CALAMITY JANE GOES TO COLLEGE

Author: Kathleen Bacus ISBN: 0505527014 4/2007 CONTEMPORARY/MYSTERY Publisher: DORCHESTER

WHAT DOES A BLONDE GET ON AN INTELLIGENCE TEST? DROOL Ace cub reporter Tressa Jayne Turner is carrying a full load—and we’re not just talking post-holiday pounds here. Tressa’s dropped back into college and she’s looking to nab a raise from her stingy boss, Stan, in exchange for post-secondary success. So, what’s to stop her from making the grade—besides the old ‘dog ate the homework’ story, that is? • A wrinkled roommate rekindling an old flame • Maid of honor madness run amok • A botched betrothal that’s more than just schoolyard gossip • One man who likes her for herself and another who wants to save her from herself • And a campus criminal out to teach the student body a lesson—one crime at a time It’s a case of murder and mayhem by the books... and failure is like so not an option.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Calamity Jayne goes to college in this latest installment of Kathleen Bacus' romantic mysteries. Tressa Jayne Turner is starting to get her life straightened out... well, a little bit at least. She's reenrolled in college in an attempt to prove she's serious about her career as an investigative reporter. If only she could stay awake in class and find time for her assignments in between her other jobs and preparing to be the maid of honor at a wedding. Then there's her nutty grandmother to manage too, along with her livestock!

Luckily, a hot topic for her latest journalism paper drops into her lap when crimes being committed on campus are like those being described each day in her cousin's criminal justice class. She teams up with her cousin and his irritating fiancé to try to solve the crimes and get a big story.

Both helping and hindering are her three romantic interests. Tressa keeps the balls in the air with all three. Equally attracted to all three, what's a girl to do? We see enough of each guy to find them intriguing without knowing which one to pick ourselves.

I enjoyed the humor and the suspense in CALAMITY JANE GOES TO COLLEGE. Bacus offers us the zany fun we expect from Calamity Jayne, as well as an absorbing mystery.

Heather Hiestand