Notorious Nineteen (Stephanie Plum #19) by Janet Evanovich

• Title: Notorious Nineteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Romantic Suspense/Comedy
• Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1st Printing edition (November 20, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0345527747
• ISBN-13: 978-0345527745
• Author's Website: http://www.evanovich.com/

"I need a date," Ranger said.

My voice ratcheted up an octave. "You want me to get you a date?"

"No. I want you to be my date. I have to attend a black tie event, and I need someone watching my  back."

Stephanie is once again strapped for cash, and Ranger knows just what buttons to push when he offers to pay Stephanie to be his body guard. He originally asked her to be his date, but later turned the invitation into a job offer. One of his best friends is getting married, and both he and his friend have been threatened. After making it perfectly clear she won't be falling for his masculine charms, she agrees. She insists, "I may be ready to have a committed adult relationship."  So she's determined to resist the irresistible man because she's committed to her relationship with Morelli.

While getting some income from Ranger will help things, there is a big bounty to be had on a skip, Geoffrey Cubbin, who disappeared from the hospital shortly after an operation. Desperate for a big payout Stephanie decides to play detective to find out what happened to the man. The odds the man left on his own are minute and the odds that no one saw anything seems even less likely, yet the staff insist they saw nothing and the surveillance video seems to back up their claims. Will Stephanie prove to be a better PI than bounty hunter?

This is the nineteenth book of the Stephanie Plum novels, and I admit to still being a huge fan. In this book, we learn a little bit more about Ranger as we get to meet one of his old army buddies who is getting married. After reading this book, I can't help but feel Ranger's feelings for Stephanie run deeper than she realizes. The fiance of Ranger's best friend even stated that she thought for sure they were a couple. She even went so far as to say it had to do with the way Ranger looked at her. While I don't want the series to end, I would love for the love triangle to finally be resolved.

My top ten reason's why Stephanie should end up with Ranger:

10) Morelli needs to mature a little. He doesn't seem ready to make a commitment. I think Ranger's ready, able, and willing.

9) Grandma Bella (Seriously, need I say more?)

8) Morelli had his shot, and he's done nothing with it. Time to move on.

7) As Stephanie claims, Ranger is "magic."

6)  As Ranger has stated Morelli is stupid for letting him anywhere near Stephanie.

5)  If Morelli was the 'one', Ranger wouldn't turn Stephanie's  head or curl her toes.

4) Um, we're talking Ranger. I mean really think of the whole package.

3) He gives her space to be who she is and doesn't try to confine her.

2) He's always there for her.

1) He "gets her" like Morelli never will and will never try to change her. He loves her just the way she is.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It gets a 4 out of 5 roses from me. I love the silly and crazy way Stephanie will do what she must to take down a skip. I love how Ranger is always there to save her and bail her out. Plus, I love the mystery as to what happened to Geoffrey Cubbin and how Stephanie helped solve it. Things got a little intense, but I enjoyed how things got shaken up a bit. Could Ranger finally be ready to make a move? I sure hope so. I guess the next book will tell.