Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

rating
(Lizzy and Diesel, #1)
MYSTERY


Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzie Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony. Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzie soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins.

With delectable characters and non-stop thrills that have made Janet Evanovich a household name, Wicked Appetite will leave you hungry for more.


Wow, what genre is this exactly? I didn't see a mystery at all but guess will have to settle with that, since they were on a journey/adventure seeking something and finding clues along the way, but not in the typical mystery sense. It was paranormal, but only very lightly. Urban Fantasy doesn't feel quite right. Could call it Paranormal Romance to settle it, although the book wasn't terribly romantic.

I wanted to like this one more than I did - I'm a big fan of Evanovich. It just felt too forced to me, cute story and cute scenes, but overall so "Cute" it started ruining itself. Of course she was surprised to be approached by the two men at the beginning telling her what's going on, who wouldn't be? She accepts it and from then on it's just one joke from another.


There IS a mystery here, sort of mini-mystery puzzles. You solve the steps along the way with each scene and each stone they're looking for, to round up the ending (which isn't much of a mystery by itself.) The finale makes it clear there is a cliffhanger in a way and that this will continue into the next book. If I had to pick my favorite "sin" she was struck by, it's likely the gluttony. What a miserable seventh deadly sin that would be to have all the time!

I felt zero chemistry between Diesel and Lizzy, so their romance just wasn't believable to me. He seemed to show up, they liked each other right away for no big reason, and that's that. The monkey was fun sometimes, but he didn't give me big kicks either. Mainly with his scenes I just thought, gross. The cat kicked ass, however, as a reliable sidekick. The bakery setting is fun when it's shown as I liked her boss and co-worker I was more curious about the "bad guy" Wulf but he's not in there much. I have to wonder if Diesel was lying about the baking power to explain why the cakes ruled so much, then why did her cakes suddenly start failing if it has nothing to do with powers?

I did like the book - it was over the top, made fun of itself the whole time, Evanovich seemed to have fun writing it and mixes her words well enough, it just felt too overdone to me, making itself a little staler than I would have liked. Have the second waiting to be read.

   Book Quotes:

“Personally, I'm a lazy kind of guy, and leaving the door open on the mystical saves me work. I don't have to stress my brain trying to explain the unexplainable. It's magic. End of discussion.” 

 “Your life isn't out of control. It's expanded.”

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