Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. A Campers and Criminal Mystery Series is another brainchild of USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. If you love her quirky southern characters and small town charm with a mystery to solve, you’re going to love her new cozy mystery series! Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in … lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.
Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn’t lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn’t seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae’s idea of camping has room service.
By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she’ll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren’t always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top.
Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul’s schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents’ eyes. Mae doesn’t think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake.
Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp’s short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge.
Time is running out for Mae to prove that she’s innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who’ve lost all their savings to Paul’s Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.
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First of all, my red pen was on alert. However, I did enjoy the book and all of the characters. Mae West went from Park Avenue to Normal, KY all due to her ex-husband , Paul West, and his Ponzi Scheme. All she had left was a rundown RV and an even more rundown campground as well as some cash stuffed in a sock in a drawer. The women she meets and befriends in Normal are a fun read. Lots of twists and turns as well as humor and romance. I would recommend.
You can’t judge a book by its cover and you cannot judge a town by a brochure. This book turned into a great read and the start of a great series. I wish I lived in Normal, Kentucky.
Looking forward to seeing what Mae West does next in Normal
Mae West’s life has turned upside down. Unbeknownst to her, her husband Paul was running a Ponzi scheme. When the dust from the FBI raid settles, Mae is left with no money, no home, and no friends. All she has is an RV and a campground in Kentucky. She heads there, hoping to figure out what she wants to do next with her life while she sells the place. However, when she arrives, she finds the place has been neglected and needs a lot of work. Then Paul escapes from prison and turns up dead in the campground’s lake. With Mae a logical prime suspect, she begins to work to clear her name. Can she do it?
I grew up camping, and I wanted to love this series set at a campground. Unfortunately, the flaws were just too many. The plot was good, including a logical killer and motive. However, there is a major plot hole in the final quarter of the book – one big enough to drive an RV through. Then there’s the law enforcement character who is supposed to be FBI but acts more like the local sheriff. The characters are pushing the edges of quirky, but they definitely grew on me. There are multiple issues with the grammar, something I am usually able to ignore pretty well, but here they were pretty bad. I think most of the flaws could have been fixed with a good, solid edit, but instead the book feels like it was rushed out. It is a quick read, and includes three delicious recipes and some household tips at the end. I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I will have to keep driving until I find a better campground cozy series.
Good start to a new series. Just when her life was turned upside down Mae West finds a new normal and a new life. This book introduced many enjoyable characters that I can’t wait to continue to read about. I’m sure that Mae West will have plenty of adventures with the Bible thumpers and her book club.
“Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries” earns 5/5 Ponzi Predicaments…Clever!
Serious Life Changes… Maybelline “Mae” Grant West, has found herself without means along with no New York condo, no Maserati, no Hampton’s escape, and no husband of two-years. Her now ex-husband’s busted Ponzi scheme and going-to-jail future also impacted her future, and although exonerated of any wrong doing since her signature was proven a forgery, she did enjoy the benefits of his ill-gotten gains with shopping, spa visits, and a leisurely lifestyle. In the hard-fought final settlement, she did receive, free and clear, a flamingo keychain to a small bright-yellow camper and…“A campground?” Although Mae’s new life challenges the idea of “normal,” she heads off to Normal, Kentucky, to take possession of the not-so-Happy Trails Campground, the only thing not forfeited to the government. Despite a hidden “sock drawer” surprise from her ex-husband, this new life is going to be a challenge with much needed renovations and dealing with a town full of her husband’s victims. But worse yet comes when, after escaping from jail, her ex is found floating in the lake…dead. Ooooh, Karma is always there when you need him, but not smoothly! Mae is deemed the prime suspect by local law enforcement…woman scorned and all.
“Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries” is the first in a six-book series with the most delightful covers…always some version of a colorful RV to grab your attention! However, open up or swipe the screen and discover it’s Tonya Kappes’s story that is the true star: a clever mystery giving Karma free reign, relatable (some quirky) characters illustrating a fun Southern nature, a bit of “maybe” romance, and a satisfying ending with just the right amount of peril. Written with a first-person narrative, it’s Mae’s perspective, inner thoughts, fears, and frustrations that are the focus. She didn’t start the mess her husband got in and in a way is a victim, but she does try to make amends with those who lost everything, too. The healing and beginning relationships add to the engaging drama. This is definitely a candidate for Top Ten series of 2019!
Tonya regularly includes some extra treat for her readers, so what’s better than ideas and recipes for the wannabe or passionate RVer than “Recipes and Cleaning Hacks From Mae West and Women From Normal, Kentucky, and Happy Trails. Campground.” In this book she has three RV Hacks (Keep Away the Critters, Duct Tape According to Queenie, and Ty Randal’s Secret Grout Cleaner). Also enjoy the following recipes that are not just for camping: Preacher’s Wife Pineapple Casserole, Henry’s Buttermilk Garlic and Cheddar Biscuits, and Campfire S’more Dip Using a Cast Iron Skillet.
I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and the plot. I liked the campground setting. There were enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the end of the book. This was a fun read. I look forward to reading more in the series.
Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes is the first in her latest Cozy Series, Campers & Criminals Mysteries.
Mae West had everything a girl could want, until the FBI raided her home and arrested her husband. Penniless as well as homeless, she’s lucky to not be sharing a cell with her husband “Ex!”
She turns her home and car over to the lawyer, who in turn gives her an RV camper and sends her to Normal, Kentucky, to take ownership of the only thing left to her, The Happy Trails RV Park. Unfortunately, the name West is the equivalent of Mud in Normal, and she finds it hard to live with the damage her husband “Ex!!” did to the townspeople.
When bodies start showing up at Happy Trails, Mae wonders just who she can trust.
This is an incredible introduction to the new series, and Ms. Kappes has outdone herself again. Absolute 5 star read.
Will Mae West make the campground better or sell it?
Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes is the first book in her new series called A Camper and Criminals Cozy. Just like all of Ms. Kappes books, this one is a pretty fast read. This book is also different than Ms. Kappes others, and I enjoyed the first look at Mae. This book is in the first-person point of view and it’s set in Kentucky. Well after a bit it is.
Mae West
The narrator of this series is Mae West. She is a bit different than the other characters that Tonya has made before. I am saying this due to to the way she talks and a little bit of her personality. Mae being different is a good thing. What I like about her is that she is different from June Heal and the other characters that Ms. Kappes has created. Another like is that she is trying to help everyone that her ex-husband has wronged. My dislike is that she doesn’t think she belongs in Normal.
Love Interests
Mae West has two potential love interests from what I can see so far. The first one is Ty Randel who is a tenant at Mae’s campground, and the second one is Detective Hank who is also a tenant but not all the time. Ty Randal is a chef and the son of the only restaurant owner in town. Hank is a detective and an FBI agent. Each guy is completely different but they also compliment Mae very well. If I had to choose right now, I would probably think that Ty will become Mae’s love interest but as a cozy, she might be with the FBI agent.
Crime
The crime in this book is pretty weird. Mae hasn’t been there for very long and she finds her ex-husbands dead body in the lake. What a terrible thing to have happen to you. Granted he isn’t a nice person to anyone there. I decided to showcase this because it’s a pretty odd that the murder weapon is left behind with the body. To find out who did it you have to read the book.
Five Star
I am giving Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes a five-star rating. Ms. Kappes created a wonderful world with great characters. There were some editing mistakes in it but not enough to take me out of the book. Overall Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries was a great book.
Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
Baroness Book Trove.
If you would like to read more reviews like this one, please go to baronessbooktrove.com
As a Kentucky resident I can relate to her writing. Small town atmosphere.
.familiar with the Daniel Boone Forrest…and I live her quirky friends that help each other.
It was a cute, light read however this book needs to be proof read or go through a grammer check program. The missing and incorrect words was distracting.
Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappas is the first book in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Series. I was hooked right from the first paragraph. I fell in love with the small town of Normal, KY. The characters have such a sense of friendship and southern charm. Everything was so well described that you felt like you were right there in Normal, KY. I kept guessing who dunit but I was wrong on all accounts. I read this in one sitting because I was so engrossed in everything that happened. Ms. Kappas always has the wonderful southern charm in all her books and keeps you interested until the last word. I can’t wait read the next installment of this series. I highly recommend this book it was a funny clean mystery.
I love the idea of this camping series! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries, book 1, A Camper and Criminals mystery series. Tonya Kappes HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! Her newest series with book 2, Deserts, Driving and Derelicts out now and book 3, Fishing, Forest and Forgery soon in July. Packed full of Fun, Laugh out Loud humor and Entertainment from cover to cover. With TK’s brilliant action, unpredictable twists, turns and what’s next interest! Murder and could be romance. Mae West thought her ex husband had left her with Nothing But an OLD CAMPER! Good thing she can drive it. Everything gone. Husband, home(s), clothes, cars, money, even friends. Oh yeah, the camper comes with a campground. In Normal, KY. Mae is about to discover she is gaining way more than she thought she lost. This cast of characters is a marvelous zany mix that capture readers’ hearts. Come along to Normal, KY. A place and people readers will want to visit over and over!!! I read this book on Kindle Unlimited. A Must Read Summer series!!!
Mae West is having the worse year of her life. Her husband (now ex) is sent away for scamming people in a Ponzi scheme and she loses everything but an RV and trailer park located in Normal, Kentucky.
Upon arrival at the trailer park, Mae realizes she is in for more than she bargained for as the beautiful park is no longer beautiful. While trying to fix the damage her ex-husband has caused, she gets mixed up in a murder investigation at the trailer park and fingers point to her new friend.
Mae is a delightful character that is not your typical richie turned poor girl. She is all heart and wants to correct a bad situation for the town of Normal. The author has you cheering for Mae all the way and I know I was left wanting more of this new cozy series.
There were several misspelled words, and even the grammar was sometimes incorrect. It did not appear to have been edited at all.The story line was fun, though improbable.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Book one in the brand new Campers & Criminals cozy mystery series and what an incredible start it is too. Welcome to Normal, Kentucky the hometown of Mae West which she returns to after being done really dirty by her ex-husband. He was running a financial scheme and when it was all said and done all Mae had to her name is a little money and ownership of an RV park in Normal. So of course she flees there only to find the park in ruins, the town hates her ex, and to top it all off his dead body is found on her property. Well of course she is a suspect along with quite a few others and what follows is one interesting investigation with lots of twists, turns, and surprises. The characters are just great, the town is addicting, and I may be in love with RV park now. If you are a fan of cozies then you so have to read this one. I loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Interesting characters, original concept for a cozy mystery, a good plot with multiple potential suspects. This series has good potential, but better editing does need to be on the agenda in the future. All in all, it’s a fun read and I’m looking forward to getting to know all the characters better in the next book.
it was a entertaining book, I enjoyed want to read the next book when it’s on sale.
Cute first book in a new series by Tonya Kappes. Mae West finds herself the owner of a RV Campground in the little town of Normal, Kentucky. The story includes some interesting people in this town along with a murder or two. There’s also a hint of a possible romance. Looking forward to seeing how this Campers and Criminals series continues.