing oddball felons isn't her ideal career, Stephanie knows family loyalty counts for something, plus she owes him for giving her a job all those years ago. So with Lula and Connie in tow--and romantic interests Morelli and Ranger lurking in the background-- Stephanie must save the day once again. Evanovich is at her best spinning the bizarre subplots involving Stephanie's bail jumpers, but the larger story simply recycles elements from previous installments.  
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Stephanie’s cousin and boss, bail bonds biz owner (wow say that 10 times fast!!) Vincent Plum has been kidnapped by Sunshine, a drug dealer, numbers runner all around bad guy.  She has to find him before he gets wacked.  Connie, Vinny’s secretary, and Lula former pro now file clerk for the biz, are all in for the ride. This goes way deeper than Vinny just owing the bookie.  Never mind the fact that he’s in for over $700,000!!!  This has to do with him tampering with bail money to cover bets and the company that overwrites and foots the bill for the bonds not being on the up-n-up as well.

This final book didn’t have quite the same hilarity that one and two did.  Granny Mazur wasn’t as prominent, but stoner, Mooner and his Hobbit obsession were quite funny.  There is one scene where Mooner fixes Vinny’s clothes and I use that term quite loosely, I was laughing so hard I was crying.  Of course my family just couldn’t understand what I found so funny.  Joe Morelli and Ranger are here for the ride as well.  Ranger supplies her with some rockin wheels, as well as letting her know how he feels about her in his own Ranger way.  Gotta come clean, while Joe may be the devastatingly handsome Italian boy, Ranger is the dude.  There is something dangerous and sexy about him, and he’s pretty darn good looking too with a body to match.  Mishaps with stink bombs and a crocodile, bombs going off and stealing from the bad guys takes you for a ride in # 16 of Janet Evanovich’s Plum series.

I enjoyed it, might go back to read the hook up between Steph and Ranger, but don’t find it necessary to read all the books now.

3 ½ cannolis