Greed is eternal and insatiable, and Lizzy and Diesel aren’t the only ones searching for the lost pirate’s chest. There are people who have dedicated their entire lives to finding it, and are willing to commit murder or make a deal with the devil, just to hold the fortune in their hands. It’s a swashbuckling adventure full of raiders, monkeys, minions, and mayhem. Lizzy and Diesel are going to have to do everything they can to keep their heads above water and hope they are living a charmed life.

 

Book 3 in the Lizzy and Diesel Wicked series wasn't as good as the first two books. I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it because this book is still very entertaining, adventurous, funny, and mysterious. Diesel is sexy as always and all the other characters are quirky and memorable but this book was missing some of the magic. 

 

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pretty predictable but entertaining story about Diesel (who also appears in the Stephanie Plum stories), what happens when he visits Salem to recover some rocks and Elizabeth Tucker, a woman who can find the stones but Diesel isn't sure that this is all for him. Diesel is kinda annoying sometimes but overall the story was entertaining. Nothing major.

Light, fluffy, same ol', same ol'. But enjoyable for all that. I still prefer Ranger to Diesel but I like Diesel and I like the paranormal of this series as well as the pastry chef aspect; Wulf, of course, adds the bad boy appeal. :-)

I received this book from Headline Review through Nudge.

Lizzy Tucker is a pastry chef who up until recently thought of herself as perfectly normal. That was before she met Diesel though. Diesel is not quite human although he looks just like a gorgeous, even hot, man. Diesel, no other names, has revealed to Lizzy that she has the gift to detect special powers in objects. It is a power Diesel doesn’t have (although he does have plenty other ones) and one he needs in his quest to stop the world from descending into hell. When the story starts a Harvard English professor has plunged to death from his balcony. And because Diesel is convinced this death has something to do with his quest, he and Lizzy visit the scene and, thanks to Diesel’s monkey Carl, recover a small key. A key that holds a clue to the whereabouts of a Saligia Stone, one of seven stones which, when brought together, will mean the end of the world. This particular stone is connected to both true love and lust and it is up to Diesel and Lizzy to find it before others do. Because there are others who want this and the other stones for their own, evil, purposes. First of all there is Diesel’s cousin Wulf and his scary assistant Hatchet. But there is also another adversary, known only by the name Anarchy who is determined to get her hands on the stone regardless of the costs involved. A mad-cap hunt from clue to clue, from impossible situation to even more impossible situation follows. Assisted by Diesel’s monkey, Lizzy’s friend Glo, who may or may not be a witch, and her unflappable employer Clara, the unlikely duo sets out to find the stone, save the world while trying to keep their hands off each other. Because giving in to the attraction between them would put a stop to everything.

Confused? That doesn’t surprise me. But, you are just going to have to take my word for it when I say that the story makes a lot more sense when you are actually reading it. At the same time, this is not a serious story. In fact, this is a “suspend your disbelief” sort of read on many levels. Of course there is the fantasy element of the seven stones that need to be saved, and the special powers Lizzy, Wulf, Diesel and several other characters have. But even “normal” elements in this story are far from that. People don’t have as casual a reaction to being threatened or hurt as the characters in this story do. But, that is all part of the fantasy Janet Evanovich has created for her readers, and for some reason it all makes a weird sort of sense while you’re in the middle of the story.

Of course, Janet Evanovich, best known for her Stephanie Plum books, has a talent for creating quirky, loveable and entertaining characters. She knows how to put them in impossible situations and get them out again, against the odds. The dialogue between the characters is funny and sparkles, regularly puts a smile on the reader’s face and even brings the occasional laugh out loud moment. The story is fast-paced without a single boring moment and very easy to read.

This is the second book in a series, and I didn’t read the first one. I can’t say that caused me any problems. Everything the reader really needs to know is explained without taking the flow out of the story. It is quite possible that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the prequel, but I never felt as if I was missing out on vital information.

In short, this is a fun read, not to be taken (too) seriously. Fast-paced and light-hearted this is the perfect book for a rainy weekend or any other time you need some light relief.

Lizzy’s life sure is crazy. I mean, there’s a hunky beach bum who shows up in it, monkey in tow. There’s a broody bad guy complete with inept-nutjob disciple. There’s the not-quite-all-there co-worker slash sometime-sidekick who practices a little too much “magic”. And there’s the pursuit of whichever one of the seven items-with-magical-properties that should never be compiled together. Can’t a girl just be left alone to bake cupcakes?Apparently not, because Wicked Business starts off with a dead dude. One who was in possession of a book of poems – and in search of true love. But was he in search of love for love’s sake, or for other (read: nefarious) purposes?(And now, I have “twue wove” stuck in my head. Serves me right for having Princess-Bride-loving, nay, Princess-Bride-quoting friends!)Whatever the reason dead guy had the book of poems, Wulf has it now. And only by sheer luck (& a bit of monkey business) does Lizzy and Diesel possess the key to that book. Which brings on repeated appearances by said nutjob-disciple, seeking that key — and I have to say, he does get to be a bit annoying.There’s capers, crimes, and omg-I-don’t-believe-they-just-did-that comedy — just a bit too much, in my opinion. After all, saving the world from doom and destruction can’t be that much fun all the time… Good thing we have … Oh wait. Never mind.Wicked Business is tons of ridiculousness wrapped in entertaining dialog (yes, even the monkey’s… AND the cat’s…). It’ll keep you laughing even as you shake your head in disbelief. And sometimes, that’s all a girl needs.drey’s rating: Pick it up!