One For the Money by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum #1)

Title: One For the Money

Author: Janet Evanovich

Genre:  Mystery

Source: Bought

Published: St. Martin's Griffin, November 22, 2011

Type: Trade Paperback

ISBN: 9780312600730

Synopsis of Book: Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash—fast—but times are tough, and soon she’s forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.
Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie’s bail bonding company. She’s got no experience. But that doesn’t matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father’s Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water—wanted for murder.
Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn’t. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she’ll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight—and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man
Why I Read This Book:  This book was recommended to me by a friend.
What I liked: I liked how this book kept you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I also liked how the characters seemed real to me.
What I didn't Liked: I did not like Benito - he was not a nice person and seemed to only want to hurt women.
Overall Impression: I am glad I read this book. I am not a fast reader but I read this book in a day and a half which is fast for me. I could not put it down. One minute I was scared for Stephanie, then sad for her, and then cheering her on. Poor Stephanie has lost her job and is out of money but rather than run to her parents or giving up she chooses to take a job with her cousin. It was fun but scary at times to watch Stephanie learn how to become a bounty hunter. She made some mistakes got knocked around a little but in the end did a good job. I loved Stephanie's grandma she seems like a hoot, we don't see much of Stephanie's family but they seem like a close family what little we did see. I liked how Joe and Stephanie play off each other and he kept her on her toes and would not "let" her bring him in to collect her money. I wonder if we will see more of them together in the future? I would like to see the movie now but am afraid I would be disappointed as I enjoyed the book that much. I will be continuing on with the series in the future. 5 Stars.