Idaho; Phoenix, Arizona – Present Day

Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married…

Yes folks, that’s right. It’s a wedding. Calamity’s grandmother, Hannah, and Ranger Rick’s grandfather, Joe Townsend, are tying the knot. The whole family boards a plane headed for Phoenix, Arizona to watch these two get hitched. Should be no problem, right? Unfortunately for Tressa “Calamity Jayne” Turner, it turns into a wild ride filled with danger, intrigue, and a little romance on the side.

It all starts when Tressa, who has forgotten to buy the happy couple a wedding gift, stops at a little booth on the side of the road and buys them a statue…a well-endowed statue. She nicknames him Kookamunga and is very pleased with her purchase, even though Rick and his mischievous nephew, Nick, think she’s nuts and cheap. Who cares what they think. She likes it and just knows her granny and Joe will too.

Well, this starts a whole heap of trouble. First, Tressa is robbed by a suave and good looking man, who just happens to show up in a couple of other places where she is. Tressa and Rick nearly do the nasty a couple of times only to be thwarted by something or someone, although she does learn that Rick’s just as scared as she is about what’s happening between them. Her cousin, Sophie, is a…well, let’s just say it nearly makes Tressa’s eyes bug out. <g> And Rick’s nephew, Nick, is a nuisance, but he’s starting to grow on Tressa Jayne. Tressa gets jealous when a local cop hits on Rick, says some things she shouldn’t, causing Rick to storm off and out the door with said cop. Drat it all! This just isn’t her day.

It’s another rip-roaring, fast-paced adventure with our favorite heroine, Tressa “Calamity Jayne” Turner. In CALAMITY JAYNE HEADS WEST, readers get a ringside seat to a rollercoaster ride of a life in Calamity’s world. Our heroine is up to her cute little fanny in trouble again and, unfortunately, nobody believes her when she says someone is after Kookamunga. Her relationship with Rick is still in the growth stages, and Tressa isn’t sure she can handle the direction they are heading. However, she does know that she doesn’t like another woman horning in on her territory where Rick is concerned. Jealousy…I reckon. <g> Told in first person, readers have inside knowledge on Tressa Jayne’s thoughts, ideas, and how hot she thinks Ranger Rick is. Oh, the things she thinks about where he is concerned: Downright naughty! A whole cast of characters surrounds our lead protagonist, each one adding insight, providing tips, or being a nuisance. A couple of new characters are introduced into the mix; Tressa’s cousin, Sophie, a big, beautiful woman who leads a secret life; and the young man who nearly steals the show, (sometimes he does) Rick’s nephew, Nick. Nick is a cute and precocious little boy who sometimes seems wise beyond his years. And other times…he acts like a normal kid. Tressa would like to strangle the little brat, especially when he pulls stunts that end up embarrassing her in front of the family and Rick.

Charming, captivating, with quite a bit of down home humor thrown in, Kathleen Bacus pens another fabulous story with CALAMITY JAYNE HEADS WEST. If you haven’t read any of the others, don’t let that stop you from picking this one up.

Sinclair Reid