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Tonya Kappes Tonya Kappes

Book Type: Novel

Lassoes & Lies

Kentucky ranch cozy mystery rodeo murder.

Secrets buckle tighter in Kentucky horse country.

When Cussy Hollingsworth inherits her late uncle’s struggling ranch, she is determined to save Bluegrass Ridge Ranch from financial ruin. The annual Bluegrass Ridge Ranch Revival Rodeo is supposed to bring in enough tourists, sponsors, and prize money to keep the family land alive for another season.

Instead, it brings murder.

When glamorous rodeo queen Vanessa Hartwell is found dead during the festival, whispers spread through the barns and stock pens faster than wildfire. Vanessa knew too many secrets, crossed too many rivals, and left behind a long list of suspects hiding behind polished boots and championship smiles.

As Cussy digs deeper into the dangerous rivalries surrounding the rodeo circuit, she uncovers gambling debts, family betrayals, altered breeding records, old affairs, and grudges buried deep in Kentucky horse country. The closer she gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that someone will do anything to protect the legacy tied to Bluegrass Ridge Ranch.

With Sheriff Wade closing in on suspects, the gossip mill running full speed at the Bluegrass Griddle, and rugged ranch manager Colt Morgan standing firmly by her side, Cussy must untangle the lies before another deadly ride begins.

Because at Bluegrass Ridge Ranch, the most dangerous thing in the arena is not always the bull.

Perfect for readers who love:

🐎 Kentucky ranch and rodeo mysteries
🔎 Strong female amateur sleuths
💕 Slow-burn small-town romance
🏡 Southern family secrets and scandals
🌾 Horses, bluegrass charm, and rural life
📚 Cozy mysteries with emotional depth and heart

Welcome to Bluegrass Ridge Ranch—where reputations matter, secrets run deep, and survival comes with a price.

Brewing Up Bones

Welcome to the Bean Hive Coffee Shop where the gossip and coffee are HOT!

Fall has settled over Honey Springs, Kentucky, painting the lakeside town in cozy hues of amber and gold. But for Roxy Bloom, owner of The Bean Hive coffee shop, the annual Neewollah Festival brings a chilling new flavor: murder.

When national social media influencer Marlowe Lannigan is found dead in Lake Honey Springs—a twist made even more perplexing by her lifelong fear of water—the town is steeped in suspicion.With quirky barista Birdie Bebe becoming the prime suspect after her distinctive purple scarf is found near the scene, Roxy, a former lawyer turned amateur sleuth, must trade her espresso machine for an investigation board.

From a hidden “burner” phone packed with secrets to the cutthroat world of rival influencers Tilden and Addison battling for a million-dollar tourism contract, Roxy uncovers a bitter feud built on lies and betrayal.

With her sharp-tongued Aunt Maxi, the town gossip columnist, and a loyal schnauzer named Pepper by her side, Roxy must untangle this web of online deception and small-town secrets. Can she clear Birdie’s name and expose the real killer before Honey Springs’s charm is forever overshadowed by scandal and its festive atmosphere turns deadly for good.

Ranch and Red Herrings

Murder’s just another scandal waiting on the porch.

Georgia “Cussy” Hollingsworth thought she’d left small-town drama behind when she traded Kentucky for city life. But when her beloved uncle dies under suspicious circumstances, she’s pulled straight back to the last place she wanted to be—right into the middle of a horse and cattle ranch she never asked for and a murder she can’t ignore.

The plan was simple: settle his affairs, sell the property, and head home. Instead, Cussy finds herself tangled in long-held grudges, whispered secrets, and neighbors who remember everything—except who had a reason to kill.

Now she’s balancing farm chores with fact-finding, dodging shady locals, and stumbling across more questions than answers. And with someone clearly trying to scare her off, Cussy has to decide: walk away, or dig in her heels and uncover the truth—before the killer makes her the next loose end to tie up.

Small town. Big secrets. And a reluctant sleuth who’s about to learn that some roots run deeper than she ever imagined.

A Perk of Trouble

Welcome back to Honey Springs, Kentucky—where the Bean Hive Coffeehouse serves up coffee, community, and more than its fair share of crime.

When a nationally known author arrives in town to headline a prestigious writer’s retreat, Roxanne Bloom is more focused on crafting perfect lattes than getting caught in his plot twists. But when the author turns up dead—in a scene straight from one of his books—Roxy’s peaceful coffee-slinging days are once again interrupted.

With the town buzzing and the retreat guests under suspicion, Roxy dusts off her sleuthing skills to uncover the truth hidden between the pages. Because in Honey Springs, secrets percolate fast—and someone’s trying to cover theirs with murder.

A Perk of Trouble is a heartwarming, twist-filled mystery steeped in Southern charm and brewed with all the things you love—fur babies, friendship, fresh-baked treats, and a heroine who never gives up.

Come for the coffee. Stay for the mystery.