Dance of the Winnebagos: A Jackrabbit Junction Mystery, Book 1

I don't write reviews very often but felt the need to add my two cents about this book. I loved Claire, she was an intelligent, feisty, and good humored (she had to be to put up with those dirty old men :-) main character. I will say this book might not be for everyone. The grandpa and his cronies are very crude, but they are harmless. This story takes place in a little hole in the wall "town" in Arizona. I grew up in a small town and let me tell you-life is a little different in a small town and I found these characters very true to life-a little rude and crude but deep down they were good people. So if you can't deal with a group of dirty old men talking a lot of innuendo and stupid male humor then this book isn't for you. BUT HOPEFULLY that does not deter you because this story is really worth reading! It's just a good story that has all the elements- there is mystery and intrigue, a budding romance filled with sexual tension-but that's just part of the story, and the characters are true to life and funny. It was refreshing that it wasn't the same worn out story line that I have been reading. It wasn't some damsel in distress book and the hunky hero who saves the day. Claire could fend for herself quite well and Mac was not a cop or other kind of "protector", he was -I think the term was geotechnician- or something like that. You'll have to read the book if you don't know what that is :-)One of the reviews I read before reading this book that talked about Claire and her character t-shirts and how they felt it was childish. I didn't feel that way at all, that's part of Claire's charm.The interaction between Ruby and her teenage daughter-ah that brings back memories of my youth! Even the card playing brings back memories of playing cards with my family-all older than me by a few decades- and the banter that went with it- I remember my great grandpa would get mad and start hollering you gosh darn (not the actual words used) sandbagger! To me that wasn't really a distraction from the story line, it helped bring the characters and the town to life. Also knowing that this is the first book in a series makes it that much more important to really set the scene for future books. All of the characters were thought through in great detail and the writing style and dialogue made for an easy read. Sometimes I get caught up in other writers who feel the need to see how many adjectives they can use in a sentence and then I have to re-read a paragraph just to remember where I was before the words side-tracked me from the story. I really liked all of these characters. I just finished this book and have already downloaded books number 2 and 3 in the Jackrabbit Junction series. I'm really looking forward to number 3-just based on the title it sounds hilarious, but I have to read number 2 first-I think I will be up late tonight reading!

I have to agree with the majority this was a quite a good story. It was a bit wacky, a lot wild and over all wonderful, but I thought it was a bit too long. It could have been cut by at least 1/4 and not lost anything. I wasn't particularly fascinated by all the mine creeping and thought a good part of that was redundant and didn't add to the store but made it drag.I love the idea of this story and I found the geriatric crowd haunting the park for hot, sheet heating shinnanigans to be especially funny and bit on the risque side. I love Claire and her relationship with her Gramps, Harley, and his wacky old codgers to be particularly funny and quite accurate. I also thought the bi play with Ruby and her daughter, and Claire and Mac Ruby's nephew, were a great addition to the story line. I enjoyed how it was finally all to put together to provide a satisfying ending and a conclusion to all the mysteries it raised.All in all I think this one was a really good story and winner for the readers. I would definitely recommend the story and think anyone would really like it.

This was a very fun book with a hint of mystery added to the fun. This book was full of all kinds of interesting and quirky characters. In fact if you like the Stephanie Plum books or at least one of Gemma Halliday's two series you will probably like these books as that's the best I can compare them to. I liked reading about all of Claire's adventures that happened while she was visiting her grandfather in the trailer park he happens to live at. I liked reading all about Claire from the interesting T-shirt collection she must have to her junk food eating habits. She also ends up developing a friendship Ruby who runs a small store and Ruby's daughter Jesse. Also it appears that Claire also isn't far from adventure as she runs across a mystery of some bones that her grandpa's dog finds and who or what they belong to. In fact some of the book is her trying to solve the case of the bones in admist different things happening in the trailer park. But as she tries to solve the mystery of the bones is she destined to get herself into nothing but heaps of trouble? This like Ann Charles Deadwood series is highly entertaining and comical in many spots and the mysteries in this series are a little more grounded in reality then the paranormal. I look forward to reading more about Claire.

It was ok. The story kept me reading to the end, though the conclusion was a little underwhelming. I prefer her Deadwood series.

I really enjoyed this book it made me laugh out loud and I couldn't wait to turn the next page

What could make a Winnebago dance? If you love a mystery filled with laughter and love, Jackrabbit Junction's the place for you.

Great writing as usual but this time around I think I needed more back story on our two heroes here..I felt a bit bare in terms of understanding motivations and it was frustrating watching some things happen here time and again..still the story kept me guessing so that's pretty new and well done all round.

This is the first in a series, when I read it I immediately bought the next two in the series. Great fun, a heroine who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty or breaking the law a little for a good cause. A scary mother and mixed up family all makes for a highly entertaining read.