Book Review: Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin

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Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin follows Maggie and her older brother when their father and stepmother leave on a long-delayed honeymoon, trusting the siblings to care for their four-year-old half sister, Courtenay. When Courtenay fails to come home from daycare one Monday afternoon, Maggie and her brother are thrust into a frightening mystery. With no adults around to help, they must piece together what happened and find a way to alert their parents before it’s too late. This standalone novel for readers ages eight to twelve was one I completely missed as a kid, but as an adult and a longtime fan of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club  series, I couldn’t resist picking it up. The first chapter or two felt a bit choppy to me at first, but once the story found its footing, everything began to come together nicely . Because this is a short children’s book, the characters aren’t deeply developed, which is to be expected. That said, Martin does an excellent job conveying Maggie’...
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Book Review: Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich

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explosive eighteen stephanie plum 18 janet evanovichExplosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich finds Stephanie Plum returning home from a dream vacation in Hawaii, but it was everything but a dream. To top things off, one of the passengers is snoring loudly and her seatmate never got back on the plane from their layover in Los Angeles, CA. Upon her arrival in Trenton, Stephanie finds a random photograph in her bag and learns that her seatmate that never returned was murdered. Now, everyone, including the FBI, is trying to retrieve the photo from Stephanie.

When I first began reading Explosive Eighteen, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book or not, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. So much so, I spent several hours doing nothing but reading, which was a nice change of pace for me.
Things I absolutely loved about this installment of the Stephanie Plum series was the story behind why the Hawaii vacation went so wrong and caused Stephanie to go home a day early. I love the comic relief Janet Evanovich never fails to provide, and I know that the book will be wrapped up neatly, which is something I need with the pandemic and political divide in the United States. You've heard of comfort food, right? Well, I consider these comfort books.

What I had hoped for was a book that focused on Stephanie on vacation with either Morelli or Ranger . . . my pick being Morelli. I was disappointed that this didn't happen and felt like it was a missed opportunity. Based on the back story of why Stephanie came home early, it would have made for a great story that was a bit different from the usual.

I gave Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich 5 out of 5 stars because it was like going home again . . . I love knowing that even though I may not like everything that happens or characters may get on my nerves that Janet Evanovich can take my mind off of every day worries and give me an escape from reality.
 
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