Just a heads up to all of the Stephanie Plum fans out there – Evanovich’s newest Plum novel, Finger Lickin’ Fifteen hit bookstore shelves today. I know I am anxiously looking forward to reading the latest installment. If you are also waiting impatiently for your next Plum fix, you can satiate the cravings a tiny bit with the new online tour of The Burg – take a peek inside Morelli’s house, figure out how to get from The Bail Bonds building to Cluck In a Bucket – and more, of course. This website is super cute and one I don’t think any Plum fan will want to miss.

Grade: A+

Have I mentioned I like books? A wee bit. Un peu. Un poco. Немного. I just finished reading Curse of the Spellmans which was the sequel to Lisa Lutz’s brilliant novel The Spellman Files (now in paperback!). I picked up this novel after confirming my obsession with Stephanie Plum, Veronica Mars, Alias and anything everything spy / Private Eye related – in short, I apparently love a good mystery, but prefer to avoid anything too dark and dreary – a little humor with my homicide is key, you see (no wonder I also love the TV show Bones… hmmm…). The Spellman Files and already mentioned follow-up novel? Perfect for me.

The main character, one Isabel Spellman, is a perfect example of a heroine who doesn’t always necessarily know what she’s doing, what’s best or what’s good for her – she is not a heroine in shining armor (or Armani) – she swears inappropriately and probably spills things on herself. She’s barely getting by and she knows it – which for me is oh so relateable – call me crazy but I get annoyed reading about girls who have it all perfectly together – I see them at the playground every day (okay, every day that I drag my arse to the playground to humor my poor deprived Monkey Son).

Isabel Spellman is a girl I can get behind you could say – she saves the day by the skin of her teeth, much like my other favorite book character Stephanie Plum – seriously, these two should meet, have a slice of pineapple upside down cake and chat. Maybe Plum can get Spellman to start smooching the man every person who reads Curse of the Spellmans will demand she start smooching. Maybe Spellman can give Plum some not necessarily needed tips on how to give her mother a coronary. It’d be good time, in my humble opinion.

So yeah, I finished the book – took me nine days which felt like ninety – like I kept nagging myself, “Geez, your two year old could read this book faster, Jen,” but then I finished it and thought, “You had 13 days till it was due at the library – what exactly was your rush? Other than Fearless Fourteen sitting pretty on your night stand nagging you in its shiny pink brilliance…”

I finished the book and adored it. I love to hate on Lutz’ formatting style which closely resembles a notebook of random thoughts but cleverly transforms itself into a bestselling novel. I love the footnotes that make me feel like I could convince someone I was doing my homework if that was necessary – I love her not remotely subtle plugs for her first book, The Spellman Files (now in paperback!) – it was all genius. I love feeling like I am so much smarter than the main character but still kind of wish I was more like her despite knowing I wouldn’t trade lives with her for anything in the world…

Attention Lisa Lutz Fans: Revenge of the Spellmans comes out in hardcover March 10, 2009!

About the Momma:

Jen is a Stay at Home Mom and Loving Wife. Spends too much time online reading RSS feeds and posting in her blog. If you haven’t heard from her in awhile, she’s likely lost in a good book, sleeping or watching Grey’s Anatomy.