New Jersey Books

A Way of Desert Spirituality?
My final decision to review the "Plan of Life of the Hermits of Bethlehem," in spite that this delightful book is a compendium of spiritual directives, by an experienced abbot for his own monastic community, which on joining his Laura have vowed to be obedient to the hermits' rules. Mine was a persuasion reading an apologetic review of Fr. Romano's other book, "In the silence of Solitude," reported by my Amazon Favorite AmeriCopticLailac, since she drew parallels with Orthodox mystical spirituality, as reported in a recent English release of the sayings of the Desert Fathers in; "Orthodox Prayer Life: the interior way."

Western Monastic Traditions:
Although John cassian was the first to establish monastic communities in Marseilles, according to established Coptic traditions. The schema faded out until St. Bernard of Cleurvaux restored it to its original zenith. Father Romano is now emulating St. Bernard earnest zeal to persue real contemplative monasticism that get you all the way in.
I recognize in this book a return to the central mission of the desert for the hermits of Bethlehem: The Scheme of monasticism, and Fr. Romano spelled it clear: The Plan of Hermetical Life.
Bethlehem stands as a 'doorway' to the wilderness of your own heart; is in positive response to our Lord saying that, "The kingdom of God is within you" Luke 17:21. Jesus taught also that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" John 14:6

A Hidden Life of Prayer:
"One ought always to pray and not to lose heart." Luke 18:1
a. The freeing of the soul; Detachment in kenosis
b. Purification of the heart
c. Contrition of the spirit
d. Faith in Perseverance
e. Struggle and Constraint
f. Bridling the mind
g. Holy silence
h. Unceasing prayer
i. Access into the Father's presence

A Monastic Schema:
Comparing the above scheme of the Macarian friars of Scetes in Nitria with those of Bethlehem you will notice a striking similarity. No wonder, they are all sons and daughters of Anthony by the Lord promise, to whom Anthony offered all he got, only that the Macrians lack canon 603!
This is a book to be read by novices, retreaters, and all devotees of spiritual renewal, by a modern Desert Abba that has choosen to name himself after one of the great missionary monastic elders, Abba Ogin (Eugene) and his Syrian brotherhood of the bearers of the Cross, commemorated to this day in the Coptic Diptych prayed word to word by both Catholic and Orthodox Coptic Christians.

I myself have read a few books on christian monasticism, including many by Thomas Merton. This book I found to be thoroughly enjoyable. It is basicaly the Plan of Life for these Hermits. It is a christian book. It speaks alot about the influence of the Desert Fathers on their plan of life. This is a book of Desert Spirituality. It discusses some basic and simple elements to the eremetical life. I dont think anyone grounded in the christian faith will have much trouble understanding the ideas in this book. And for those fans of the Desert Fathers this book is a must read. It was a peaceful and prayerful book.

The beauty of this book lies in the fact that it does not attempt to analyze or comment upon. It simply presents the stories of ordinary men and women of this century in more or less their own words. All their lives in some way revolved around the dark world of Pennsylvania coal mining in the anthracite area of the Panther Valley. They are all refreshingly human, wonderfully straightforward, and tell deeply moving stories. Each in his or her own way reflects the rich cultural and ethical traditions brought here from European shores. The beauty of the book is its utter simplicity in approaching the mystery of the human personality against the backdrop of the drudgery of labor. It's a wonderful slice of life.

Most of us don't have books written about the neighborhoods and local institutions that we grew up with. This is particularly so for places off the beaten path like the Pennsylvania coal regions. I grew up in the 50's and early 60's just a few miles from the coal towns that form the geography of Mr. Dublin's book and went to some of the same schools as his narrator's children. My family worked for the coal companies and the garment factories at various times. These stories ring true from my experience - the reliance on family, the acceptance of 50 mile commutes to work rather than leave the area, the accurate concern that everyone for miles around knows your family business. The real value of this book for me is that these narratives show the commonality of experiences that I thought were unique. And, it also fills in many gaps about the social forces at work that I didn't realize existed in the lives of that generation. They shielded us from the dangereous aspects of some jobs, the lack of job security, labor-management tensions, and the potential need to migrate to make a living. For those readers without the personal ties to the coal regions this book provides a view of how tough the "golden years" of the 50's were for some Americans.

The book wreck valley 2 By Daniel Berg is an excelent guide for sports divers and tech divers alike. Daniel Berg brings out and discribes the history of the ships that once sailed the long island sound and Atlantic . If anyone,. not just divers is interested in north east ship wrecks this is the book for you

I found this book very useful in gathering information about the different ship wrecks I have dove on in New Jersey. I highly recomend this book to all wreck divers and ship wreck enthusiasts alike. This book has lots of good photographs and drawings pertaining to the wrecks. You will not be disappointed in purchasing this book.

What: South Beach Diet
Start Date: 6/30/2008
Beginning weight: 256 lbs
Today's Date: 8/31/2008
Current weight: 224 lbs
TOTAL POUNDS LOST: 32 lbs in 2 mos.

I heard of the SBD many years ago when it was first introduced. Like every other fad diet, I dismissed it without even giving it a second glance. "They never work," I said, and went about my happy carb-filled and FAT life. I have always been heavy, and my famliy is full of big people, so losing weight hasn't ever been encouraged at home.
I was raised on lots of bread, pasta, potatoes and fattening carbs. I NEVER drank water. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and it left me feeling depressed and hopeless. I hated how I looked in everything--even though I loved clothes and fashion--because of my weight. I had tried several times to lose weight, to restrict myself, and would average 6-8 lb losses before giving up and reverting back to my old ways.
June of '08 I actually found a copy of The South Beach Diet outside in a shopping cart at the grocery store. I picked it up and flipped through it, threw it in the car and thought I might read it. Someday.
It sat around the house for a while before I finally picked it up and gave it a go.
Immediately I thought, WOW, is this the answer?
and then right after that: "YEAH, RIGHT."
But, negativity aside, I read the book and decided to give it a try.
It made total and perfect sense why I was fat--the book explains the reason behind it and the why and how, and the proof is undeniable.
I completely cut out bread, potatoes and pasta, and anything with sugar in it. I followed Phase 1 pretty well for about 4 weeks, and in that time alone, lost about 18 lbs. I would sometimes walk for 10 or 15 minutes here or there, on my lunch at work, or at home around the block, but I wasn't making any real efforts as far as exercise went. However, it was so much more than what I used to do, I started seeing a difference in how I felt and looked almost immediately.
As each week passed by and the number on the scale steadily decreased, I found myself feeling more and more energetic, and committed to the new "lifestyle".
It doesn't feel like you're on a diet, it feels like you're just being HEALTHY.
I have never been able to stay on a diet before, but the South Beach Diet is so easy to follow, and the results are so remarkable, I can't even stop myself now!
It took me a while to get into the swing of things, but now that I have been doing it, it is natural to me.
I was once a skeptic of this and other fad diets, but now I am recommending it to everyone.
Even with minimal exercise, to date, I have lost a substantial amount of weight and the best part is--I don't feel hungry or deprived--EVER!!!
I really have to give it to Dr. Agatston because even though I have only lost a fraction of the amount of weight I want to lose, I know that it is something I will acheive because of this diet.
I stepped on the scale today and had to smile: 224lbs.
I haven't weighed that since college (sadly!).
I know I still have a long way to go, but I also know that I will make it, and all my thanks goes to Dr. Agatston and his book The South Beach Diet.
I urge anyone who is fed up with being overweight, and fed up with diets, to BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really changed (and IS changing) my life, everyday.
I think it can do the same for you too.

It works if you work it!!!!

I looked at this book for research purposes, not really interested in going on a diet right now... my general impression: The diet itself can be basically summarized in a page or two (it's practically on the back cover), so, really, you might think about borrowing the book versus buying for diet purposes, and writing the three phase plan down. The science behind the plan is, as most of dietetics, under question and debate, although there does seem to be a consensus that the American addiction to simple carbohydrates is a health problem. What is more interesting about the book is that a large chunk of it is devoted to recipes based on the phase of diet, a few which I have tried and seem to be worthwhile. Other people must also think so, as there have been spinoff south beach diet cookbooks that have also been successful (haven't tried them yet). So, one might consider purchase for that reason.

Dont waste money on this or any diet book.
Just get online and use a free calorie calculator, determine how many calories you can eat and loose weight, dont exceed that and step up excercise.
You dont need a book, just control how much you eat!!!!!

Finally, a member of the medical profession who has an inkling of human nature, a connection to something besides mere medical reality! I'm normally highly skeptical of such books and almost any medically recommended diet I've ever heard, seen, or smelt. This one is so firmly wedded to practical, everyday concerns and human nature that it simply blew me away. There is no fear peddling, no lecturing--just straightforward, easy to read and understand explanations. Above all, the diet is practical. Its only shortcomings are the considerations of time and expense, especially the latter. This is not so much a failing of the diet or the book, but rather that the agribiz megacorporations have decided that healthy food should be expensive, and food that is bad for you should be cheap. But I can guarantee one thing: you will be astonished at what food is healthy! This diet isn't hard--its tasty and fun!

Even if you aren't particularly overweight, this book is worth reading and serious consideration.

My wife and I have been on this diet for nearly 8 weeks now. In that time I have gone from 242 pounds to 208. I have been very good at following this diet with one small exception while eating out. My wife has had less success, but she is close to her target weight and had much less to lose than I did.

I believe the author does a good job describing the diet, the logic and science behind it and how the diet has evolved. It is interesting that weight loss for the patients on this diet was a bit of a happy side effect. The primary intention was to get patient's blood sugar and cholesterol levels in control. With diabetes in my family, as well as my wife's, this got our attention. We didn't realize what we were doing to ourselves with our earlier eating habits.

By itself, this book is only a start. I found it necessary to do more reading and looking at other cookbooks (including SBD cookbooks) to increase the variety. However, everything needed for the first few weeks is included. The knowledge gained by reading this book is enough to make healthy choices at the grocery and in restaurants.

As others have stated, this is not a "diet" as much as a lifestyle change. I have found that our food bill has increased somewhat, especially at first. We tried many new recipes and they often had ingredients that weren't in our pantry. This is not a complaint! We have discovered some wonderful new meals as a result of having our horizons opened. Some of those meals are in this book.

For your convenience, there is a Phase 1 diet plan already designed for you. The meal plan includes all the recipes for the meals and snacks. We tried this plan, but for two people it wasn't all that convenient. We spent a great deal of time preparing food - our evenings were consumed with cooking dinner, eating and preparing lunch and snacks for the next day. The included plan does a poor job for using leftovers and simplifying the food preparation. I believe this is due to the author attempting to provide more variety. After about a week, we abandoned the prepared plan and adopted our own version that fit our time budget. For this reason, I give this book 4 stars instead of 5.

For anyone heading down this weight loss path, I highly recommend a sugar substitute called Stevia. It is an extract of a plant that is very sweet and is sold in health food stores. Unlike the other chemical substitutes out there like Splenda, Nutrasweet and Saccharin, Stevia is a natural product that has been used for three decades in Japan with no reported side effects. The jury is still out on Splenda. There are different companies that produce Stevia extract, with different results. The best I have found so far is NuStevia No Carb blend. Good luck!

Stephanie Plum is back at it again. Sitting in the office at her cousin Vinnie's Bail Enforcement Agency, she is faced with a mountain of skips that need to be tracked down. Finally admitting that they might need some help, they decide to post a job offer to see if they can get another bounty hunter. Vinnie is off at a convention and Ranger has left to take care of his own business, leaving Stephanie and Lula, the ex-prostitute, to take over the slack.


Stephanie's life gets even more complicated when a woman claiming to be Ranger's wife shows up, waving a 9mm at Stephanie. Not sure how she feels about this new woman, Stephanie is determined to get to the bottom of this.


It seems that Ranger needs her now more than ever. He is being accused of a crime he didn't commit and needs Stephanie to help him track down the real culprit. Ranger's daughter has been kidnapped, and a man impersonating him is out to worm his way into Ranger's life, including his relationship with Stephanie. Just when things start to heat up with Ranger, Joe Morelli, Stephanie's on-again, off-again boyfriend decides to move in to her apartment to keep a closer eye on her.


Stephanie is a great character; she knows that nothing solves a problem quite like a dozen doughnuts! All of my favourite characters make an appearance in this latest in the Stephanie Plum novels. Sally Sweet is back in all his drag queen glory, and Grandma Mazur is out to terrorize the new owners of Stiva's Funeral Parlor. Add in the crazy antics of Stephanie and Lula as they chase down a variety of skips, including a man accused of whacking off in the movie theatre and a 70 year-old woman who works at an adult toy store and this is another crazy Plum adventure. Joe and Ranger are so very different and yet so very appealing, it is no wonder Stephanie has trouble choosing between them. A word of warning: If you don't want some very strange looks as you belly laugh and clutch your sides at the funny parts, you might want to read Twelve Sharp inside!! Add in some very steamy dialogue and this is a fantastic new addition from Janet Evanovich.

Shannon
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The return of Stephanie Plum, New Jersey's sassy and sexy bounty hunter in Twelve Sharp is a climax in the series. Stephanie is back to her fast filled FTA retrieval days when she gets a strange visitor, Carmen Manoso. Carmen is outfitted in head to toe black and carries a loaded gun, but her claim that she is married to Ranger is what really sets Stephanie off. Startled, Stephanie tries in vain to reach Ranger, but he is out of town. When Carmen is discovered executed and Ranger's daughter is kidnapped from Miami, Stephanie is at a complete loss. To make matters worse, Stephanie's archenemy Joyce Barnhardt has joined Vincent Plum Bail Bonds to help pick up some of the criminals at large. Stephanie is worried about Ranger, until he finally shows up at her door and they discover that someone is attempting to steal Rangers identity. Working together and living together with Ranger to try and catch a crazy man on the loose, helps provide some sexy moments. That is until the other man in Stephanie's life, Joe Morelli moves in as well. Trying to help rescue Ranger's daughter and control the tension in her life, Stephanie becomes bait for a killer. The suspense and action will have you panting until the very end, not to mention the sexy scenes. Janet Evanovich, as always also adds some laugh till you cry moments with some of our favorite characters. The storyline is one of the best, filled with the action and suspense yet perfectly paired with comic relief. Twelve Sharp is by far one of the best novels in the series. Valerie Jones [...]

Twelve Sharp is the best of the series. It's full of raw emotion, colorful characters and a plot that grabs you from the first page and won't let you stop until you read the last word. This truly is Janet Evanovich's masterpiece. If you love mystery, intrigue, comedy, all rolled up into one, then this is the book for you. Don't miss out on this one. I bought ten copies myself!!! What better way to hook a friend on your favorite series then giving them a book about Ranger!

Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors.
Tweleve Sharp is about Ranger and someone is pretending to be him. The 'second Ranger' has kidnapped Ranger's daughter, and Ranger is wanted. And 'of course' Ranger's goes to Stephanie house for help.

This is one of my favorites of the Plum series because it shows you more of Ranger. ***I'm a totally Ranger fan.***
Stephenie had some 'close' encounters with Ranger in this novel. Stephanie did 'almost' have sex with Ranger. again.

Mortelli moving in with Stephanie when Ranger was there was funny, and when Ranger threatened to kill Mortelli if Stephanie slept with him, while he was there. Priceless.

When Tank got kicked in the balls, and fell down. WaS so hilarious. This is when him and Lula kind of began as a couple.

I loved this novel.

Janet's tight writing, outstanding plot and creepy villain will keep you riveted to your seat as you ignore all outside disturbances because you simply can't put this book down. The sexual tension between Ranger and Steph and Joe is at an all-time high, and both the men are at their sexy best. A strange woman shows up in Trenton with a disturbing story about Ranger, but that's only the subplot to this engaging story that takes off like a shot and never slows down.

The great characters that JE is famous for return, along with a couple of new ones - one I especially liked was the multiplex-dwelling Melvin. Carolyn of Pleasure Treasures will make you laugh out loud, but the scene where Ranger checks out the flavor of the massage oil Steph bought will bring a different type of smile to your face.

This is the book I have been waiting for, she finally get's it on with Ranger!

If you were left holding your breath or picking your jaw off the floor at the conclusion of Seven Up, then you are in for a real treat in Hard Eight. Fugitive Apprehension Agent (aka Bounty Hunter) Stephanie Plum is back trying to make the streets of Trenton, New Jersey a little safer. Her parents neighbor Mabel Markvitz approaches Stephanie to try to enlist her help to find her daughter Evelyn and her granddaughter Annie. Mabel fears this has something to do with Evelyn's ex-husband Steven Soder. Unfortunately for Stephanie, she soon learns that Steven's business partner Eddie Abruzzi wants something for Evelyn too. Abruzzi declares war on Stephanie, leaving his goons to make her life miserable and dangerous. Stepanie, LuLu and Evelyn's attorney Albert Kloughn are on the hunt for Evelyn, Annie, and the FTA Andy Bender. After losing several pairs of handcuffs, a few cars not to mention a rabid rabbit on the loose Stephanie is forced to enlist the aid of Ranger, Bounty Hunter extraordinaire. Ranger is more than willing to help and collect on his debt, which leaves Stephanie panting and nervous. Not to mention Joe Morelli, her on again off again boyfriend/ fiancé etc. around every corner. Once again Janet Evanovich uses well-executed storylines and witty character narratives to pull the reader on an exciting roller coaster. Full of laughs, twists and a night alone with Ranger, Hard Eight delivers everything the reader wants and then some.
Valerie Jones
mrsvaljones@netzero.net

THe Stephanie Plum series is just great fun! I am so entertained when I listen to these books, and it makes my commute (45 min to an hour each way) something I actually look forward to! IT's laugh out loud funny, sexy, (but NOT vulgar.. it leaves a lot to your imagination, which is a rare treat these days), and the characters are really well developed. It's like you know them personally and can't wait to hear what they will get into next. While often times predictable, it doesn't take away the fun. And who doesn't love Lula?!

Normally, every book in the series is about equal. This is the first book that really stands out.

Plum is of course as good in this one as normal. It is nice to see Ranger having a bigger part in this book that earlier ones. He doesn't just show up to save the day, but works with Stephanie quite a bit. The addition of Kloughn to the regular cast of characters is welcomed. He definitely falls on the hapless side of her friends.

The bad guys are more entertaining in this book that previous as well. The guy in the rabbit suit is, well, interesting. He seems as dangerous as any of the people who have tried to kill her in the past, but more interesting.

The story is about what we've come to expect from the series. Through a series of luck breaks and coincidences, Plum stumbles her way through to success. Hapless but effective.

This book is as funny as any of its' predecessors, and a little more interesting. For fans of the series, I would definitely recommend it.

Stephanie Plum is the most delicious heroine in all of chick lit. This book is halfway through the expected series of sixteen numbered books.

In this book, Stephanie agrees to help out Mabel, a lady who lives next door to her parents by looking for Evelyn, Mabel's granddaughter. It's an unpaid job, and Stephanie still has to earn her living working as a bounty hunter for her creepy cousin, Vinnie. Stephanie still has difficulty busting and bringing in the lowlifes and a lot of good comedy ensues from Stephanie trying to make a buck, such as the time she goes after Andy Bender and winds up buying a t-shirt for two dollars. It might be a losing proposition for Stephanie but it is a plus for the reader.

But searching for Evelyn and her little daughter Annie has its dangers. Evelyn's abusive husband Steve and criminal landlord Eddie Abruzzi start making it hot for Stephanie.

She's also worried because her mentor and very hot friend Ranger made a deal with her and now the deal has come due and what's her on-again-off again boyfriend Joe Morelli going to say about that?

Stephanie endears because she isn't perfect but she is persistent. You have to love her, unless you sell car insurance. The car that bites the dust in this is a Honda CR-V, first by goose attack and then a bear and a rabbit throw a bomb in it. (No, I'm not going to explain. You have to read this book.)

Another good book. Kept me laughing from the first pages till the end just like all the rest of them. Bought it for a friend to see if I can get them interested in reading this humor and talking about it.

No let down on this book. Still the great characters getting in the sames messes. Great fun to read!

Janet Evanovich gives her readers another stellar performance in the eleventh Stephanie Plum novel. Stephanie has already received two threatening notes as has decided to give up in the bounty hunter business. She hands over all of her current FTA's to her former partner LuLu and takes a job at the button factory. She manages to get fired before she even starts ands seeks employment elsewhere, including the Kan Kleaners and Cluck-in-a-Bucket. Of course, her stalker continues to track her down and works on destroying several of her cars along the way. Torn between the crazy life of her old career and her new employment, Stephanie is in a role reversal with LuLu and becomes her sidekick. Riding shotgun with LuLu, Stephanie finds herself in the mix of an old crime where several of the players have mysteriously disappeared. After spotting Spiro, the undertaker's son, Stephanie is convinced that he is her stalker and is tied to the missing men. Unsuccessful at her new career attempts, Stephanie finds herself working for RangeMan, her studly and sexy bounty hunter friend Ranger's company. He current boyfriend, Joe Morelli is not too happy with his girl spending so much time with Ranger, but knows that at least he will protect her. Eleven on Top is a well-scripted mystery and comedy all in one. The suspense hangs in the air till the final pages and the lead up to the finale is amazing. The struggle for Stephanie between the two men in her life will leave reader rooting for their favorite man. Eleven on Top is just as amazing as her first novel; One for the Money and readers will rush through the pages to finish. Our favorite characters like LuLu and Grandma Mazer provide the comic relief necessary between the steamy storyline. Excellent work by Janet Evanovich who gives her readers nothing less than perfection. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net

I'm assuming you've read the previous 10 Janet Evanovich novels to get to this point. You laugh at Stephaine Plum and her love interests as she, the most unlikely bondsman, solves her cases. Yeah, yeah, it's funny and I like the characters. The problem is that it's like all her others. You know what to expect and she delivers, but it feels like its all been done before. I don't know if I'm going to keep reading them. I would like to see it turned into a series -- maybe on HBO. Now that might be interesting.

This was the first Stephenie Plum novel I ever read.
I actually got it from the dollar store. I was a little iffy when I heard of the series, awhile back, but when I caught one in the dollar store I thought, what the hell.

I loved this book. I laughed out loud many times.
After this one i had to buy the whole whole series, and I enjoyed ever single one. Some better than others.
Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite authors.

Janet Evanovitch did it again. Her "numerical" series is a riot. Stephanie Plum is my kind of heroine!!!

Another great book in the series. There are so many reviews here already - I'll just toss in my short one for the star average. These books are a great getaway when you just want to escape in some entertainment for a little while. Lots of laugh-out-loud wit and intelligence without the deep brooding conspiracy and blood and gore of many best sellers. Fun sexual tension without the anatomy lessons. Oh- the taxidermy scenes? OK - I love animals and all (yay Rex and Bob!), but the entire taxidermy thread had me practically in tears from laughter every time it appeared. I saw mention of a screenplay once. I actually hope these books don't go to screen. Most of the laughs come from Stephanie's internal wit and I enjoy every outrageous moment of it!

Okay fellow bounty hunter fans, here it is! Lean Mean Thirteen just doesn't have the "punch" that the other Stephanie Plum books had. I am an ardent fan and hate to admit it! I did like the book, but it is time for just a little bit more. The ruined car scenarios and empty Ranger/Morelli relationships are getting "tired". Again, the book is the usual which is good. But how about something to catch the readers attention? Looking forward to fourteen.

Greatly enjoyed this book as I have all of the numbered Plum Books.
I get the greatest laughs from all of the books.

I love Janet E.! Could not wait until this one was availble to read. I found it a little lean on the entertainment value vs. previous numbers books in the series (#8 being hilarious). Still love the characters and scenarios that seem so far out, but very funny.

This is one of the better books in an already excellent series. Most of the good points of the series is played up in this title, while many of the bad parts are missing, making for an overall good read.

The thing that makes Plum books good, beyond Stephanie herself, are the side characters. Seven Up has introductions of some of the more interesting and enjoyable characters, including Moony and Doug "the Dealer", both of whom you instantly like. Even the one shot characters like Benny and Ziggy are enjoyable.

The one character I have a problem with is Joyce. She is one note, and that note has been played. I wish Evanovich would move away from that character. Of course, the big thing in this book is her deal with Ranger. It is nice to see their relationship move forward, as it was starting to feel a bit stalled.

The story is what you can expect from a Plum novel. A mystery that is not overly complex but that does have enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.

If you are a fan of the series, this is a must have. You will not regret it.

After I read the sixth book in the Plum series, I started thinking they were all sounding the same: Stephanie flubs yet another apparent slam-dunk apprehension, gets shot at, can't find her pepper spray, on-again/off-again with Joe Morelli, sees black spots before her eyes -- please. I just want her to develop some -- get better at her job, give it up, organize her purse -- anything!

And there's more of the same in this seventh book, too. For the uninitiated, Stephanie Plum is a reluctant bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey, and the wackiest things always happen to her as she's trying to bring in her FTAs (failed-to-appear). Surrounded by a cast of characters out of Central Jersey Casting (crazy grandma, grumbly dad, nervous mom, prostitute-turned-assistant...), she fumbles her way into the most improbable situations. Her cars get trashed; her apartment gets broken into. You get the idea.

But a funny thing happened to me with this book: I just sat back and read and enjoyed the darned thing, formula and all. Ms. Evanovich is just a funny writer, and this book was just a fun speed read (it was due the next day at the library). I will continue with the series, even if (or maybe especially if) Stephanie stays the same. She's finally kind of growing on me.

I loved the first 6 Stephanie Plum novels on CD, but the reader of #7 is horrible. Her delivery is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w. It ruins the pace of the book. Also, she gives really strong accents (which are really bad, by the way) to everyone. Everyone EXCEPT Stephanie, the quintessintial Jersey girl. Stephanie sounds like a 50 year old midwestern matron.

Skip this audiobook. The reader is terrible. She tries to do a Jersey accent that comes off sounding like she has a speech impediment and a lisp. Bad!!

I've listened to the first six Stephanie Plum books and absolutely loved the reader and laughed out loud while listening. Unfortunately, the reader for this book is just horrid, not a speck of the same characters in the voice as in the first six books. I hope this reader, Tanya Eby doesn't do anymore Stephanie Plum novels. Please give us the original reader back!

Really great read. I couldn't put the book down. It only took me a few hours to read. It was thoroughly enjoyable! I highly recommend this for a light read.

The central character is Paul Copeland, a county prosecutor in New Jersey. While in the midst of arguing the prosecution's case at the trial of two wealthy college fraternity brothers accused of rape, he is questioned about the murder of a man in New York City. This man's death appeared to be connected to an incident that happened twenty years earlier at a summer camp attended by the then-teenaged Copeland. It was believed that four youths were murdered one night, deep in the woods, although only two bodies were found. One of the victims was Copeland's sister. Copeland has long been haunted by the events of that night, for, it turns out, he was more than just the brother of a victim.

From this starting point, the novel takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of plot twists and turns. I'm not a speed reader, but I finished this book in record time (for me) because I was able to race through the extremely well written pages. The only speed bumps were occasional digressions in the form of overlong explanations as the story developed. Also, there were a few false conclusions, something like the amusement park ride that gives you a couple of extra shocks near the end.

But it was an exciting read (ride), well worth the cost of admission.

This is one of Coben's more facinating books because he interlaces two stories and a subplot. It drags in one place with the former girlfriend, but picks up later. It is a fast read and creative. We are cheering for him throughout the book as he deals with the past and the present.

I read this book in one night, which testifies to its quickly paced plot. However, there are a few implausibilites and shallow characters (Lonnie, for example) here. Coben's thriller puts a 20-year-old mystery concerning the disappearance (and presumed murder) of Paul Copeland's sister Camille back into his focus even as he valiantly tries to defend a stripper accusing frat boys of rape (shades of Duke University).

Lucy Silverstein Gold is an old friend/lover of Paul's and she is also haunted by a summer they spent together at a camp that her parents ran. Two campers were brutally murdered by a serial killer, Wayne Steubens, who is up for parole. Two other campers disappeared and are presumed dead but without physical evidence, Paul's ready to believe that his sister's still alive.

This book reminded me more of the TV show "Cold Case" than anything else and as I read, and the plot holes became more discernable, I began fantasizing about a Cold Case/Law & Order crossover. This is the first Coben book I've picked up and assuredly it won't be the last.

I loved this book! My girlfriends mother suggested she read it, then I happen to see it on our coffee table. I dont consider myself an "active" or "avid" reader... but after I read the first chapter I knew I wouldnt be able to sleep if I stopped. I read from 9:30pm to 4:30am!!!