Four short stories from the masters of bizarre, including two of my favorite writers (Harrison and Sands). Unfortunately some of these stories tend to be a bit on the dark side, but otherwise a great paranormal read.
Details: Harper, November 2007
Excellence Rating: Great
This is a cute story about a farmer with big ideas but can’t secure a loan because he’s single, so he hires a school teacher to help secure his loan. His contracted wife is a writer who wants privacy write stories about her aunt’s scandalous tales and the farm gives her what she needs. Together they get more than they bargained for.
While I love comedy books like this, it also demonstrates how far romance stories have evolved over the years. I recommend this book for Evanovich fans and for lovers of romantic comedy everywhere.
Details: Harper, November 2007 (originally released in 1990)
Excellence Rating: Very Good
Someone has found a new way to cheat on the stock car circuit and Barney and Hooker are pissed they didn’t think of it first. So they steal a car transporter to figure out how they cheated and they stumble across a dead body. Soon find themselves involved in an international conspiracy. Now will the supergirl mechanic and the hunky stockcar driver manage to stay alive long enough to unravel the mystery or will the bad guys manage to insure that they never race again.
I enjoyed reading the sequel to Metro Girl, but for some reason it didn’t quite live up to the first one as the characters started and ended in the same place. While I guess this is true of the Stephanie Plum books too, at least the secondary characters do seem to change in each story. Also the details about NASCAR are way off base, when compared to Pamela Britton’s books. But if you ignore those issues, this story is funny and hot and full of action and danger. If you love Evanovich’s other books, I’m certain you’ll love this one too.
Details: Harper, August 2007
Excellence Rating: Great
Steaminess Factor: Yummy
