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Visions of Sugar Plums

Visions of Sugar Plums

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $13.57
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hilarious Plum entree, but very short novella, loose ends
Review: We really wondered what a Plum / Evanovich Christmas story would be like. Somewhat to our surprise, it picks up where #8 left off, with Kloughn, revealed herein to be Jewish, still chasing sister Valerie, who turns up ever so pregnant. Stephanie is as usual chasing an FTA she can't find, despite the help of a somewhat other worldly stud named Diesel. Morelli looks him over hard a few times, but nothing much happens; Ranger is totally on leave in this one. Plum is desperate to get her Christmas presents -- she forgot about cards, she buys a tree which gets burned up (typical!); and during the final shopping hours, she uses Lulu's shopping method (buy whatever's close to the registers) ere heading to the homestead on Christmas Eve. Funny scenes are the norm throughout, including several involving midgets dressed to look like elves, working (where else) in a toy factory.

So let's see: it's an awfully quick read, barely a one hour novella; and we never really do find out where Diesel came from or is going to and how he got the supernatural powers that he has. The writing’s funny, but the story’s not particularly warm and fuzzy for Christmas. Most all the regular characters put in an appearance, with maybe the closest looks yet at Steph's parents, and Grandma entertaining a new "studmuffin". In sum – a short but funny Christmastyme yarn, but a fairly weak plot detracts from what could have been a charming little tale. "3" for average, but JE's fans will gobble it up. Readers new to the series and all these characters will probably not "get it".

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Save your money
Review: While this book was amusing it was a total price rip off. The story left you wondering what it was about and never really made much sense. I do not recommend it. I was very disappointed as I was very much looking forward to her next book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: boring, a waste of money
Review: This book is a rip off. I have loved the series, but this book is boring, I laughed once, the plot stunk, it is a waste of money. Do not buy this book. Janet Evanowich needs to be more dedicated to her readers and give them a product that is worth the money. Last book was borderline, this book was terrible, so I am done. Good bye Stephanie, I wish you and your family, especially your Dad, a happy holiday season.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Bah! Hum Bug!
Review: I first want to say that I'm a big Evanovich fan. I couldn't wait for the release of this book and I had it pre-ordered from the first day it was available ... I am so disappointed. Like most everyone else I feel the book was over priced for a book under 150 pages. I was expecting a "complete" novel. I was hoping for a story the caliber of Evanovich's previous novels. It almost seems that Evanovich took her previous Stephanie Plum stories and changed the name of characters just enough to a give the book a Christmas theme.

Most of all I didn't get my "Morreli" fix and Ranger was not in this story. I think Diesel was Stephanie's fantasy of Ranger ... in disguised, as a super hero.

If you are an Evanovich fan ... I would read the book. I would not recommend this book to a new reader.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Quirky but cute...
Review: This is a strange novella to describe... All the Stephanie Plum characters are there, but it definitely is a "fantasy" novel. I almost expected the final page to consist of Stephanie waking up from a dream, and none of it really happened.

Like the other reviews, it's a very short, quick read. I picked it up at the library, so I didn't have a concern over the cost. But I too would have been upset to spend full price for a hardback that I would read in less than two hours.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Visions of stale sugar plums
Review: This book is not worth the money. If you have never read any of the other Stephanie Plum books it would probably be okay. I found it tired/old/boring. Her other books are great!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Fun Christmas Gift!
Review: This one will get you in the mood for Christmas, in a fun and Stephanie Plum way!! I will add this to my list of Christmas gifts along with more meaningful stories like The Christmas Box and The Gravel Drive by Kirk Martin.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Marvellous and Mirthful Plum Christmas Pleasure!
Review: "Visions of Sugar Plums" by Janet Evanovich is a Stephanie Plum holiday delight, filled with all the lovable Plum family dysfunction we have come to know and love. On page one I was immediately transported to Trenton, NJ, and remained glued to the pages until the story came to a close. Indeed, my only complaint is that it is far too short! At just under 150 pages, "Visions of Sugar Plums" is over before you know it. But one thing is for sure - I'll reread this novella several times before Christmas (and after), and it's sure to be added to the category of Holiday Classic by one and all!

"Visions of Sugar Plums" begins four days before Christmas, and Stephanie Plum, Trenton's favourite bounty hunter, is having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. She hasn't bought a single present, there's not a Christmas tree or twinkle light in sight in her apartment, and she's having trouble tracking down the elusive Sandy Claws, a toy maker who's missed his court date. Stephanie is feeling a little stressed by the whole situation, and then, as if she needed more to deal with, a strange man suddenly appears in her kitchen. And sure, people are always just popping up in Steph's house, but this one's different - he literally appeared out of thin air!

It seems Stephanie's new visitor, Diesel, is there to get her into the Christmas spirit. Is he a ghost, alien, vampire? Steph doesn't know, but what she does know is that he's impossible to get rid of. Whatever he is, he's the sexiest supernatural phenomenon that Stephanie has ever met (okay, so he's the only supernatural phenomenon she's ever met, but he's still really sexy!). The distractingly attractive Diesel becomes Stephanie's temporary sidekick, and together, they set about trying to find Sandy Claws.

But things just keep getting weirder and weirder. Diesel meets Stephanie's family, and gets to bear witness to some serious Plum family dysfunction. The always hilarious Grandma Mazur has a new studmuffin, sister Valerie has a shocking Christmas surprise, Steph's niece Mary Alice doesn't believe in Santa anymore, and mom's dealing with all of this by knocking back tumblers of Red Roses in the kitchen! Stephanie still doesn't have any presents or any Christmas spirit for that matter, and now she has to worry about a very bad guy, Mr. Ring, who is out to get Sandy Claws and Diesel. Add in a pack of vicious little elves who assault Stephanie with cookies and a series of mysterious power outages, and you have the fabulous "Visions of Sugar Plums", guaranteed to lift the spirit and split your sides with laughter.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Joe Morelli, Stephanie's gorgeous cop boyfriend makes several appearances, though fellow bounty hunter Ranger is absent, and Stephanie's usual sidekick, Lula, the 200+lb ex-ho, provides some uproarious comedic moments. I honestly haven't laughed so much at a book in a long time. The Grandma Mazur teeth fiasco near the end had me laughing so hard it hurt, and there are countless other priceless moments that are utterly hilarious. Janet Evanovich has a gift for the witty and the absurd, and it's easy to see why she's so popular when you read this hugely entertaining and all-around superb novella. The bottom line is, "Visions of Sugar Plums" is a holiday treat you do NOT want to miss. So don't hesitate, buy this book right now, and get ready for the most fun you'll have reading a book all year!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Clatter in Trenton
Review: Once again Stephanie Plum fans will be happy to add another Evanovich to their shelves. Stephanie, without her morning shot of Java, is confronted by a hunky, Diesel who apparently appears out of nowhere. He is the Spirit of Christmas sent to banish Stephanie's negative and scrooge-like view of Christmas. She and Diesel team to find her bail jumper,one Sandie Claws, AKA "Santa Clause" who is employing elves in the toy-making enterprise. Bodily harm from Elves, the incinaration of yet another vehicle and the general mayhem created by Stephanie's dysfunctional family amuse and entertain the reader. The sexual tension is not as rampant in this story as in some of the others. Morreli makes rare cameo appearances, Ranger is out of the country and Stephanie enjoys a light flirtation with the supernatural, Diesal. I read the entire book with a smile, however, it is much shorter than her usual books and you finish far faster than you might like.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Cute
Review: Okay, so it's not great literature. Anyone who enjoys the Stephanie Plum series knows that. But this little holiday offering has everything that we've come to expect in Stephanie's adventures -- a great looking man or two, Grandma and Lula in full force, and another auto mishap.

If you want a good mystery with suspense or if you want good writing, stay away. But if you want another couple of hours with an old friend and her crazy family, you'll get it here.


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