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Post by quirkygal on Apr 16, 2008 9:43:29 GMT -5
At first I thought Ranger was a little dark Batmanish - good guy, operates on the fringe of good and evil, and was a bit overprotective of Stephanie. Vinnie, the lovable bail bonding weasel that he is, put Ranger in charge of training Stephanie as a bounty hunter. When a guy tells you to look out for his cousin cause this is her first FTA, a guy up for murder, and you're basically using her for bait because of her past with the FTA... I think Ranger was right to monitor her a little more closely (especially after Morelli chained her to the shower rod). The way I see the gun issue is that its part of the job. Yes, most of the folks they deal with are the heck I don't want to loose my house types but a few, OK most, that Stephanie seems to run into shoot back. By having a weapon - gun, stun gun, pepper spray, etc - accessible she would be able to defend herself. It also helps to convey an image of law enforcement - after all if someone is walking up to your door packing in broad daylight wearing dark clothes that identify them as BEA - people would probably take that person more seriously. What I don't get is why Ranger stays with Vinnie. I wonder if he also works for the other bail bonds guy in town (forget his name but he's the one with great legs) or if he sticks with Vinnie out of some type of loyalty (Vinnie was one of his first clients, taught him the BEA biz, etc). I also think it would be a wonderfully fun twist if Rangerette - aka Jean Ann Burrows (I know I spelled that incorrectly) - was the one who took Ranger under her wing and taught him the private security business when he left special forces. It would be fun and unexpected and maybe the way she trained Ranger. I think Ranger would be happy with whatever Stephanie wants. If she wants to be a BEA great. If she wants to work at the tampon factory - great. He does tell Stephanie that he always worries about her which is why he puts in an appearance at every car explosion to check that she's OK and then he leaves her in the care of the man she chooses to be with - Morelli. Speaking from my personal experience, unlike most Cuban men Ranger seems to understand that a woman who wants to do what she wants will and there is no point in forcing matter. I think if Stephanie really wanted to be married she'd be married to Joe by now. But she's not ready to settle down or compromise her lifestyle at the moment. She needs to decide which man, or if either one of them, is going to be most supportive of who she is and who she's becoming.
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Post by quirkygal on Apr 16, 2008 9:47:13 GMT -5
;D He gave her an out of being an BEA. She got to sit in front of a computer and do searches. I have to assume he paid her well enough for it but somehow and we don't know how, she chose to be a BEA instead. He did not tell to not work at Cluck in Bucket, the dry cleaners or anything. In fact, it was only Morelli's celebrating that cost her any jobs at all. Ranger never jeapordized any of her other non-BEA type jobs. I know - I want to know why Stephanie left RangeMan. Janet just makes a passing mention of it in the next book by way of Stephanie saying that it didn't work out. I don't know if it was the office environment, being that close to Ranger 24/7, having to carry a gun, or if she was just too independent to work for in a regimented organization.
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Post by dandybrush on Apr 16, 2008 16:01:14 GMT -5
;D He gave her an out of being an BEA. She got to sit in front of a computer and do searches. I have to assume he paid her well enough for it but somehow and we don't know how, she chose to be a BEA instead. He did not tell to not work at Cluck in Bucket, the dry cleaners or anything. In fact, it was only Morelli's celebrating that cost her any jobs at all. Ranger never jeapordized any of her other non-BEA type jobs. I know - I want to know why Stephanie left RangeMan. Janet just makes a passing mention of it in the next book by way of Stephanie saying that it didn't work out. I don't know if it was the office environment, being that close to Ranger 24/7, having to carry a gun, or if she was just too independent to work for in a regimented organization. I suppose by saying "it didnt work out" she means she didnt wanna do that forever, I think she just has more fun being a BEA, so she went back
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lameface810
Lingerie buyer
what do we want? Car Explosions and Flirting!
Posts: 17
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Post by lameface810 on Apr 18, 2008 6:02:27 GMT -5
;D From reading your post, I am not sure either. I don't see Ranger pushing into anything. She has a tendency to find trouble with or without him. With the exception of when Julie was kidnapped, she put herself in danger. He gave her an out of being an BEA. She got to sit in front of a computer and do searches. I have to assume he paid her well enough for it but somehow and we don't know how, she chose to be a BEA instead. He did not tell to not work at Cluck in Bucket, the dry cleaners or anything. In fact, it was only Morelli's celebrating that cost her any jobs at all. Ranger never jeapordized any of her other non-BEA type jobs. I think one of the reasons Ranger has let her in so much is because being near him is not putting her in jeopardy. She is such a trouble magnet, his being in her life is actually making it less dangerous. He has distanced himself from everyone else I think to protect him. I think Ranger knows he can't make her do anything, so instead of convincing to stop or tying in the bathroom he just monitors her. She knows about it and she's ok with it so it's not stalking. Heck, even Morelli is ok with it because he knows she's a magnet for trouble and it keeps her safe. It's funny how different people can read the same thing and take something completely different away from it. I guess that is what makes us all unique interesting people. ..nice..totally agree
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Post by Amber on Apr 30, 2008 19:01:51 GMT -5
I really like Morelli. He is my favorite character. I really hope that they end up together and I love how her cars always explode! Lol.
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Post by judyh0311 on Jun 6, 2008 10:17:47 GMT -5
I have to agree with the Ranger fans here. I hope there is more of Steph and Ranger together. I read JE is contracted to write 16 and hasn't decided whether to keep going after that or not. All I can say is she better! I'm not ready for a close to the series. We need more Ranger
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Post by Judy on Jun 27, 2008 13:05:00 GMT -5
I agree totally!!!!! I want Ranger and Steph together. ;D
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Post by dandybrush on Jul 9, 2008 16:29:39 GMT -5
i agree... i need more ranger. I dont want the series to end. However, i was not soo impressed with the latest book as it was all morelli and i didnt really get my ranger fix, i think books 9 to 13 are the best for ranger fans
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Post by redsonic20 on Jul 12, 2008 15:47:36 GMT -5
Man, I read the beginning of 14 on her site and was really upset by the fact that that is the most Ranger in the whole book...he's in MAYBE 50 pages! I really was hoping she'd continue on her trend with Ranger. There's not really much more to learn about Morelli...and she doesn't seem sexually interested in Ranger (there's a paragraph in the first chapter that states that she isn't interested in him for certain reasons and Morelli wasn't one of them) and Ranger isn't OCD with following her. The plot in 14 wasn't very good...way too much time wasted with pointless crap...was actually a boring book. So far, they've all gotten better up until 12. 12 was the best, and after that they've gone downhill! The comedy has also changed. It kinda feels like I'm reading the same characters written by someone else. Lula is the same, Mooner is the same, and Morelli is basically the same, but Ranger is too distant (and doesn't seem like his macho self when he is in her life) and Stephanie's becoming more sarcastic. After 12, there was a really really really drastic change in Steph. Either Janet is getting bored with the character or she's trying to make her less of a skiddish chick who doesn't know how only gets lucky. I'm really disappointed with the last two numbers books. The BTN books are pretty cute and I could see her doing a bunch of stuff with that.
If she stops at 16, I'll be upset, because you only get little tidbits of information about Ranger in each book, 12 being where you get the most, and there's no way in only two books that you're going to get to know the real Ranger. I know there has to be a book about his "deep, dark, secret" that somehow makes him unable to commit to a relationship. I'm hoping that that book makes Steph question her feelings towards him, she ends up accepting whatever he did, and then tries to have a relationship with him. All I get with Steph and Joe is sex and frustration (with her job and her always being in danger). It seems as though Ranger accepts her profession, her inability to stay out of trouble, and her knack for getting lucky and solving crimes as well as loving her for who she is, inquisitive, pushy, and also feminine and fun.
Ranger is way too focused on Lula in book 14 for anything interesting to happen with him and Steph. I'm hoping she's not going to be focusing on Steph and Joe in the next several books before switching back to Ranger, because his skills, his company, his "jobs" are wayyyyy more interesting than anything Joe can stumble across...too much "by the book" and not enough knock the door down, kick some ass action. The storyline was cool for 14, she could have done sooooooooooooooooo much more with it. I was expecting a lot more. Book 14 wasn't very creative!
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Post by quirkygal on Jul 13, 2008 12:59:12 GMT -5
I have to agree with you there. Book 14 was disappointing for me. I did think seeing Joe and Steph pull off the whole Married with Child(ren) thing was cute but the plot line was everywhere and nowhere. Potential Spoiler Alert for those who have not read 14 ********************************************************** Really jump to bottom of post if you haven't finished book - I will not be held responsible for spilling the beans on this plot tidbit Where did the bad guys get the toes from? They never solved that mystery which leads me to believe that maybe chick-a-dee was in on it or cut some kind of deal? But all questions no answers and no teasers to carry us over into Book 15. End Spoiler************************************************ ***************************************************** Safe to start reading here - Post spoiler text: Anyhoo - I think the reason why we saw Ranger injecting himself in the Lula and Tank relationship is because Tank is his best friend. On Janet's website a reader asked how Tank and Ranger knew each other and Janet said they were in special forces together. That means they go waaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy back. Ranger and Tank know where all the bodies are buried,so to speak, and they probably know each other like the back of their hands. Plus you have to admit watching Tank being brought down by Lula - tres funny. ;D Just my two cents.
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Post by dandybrush on Jul 14, 2008 16:54:11 GMT -5
i agree with you redsonic20, up to book 12 was awesome, there was heaps of banter between steph and ranger, heaps of sexual tension (which i loved), the banter was there in book 13 but not as great, and there was no banter in book 14, nothing, no sexual tension, those are the scenes i read and look forward to reading everytime i pick up a book. Maybe janet shouldnt write any more if she is gonna lose her touch. If its gonna pick up next time then i do look forward to it, I need more ranger interaction, i love the scenes when he is in it. I love it how he is mysterious and tough and like you said, i saw none of that in this book, i was quite sad by the time i finished it
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mikkib
Rookie bounty Hunter
Posts: 55
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Post by mikkib on Jul 15, 2008 12:48:17 GMT -5
Yep, I totally agree with Dandy. I was very disappointed with14. It was the first time I was able to put it down. I did finish it finally but not nearly as fast as I would expect. I was very sad when Ranger was barely in it and when he was in it, it was very uneventful. They have an interview after the audiobook and they talk about how cool it was he was in a tux. But I didn't find that part exciting or any other part with Ranger. And, having him covered with feathers. It just didn't seem like Ranger. She said she was purposely making Ranger less mysterious. That we we getting to know him better. I didn't feel that. I just felt it wasn't him. She also said Steph has grown so much. I guess in the sense of kids and freaking out, she has. But, it all seemed in a boring way. There was no freaking out, not major Steph-like disasters. She turned blue but that is just not as funny as the previous escapades.
Just out of curiousity, us Babes are quite unhappy. Are there are cupcakes out there who have an opinion? Was all the time spent on Morelli just what you wanted or was it disappointing for you too?
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mikkib
Rookie bounty Hunter
Posts: 55
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Post by mikkib on Jul 15, 2008 12:54:43 GMT -5
Lula's proposal was pretty funny. I don't usually get into the whole Lula Tank relationship. And of course, that was set up and totally ignored. That was annoying too.
In response to redsonic20, it actually says, there are a bunch of reasons, the least of which is Morelli which to me still means that it's still mostly Morelli. I just listened to that part again.
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Post by dandybrush on Jul 17, 2008 16:52:31 GMT -5
Yep, I totally agree with Dandy. I was very disappointed with14. It was the first time I was able to put it down. I did finish it finally but not nearly as fast as I would expect. I was very sad when Ranger was barely in it and when he was in it, it was very uneventful. They have an interview after the audiobook and they talk about how cool it was he was in a tux. But I didn't find that part exciting or any other part with Ranger. And, having him covered with feathers. It just didn't seem like Ranger. She said she was purposely making Ranger less mysterious. That we we getting to know him better. I didn't feel that. I just felt it wasn't him. She also said Steph has grown so much. I guess in the sense of kids and freaking out, she has. But, it all seemed in a boring way. There was no freaking out, not major Steph-like disasters. She turned blue but that is just not as funny as the previous escapades. Just out of curiousity, us Babes are quite unhappy. Are there are cupcakes out there who have an opinion? Was all the time spent on Morelli just what you wanted or was it disappointing for you too? Hey mikkib its been a while, hows things? I didnt realise she was purpously making ranger less mysterious, cause it didnt work, he just wasnt in it to even go less mysterious, or to get to know him. We learned the most about him the book where he got shot, and yeah the feather thing, normally that would be steph, he is too good to get feathers on him. The blue thing could have been good, if ranger had actually arrived to help and he had actually seen her at her bluest, and made a comment, it was uneventful. I would love to see more interaction between Ranger and Stephanie. Are there any plans for the either the 15th or 16th book to see them together once again? I'm sure Ranger will be making a move to the front again soon.-- Alex that was on the Q & A on the evanovich website, i now have hope
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mikkib
Rookie bounty Hunter
Posts: 55
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Post by mikkib on Jul 23, 2008 14:46:05 GMT -5
Yep, Ranger's reaction would have made a world of difference. I love the scene where she has spaghetti all over her from Joyce. The gag in itself was ok but having Ranger react to it was great. Her turning blue was mentioned a lot but I never struck me as being particularly funny.
Just like you said, the feathers thing seemed wrong. It should have been her covered and Ranger clean and her not understanding why. It was wrong that in so many ways Brenda could get the best of Ranger. He seemed too normal and boring in this book. I hope he returns to his normal mysterious amazing self in 15.
I like the Tank thing. It was funny that the overriding theme was that no matter how tough the man, a woman can still knock him on his rear. I think Steph is sort oflike that, she at times, is Ranger's weak spot.
I am glad they are giving us hope. I need some hope after that.
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