by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win either an ebook or print copy of Valleys, Vehicles & Victims, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

From Fifth Avenue to Normal, Kentucky?
Maybelline “Mae” Grant West, delightfully referred to as Mae West, was forced to give up her gold card, New York condo, and husband of two-years whose Ponzi scheme derailed her leisurely lifestyle. Although rumors swirled, she was not held liable for any wrong doing despite benefiting from his ill-gotten gains, and a final settlement awarded her, a flamingo keychain to a small bright-yellow camper and…“A campground?” Yes. Mae’s new life back in her hometown of Normal, Kentucky, has her the owner of Happy Trails Campground busy with renovations, planning events, and becoming an integral member of the community. However, several suspicious deaths, including “Mr. Ponzi,” have invaded her “normal,” but with handyman Henry, manager Dottie, detective/boyfriend Hank, a plethora of Normal residents, and a quirky group of senior citizens dubbed the “Laundry Club,” she seems to have found a new calling…amateur sleuth.

Valleys, Vehicles & Victims earns 5/5 Bachelorettes…Super Engaging Fun!
It’s going to be a big weekend at Happy Trails Campground. If this bridal party goes well, it could lead to future such gatherings, but Dottie is worried about all the “giggling and squealing.” Bride Shay Moon arrives with her bridesmaids, mother, and a family secretary in tow, well, in RV, and the groom and his entourage will be arriving later combining both bachelor and bachelorette parties. The bride’s high society ways, punctuated by her father being the owner of Moonbucks Coffee, should illustrate a “fish out of water” scenario, but she’s in love with the campground’s rustic flair, suggests the rehearsal dinner be held at the local Chicken Fest, and is set to have the wedding in the Old Barn. But, feuding families, an entitled bridezilla, shocking groom’s gift, overheard conversations, and the public angst, captured and downloaded online, between owner of the local coffee shop and the bride’s father leads to…murder!

It also seems Mae’s past just won’t stay in the past. The bride’s father and mother are old friends from her New York/Hamptons lifestyle days. Although she has reconciled with her past and her “ex-now-dead” husband’s criminal dealings, she is surprised learning about the “quid pro quo” arrangement set by the bride and her family. Lots of back scratching all around now that a reporter from a high society magazine has arrived agreeing to highlight the wedding in exchange for Mae submitting to an interview about her tragic fall from leisure. No interview. No wedding article. No wedding in Normal. A conundrum Mae is not happy with, but her friends understand the dilemma and step in to help…get your own reporter!

Fun in Kentucky! Tonya Kappes has given fans another marvelous adventure in Normal, Kentucky, but this time with woodsy chic nuptials that turn…murderous! Tonya’s writing style, of course, is the star of the show with her use of vivid descriptive language sending the senses on a journey through Daniel Boone National Park and sites in and around Normal…“The sweetgum was a showoff, with its rich, wine-colored yellows, oranges, reds, and purples creating the perfect autumn atmosphere for all my guests at Happy Trails Campground.” Beautiful, right? But, it isn’t all description as she illustrates a plethora of marvelous local and visiting characters and their personalities with delightful dialogue…“It’s my wedding. My daddy said I can have whatever I want, and I want my rehearsal dinner there. Tonight.” Reminiscent of Veruca Salt, right? Add a clever mystery with several conflicts that translate well to murder, ups and downs, friends and foes, a Chicken Fest, wedding prep, bribes, a church bus, and coffee (of course), and you have marvelous entertainment. The actual murder mystery is delayed longer than I like, but Mae and her past is explored, her friends and the community are highlighted, and all the arguments, conflicts, and problems kept me totally engaged! Loved it!

Bonus! This series always includes “Recipes and Cleaning Hack from Mae West and the Women in Normal, Kentucky, and Happy Trails Campground” with easy-to-follow recipes for some delicious treats and a few RV or camping tips that can often be translated to anyone, with or without a camper. Enjoy Beer Braised Short Ribs, Big Oreo Skillet Cookie, and Sweet Potato Hash along with RV Hacks on matches and storage and Camping Hack to keep cookware rust-free. Ingenious!

Be a Big Fan!
Tonya Kappes is one of my Top Ten favorite authors. She has exciting ghostly, magical, and caffeinated themed series to go along with her now nine-book Camper & Criminals Cozy series. For ghosts she has the popular eight-book Ghostly Southern Mystery and seven-book Kenni Lowry series. Add some magic with the twelve-book Magical Cures Mystery and three-book Spies and Spells series. Get a little caffeinated with her six-book Killer Coffee Mystery.

Alert! Set to release October 29 is book one, Stamped Out, and in December book two, Addressed for Murder, in Tonya’s new Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series starring Bernadette Davis, the beloved mail carrier in Sugar Creek Gap. It appears she’ll be delivering more than just mail! Also releasing on November 26 is Holiday Roast Mortem from her Killer Coffee Mystery series starring Roxy Bloom hosting a Christmas Dinner with family and friends and…murder! And in 2020 fans are eager for the release of Dead to the Last Drop (Jan.) and A Charming Deception (Feb.)!

Facebook – Author Tonya Kappes
Join the “Cozy Krew”
Become a Member at the Website – Tonya Kappes

To enter to win either an ebook or print copy of Valleys, Vehicles & Victims, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “victims,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 9, 2019. US only. If entering via comment please include your email address, if entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. AND BE SURE TO STATE IF YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.