Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich (2006, Hardcover)

I was really looking forward to the release of this novel and had high expectations. Too bad many fell flat. I really like Barney's character. How could I not like a woman with her skills? She's smart, fun, and capable! That only makes me wonder what she sees in Hooker. He's not smart and the only thing he has going for him are his looks. The majority of the book shows that Evancovich is definitely courting Nascar fans. That is all well and good, however the story plot gets lost along the way.

Barney gave up her boring job in insurance to be a spotter for Nascar driver, Sam Hooker, after their first adventure. Barney and Hooker's personal relationship went south, however, after he cheated on her with a salesclerk. They team up to rescue their friend Gobbles when he gets locked in the car hauler of some shady characters, and find themselves framed for murder, as well as on the run from people who want to kill them. They have all the makings of a funny book, it just does not come together quite the way it should!

What I do have a problem with is the way the book gets bogged down by silly pratfalls that fail to be funny. She relies on her old standby of a big, stupid dog, but people getting continually knocked to the ground by a drooling St. Bernard is just annoying, and not in the least bit funny. The fact that he chews on dead people redeems him. That really got a laugh. Toward the middle, I actually started to like the book as Barney and Sam were figuring things out, but then the story descended into a worn-out slapstick dog poop adventure we've seen way too many times now.

All in all the book was ok. I am a big fan and I will probably buy the next one again in hardback just to see if it is any better. This is a fun read, just not up to the standards Evancovich is capable of!

Love the new adventure of Barney and Hooker! Just when you think there couldn't be anything else to write about a NASCAR driver and his gal, Janet Evanovich comes in and steals the show. Another fabulous story by Janet that I could not put down until I had it done! Awesome book by an awesome author!

I decided to buy this book because I am a huge fan of Janet Evanovich.
Even though it took some getting used to NOT reading about her other sleuth, Stephanie Plum, Sam Hooker is as sassy and funny.
Evanovich is extremely satisfying reading. In a world where stress and sadness seem to get the better of us in a lot of ways, Janet's books are a welcome respite.
Her books are wel written. Her stories hilareous. And I for one, NEED books like hers to keep my sanity.
If you want laugh out loud/peeing your panties reading, Janet Evanovich is the author for you!

If you know Janet Evanovich you're going to love Motor Mouth. Not quite as good as her Stephanie Plum novel or Metro Girl the first book in the Barnaby series, but it's still wonderfull and a must read!

Being a huge Janet Evanovich fan, I bought this book as soon as I saw it. I've read all of the Plum series and the first Barnaby book, which I also enjoyed.

I feel this one was cranked out too fast.
Barnaby is smart, good looking, terrific female mechanic and takes no crap from most men...so why is she still with Hooker when he cheated on her. Somewhere between the two books?? Would have been better to have included that incident and WHY Barnaby is still working with Hooker.
Then the main plot goes from helping a friend, to being chased by a mafia like family and the cops and being blamed for every murder going on.
It got to the point I put it down for a good month before I finished it. It was getting too silly and unbelieveable...and these big goofy dogs in all the books have to go. In one series ok, but all of them?? Does she have a big sloppy dog perhaps? OK but I don't need him in every book of hers I read.

In the end I did finally finish the book, hoping it would get better. It didn't. I wasn't thrilled with the conclusion as it left alot of questions open ended.

I feel if she's going to continue with this series, that she needs to tighten up the plot, characters.