anyone else read this series?

I read the first one a few months back and then finally got around to buying the 2nd one a couple weeks ago. Since then, I've been speeding through the series and just bought 13 and 14 in the store last night. I haven't read like this in years (since I started having kids) but I just can't put these books down. The other night, I was up till 2am to finish my book.

I totally don't know if I like Ranger better or Morelli. I love the last few books where you find out a little more about Ranger though... and how many of her cars have been blown up? Oh, and the grandma? hehe, hilarious!

anyway, just curious who else reads these books and loves them as much as me

I do! My friend got me hooked a couple years ago, and I, in turn hooked both my cousins. We all wait anxiously when a new one comes out. There have been many nights I stayed up until 3 or 4 am (this was before my DS arrived) reading them.

Yeah, I'm split on Ranger vs. Morelli also. Seems like Stephanie gets the best of both worlds on that one!

Oh, I LOVE this series! Just finished 13 last week and can't wait until 14 comes out in paperback. Look for the "Between the Numbers" books too.

PS I'm partial to Ranger, but I'd take either one!

Hubby and I are both addicted. We literally laugh out loud. Hubby even bought me a black Rangeman t-shirt that he ordered online. Yes, I want to see your envy that I have a Rangeman shirt!!

I love these books too. I love how all of her cars and any that she comes within 100 feet of tend to blow up, catch on fire, or have a garbage truck land on them!

I read several of them to "catch up" when a friend got me hooked. That was a bit much, but now that I get the new one once a year, I love them again.

Another series that you might all like (another smart-mouth amateur) is the Claire Malloy series by Joan Hess.

I Love LOVE LOVE those books!!! Read them all, put the newest one on hold at my local library and I am only 460th in line LOL...........dont know if I will be able to wait my turn. Big Ranger fan!!!

Some of the other series i enjoy (but you wont be in tears laughing like you are in the Stephanie Plum books)

Joanne Fluke (centered around a BAKER with lots of recipes in the books---several I have tried with great sucess)
Jill Churchill (the Jane Jeffry series)
Leslie Meier (Lucy Stone series)
Sue Grafton (Kinsey Milhone series, A is for Alibi, B is for Burglery...etc etc)

Ditto mkerton's list-- I like ALL those. I haven't tried the recipes, but I keep meaning to.

tracycakes you do have a sweet one.....since i stopped working (to be a SAHM) I have quit buying books now I just try and place holds on all the books i want to read at my local library...have to save money where ever I can (and I am a big reader so I used to spend quite a bit!!).......I also have relatives who love the Janet Evanovich series so sometimes they finish the books they purchase before my hold comes through at the library!

and tchrmom you should try a few of the recipes, in the latest book I read there were even a few cake recipes in there, cant wait to try them!!!

We use our credit card for everything (which we pay off monthly ) and earn so many points, that we get $25 - 50 in gift cards every month so I don't actually pay cash for them. We do read alot and one of the reason we got Barnes and Noble credit card is to get the points. We've probably got $150 in gift cards right now that we haven't used. We are also members of their club so it's another 10% off immediately.

We also go to the used book store alot to find older books when we find a new author we like. That's what we did with these until we got caught up with the series. We traded in a bunch of books and got store credit so that helps too.

I also enjoy reading J.D. Robb *** In Death series about Eve Dallas. They are not funny like Stephanie and Kinsey but she is interesting and her husband is....gosh...every woman's dream!!!

I love this thread-- anybody else with suggestions? I'll trry Robb next.

And I do plan to try some recipes from Fluke. Now that you mention it, I think there were some cake ones in the last book. I'll have to check them out again to find out.

More that I like:

Joanne Dobson-- Karen Pelletier, English Professor
Gillian Roberts- Amanda Pepper, English teacher
Jan Burke- Irene _____ (forgot)
Laurien Berenson- Melanie _____ (dog trainer)
Carolyn Hart- Max and Annie Darling, owners of a mystery bookstore

And that's just a few more of the "cozy" series

Sort of off topic... but does anyone else LOVE the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella?

I am a HUGE cozy mystery fan. Go to www.paperbackswap.com if you like to keep your books...it is a free book swap site. You pay postage out when you mail a book to someone, but when you request one from someone you "get the money back", so to speak (since THEY pay postage to YOU). But I digress.

My favorites are:

Joanne Fluke
Joanna Carl (chocolate shop)
Sammi Carter (candy shop)
Diane Mott Davidson (caterer)
Cleo Coyle (coffehouse series)
G A McKevett (plus-size PI)
Denise Swanson
Valerie Wolzien (Susan Henshaw series)
Miranda Bliss (restaurant)

Foxymamma, yes, the shopaholic series is great! I also just started reading Elin Hildebrand (sp?) -blue bistro and some others. Very good. My other recent favorites (but a little heavier) are the Philipa Gregory books (the other boylen girl, constant princess etc).

Since it's just a dream I'd go with Ranger - much more mysterious! In real life, it would have to be morelli.

I am loving this thread, so many authors I havent tried!

I agree-- I can't wait to try many of these, and I'll keep posting as I think of more.

sudoku mysteris- can't remember author, but the first ones is The Sudoku Murder.

Jill Churchill is another good author. Can't remember the sleuth.

Yes! Thanks. And it really has been awhile. I wonder what is going on.

Anne George is another good author. It's about some sisters in the south. The author has dies, but there are a number of them in the series.

I LOVE Janet Evanovich's books, all of her books. I keep hoping that they will make a tv series out of them. I can just picture someone like Estelle Getty as the Grandmother, Danny Divito as the bail bondsman, and a few other actors for the other parts. This is the only books that I actually laugh out loud. I have not bought her 14th book, (willpower), but I probably will this weekend. I also read Joann Fluke and Dianne Mott Davidson for the recipe's. I will have to check out the others that were listed here. Great thread.

I just had to post about a new series that is just being written. A guy I used to work with wife has written the first book in "A bouncing Grandma Mystery" its called the case of the bouncing grandma, the book has not quite been released yet, but should be soon, but A.K. Arenz did a book signing with copies she had at my old workplace, so I had to go get one. Its easy reading and is considered a "cozy" mystery. Anyway I enjoyed it!!

Some are better than others. "Eight" was hysterically funny - about fell off the couch laughing.

I love these books too. The characters are a hoot. I liked the metro girl or whatever series that she has started as well.

I am on my library website requesting books from some of the other authors recommended here, so thanks everybody!