Rating: 
Summary: Evanovich Keeps Her Groove
Review: Have you read this series? If no, start now! If yes, buy Hard Eight ASAP; fun reading lies ahead! Unlike Grafton's "alphabet series" which is getting formulaic and almost boring, Evanovich continues her "number series" at her high standard.Stephanie Plum continues to be a vitally inept bounty hunter. In this one she loses four (or is it five?) sets of handcuffs. She needs help bringing in one of her targets as he suffers from poor equilibrium: she cuffs him, he falls over, he's too fat to right himself--believe me, its laugh-out-loud funny. And, of course, Grandma Mazur continues her two favorite activities: ogling every man under seventy and haunting wakes to checkout the mortician's handiwork. Stephanie continues to be conflicted about her two men: the mysterious Ranger and cop Joe Moretti. Her stout heart and indefatigable manner finally pay off--you know they will--and the good guys triumph. Evanovich is a master of presenting a time and place: the Burg in New Jersey. Her humor is rampant and her characters are winning. Like I said: start or continue this series. Now!
Rating: 
Summary: A little lame
Review: I am sorry to say it, but Hard Eight was kind of lame. Janet can do better - she's done better in the past. Maybe she's getting tired of it, or maybe the grind of having to churn out a book a year is getting to her. There was nothing new here. The old tried and true antics are now just old. Stephanie's car blowing up just isn't funny anymore. And there was no real plot. Stephanie wasn't really after anybody and therefore wasn't really doing anything. And the rabbit was not anywhere near as hilarious as Janet seemed to think it was! Spoiler warning: The scene where Ranger and Stephanie finally "do it" was anti-climatic. There was no emotion, no connection between the characters. Very superficial. Very disappointing.
I normally hate having to wait a year for the next installment of Stephanie's life, but this time I will be waiting two years - for the paperback intead of the hardcover.
Rating:
Summary: It really says something...
Review: ...when you finish the eigth book in a series, and are so upset that it's over you go back and re-read the first seven. Janet Evanovich has given her faithful (perhaps rabid) readers yet another hilarious, endearing, and interesting Stephanie Plum tale. When you make characters so alive, and so vibrant that readers wish they could know them in real life? Well, I think you've definitely done something special. Thank you Janet!
Rating:
Summary: Of Criminals and Crullers
Review: This story starts when sassy Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is asked by a neighbor to find her missing granddaughter, Evelyn, and her small daughter. Missing persons is not strictly Stephanie's forte, but she figures what the heck, she'll give it a go. And the usual Evanovich tour de force of mayhem, shadowy miscreants, binge-eating, attacking critters, and dead cars takes off from there. The action is great, the plot is strong, and the laughs are divine. Oh, and the romance! The love triangle with Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger becomes even more tangled. Without giving anything away, let me just say that those of you with Ranger fantasies, get ready to kick 'em up a notch. Anyone who hasn't yet discovered the pleasure of the Stephanie Plum series, I highly recommend that you get thee to the bookseller and buy them all. They are absolutely delightful.
Rating:
Summary: As always - FUNNY
Review: This book again just answers the questions, why is Evanovich one of my favorite authors? She's funny and yet still realistic in many ways. She keeps the motion moving in her books and the tension tight when it needs to be. Superb as always. She does an excellent job of keeping all the characters straight in the book which makes it an easy read despite having a lot of characters. I think there a tendency in people who read one author to begin to say, 'wait, she's not as funny as she used to be....' 'this isn't as good as the first one'. I think many times we are comparing our excitement at finding a new author who is excellent to now when we are again on the never ending quest for a new author and this one isn't new anymore. It's unfortunate for authors that this happens. I can honestly say that Janet Evanovich novels have not grown old and Number 8 is as good as all the others before it. I have no reason to expect number 9, 10, and so on won't be just as great. I thought this was just right in line with her other novels. It is not often you can laugh at lawyers, hot sex, blown up cars, and clothes dryers in one book. I thought Ranger was as sexy as ever and the tension between them was oh so good. I thought the relationship between her and Morrelli was very interesting. I would have like more of Grandma. I just laugh and laugh at the Grandma. But Lula is a hoot as always, even in times of stress. I particularly like how she refers to other events in other novels and brings the reader up to speed at times about who a character is or how they came into her life. All of this and more keeps me anxious for book 9, 10 and so on. The main story line this time, I think, held more of a realistic story to it- a woman trying to make ends meet, a yucky husband (ex now) and stretched a bit with the really scary bad guy. The whole story line is good. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointment
Review: i hate to give this only 3 stars, but it was a big disappointment. It seems that some series get better as the author delves deeper into personalities and plots, and some become shallower and more formulaic. Hard Eight shows Evanovich starting down the latter path. First of all, the book is very short and has big print -- to me always a clue that the author is taking it easy, riding on success. I disagree with those who say it is "dark" or that the child element is at all explored. The children seem incidental, and no one is really threatening them. This doesn't seem very different to me. Stephanie isn't growing and her character, and that of the other recurring characters, are not becoming more defined. But who is Stephanie, really? At this stage she should be more than sex and junk food. If she doesn't get any better at her job, why is she doing it? She is in danger of remaining a caricature rather than becoming a real person.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER PLUM HIT !
Review: I love this series and it seems to just keep getting better. Like all the books in this series, it is filled with humor and controlled grit. Stephanie's attempt at exercise in the park and subsequent altercation with a flock of geese is a classic hoot. Any book that makes me laugh out loud gets my 5 stars. Keep them coming Janet Evanovich!
Rating:
Summary: Best in the series
Review: A great read. All the wonderful story elements we have come to enjoy--quirky, lovable characters; crazy antics; and snappy, funny dialog. A little darker than recent books, but it provides for the major characters to show more depth. Loved Joe's maturity in this book. How and who dispatches the nasty villain at book's end is a bit of a shocker, as is how the other characters react. Wonder where Steph, Joe, and Ranger go next? Janet really puts the pressure on herself for "Nine."
Rating:
Summary: Nobody makes me laugh like Stephanie
Review: Every year I get the newest Plum book, read it, laughing out loud--which I almost never get to with any other books. Then I start at One for the Money and read my way through the series again. If anyone knows any author in any genre that gives as many genuine belly laughs as Evanovich, please let me know their name!
Rating:
Summary: As light, bright and funny as ever
Review: I've been reading some of the other reviews of this book and was pretty put off- seems to me there is a rumour going round that this new Stephanie Plum is 'dark' or something. I almost didn't pick it up as a result - lucky I did. It is just as bright and funny as ever and Stephanie is as sassy as always. I can't understand where the 'dark' bit came in. Doesn't anyone remember Ramirez (twice?) that was an awful lot darker than this - not to mention Hannibal, Mitchel and Habib and co from Hot Six. Then there was Kenny Mancuso in Two for the Dough and of course the serial killer and friends in Three to Get Deadly. I'm not saying that this book is any more or less violent than the others - but Stephanie deals with it in the same inimitable Jersey Girl style - all big hair and loads of mascara. In her latest adventure she has lost of a few of the characters I really enjoyed - Big Blue takes a bit of a break - only a couple of knocks to the fender despite Steph losing at least one vehicle (and her insurance) along the way. The question is why does anyone insure her anymore anyway. Then Joyce Barnhard is a no-show as is Terry Grizzoli. But then Morelli doesn't feature as strongly in this one either. Even Stiva's is only mentioned in passing (What are you doing to us Janet!) On the plus side Ranger makes a pretty good fist of his increased profile in here. I know he is a man of few words and I don't generally support his side of things but I really did get to like him quite a bit in this book - he becomes more than just a man of mystery. Stephanies sister Valerie is also a big show in this book and proves to be quite a good foil for Steph as well as playing a critical role. Funnily enough it is Steph's mother who saves the day. OK - so enough for die hard fans - the plot - (which has probably been picked apart in enough reviews already - but here for posterity) Stephanie is asked by her mother and grandmother to look into the disappearance of their neighbours grand-daughter (Evelyn Soder ) and great-grand-daughter (Annie). This is no take-down for bail bonds - this is private and personal. She is warned off by the ex husband and also one of Evanovich's less than likeable gangster figures Eddie Abruzzi. He was, apparently, the boss of that psycopath boxer (from One and Three) Ramirez and they share the same sense of fun over sadism. Stephanie has to try to figure out what the heck made Annie and Evelyn flee if she is going to find them - and at the same time it seems they may need protection. Meantime Stephanie is trying to make some money from picking up bail-jumpers and as usual not having much luck. Just count the number of cuffs she loses in this one. Also there are the requisite number of exploding cars and people making themselves at home in her apartment. I don't think the ending was sudden - it really did twist around into a satisfying tale to try to untangle - its just it was a bit unsatisfying when it got there. As was the resolution of her relationship with Ranger in here. It was just not quite right (well for me). Also I got the sense that there was supposed to be more but it was cut out. For instance the stripper in Seven Up turns up again here opening a book shop next to Vinnie - but that is as far as it goes - shouldn't there have been more? Also the social life which generally plays so much of a part in Stephanies life just didn't come about. Where were the weddings? - the viewings at Stiva's? Maybe Evanovich feels like they have been overdone. I just loved them. Finally, I don't know about the rest of you but I am definitely starting a movement for 'Bring Back Big Blue" - Stephanie had a Ducati last time and snuck around in cute black cars mostly this time - but Big Blue is her spiritual home - its time Valerie got her own car and gave Blue back to Stephanie.
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