Fortunately or unfortunately, I think Morelli and Ranger are set up that way — each provides something to Stephanie that she needs. Morelli is stable and dependable and she can count on his feelings for her, whereas Ranger is more dangerous and he challenges her. Morelli hates her adventure-seeking, but Ranger encourages it. Ranger isn’t emotionally accessible, but Morelli is more of a care-taker. It’s like she’s got one man in two, and I don’t think Stephanie is emotionally mature enough to choose one and cut the other off. Although I do really wish sometimes that someone else would seriously move in on Morelli (besides Terry Gillman) to give Stephanie a run for her money. IMO she takes advantage of Morelli a little bit. But at some level the tension between all three has *become the story* for me, I guess.

As for the “between the numbers” books, they’re exploitive of the audience, IMO, but at least Evanovich only puts out one Plum book a year, so it’s not egregious, IMO.

I was thinking, lately, about the difference for me between Evanovich and MaryJanice Davidson’s Betsy Taylor series. I don’t feel used when I buy the Plum books, but I do feel used spending hardback prices on what are, IMO, glorified short stories with paper-thin characters. I know at some level it comes down to the fact that the Plum books entertain me so I intrinsically see them as a better deal, but despite the superficial movement in the Betsy books (i.e. she’s married now, etc.), I can’t buy those books without feeling taken advantage of. But the Plum books, no matter the slooooooooowwwwwww movement still work for me on enough levels that I still look forward to their yearly publication date.

Yeah, I did read PLUM LUCKY–and I’m glad I didn’t fork over any $$ for it But for 30 minutes, it made me forget about the hellish day I had at the Clark Kent job. For me, Evanovich is who I read to temporarily shut down my brain.

Also, I stopped reading the series for Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger. I much prefer the secondary characters. Lula always makes me smile. And I love the Lula/Tank hook up.

SOL=Sh*t out (of) luck.

But I’m with you about not caring if Stephanie grows as a character, since I think most real people are stuck in a groove.

And I kinda agree with the no-growth strategy for the Plum books. Though I have to say, I haven’t read the 13th one, b/c around the time of its release I reread the 11th one and realized that 1)I’d forgotten everything about it and 2)It was fun since I’d forgotten everything about it and 3) Since the 13th one would prolly be more or less the same, rereading the 11th was enough to scratch my Ranger itch.

Even though I am a megafan, I wouldn’t actually recommend reading the betweens.

I recommend them, but only if you don’t have to pay for them. They’re a nice breather from the Morelli/Ranger dilemma. Get your friendly neighbourhood librarian to hook you up.

And even though there’s no character growth in the Plum books, after the fiasco with Anita Blake, I don’t mind nearly as much anymore. And anyone who wants character growth in the Plum books are SOL since Evanovich plans on keeping Stephanie at this particular stage in her life for ever and ever.

Her Plum series comes out near my birthday which I think is awfully nice of her – her between the numbers makes a good holiday gift – but I have to ask you since you mentioned a few times that you love the love triangle of the Plum books – as we look forward to book Fourteen, aren’t you ready for her to make a choice? Morelli, Ranger….. or the ever so hunky Diesel?

Just call me cupcake….