Beaches Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Posted January 15, 2019 by karenbaron in #BookishRecipe, Mystery, Review / 225 Comments

Beaches Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries

by Tonya Kappes
five-stars
Series: Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery #1
Series Rating: five-stars
on May 25, 2018
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 212
Format: Kindle
Goodreads
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers, Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts, Forests, Fishing, & Forgery, Christmas, Criminals, and Campers, Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder, Hitches, Hideouts, and Homicides, Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis, Valleys, Vehicles & Victims, Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal, Tents, Trails and Turmoil

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal.
Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush 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.

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,

Karen Signature

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five-stars

About Tonya Kappes

tonya kappes

For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.

She has a B.A. in Education from the University of Kentucky and a proud Kentucky Wildcat fan.

Married to an amazing man, Eddy, she has four son ranging in ages from twenty-two to sixteen years old, Charlie and Scooter (Schnauzers), and Kitty Kappes.

Now a full time writer, she spends her days creating the fun-loving, quirky southern characters that is full of charm that readers have come to love.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • 2019 Cloak and Dagger
  • 2019 Craving For Cozies Reading Challenge
  • 2019 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge
  • 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge

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Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

225 responses to “Beaches Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes”

  9. Robin Weiss

    Oh! Poor Mae! This most definitely sounds like fun & exciting page turner! Thanks for sharing Karen! rw620

    Reply
  14. Sue Buck

    This is the first book in Tonya Kappes series. Where we meet Mae West who has recent inherited a Camper and a Camp Ground in Normal, Kentucky from her no good husband. Mae West isn’t happy about this by the time you finish reading the book she has realized that she belongs there.

    In the book she becomes the number one suspect in the murder investigation and she meets her first love interest, Detective Hank. Her second love interest is Ty Randel a resident at Happy Trails.

    Don’t want to tell any more or I’ll will spoil the story for you. 🙂

    susanr

    Reply
  50. Karen B Martin

    Your books have a special place in my TBR lineup—they usually get pushed right to the top because I can never wait!

    Reply
  55. Anne

    Mae West? I wonder if the character has anything in common with the late actress. I like a gutsy, outspoken female character.

    acm05

    Reply
  57. Sharon Guagliardo

    I love Tonya Kappes’ books! They are always so much fun and this book sounds just as fun. Can’t wait to read it. A very nice review, too. catwo

    Reply
  59. Joye

    This last summer we went on a trip in a motorhome. What an experience!
    Want to read this series to see if the same things happened to the characters as what I experienced.

    Reply
  64. Denise Austin

    This book was so so good. I love this series and can’t wait for the next one. Tonya is my favorite cozy mystery author. denis

    Reply
  69. Betsy Pauzauskie

    I love Tonya’s books and was excited to see your 5 Star Rating! Mae’s ex sounds (sounded) like one bad dude. I look forward to learning how this plot unfolds. Betsy

    Reply
  82. Marsha Bonifant

    Another great read from Tonya Kappes. Love the Mae West and the other characters I’ve met so far. mgb379

    Reply
  85. Karen W. Johnston

    I love Mrs. Kappes’ books. Great reads with twisty plots, engaging characters and laughs along the way. johns

    Reply
  98. susan beamon

    My daughter bought a camper. Hope she doesn’t stumble across any mysteries when she goes traveling. susan

    Reply
  108. Lily-Ann Gill

    I absolutely LOVE this book. It is the start of a amazing series ❤️❤️ Thank you for the chance. lilya

    Reply
  120. Michele Rioli

    Awesome giveaway! Oh wow! Can’t wait to read this book. Fun series filled with amazing characters.
    deseng

    Reply
  159. Sharon Guagliardo

    I love Tonya Kappes’ books. This one sounds like so much fun. Thanks for the wonderful review. catwo

    Reply
  167. Frances

    I just love this series by Tonya Kappes! I don’t know how she does it but each mystery at the campground is fresh. Who knew camping off the Parkway could be so exciting! I enjoyed reading your post on the first book. I hope you continue reading this fun series. There are secrets to be uncovered..crist

    Reply
  173. Kay Garrett

    Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries” by Tonya Kappes. Amazing author and I always greatly enjoy reading her books.
    2clow

    Reply
  184. Marie Roberts

    Great review! Love Tanya’s books. They always provide smiles, giggles and laughs for me. Thanks for the chance. – riero

    Reply
  188. Sue Waagner

    What a surprise the trailer park was for Mae, not only does she have to deal with a whole new way of life, but the murder of her husband too! Sounds like a great read. waags

    Reply
  191. Vicki Boyd

    I just love copies and can’t wait to read ALL of your books! I will definitely recommend your books and come back to give reviews of all. Thanks for the chance
    vrcmk

    Reply
  210. Myra Ball

    This is the only series of Tonya Kappes’ that I haven’t read yet. I like that the series is a bit different than her June Heal series which are one of my favorite cozy books. She’s one of the authors that get the southern dialect correct from my North Alabama opinion. Nice review. oaktr

    Reply
  216. Tami Wells Silva

    I cant wait to begin reading this series! Ive enjoyed Tonya’s books so I am sure this will be a great read too!
    Tamif

    Reply
  218. Laura Wingfield

    Since I have RVed, I’ll enjoy checking this out. I’m pretty well hooked on most all your series! laura@

    Reply
  219. Jan Phillips

    I love Tonya’s books, the characters are likeable and the predicaments Mae gets into can be so funny. Spark

    Reply

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