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Full #2
Full Tilt
He lives life in the fast lane and she's along for the ride--with no brakes....
Jamie Swift has one priority in quiet Beaumont, South Carolina: running the local newspaper. Romance runs second. But with the arrival of her silent partner, the notoriously mysterious and sexy Maximillian Holt, Jamie's life gets shaken up. Max claims he's here to give his brother-in-law a vote of confidence. A former wrestler, Frankie Fontana's now taking his shots in the political ring. Beaumont could use a mayor with scruples, but what it gets is a crime-and what Jamie gets is a story that's taking her for a ride on the wild side, complete with two assassins, a washed-up stripper, and an insane poacher. Between a spray of bullets and a fast getaway could it get any more romantic-or dangerous? Max and Jamie are betting their lives on a long shot.
Jamie Swift has one priority in quiet Beaumont, South Carolina: running the local newspaper. Romance runs second. But with the arrival of her silent partner, the notoriously mysterious and sexy Maximillian Holt, Jamie's life gets shaken up. Max claims he's here to give his brother-in-law a vote of confidence. A former wrestler, Frankie Fontana's now taking his shots in the political ring. Beaumont could use a mayor with scruples, but what it gets is a crime-and what Jamie gets is a story that's taking her for a ride on the wild side, complete with two assassins, a washed-up stripper, and an insane poacher. Between a spray of bullets and a fast getaway could it get any more romantic-or dangerous? Max and Jamie are betting their lives on a long shot.
342 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 17, 2003
1153 people are currently reading
6265 people want to read
About the author
Janet Evanovich
332 books41k followersJanet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O'Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews
March 9, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening. ✨🎎
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 2 of 6
Another action packed romantic family and friends novel by Janet Evanovich. The family is in the middle of an investigation about fraud in the local town government. Their investigation leads to the truth and arrest of people and a happy ending.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels. 2024
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 2 of 6
Another action packed romantic family and friends novel by Janet Evanovich. The family is in the middle of an investigation about fraud in the local town government. Their investigation leads to the truth and arrest of people and a happy ending.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels. 2024
December 8, 2023
3 Stars for Full Tilt (audiobook) Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes read by Lorelei King.
I keep hoping that this series will be a little more like the Stephanie Plum series. But for some reason I just don’t connect with this one.
I keep hoping that this series will be a little more like the Stephanie Plum series. But for some reason I just don’t connect with this one.
March 3, 2022
This is an oldie by Janet Evanovich with humor, romance and a suspense/mystery. It is a light romp that was enjoyable to listen to while doing other stuff. Lorelie King is an excellent narrator, and I enjoyed her narration immensely. This book picks up the series a good 20 years after the first book and is all about Max Holt who was a boy genius in the first book and is now a man genius in this one with an ego to match.
Jamie Swift is the owner and publisher of a small newspaper in Beaumont, South Carolina. Small towns are notorious for being hot beds of gossip and Jamie tries desperately not to give the gossips any fodder as she is engaged to the son of the town matriarch. Her parents gave the town enough gossip to last her a lifetime. She is doing alright until her silent partner shows up for a visit.
Maximillian Holt is a hot genius who happens to be Jamie's partner. He is also the brother-in-law to the ex-wrestler, Frankie Fontana, who is running for mayor and promising to clean up the city and find out where all the tax money is going. Max has promised to help him but threatening the good old boy network doesn't sit well with the good old boys. It isn't long before the bullets start flying and Max and Jamie are in danger and so is anyone close to them. Max does his best to protect Jamie but finds it really hard to protect his heart.
Jamie Swift is the owner and publisher of a small newspaper in Beaumont, South Carolina. Small towns are notorious for being hot beds of gossip and Jamie tries desperately not to give the gossips any fodder as she is engaged to the son of the town matriarch. Her parents gave the town enough gossip to last her a lifetime. She is doing alright until her silent partner shows up for a visit.
Maximillian Holt is a hot genius who happens to be Jamie's partner. He is also the brother-in-law to the ex-wrestler, Frankie Fontana, who is running for mayor and promising to clean up the city and find out where all the tax money is going. Max has promised to help him but threatening the good old boy network doesn't sit well with the good old boys. It isn't long before the bullets start flying and Max and Jamie are in danger and so is anyone close to them. Max does his best to protect Jamie but finds it really hard to protect his heart.
December 3, 2008
I liked this one better than the first one I have to say. I thought Jamie was a stronger female lead and the interaction between them was good enough that I could forgive the male lead for being named Maximillian Holt and I could overlook that she was a struggeling small town newspaper owner and he was a rich sexy batman type. So I guess I am saying that the writing was good enough that you can forgive the cliches.
October 18, 2019
The story of Max, the brother of bubbly Deedee from the first book, and Jamie, Deedee's friend and newspaper owner.
Jamie's newspaper is struggling and she had to accept a silent partner in order to keep the doors from closing. What she doesn't know is that Deedee had a hand in the partnership, and that the mysterious investor is none other than Max.
Max is smart and charming, but Jamie refuses to be charmed, since she is a supposedly happily engaged woman with a stick in the mud who doesn't understand her at all.
Max's reason for visiting is not just about the newspaper, however. His brother in law, who is running for mayor, has been receiving threatening notes and is starting to worry about Deedee's safety.
Max, who loves his sister despite their vastly different personalities and age gap, is determined to discover who is behind the threats and uses his considerable resources to do so. One of those resources is the AI he has installed in his nearly indestructible vehicle that is basically a colorful character herself.
Jamie and Max have teamed up to investigate what seems to be an embezzling scandal within the officials of the town, while dodging attempts on their lives by people with guns, bombs and aligators. If they come to be a bit attached to one another, who's to blame them, with all that chemistry between them and the danger they go through together.
.
Light and fun, if slightly dated.
Jamie and Max's story continues in Full Speed, where they are on the hunt for one of the corrupt officials involved who escaped capture.
Previous book review:
✦ Full House ~ ★★★ (08/10/2016)
Jamie's newspaper is struggling and she had to accept a silent partner in order to keep the doors from closing. What she doesn't know is that Deedee had a hand in the partnership, and that the mysterious investor is none other than Max.
Max is smart and charming, but Jamie refuses to be charmed, since she is a supposedly happily engaged woman with a stick in the mud who doesn't understand her at all.
Max's reason for visiting is not just about the newspaper, however. His brother in law, who is running for mayor, has been receiving threatening notes and is starting to worry about Deedee's safety.
Max, who loves his sister despite their vastly different personalities and age gap, is determined to discover who is behind the threats and uses his considerable resources to do so. One of those resources is the AI he has installed in his nearly indestructible vehicle that is basically a colorful character herself.
Jamie and Max have teamed up to investigate what seems to be an embezzling scandal within the officials of the town, while dodging attempts on their lives by people with guns, bombs and aligators. If they come to be a bit attached to one another, who's to blame them, with all that chemistry between them and the danger they go through together.
.
Light and fun, if slightly dated.
Jamie and Max's story continues in Full Speed, where they are on the hunt for one of the corrupt officials involved who escaped capture.
Previous book review:
✦ Full House ~ ★★★ (08/10/2016)
March 3, 2012
Same as the first book. Wasn't really interested in what happened to any of the characters, the mystery seemed weak, and things just meandered on until it stopped.
November 13, 2021
Average book. Nothing special that sticks out. The culprit was pretty easy to guess.
August 6, 2021
This is not the genre that I normally read and I guess I was determined not to like this book. I tried really hard not to like it. Then I just got sucked right in and went along for the ride! Very enjoyable, albeit a tad ridiculous. Just a fun, easy read. I’d definitely pick up another in the series without hesitation.
January 2, 2018
When I read these over a decade ago, I loved them. But I was a very different and much more naive person back then. Now, I just can't do it. I made it through Full House only because I remembered only having mildly liked it back then, but I'd loved this one, and it's making me cringe so hard now. Why?
1) The writing
2) Max has an ex-wife named Bunny and a fear of commitment.
3) He programmed his fancy batmobile car computer to have a sexy female voice and named the computer Muffin, even though the computer hates this name.
4) He decided to romantically pursue the editor of a newspaper he is financially backing, which is deeply uncomfortable.
5) He decided to pursue Jamie despite the fact that she is engaged.
6) Max invites Jamie out for burgers, and she hesitantly agrees. When he doesn't drive to the burger place and keeps talking about his talking car that won't talk, Jamie thinks he's going to rape and murder her.
7) Then Muffin talks, and the car and Max laugh about how crazy Jamie is to have thought such a thing.
8) Jamie met her fiancee at a dance where the men paid to dance with the women. He paid $500 for her.
And that's where I quit. I really question my past self tbh. I'm dropping my ratings on the series and giving them to my mom who might still like them. *gets out the brain bleach*
1) The writing
2) Max has an ex-wife named Bunny and a fear of commitment.
3) He programmed his fancy batmobile car computer to have a sexy female voice and named the computer Muffin, even though the computer hates this name.
4) He decided to romantically pursue the editor of a newspaper he is financially backing, which is deeply uncomfortable.
5) He decided to pursue Jamie despite the fact that she is engaged.
6) Max invites Jamie out for burgers, and she hesitantly agrees. When he doesn't drive to the burger place and keeps talking about his talking car that won't talk, Jamie thinks he's going to rape and murder her.
7) Then Muffin talks, and the car and Max laugh about how crazy Jamie is to have thought such a thing.
8) Jamie met her fiancee at a dance where the men paid to dance with the women. He paid $500 for her.
And that's where I quit. I really question my past self tbh. I'm dropping my ratings on the series and giving them to my mom who might still like them. *gets out the brain bleach*
Read
December 5, 2012ridiculous and poorly written
December 22, 2010
This is the second book in this series. The first one is set 20 years earlier and was written at least 10 years earlier. Basically JE wrote the first one under a pen name and then Charlotte Hughes joined the team and they updated and expanded it. From there they started a series which is really just based on Max. When we meet Max in the first book, he is 16, he's a child genius, he has been out of HIgh school for 4 years and has been kicked out of several universities. He is an idealist that just needs some focus and some parental guidance. Now, 20 years later, he is a gazillionaire, and he is like a Tony Stark (Ironman), with Knight Rider's car only cooler.
In any case, Max blows in to town to help his brother-in-law, Frankie with his campaign to become mayor. The town seems to be full of corruption and Frankie and Max try to sniff it out. While in town Max also decides to check on his investment-a local newspaper, that was in financial trouble. The paper is run by Jamie, she gorgeous, stubborn and engaged, which is apparently just Max's type.
This book was entertaining enough. I would have liked to have seen a little of Nick and Billie and maybe even their kids, but not bad.
I hope the library has the next one tomorrow...
In any case, Max blows in to town to help his brother-in-law, Frankie with his campaign to become mayor. The town seems to be full of corruption and Frankie and Max try to sniff it out. While in town Max also decides to check on his investment-a local newspaper, that was in financial trouble. The paper is run by Jamie, she gorgeous, stubborn and engaged, which is apparently just Max's type.
This book was entertaining enough. I would have liked to have seen a little of Nick and Billie and maybe even their kids, but not bad.
I hope the library has the next one tomorrow...
May 18, 2017
ridiculous
July 30, 2022
They grow up so fast, the kids becomes the man of knowledge and action. Kissy, lovey, murdery, mystery.
September 7, 2019
Jamie has her life all planned out. In a couple months she will marry safe, dependable Phillip. But all in not right in her small home town of Beamont. Nothing seems to change but the taxes that keep going up. Jamie owns the town paper, or at least most of it. When her silent partner, Max, comes to town, with his special car, things start to change. Her friend, Frankie, running for mayor, promises to find out just where the tax dollars are going, and things start to heat up with several murder attempts.
I really liked this book but while a fun read was not a funny as JE's usual Stephanie Plum books. I liked the two main characters and I thought the addition of Muffin was a good move on the author's part but maybe a bit of a cop out too. I would read on with these characters and give the book a 3.5 if I could.
I really liked this book but while a fun read was not a funny as JE's usual Stephanie Plum books. I liked the two main characters and I thought the addition of Muffin was a good move on the author's part but maybe a bit of a cop out too. I would read on with these characters and give the book a 3.5 if I could.
June 6, 2013
Overall the book was cute. I did not find myself laughing out loud as I did with the early Stephanie Plum books, but the series does include the lovable dysfunctional characters that Evanovich is so wonderful at writing.
The book was cheesy at times, the car is something I am having trouble enjoying but overall, this is a fun catchy read that is light and fun to read by the pool or at the beach.
While I found the book predictable, I found it enjoyable mainly because the lunacy of the characters. This is the main reason I read Janet's books, she writes such lovable dysfunctional characters.
Overall if you are looking for a fun light read while laying out by the pool. I think this book is for you.
The book was cheesy at times, the car is something I am having trouble enjoying but overall, this is a fun catchy read that is light and fun to read by the pool or at the beach.
While I found the book predictable, I found it enjoyable mainly because the lunacy of the characters. This is the main reason I read Janet's books, she writes such lovable dysfunctional characters.
Overall if you are looking for a fun light read while laying out by the pool. I think this book is for you.
July 27, 2019
I am a big fan of Janet Evanovich. And then I read this (and its sequel, Full Speed, in a two-in-one paperback edition), and am seriously horrified. The 'hero', Max Holt, is a loathsome creep. His pet car AI, Muffin, is obnoxious and sexist. Heroine Jamie is a seriously stupid blonde with nothing to differentiate her from a million other books where hero rescues girl in every other chapter. The sex scenes are cringeworthy. The plot is tolerable, and there is still a touch of Evanovich flair about the storytelling, but where are the great characters that Janet writes so well? Gah! This is a book for the kind of men who don't read books. Shudder! Do yourself a favour - don't read this.
November 3, 2016
I always love Janet Evanovich's books. I read some and then also get her audiobooks. For this book, I got the audio version. Lorelei King is amazing at telling the stories and holds your attention throughout. I realize that once I get to the place I am going, I usually sit in the parking lot for at least 5-10 minutes longer than needed in order to continue listening to the books.
January 29, 2009
Co-written with another author. Not nearly as good as Evanovich by herself writing about Stephanie Plum.
March 10, 2018
There are lots of zany and eccentric characters in this book by Janet Evanovich who teams up with author Charlotte Hughes in this series. It is a great read for a rainy Saturday afternoon in Phoenix. The story takes place in Beaumont, South Carolina that has a small town newspaper owned by Jamie Swift who is engaged to a wealthy socialite's son, attorney Phillip Standish - that is until the mysterious Maximillian Holt comes to town. Max Holt was a character in the previous book in the series, Full House when he was 16 yrs. old and now it is 20 yrs. later. Jamie's best friend Deedee is engaged to former wrestler Frankie Fontana who is now running for mayor and investigating town corruption. Things get lively when Max becomes the target for assassins and he takes Jamie on a wild ride. The best part - Muffin, the talking computer with a personality in Max's Porsche and Choo Choo, DeeDee's little dog who is kidnapped.
December 20, 2017
It was good seeing what happened with Max and Deedee. There were almost too many bad guys in this book that made it a bit confusing, but not complex. Felt Jamie was transformed a bit too quickly to fit into future books. Not bad, but had this series been my first experience with Evanovich I probably wouldn't have continued onto the Plum series.
August 23, 2020
I enjoyed the story. It’s a little slower moving to me than FULL BLOOM in this series, and the Plum series, but still a nice love story with a bit of mystery and suspense. I haven’t read this series in order—not that it’s necessary—but I usually prefer to read any kind of series’ in order. That way I get to know recurring character’s relationships better.
October 20, 2024
Quite chaotic and not super fun.
September 19, 2025
Very cheesy book. The narrator had some voices that were pretty annoying.
Language: 3/5 says the D & S word
Sex: 2/5 one scene
Violence: 3/5
Language: 3/5 says the D & S word
Sex: 2/5 one scene
Violence: 3/5
September 21, 2025
The ending was great, the girl gets the boy. little bit of action, and detecting.
September 7, 2019
Breezy chick lit with a mystery thrown in. Appealing characters, second in a series. Good fun.
April 16, 2021
This book just went on and on and the FINALLY it stopped. Thank god.
December 1, 2015
Muffin was a bit overdone in terms of personification...a little too sci-fi for me in this scenario. Not that I don't want a car with AI like Muffin; it just seemed a bit over the top.
One takeaway from this book: proper use of trouper versus trooper. I have my normal grammatical pet peeves, as most readers do: your/you're, its/it's, there/their/they're, etc...you know, the mundane ones that elicit groans from even non-editors. However, I also eschew lesser known errors, and trouper/trooper is a big one. Evanovich/Hughes got it right on p 261. Rather sad (and telling) that that's such a standout from this book that it takes up nearly half of my review, but so be it.
Maybe I was expecting something closer to the Plum series' style of writing, but this was rather disappointing for me. Weak characters, obvious storyline, nothing to grab the reader and draw her in.
Well, after browsing other reviews of this book and seeing multiple mentions that #2 was superior to #1, I doubt I'll go read #1 of this series...even "as good as #1" might turn me off reading #1, as this one wasn't fabulous.
One takeaway from this book: proper use of trouper versus trooper. I have my normal grammatical pet peeves, as most readers do: your/you're, its/it's, there/their/they're, etc...you know, the mundane ones that elicit groans from even non-editors. However, I also eschew lesser known errors, and trouper/trooper is a big one. Evanovich/Hughes got it right on p 261. Rather sad (and telling) that that's such a standout from this book that it takes up nearly half of my review, but so be it.
Maybe I was expecting something closer to the Plum series' style of writing, but this was rather disappointing for me. Weak characters, obvious storyline, nothing to grab the reader and draw her in.
Well, after browsing other reviews of this book and seeing multiple mentions that #2 was superior to #1, I doubt I'll go read #1 of this series...even "as good as #1" might turn me off reading #1, as this one wasn't fabulous.
March 1, 2010
Full Tilt was very fun, sort of like Knight Rider for written for women. The main star of the novel is a sweet car with a mega-powerful computer. The computer, named Muffin, comes fully equipped with a sexy Marilyn Monroe voice. The actual main characters, Jamie and Max, share a thick romantic tension felt throughout the book.
While I enjoyed the book a lot, I have some complaints as well. Most importantly, the would be killer said some rather obvious things in the middle of the book that, while not ruining the mystery, ruined the surprise reveal at the end. Evanovich and Hughes described Max and Frankie as both brothers-in-law and cousins at different points of the book, While not effecting the story, it was a distracting typo that made me think Max's sister had married her own cousin more than once.
The good more than out-weighted the bad in Full Tilt. It was a very fast, enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
While I enjoyed the book a lot, I have some complaints as well. Most importantly, the would be killer said some rather obvious things in the middle of the book that, while not ruining the mystery, ruined the surprise reveal at the end. Evanovich and Hughes described Max and Frankie as both brothers-in-law and cousins at different points of the book, While not effecting the story, it was a distracting typo that made me think Max's sister had married her own cousin more than once.
The good more than out-weighted the bad in Full Tilt. It was a very fast, enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
November 23, 2010
This is #2 in the new "Full....." series by Janet Evanovich. This one is about Max and Jamie. Lots of quirky characters. Tension. Frankie is running for mayor of a small town in South Carolina, and he suspects someone has been misusing the city's tax funds. He promises to look into possible corruption, and that's when the trouble starts.
Threatening letters, a shooting at the newspaper office, and worse. Max investigates, and brings Jamie along with him. He uses Muffin to help him . "Who's Muffin?" Jamie wants to know. Well it turns out that Muffin is Max's car computer! As she searches databases and breaks through firewalls, Max and Jamie race here and there looking for clues all over town and Frankie keeps hiring more security guards. All makes for another fun and fast-paced adventure!
I look forward to #3!
Threatening letters, a shooting at the newspaper office, and worse. Max investigates, and brings Jamie along with him. He uses Muffin to help him . "Who's Muffin?" Jamie wants to know. Well it turns out that Muffin is Max's car computer! As she searches databases and breaks through firewalls, Max and Jamie race here and there looking for clues all over town and Frankie keeps hiring more security guards. All makes for another fun and fast-paced adventure!
I look forward to #3!
January 25, 2024
Full Tilt by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes is not a Plum book. Jamie Swift, who runs a newspaper in Beaumont, South Carolina, meets a silent economic partner, Maximillian Holt, who is rich, handsome, brilliant, and good at everything. Holt joins Jamie is exposing where all the money in Beaumont is going. Jamie ditches her fiancé, Phillip Standish, whose mother rules both him and the persons running and ruining Beaumont, and runs off with her millionaire.
Dumb characters (but not funny like Lula and Grandma Mazur), dumb plot (far more extravagant than the Plum books), uninteresting. Forget the "Full" books.
Dumb characters (but not funny like Lula and Grandma Mazur), dumb plot (far more extravagant than the Plum books), uninteresting. Forget the "Full" books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 502 reviews