Calamity Jayne Heads West

hings are heating up for Tressa Jayne...not only because she's in Arizona, but Ranger Rick is making her temperature rise. The Turner and Townsend families make their way out west to Flagstaff, Arizona to Tressa's Aunt Kay's for Hannah and Joe's nuptials. Little Nick Townsend, Rick's nephew, is a miniature Ranger Rick and driving Tressa crazy before they even make it to Arizona. He already knows all her buttons and is pushing them like a kid in an elevator. Tressa needs to find a gift for her gammy and granpappy-to-be. When she sees the perfect fertility idol her gammy would love and Joltin' Joe would be mortified of, she snaps it up. Unfortunately for her, someone else wants the ugly little statue more than she does. And the craziness ensues. No one believes Tressa when she says the statue is the reason bad things keep happening to them. Then, she and Nick figure out why the statue is so important. And the real "mystery" begins. Rick and Tressa'a relationship grows in this book more than any other. Tressa knows she wants Rick and he knows he wants her...only problem is that something keeps stopping them from taking the leap. I really like the progression in this book. Rick's revelations at the end show real growth on his part. This book leaves off where you definitely need to read the next book...it isn't a "cliffhanger," but it does leaving a bit dangling. One of the better in the series.

I think that this is the best one yet. There is a better follow up to the relationship between Tressa & Ranger Rick. By the end of this book you're frustrated with them, but happy with where they're heading. The plot is pretty good and it's the first time Tressa seems to be the obvious best of the family lot. It's a good read and buy.

Tressa "Calamity" Jayne's crazy grandma is taking the family with her so that they can attend her wedding to the grandfather of Jayne's maybe boyfriend Rick. They are heading to Flagstaff, Arizona. On the trek, Jayne knows she needs to find the right present for her beloved wacko relative and thinks she has succeeded with "Kookamunga" an ugly fertility figurine that reminds her of granny. However, someone else wants Kookamunga and is trying to steal it. Jayne will do anything to insure granny gets what she deserves so no thief will get away with Kookamunga as far as she is concerned. At the same time, Jayne and her horde of invading relatives including her pain in the butt sarcastic preadolescent nephew begin a treasure hunt while Rick is hot and cold in his affections towards her. The latest lighthearted Calamity Jayne caper is an amusing thriller as the heroine is overdosing with to too much family. The treasure hunt is fun to follow as Jayne and ilk seem to land in one problem after another. Although her nephew comes across as a brat irritating readers as much as Jayne, fans of the series will enjoy her latest adventures as she and the clan invade the Grand Canyon State. Harriet Klausner