WICKED BUSINESS by Janet Evanovich

Lizzy Tucker's once normal life as a pastry chef in Salem, Massachusetts, turns upside down as she battles both sinister forces and an inconvenient attraction to her unnaturally talented but off-limits partner, Diesel.

When Harvard University English professor and dyed-in-the wool romantic Gilbert Reedy is mysteriously murdered and thrown off his fourth-floor balcony, Lizzy and Diesel take up his twenty-year quest for the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust. Following clues contained in a cryptic nineteenth-century book of sonnets, Lizzy and Diesel tear through Boston catacombs, government buildings, and multimillion-dollar residences. On their way they'll leave behind a trail of robbed graves, public disturbances, and general mayhem.

Diesel's black sheep cousin, Gerwulf Grimoire, also wants the Stone. His motives are far from pure, and what he plans on doing with the treasure, no one knows . . . but Lizzy Tucker fears she's in his crosshairs. Never far and always watching, Grimoire has a growing, vested interest in the cupcake-baker-turned-finder-of-lost-things. As does another dangerous and dark opponent in the hunt--a devotee of lawlessness and chaos, known only as Anarchy.

Treasures will be sought, and the power of lust will be unmistakable as Lizzy and Diesel attempt to stay ahead of Anarchy, Grimoire, and his medieval minion, Hatchet, in this ancient game of twisted riddles and high-stakes hide-and-seek.

After reading the first Lizzy and Diesel book, I was really looking forward to catching up with them again.

Lizzy lives in Marblehead, in an old house she inherited from her great aunt. Life used to be normal, until Diesel and Wulf (his cousin) decided to make an appearance and turned everything upside down. Now, she's got a ninja cat and can find items of power. Not to mention that Diesel keeps popping in and out of her life--with his crude monkey--dragging her from one problem to another in their quest to beat Wulf in finding powerful Stones that relate to the seven deadly sins.

And she has to do all of this while still working a full-time job in a bakery. It's a job she loves, but getting caught in dangerous situations sometimes brings havoc to the store... or Anarchy.

When a Harvard professor is thrown off his balcony and dies, Diesel and Lizzy set off on yet another wild-goose chase, following one bizarre clue after another--and stealing several items along the way--while also racing against the clock because Wulf and his insane minion, Hatchet seem to be one step ahead of them.

Until it looks like both sides might have a bigger enemy, and if they don't stop her she'll destroy everything and everyone in her path...

Wicked Business was another hilarious installment in this fun series. I had a total blast following Lizzy and Diesel from one place to another, while trying to decipher the clues and figure out where everything was going to lead them. It's one hell of a fun ride, and the sexual tension between these two is smoking. Too bad they can't be together. ;)

Loved it! I can't wait to read more of this series. 

Wicked Business, June 2012, ISBN 9780755384938, Headline Fiction