One for the Money discussion

I am up to book 20. Who do you want to see her with and why?

I want ranger. At this point he seems to really care about her where all morelli inks about is sex and getting naked. Does he really love her. I don't know.

You know I have read all of these books and its funny how she started a relationship with each of them. Morelli got her when she was little and it was about sex, but Ranger was all about caring about her and making sure she didn't hurt herself and then it got physical. Lauren I have to agree with you on this one. I really do like Ranger and I think she should be with him. Morelli is cool, but I think I have a bad boy complex. Ranger is legit, but sometimes you wonder…..

Vonetta wrote: "You know I have read all of these books and its funny how she started a relationship with each of them. Morelli got her when she was little and it was about sex, but Ranger was all about caring abo..."

Thanks...My mom and I were having that debate. She is way behind me so she doesn;t see the Ranger thing yet, and she likes Morelli...We shall see. Do you know how many books she plans on writing in the series?

No clue. Even thought my brain wants more, my pockets are saying stop LOL. Its kinda weird how the stories have been unfolding. One minute she was with Joe, then she was kinda sorta Ranger. Just pick Ranger for goodness sakes, but the way it was going in book 20, she may end up with Joe since they constantly have a thing going on.

Vonetta wrote: "No clue. Even thought my brain wants more, my pockets are saying stop LOL. Its kinda weird how the stories have been unfolding. One minute she was with Joe, then she was kinda sorta Ranger. Just pi..."

I feel the same way. I like them both but she wont choose ranger because he doesn't want a committed relationship. How do you feel about Lula as the books go on? She was getting on my nerves the last couple of books. I wanted to hit her with my pocketbook LOL

HAHAHAHAHA. She's becoming annoying. I think she is more of a hindrance than a helper to be honest. Stephanie may be a scaredy cat sometimes and not like guns, but she has pulled thru and toughen up when she needed too. Lula is still comic relief, but I prefer Grandma to Lula. grandma is cool. I need more Ranger.

Vonetta wrote: "HAHAHAHAHA. She's becoming annoying. I think she is more of a hindrance than a helper to be honest. Stephanie may be a scaredy cat sometimes and not like guns, but she has pulled thru and toughen u..."

Grandmas rocks! She has to be one of the best characters. The best part of these books for me is I grew up about 2 hours from Jersey so I completely get all the references and everything!

Her descriptions give me somewhat of an idea of what these places look like. I live in DC and i used to live in Philly when I was younger, so I kinda try to combine what i have seen and know to picture Stark Street lol.

Vonetta wrote: "Her descriptions give me somewhat of an idea of what these places look like. I live in DC and i used to live in Philly when I was younger, so I kinda try to combine what i have seen and know to pic..."

LOL...I grew up in a little town called Dallas, PA. My sister lives in Philly now...Its definately interesting.

Vonetta wrote: "Her descriptions give me somewhat of an idea of what these places look like. I live in DC and i used to live in Philly when I was younger, so I kinda try to combine what i have seen and know to pic..."

Did you read the between the numbers stories she wrote? I have not, if so are they worth it?

Ummmm...if u want u can, but they are Janet's version of paranormal with Stephanie in the mix. If i remember correctly, she is the only character from the group. It doesn't help the other books or anything.

The Janet wrote a book with the guy character named Diesel from the "in-between" books. I guess she was introducing him to the scene with those and then he got his own books. I wasn't too thrilled with Wicked Business.

Vonetta wrote: "Ummmm...if u want u can, but they are Janet's version of paranormal with Stephanie in the mix. If i remember correctly, she is the only character from the group. It doesn't help the other books or ..."

Oh ok. I got the four of them as a gift so I guess I can give them a try should they be read in order with the books. Like I know the Sugar Plums one comes after 8 should i reread 8 first or doesn't it matter?

I don't think it matters. I can't remember. it's been years.

Neither. If after all this time she is still on the fence they need to bring in a ringer. Someone who will knock her socks off and leave her with no doubts he is THE ONE.

If she doesn't start maturing soon, she doesn't deserve either of them. You'd think she'd learn a thing or two after 20 books.
I have to say, I think they started downhill after about 15 (whichever one was the BBQ one). I'm so glad I started the series in paperback, because I wouldn't pay for the last 5 in hardback, no way. I'm about to quit buying them altogether anyway. (I read it from the library first, then buy the paperback and re-read when it comes out a year or two later.)

When i think of all of the books, i have some favorites and then i have some that were so-so. Any book where Ranger was the main character or main guy character was my favorite. But lately she has been mainly with Joe. I wonder when the series will end and how she will end it.

She'll never end it. Stephanie will be in a walker. Lulu will be bald from bleaching her hair. Joe will retire to florida on his cops pension. Rangers secret wife and five kids will show up and move into his cool bachelor pad. Cousin Vinny will be in jail for having sex with barnyard animals. And it will be disclosed that Grandma Mazur is an immortal. And still Evanovich will write another book.

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Ok. That was hilarious.

I only recently found this series so I only read two but plan on getting up to 20 so far Morelli is just a player

If Stephanie was to settle down, I can't see it being with Morelli or Ranger. Reason being, is like it was stated before....Morelli is always talking about having 'monkey sex' and never just spending quality time with Stephanie. However, he has a house and a dog and a stable job so, he may surprise us. And I seriously doubt if Ranger is ready for any type of commitment (doesn't he have a daughter that he never sees or mentions)? However, Ranger has become more patient with Stephanie and he does tell her that he loves her but I still don't think he'd ever settle down.

Ranger is not a home and kids kind of guy. Morelli is already halfway there with the house and the dog. I am getting tired of all the sitting on the fence though. Evanovich needs to move her characters along. If Stephanie can't settle down with Morelli, then bring in someone new, but otherwise, the books are getting stale.It's like her heart's not in it anymore. I think that Twenty had more energy than the last three did, though.

Choosing between these two men is tough and I am not sure I can decide on who I like better; they both have good and bad qualities. These two men make for an interesting conflict but conflict itself can only last for so long before it becomes old and boring no matter how good the writer is. A choice needs to be made but once it is I think that could possibly be the end of the series, intentional or otherwise.

I am Team Ranger all the way. I don't dislike Joe but he's not for Stephanie. Ranger accepts her how she is and tries to help her whenever he can. Joe tries to mold her into what he wants her to be. Ranger gives her a car and teaches her to defend herself. Joe tries to stop her constantly.

While it may be to protect her, it just seems like he doesn't have any active interest in actually knowing her. Just molding her to be a burg wife.

So yes... Team Ranger please and thank you.

Though, I am ready for the series to be ended in general. Sometimes I don't think Evanovich will ever make a choice. If she does though- I think it will be Joe. He's seemed to be the favorite since the start as Ranger is too 'dangerous'.

Vonetta wrote: "No clue. Even thought my brain wants more, my pockets are saying stop LOL. Its kinda weird how the stories have been unfolding. One minute she was with Joe, then she was kinda sorta Ranger. Just pi..."

This is the great thing about being LATE to the books .... I'm on book 8 .... I can go to the used book stores and buy these for $1-5.

I used to rush out and buy them, now I wait and get them from the Library.

I have to agree about Team Ranger. Joe is looking for a wife and mother, and Stephanie will never fill that role. Ranger accepts her as she is, and if she ever figures out that she doesn't want the whole suburban homemaker thing but a life of adventures and surprises with her own personal space, she'll choose Ranger.

Ranger!

Ranger is the better match and in the movie he was way way hotter than Morelli. Steph and Ranger just need to head down to the beach for some good times.

Joe does care! He is always there, always calling, always offering to help, to be there for her. He has a real job that requires him to show up for work at appointed times. He isn't self employed like Ranger. How can you say Morelli doesn't care? It's Stephanie that doesn't care. How many times she ignores his pleas for her to be careful? Ranger doesn't even knock, for heaven sake, just pops in and out like he owns her. How real is Ranger without the money behind him and the mystery? Morelli is okay with Stephanie not cooking or cleaning or being domestic. He's only not okay when Stephanie is in danger. Morelli cares deeply. He would give his life for her. And he has a dog he kept because of Stephanie. Ranger wouldn't do that.

Ranger is too much of a free agent to settle down. Joe, while he has the house, dog, regular job, he seems to type to not want to settle down until he is close to being retired unless it's demanded of him.

I like both guys for different reasons, but I almost think it needs to be a 3rd guy to get Steph to figure out what she wants and make the moves to get it.

Yes, it's time a new fellow is introduced, I agree.

Also, it would be nice if Stephanie added a night class, like getting her license to become a Private Investigator. Show some personal growth. In one story, her mom was going to take some classes and then we didn't hear any more about it.

I gotta say I'm voting for door number three. Get a new guy in there to sweep her off her feet. Someone out of the box. And I also think she need a hobby or a night class or something. Maybe she could start breeding hamsters.

Lol! There ya go!

Ranger is your dream guy...Morelli is the real thing. Life's like that.

Babe! Gotta be Ranger!

Ranger!

Soo has to be Ranger. He had me at babe.. but come on Janet make a decision for Stephanie already! I have read all 20 books, all the side books plum lovin etc etc but if she doesn't make some decisions soon or add some new characters I'm done. Enough is enough, it's like Stephanie is stuck in her own version of groundhogs day..just keeps repeating same old same old concept.

She just needs to stick with Joe...Team Cupcake all the way! Ranger is not someone who will ever settle down, it's just not who he is. Morelli is the man for her.

Hey, it is Trenton NJ.. Of course it has to be Joe. whoever married the bad boy, he is just for fun not life!!

Ranger all the way. Morelli is just playing friends with benefits. Not fair and besides Ranger has better cars!

Just make a decision. Perhaps she needs a new boss she can fall for.

Team Ranger. For multiple reasons, some of which were already laid out. They both love her, but Stephanie has finally admitted that she likes solving the mystery and getting the bad guy. Morelli wants to stifle that. Not because he doesn't care, but because he wants her safe.

Ranger just slips a bug in her bag and/or her car and bails her out when she gets over her head. He'll do anything to keep her safe. Including kill for her.

Also, if she picks Morelli that's it for the series. I still enjoy them, and would like to see them continue. With Ranger, that can happen, with the bonus of more of him in the books. To me, that's a win/win scenario

I'll vote for a new guy - if she hasn't chosen after 20 books there needs to be someone else in the mix.

Fun discussion.

I vote for Ranger. He seems to handle her moods better. He is more protective and is ALWAYS there for her. He gives her space while never taking his eye off of her activities. He is even understanding of the attraction she has for Morelli while Morelli is strictly jealous until he grudgingly has to admit Ranger saved her. .again. I like Morelli but like most cops (and yes I was one) he is caught up in his own things. If he hasn't learned by now that NO is a big RED flag to Stephanie, he is never going to realize that he sometimes is the catalyst to her "bad" behavior. I don't think adding a new guy is the answer. She will still be torn between Ranger and Morelli. She is a hometown girl sticking with what she knows and she knows them both so well. I think IF a choice is made, it will take the spark out of the series. . if it ain't broke DON'T FIX IT!!!

Ranger, with him you know where you stand.

While they both may love her, Morelli - is more authentic . Ranger is a fantasy - unlikely to settle down in the long run. I enjoy this series it's fun and funny but I'd actually like to see her choose already it's frustrating.

Robin wrote: "While they both may love her, Morelli - is more authentic . Ranger is a fantasy - unlikely to settle down in the long run. I enjoy this series it's fun and funny but I'd actually like to see her c..."

Twenty books is a long time to keep this triangle going. It is frustrating, and more and more of the same stuff.

Right! If she can't choose after 20 books maybe Lulu is her soulmate.

Kay wrote: "Right! If she can't choose after 20 books maybe Lulu is her soulmate."

That's an idea. Lulu is the only one she is consistently with.

I have read all 20 plus her early love stories - one of which had the beginnings of grandma mazur in it! I vote for Morelli - I want to see her bounty hunting and expecting at the same time! I'm really enjoying her new series with Nick Fox the conman / thief.