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Calamity Jayne
Series · 9 books · 2006-2015

Books in series

Calamity Jayne book cover
#1

Calamity Jayne

2006

Tressa Jayne Turner has had it up to here with the never-ending string of dumb-blonde jokes and her longtime nickname. Crowned "Calamity Jayne" by Iowa Department of Natural Resources officer Rick Townsend, Tressa's out to gain a little hometown respect—or die trying. Unfortunately for Tressa, that may be the case. She's just been handed the perfect opportunity to get "Ranger Rick," the doubting Don Juan of the DNR, and a skeptical citizenry to finally take her seriously. How? By solving a murder no one else believes happened...No one, that is, except the killer. Yup, Calamity Jayne is in it up to her hot pink snakeskin cowgirl boots and matching rhinestone belt. Tressa would tell you her momma never raised no dummies, but the jury's still out on that one.
Calamity Jayne Rides Again book cover
#2

Calamity Jayne Rides Again

2006

Two months ago, 23-year-old Tressa Jayne Turner knew just where she stood with "Ranger Rick" Townsend. Sure, he's what you'd call hott with two t's, but he's also responsible for her nickname "Calamity." And ever since they solved that murder last summer-ever since Rick saved her cookies-he's acted as if he has a god-given right to sample them. Of course, Tressa has bigger frenches to fry. The Iowa state fair is about to start, and her uncle Frank's ice cream stand is poised to scoop the competition. So when a soft-serve saboteur appears at the same time her cousin goes missing, it's another fine sticky mess. It's time for Tressa to don her hot pink cowboy boots and solve the mystery.
Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun book cover
#3

Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun

2006

After being stalked by a psycho dunk-tank clown, Tressa Jayne Turner takes a break from reporting until a reclusive and rather strange best-selling writer arrives in town. Original.
Calamity Jayne Goes to College book cover
#4

Calamity Jayne Goes to College

2007

Back in college for the fourth time, reporter Tressa Jayne Turner finds her quest for higher education thwarted by a new mystery, a campus criminal, a crazy roommate, a botched betrothal, and a hot guy who wants to save her from herself. Original.
Calamity Jayne Heads West book cover
#5

Calamity Jayne Heads West

2007

When Tressa "Calamity" Jayne Turner heads West to celebrate her grandmother's remarriage, she, along with a colorful cast of characters, are caught up in mystery and mayhem when someone steals "Kookamunga," a hideous fertility figurine.
Anchors Aweigh book cover
#6

Anchors Aweigh

2008

When she and her family accidentally board a low-cal "biggest loser" cruise, Tressa "Calamity" Jayne Turner discovers something even more disturbing than healthy eating choices and a Bermuda-esque love triangle—murder. Original.
Six Geese a' Slaying book cover
#6.5

Six Geese a' Slaying

2013

Sure, ’tis the season for peace on earth and good will to all, but for nineteen-year-old Tressa Jayne Turner, this year’s holiday season plays out more like the nightmare before Christmas—Calamity Jayne style. When her grandma’s nemesis, Abigail Winegardner, plans a living nativity, complete with a camel, Tressa’s competitive grandma won’t be outdone. Gammy is determined to create her own living—and molting—“Twelve Days of Christmas” pageant, but her aviary extravaganza is in jeopardy when the stars go missing, turning this holiday into a wild goose chase that’s bound to ruffle more than a few feathers. Will the plucky Tressa track down the missing cast before the curtain rises?
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#7

Calamity Jayne and the Trouble with Tandems

2014

From National Bestselling author, Kathleen Bacus comes the next installment in the hilarious Calamity Jayne series... What's the hardest part of learning to ride a tandem? The pavement. It's late July, and Tressa Jayne Turner's summer is as sizzling as Ranger Rick Townsend! But is Tressa in love or lust with the hot ranger? There's not time to find out as Tressa's boss at the Gazette, Stan Rodgers, wants his Ace Cub Reporter to cover TribRide—the state's ginormous bicycle ride across the state—but not from the sidelines. This assignment is a little more...hands on. Hands on the handlebars, that is. Not only that, but Tressa's ticket to ride is on a bicycle built for two! And at the tandem's helm? Sleazy rival reporter Drew Van Vleet, aka, "the missing link." Could things get any worse? You decide. Tressa's parents are on the outs. Her sister is on the warpath. Van Vleet's insisting on a Star Trek theme. And Tressa is the number one suspect in a series of SO-not-funny pranks targeting reality TV star Keelie Keller. Talk about strange new worlds! Tressa is about to go where no "Calamity" has gone before—and where the ultimate wedgie is bound to be the least of this uneasy rider's worries! Hang on, folks. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. (I am a Vulcan. I feel no pain.) Other Calamity Jayne books: #1 Calamity Jayne #2 Calamity Jayne and the Fowl Play at the Fair #3 Calamity Jayne and the Haunted Homecoming #4 Calamity Jayne and the Campus Caper #5 Calamity Jayne in the Wild, Wild West #6 Calamity Jayne and the Hijinks on the High Seas What critics are saying about the Calamity Jayne mysteries: "Fans of Janet Evanovich will be glad to see that you don't always have to go to the burgh for mirthful murder and mayhem." - Booklist "Filled with dumb-blonde jokes, nonstop action and rapid-fire banter, this is a perfect read for chick-lit fans who enjoy a dash of mystery." - Publishers' Weekly "Fun and lighthearted with an interesting mystery, a light touch of romance and some fascinating characters." - RT Book Reviews "Throw in two parts Nancy Drew, one part Lucille Ball, add a dash of Stephanie Plum, shake it all up and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind amateur sleuth with a penchant for junk food and hot-pink snakeskin cowgirl boots. A word to the wise: if you’re prone to laughing out loud when reading funny books, try not to read Calamity Jayne when you’re sandwiched between two sleeping passengers on an airplane…sometimes we learn these things the hard way." - Chick Lit Cafe
Calamity Jayne and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Lawn Gnome book cover
#8

Calamity Jayne and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Lawn Gnome

2015

What do you call a fly in a blonde's brain? A space invader. Ace Cub Reporter Tressa "Calamity" Jayne Turner is back in Grandville and ready to enjoy the slower pace of with small town life and begin building a dating resume with one handsome ranger. It’s Frontier Days at the Historical Village, but mischief’s afoot—of the malicious variety—when vandals target the area, stealing and damaging property and leaving behind spray-painted signatures in the form of hot pink tornadoes. So what else besides a gang of local thugs threatens Knox County’s frontier festivities? Only a cross-dressing aunt bent on a reunion "gotcha," two-relationships in crisis, three dates from hell, an eccentric local with an ET obsession, five burning questions for a man-o’-mystery, and a missing lawn gnome that makes Chucky seem benevolent by comparison. It’s a countdown to a showdown where strange lights in the sky, “signs” on the trees, and horses of a different color are only the beginning of this close encounter of the Calamity Jayne kind. And Tressa Jayne? She’s ready to believe. Calamity Jayne Mysteries: Calamity Jayne – book #1 Calamity Jayne and the Fowl Play at the Fair – book #2 Calamity Jayne and the Haunted Homecoming – book #3 Calamity Jayne and the Campus Caper– book #4 Calamity Jayne in the Wild, Wild West– book #5 Calamity Jayne and the Hijinks on the High Seas– book #6 Calamity Jayne and the Trouble with Tandems– book #7 Calamity Jayne and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Lawn Gnome – book #8 What critics are saying about the Calamity Jayne Mysteries: "Filled with dumb-blonde jokes, nonstop action and rapid-fire banter, this is a perfect read for chick-lit fans who enjoy a dash of mystery." ~ Publishers' Weekly "Fun and lighthearted with an interesting mystery, a light touch of romance and some fascinating characters." ~ RT Book Reviews "Throw in two parts Nancy Drew, one part Lucille Ball, add a dash of Stephanie Plum, shake it all up and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind amateur sleuth with a penchant for junk food and hot-pink snakeskin cowgirl boots. A word to the wise: if you’re prone to laughing out loud when reading funny books, try not to read Calamity Jayne when you’re sandwiched between two sleeping passengers on an airplane…sometimes we learn these things the hard way." ~ Chick Lit Cafe "Bacus provides lots of small-town fun with this lovable, fair-haired klutz and lively story, liberally salted with dumb-blond jokes." ~ Booklist \starred review\

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