Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
St. Martin's Paperbacks (2004), Edition: 1st, 230 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: It's five days before Christmas and things are not looking merry for Fugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum. She hasn't got a tree. She hasn't bought any presents. The malls are jam-packed with staggering shoppers. There's not a twinkle light anywhere to be seen in her apartment. And there's a strange man in her kitchen. Sure, this has happened to Stephanie Plum before. Strangers, weirdos, felons, creeps, and lunatics are always finding their way to her front door. But this guy is different. This guy is mysterious, sexy-and he has his own agenda. His name is Diesel and he is a man on a mission. And Diesel is unlike anyone Stephanie has ever met before in her life. The question is, what does he want with her? Can he help her find a little old toy maker who has skipped out on his bail right before Christmas? Can he survive the Plum family holiday dinner? Can he get Stephanie a tree that doesn't look like it was grown next to a nuclear power plant? These questions and more are keeping Stephanie awake at night. Not to mention the fact that she needs to find a bunch of nasty elves, her sister Valerie has a Christmas "surprise" for the Plums, her niece Mary Alice doesn't believe in Santa anymore, and Grandma Mazur has a new stud muffin. So bring out the plastic reindeer, strap on your jingle bells, and get ready to celebrate the holidays-Jersey style. In Janet Evanovich's Visions of Sugar Plums, the world of Plum has never been merrier!.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bragan
A short holiday-themed interlude in Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, written between books eight and nine. (You can tell it's not a regular part of the series because there's no number in the title.) The story involves a mysterious, hot guy with supernatural abilities who magically appears in
OK, I'm aware this must seem like a very unseasonable thing to read in March. But this is when I happened to reach the point in the series where it's set. And I thought that might actually work in its favor. I mean, I honestly much prefer Christmas music if I encounter it (usually via iPod's random shuffle feature) in July than in late December, by which point I've been inundated with Christmassy stuff for so long I've gotten sick of it. I'm not sure that works nearly as well with books, though, because I was a bit humbuggy about this one.
The thing is, while I like fantasy novels just fine, supernatural elements suddenly, randomly popping up after eight volumes set firmly in mundane reality annoys me immensely. Since this is presented as being outside the main run of the series, that might not have been quite as much of a problem if I could have just regarded this as -- to use a nerdy buzzword -- non-canonical, a Christmas fantasy brought about by over-indulgence in eggnog, perhaps. But it features a significant development that seems like it's going to have to carry through to later books in the series, so I couldn't even do that. And it's not like the fantasy part of the story was even good. It was underdeveloped and gratuitous, and silly in entirely different ways than this series is supposed to be silly.
It wasn't all bad, though. There are some great scenes with Stephanie's family, who are in fine, hilarious, even-crazier-than-usual form. I'm mildly tempted to knock my rating up another half a star just for those, but... Meh.
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Stephanie's living room, having been sent -- somehow, by someone -- to help her as she attempts to apprehend an elderly toymaker named -- wait for it! -- Sandy Claws.OK, I'm aware this must seem like a very unseasonable thing to read in March. But this is when I happened to reach the point in the series where it's set. And I thought that might actually work in its favor. I mean, I honestly much prefer Christmas music if I encounter it (usually via iPod's random shuffle feature) in July than in late December, by which point I've been inundated with Christmassy stuff for so long I've gotten sick of it. I'm not sure that works nearly as well with books, though, because I was a bit humbuggy about this one.
The thing is, while I like fantasy novels just fine, supernatural elements suddenly, randomly popping up after eight volumes set firmly in mundane reality annoys me immensely. Since this is presented as being outside the main run of the series, that might not have been quite as much of a problem if I could have just regarded this as -- to use a nerdy buzzword -- non-canonical, a Christmas fantasy brought about by over-indulgence in eggnog, perhaps. But it features a significant development that seems like it's going to have to carry through to later books in the series, so I couldn't even do that. And it's not like the fantasy part of the story was even good. It was underdeveloped and gratuitous, and silly in entirely different ways than this series is supposed to be silly.
It wasn't all bad, though. There are some great scenes with Stephanie's family, who are in fine, hilarious, even-crazier-than-usual form. I'm mildly tempted to knock my rating up another half a star just for those, but... Meh.
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LibraryThing member MrsFionaC
Finally got round to reading this about 10 years after I borrowed it from someone. As it was a "Holiday Novella" it didn't seem right not to read it out of season.
Great fun as always, although a little out of this world. And sadly no Ranger, and not enough Morelli. But I reacquainted myself with
Great fun as always, although a little out of this world. And sadly no Ranger, and not enough Morelli. But I reacquainted myself with
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all things Stephanie and am ready to pick up in the series where I left off. Show Less
LibraryThing member LiteraryFeline
Janet Evanovich writes a hilarious holiday tale starring her well-known bounty hunter character, Stephanie Plum, and a supernatural being called Diesel whose paths meet in Stephanie’s kitchen. Stephanie is tracking down a toy maker while the mysterious Diesel has his own agenda. Their tasks
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collide in the usual Stephanie Plum adventure, rioting, near death experiences, and the loss of yet another car. Although completely off the wall, this story definitely had me laughing out loud at almost every page. The Christmas spirit is definitely still alive in this novella. Show Less
LibraryThing member carrjr
Four days before Christmas & Stephanie has not shopped or put up a tree. Diesel walks into her life (compliments of Ranger) to help solve a mystery. Sandy Claws - seems he owns a toy making store and it suddenly closes.
LibraryThing member universehall
This was the first of Janet Evanovich's Plum mysteries that I ever read... and that may have been a mistake.
This book is something like seventh or eleveth in the series. The characters in the book are established, and although she does make an effort to introduce everyone to you - I felt I was
The story itself had flaws. It spent a long time building up to an ending which, frankly, was lacking in climactic punch. Perhaps if I had read the other books in the series and was already invested in the characters, I would have cared more... but I hadn't, and didn't.
It was a mildly entertaining book. If, like me, you were locked in a public restroom for three hours on New Year's Eve and needed something to do to kill the time and just happened to have a copy of this book in your purse - then, I would recommend you read it. If not, you may just want to pass on this one.
This book is something like seventh or eleveth in the series. The characters in the book are established, and although she does make an effort to introduce everyone to you - I felt I was
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missing things that would have made the book more enjoyable if I had already read the previous installments.The story itself had flaws. It spent a long time building up to an ending which, frankly, was lacking in climactic punch. Perhaps if I had read the other books in the series and was already invested in the characters, I would have cared more... but I hadn't, and didn't.
It was a mildly entertaining book. If, like me, you were locked in a public restroom for three hours on New Year's Eve and needed something to do to kill the time and just happened to have a copy of this book in your purse - then, I would recommend you read it. If not, you may just want to pass on this one.
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LibraryThing member Whisper1
While I usually enjoy The Stephanie Plum series, this one was very disappointing. I'm glad it wasn't my first read of Janet Evanovichs' books. Parts of this were funny, but it gravely lacked the overall witty writing of her other novels.
LibraryThing member FutureBestSeller
I loved this little side trip of the Plum series. It is a quick read and highly enjoyable. Lula still sports her skin tight wears and gun where ever she goes.
LibraryThing member jules72653
Amusing enough story that I breezed thru in a couple of hours.
LibraryThing member madamejeanie
This book is billed as a "short holiday novel" starring our old friend Stephanie Plum, bounty
hunter, and all the other characters. Well, I have to say this was not worth the money at ALL. The story was so
outlandish and bizarre it was just plain silly. Everything the characters
did seemed like they
time was a chap named Sandy Claws who hired midgets to make toys. It
involved "retired" superheroes and other truly bizarre things. I kept
catching myself looking at the spine of the book at that price tag and
thinking, "I paid for this?"
hunter, and all the other characters. Well, I have to say this was not worth the money at ALL. The story was so
outlandish and bizarre it was just plain silly. Everything the characters
did seemed like they
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were caricatures of themselves. Stephanie's mark thistime was a chap named Sandy Claws who hired midgets to make toys. It
involved "retired" superheroes and other truly bizarre things. I kept
catching myself looking at the spine of the book at that price tag and
thinking, "I paid for this?"
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LibraryThing member sagustocox
Janet Evanovich's Visions of Sugar Plums is a fun holiday listen. The hubby and I listened to this book on our morning commutes and it was a short one at only 3 discs. Visions of Sugar Plums is a "Between the numbers novel."
I haven't read any of the number novels yet, but I do have them--thanks to
The main character, Stephanie Plum, is a bounty hunter working through the holidays to catch a defendant, Sandy Claws, who jumped bond. She hasn't had time to get a tree or presents for her New Jersey-based family. One morning she wakes up to a strange, yet hunky man, in her kitchen. He introduces himself as Diesel, but she wonders if he's a killer, burglar, or alien. Turns out he's in town bothering her for a whole other reason--the spirit of Christmas. Will she get the presents she needs for her family, will Diesel help her find the spirit of Christmas, and will she apprehend Mr. Claws?
My favorite parts of this novel involve the "elves" and Plum's Grandma Mazur. They make this novel fun and festive. One of my favorite scenes is when Mazur is searching for her dentures, which are missing, before her "stud muffin" arrives for their date. They eventually find the dentures in a stuffed dinosaur and they are painted with pretty rainbows thanks to a little girl named Mary Alice, Plum niece. I couldn't stop laughing as I imagined my grandmother's dentures in her mouth with rainbows and other brightly colored images on them. Talk about a winning smile.
My husband loves the part where Plum and Diesel enter the toy factory looking for Sandy Claws and find a bunch of "midgets" dressed as elves. Let's just say you shouldn't call elves midgets. . .they get feisty and start a riot. Imagine elves screaming, "Get her!" And jumping up onto a female bounty hunter to regain their respect.
For a light holiday read, this book will fit the bill. I wouldn't have paid full price for the audio book, but it's worth a check out at the library.
I haven't read any of the number novels yet, but I do have them--thanks to
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my mom. We started with this audio book and found it amusing. It's not as funny as A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore, but it is mildly funny.The main character, Stephanie Plum, is a bounty hunter working through the holidays to catch a defendant, Sandy Claws, who jumped bond. She hasn't had time to get a tree or presents for her New Jersey-based family. One morning she wakes up to a strange, yet hunky man, in her kitchen. He introduces himself as Diesel, but she wonders if he's a killer, burglar, or alien. Turns out he's in town bothering her for a whole other reason--the spirit of Christmas. Will she get the presents she needs for her family, will Diesel help her find the spirit of Christmas, and will she apprehend Mr. Claws?
My favorite parts of this novel involve the "elves" and Plum's Grandma Mazur. They make this novel fun and festive. One of my favorite scenes is when Mazur is searching for her dentures, which are missing, before her "stud muffin" arrives for their date. They eventually find the dentures in a stuffed dinosaur and they are painted with pretty rainbows thanks to a little girl named Mary Alice, Plum niece. I couldn't stop laughing as I imagined my grandmother's dentures in her mouth with rainbows and other brightly colored images on them. Talk about a winning smile.
My husband loves the part where Plum and Diesel enter the toy factory looking for Sandy Claws and find a bunch of "midgets" dressed as elves. Let's just say you shouldn't call elves midgets. . .they get feisty and start a riot. Imagine elves screaming, "Get her!" And jumping up onto a female bounty hunter to regain their respect.
For a light holiday read, this book will fit the bill. I wouldn't have paid full price for the audio book, but it's worth a check out at the library.
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LibraryThing member gingerzing
Christmas as only Stephanie Plum could have.
LibraryThing member CathyE
Cute Christmas book. I enjoyed it very much.
LibraryThing member lcrouch
Not up to her Stephanie Plum standards. Just so-so.
LibraryThing member krsball
Snort-tastic, just like all the Stephanie Plum books. LOVE.
LibraryThing member Clara53
Enjoyable light reading which is so needed sometimes after reading serious books. Great humor.
LibraryThing member clif_hiker
it's a Christmas Story! So it has to have some supernatural elements. Made me tear up at the end ... what more can you ask from a Christmas story?
LibraryThing member tipsister
Visions of Sugarplums is a "between the numbers" edition of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. This story takes place between books 8 and 9. I was actually surprised that it advanced the series as I thought it was going to be more of a stand alone book.
Stephanie wakes up one morning to find
The story moves right along as the paperback is only around 160 pages. There are a few developments regarding Stephanie's family but nothing much changes in her very mixed up love life.
These books are all on the light and fun side which is a nice thing to read when life gets a little heavy.
Stephanie wakes up one morning to find
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a strange man in her living room. Fortunately, this is not an unusual situation for her. She tends to have that problem regularly. Diesel is something not quite human and that puts Stephanie more on guard than normal. Stephanie's current case is to find a man named Sandy Claws (appropriate at Christmastime) and Diesel is trying to find him as well.The story moves right along as the paperback is only around 160 pages. There are a few developments regarding Stephanie's family but nothing much changes in her very mixed up love life.
These books are all on the light and fun side which is a nice thing to read when life gets a little heavy.
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LibraryThing member tally1302
Visions of Sugar Plums is a short holiday insert to Evanovich's Plum series.
Nothing epitomises Evanovich's humour and flair for imagery like this short extract:
"It was Lorraine in her nightie and Mo in his cap. They'd just settled their brains for a long winter's nap in front of the television.
This is more a novella than a novel, but still highly enjoyable as any of Evanovich's Plum Novels. Good for a night's reading.
Nothing epitomises Evanovich's humour and flair for imagery like this short extract:
"It was Lorraine in her nightie and Mo in his cap. They'd just settled their brains for a long winter's nap in front of the television.
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When out in the lot there arose such a clatter, they sprang from their recliners to see what was the matter. Away to the window they flew like a flash, tore open the blinds and threw up the sash. And what to their wondering eyes should appear, but Stephanie Plum and yet another of her cars burning front to rear." — Janet EvanovichThis is more a novella than a novel, but still highly enjoyable as any of Evanovich's Plum Novels. Good for a night's reading.
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LibraryThing member onyx95
Walking into the kitchen to find a strange man she had never met before was a little concerning, but being a bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum figured she could handle it. Between Diesel showing up unannounced, her new bail skip (Sandy Claws) and Christmas being less than a week away, Stephanie really
Book 1 (well, book 8.5 if you are looking at it from the Stephanie Plum Number series) ….. One of the only series that I have read out of order, I actually have read a couple of the “Between the Numbers” books and the new Unmentionables with Diesel in it, so I knew what to expect from him. Still it was fun to ‘meet him for the first time’ from Stephanie’s point of view. It was the typical Stephanie Plum / Janet Evanovich book, complete with the burning to the ground of her car. Several good one line jokes that kept the suspense of the mystery light. It wasn’t as fast paced as I was expecting and it fell a little short compared to some, but still a fun light read.
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didn’t have the time to argue about Diesel wanting to go with her and help her find Sandy. Whether he was a help or not, tracking Sandy down was the only way she was going to gather enough money to feel like she could get gifts for her family this year, and she hadn’t even gotten a tree yet either. Book 1 (well, book 8.5 if you are looking at it from the Stephanie Plum Number series) ….. One of the only series that I have read out of order, I actually have read a couple of the “Between the Numbers” books and the new Unmentionables with Diesel in it, so I knew what to expect from him. Still it was fun to ‘meet him for the first time’ from Stephanie’s point of view. It was the typical Stephanie Plum / Janet Evanovich book, complete with the burning to the ground of her car. Several good one line jokes that kept the suspense of the mystery light. It wasn’t as fast paced as I was expecting and it fell a little short compared to some, but still a fun light read.
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LibraryThing member TGPistole
Although I have read a number of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books, I was a bit skeptical of this one. I did eventually give it a try and was pleasantly surprised. These books always sit on the edge for me, so close to going over into pure pulp fiction, but they never do. This one also pushed me
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close to the limits, at least initially, but then I really got into the story. Even if the story itself was lacking--and this one was not--you got to enjoy some of the characters that populate the Plum series. Show Less
LibraryThing member kresslya
Not the best novel in her series. Much of the story was a build up to what I thought was going to be the big ending, but instead the novel just ended. I found it to be a disappointing ending. One of the better parts of the novels was the appearance of Diesel for the first time.
LibraryThing member MrsLee
Woot! What a fun story. Sort of a combination of Bad Santa, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, The Bishop's Wife and X-men combined with a New Jersey family flair. Just what I needed to kick off my Christmas reading, now I will be very excited to read other Stephanie Plum novels. I love her sense of
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humor and no-nonsense approach to men, her family and odd things thrown her way. Show Less
LibraryThing member MsBeautiful
Fun offshoot Christmas story, but not as good as the previous books
LibraryThing member Brandie
Eh, didn't like it as well as the rest in the series. I thought it felt off from the rest of the books too. Like it was maybe too forced?
LibraryThing member la_librarian
Not as good as the regular Stephanie Plum novels. Just a Christman tie in. Kind of weird.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2002-11-05
Physical description
6.67 inches
ISBN
0312986343 / 9780312986346