Let's get May started with a review of a fun fast-paced summer mystery! I'm sure many of you are fans of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, but who has read her Alex Barnaby books?Alex 'Barney' Barnaby is heading to Miami. She just received a mysterious and terrifying phone call from her brother Bill and now he's missing. Barney hits the streets of Miami looking for answers only to team up with Sam Hooker, a popular NASCAR driver whose boat has been 'borrowed' by Bill. Soon the two are engulfed in mystery: where is Bill? why is Barney being followed by thugs? what does all this have to do with the Cuban Missile Crisis?I enjoy Metro Girl and usually listen to the audiobook each year to kick off summer. I keep coming back because of the characters! I love how Hooker is so goofy while still exuding sweet sexiness and self confidence. I enjoy Rosa's blunt honesty and Judy's spunk. And I love how real Barney reads. She's head strong, assertive, good with an engine, and absolutely terrified of spiders and heights. This ensemble keeps me coming back to the streets of Miami year after year. Many diehard Stephanie Plum fans seemed disappointed in how 'fluff' the plot is and how similar the characters are to those in the Plum series. These are all valid statements. The plot is simple and yet over the top. The characters exude Evanovich quirkiness. And these are the points that keep me coming back. Metro Girl allows me to enjoy Evanovich characters without having to wade through the lengthy Plum series and I can focus on giggling at their antics without dealing with a complex plot structure. Fans of the Plums series and serious mystery readers should keep these points in mind before picking up Metro Girl.Metro Girl is the perfect beach read! Poor you a frozen daiquiri and grab your beach towel because you'll be ready to head to south Florida after this book? What is your favorite Evanovich novel?LindsayCheck out more reviews at sandbetweenthepages.wordpress.com
Older sister Alexandra Barnaby affectionately known as Barney received an unsettling early morning phone call from her wild brother Bill ending with the scream of an unknown woman. Rushing to her brother’s aid once again, Barney arrived in South Beach to discover Bill was missing and his friend Sam Hooker was not happy to find his sixty-five foot luxury boat gone with Bill. Sam and Barney scoured the clubs looking for Bill’s whereabouts only to realize whatever Bill was mixed up in was bad enough to have his apartment searched, Barney threatened and an unsavory Cuban businessman with henchmen closing in on them. As they raced against time to find Bill and stay alive, a small band of unusual friends come together to further their success as they encountered dangerous situations. “Metro Girl” encompassed Cuban/Russian connection, gold, murders, manhunts and a weapon of great fear. The book was fast paced with sexy dialogue, sizzling characters, and comedic scenes. The use of nautical terminology and descriptive Florida scenery enhanced the pleasure of reading. Strong female characters with feisty, aggressive attitude and sensitive take-charge male characters were entertaining and believable. While some of the characterizations were expected, there were many with a twist of oddness – bumbling hit men, balls-to-the-ball gun-toting older women and a sex-crazed NASCAR driver whose libido never fail to rise in the face of danger. The go-go-go cat and mouse pursuit with unexpected results, the appealing dialogues and the mental images of comedic scenes were sure to steal the laughter from the readers – truly hard to avoid laughing to tears. "Metro Girl" was a thrilling dangerous race mixed with humourous situations, very unique.
What do You think about Metro Girl (2005)?
Too many coincidences. Unbelievable scrapes and escapes. Even the characters can't believe what's happening. "I'm awake, right? This is real?" Loads of fun to read!After being put off by the title for years, I finally decided to read this book after spotting it on sale. No way I could like it anywhere near as much as Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Wrong. Not only were there plenty of laughs, but more suspense than seemed possible given the improbable goings-on. The last half of the book is a straight through read without breaks.
—Dagny
Alexandra Barnaby gets a call from her brother in Miami that ends with a woman screaming. She knows something isn't right so she heads down to Florida to try and find him, coming across NASCAR driver Sam Hooker. Alex's brother stole Hooker's boat so he has reason to try and find him. Evanovich is known for her fun-loving characters, specifically with the number series and Stephanie Plum. The problem that I had with this book is that it felt like a cheap copy of the characters from Evanovich's number series. Alex was the independent female with a carefree attitude towards danger. Hooker is the sexy but somewhat undesirable man who tries to help. There's also a cast of characters that help these two find the brother. Really, the only thing that was missing was Grandma Mazure. That said, this book was still fun. Just not as fun as Stephanie Plum!
—Lauren
3 STARS"Alexandra (Barney) Barnaby roars onto the Miami Beach scene in hot pursuit of her missing baby brother, "Wild" Bill. Leave it to the maverick of the family to get Barney involved with high-speed car chases, a search for sunken treasure, and Sam Hooker, a NASCAR driver who's good at revving a woman's engine.Engaged in a deadly race, Bill has "borrowed" Hooker's sixty-five-foot Hatteras and sailed off into the sunset...just when Hooker has plans for the boat. Hooker figures he'll attach himself to Barney and maybe run into scumbag Bill. And better yet, maybe he'll get lucky in love with Bill's sweetie pie sister.The pedal will have to go to metal if Barney and Hooker want to be the first to cross the finish line, save Bill, Hooker's boat...and maybe the world." (From Amazon) Hilarious romantic-comedy...for all Evanovich fans!
—Kris - My Novelesque Life
