Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Film Crews and Rendezvous: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Film Crews and Rendezvous: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
by Heather Weidner
Film Crews and Rendezvous: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Level Best Books (October 25, 2022)
Number of Pages 240
Hollywood has come to Fern Valley, and the one stoplight town may never be the same. Everyone wants to get in on the act.
The crew from the wildly popular, fan favorite, Fatal Impressions, takes over Jules Keene’s glamping resort, and they bring a lot of offscreen drama and baggage that doesn’t include the scads of costumes, props, and crowds that descend on the bucolic resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Added security, hundreds of calls from hopeful extras, and some demanding divas keep Jules’s team hopping.
When the show’s prickly head writer ends up dead under the L. Frank Baum tiny house in what looks like a staged murder scene with a kitschy homage to the Wizard of Oz, Jules has to figure out who would want the writer dead. Then while they are still reeling from the first murder, the popular publicist gets lost after a long night at the local honky-tonk and winds up strangled. Jules needs to solve both crimes before filming is canceled, and her business is ruined.
My review
After reading Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers, the first book in the Jules Keene Glamping Mystery series, I was hooked! The series takes place in Fern Valley, Virginia, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Film Crews and Rendezvous takes us back to Fern Valley Camping Resort which Jules Keene has completely renovated into an upscale resort. It’s filled with vintage, upscaled RVs. Since the last book, there are also a couple of tiny houses in the resort with more to be added. Jules owns and runs the resort with her aunt Roxanne.
The cast and crew of the popular TV series Fatal Impressions are using the resort and town for filming the latest season. It’s a beautiful location, and since it’s the off-season for tourism, it’s a huge boon for the economy. Sure, there’s lots of drama among the cast and crew, but it’s relatively harmless…until the head writer’s dead body is found. And then another one of the crew is also found dead. Poor Jules!
I loved Film Crews and Rendezvous! Of course the setting of the series is a huge draw for me since the only way I’d ever camp is in one of these upscale trailers! But it’s the premise of the book that had me hooked from the start. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with several TV and movie “stars”, but our interactions weren’t days long! Our interactions and set walk-throughs dazzled me, so I can only imagine seeing them everyday for weeks!
All of the characters in this book are very well-written, and I enjoyed getting to know the main characters a little more. The cast, crew, and townsfolk have unique personalities which bring them to life. As I said, you can read this as a stand-alone, but in order to really appreciate the main characters, I suggest you read the first book! It’s totally delightful too! One of the main characters is named Lester, and he’s one of my favorites! He doesn’t have a huge role, but he cracks me up.
Speaking of cracking up, I thought the name of the TV show is hilarious…Fatal Impressions! You get a little hint as to what this suspenseful, drama is about in the book. It’s totally not supposed to be a comedy, but you will get a laugh as you see the storyline of Fatal Impressions unfold. I don’t want to give anything away, but here’s a hint….wolves. Wolves aren’t funny, right? Just read this! I’d watch Fatal Impressions just to see the ridiculous plot! (At least the part of the plot in this book!)
There are a lot of suspects in the murders, and I definitely changed my mind as to whodunit several times! As you follow the clues with Jules, you’ll eventually come to the right conclusion…probably!
Film Crews and Rendezvous gets five stars from me! The entertaining characters, cozy small town setting, humor, and twisty mystery make Film Crews and Rendezvous a cozy I highly recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Guest Post from the author: What I Learned about Writing from The Wizard of Oz
The 1939 MGM version of THE WIZARD OF OZ is my all-time favorite movie. It used to be a once-a-year treat when it aired on TV, but when technology changed, I bought the VHS tape and DVD for “on demand” viewing. I even took a two-week fun course on it as an undergrad. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it, but it still find surprises each time I watch it. Here’s what I learned as an author from it.
You Had the Power All Along – You do. You have the grit and determination to fulfill your writing dreams. It’s there. You just need to harness it and figure out your plan. Make a plan and follow it. Don’t give up!
Use Your Assets – You have the tools to be a writer. You will need to put in the time and energy to hone them, but you have the brain, heart, and courage to do it.
Everyone Needs Friends – The writing journey is a long (often solitary one), you need friends, mentors, coaches, and cheerleaders. Find your crew and support each other.
People (or Scarecrows, Tinmen, and Cowardly Lions) Are Willing to Help – The Writing Community is full of authors at different stages who are gracious with their time and advice. Find your writing allies and cherish them.
Be Part of The Group – Make sure that you’re an active participant with the writing community. You don’t have to do everything, but you need to do something. Share ideas, experiences, and contacts. Provide feedback and guidance. Support other writers with comments, shares, and reviews.
Sometimes It’s Scary – The witch’s flying monkeys scared me so badly as a kid. (And when I was little, I found it hard to fathom that the lady in the Maxwell House coffee commercials was really the Wicked Witch. But that’s another story.) There are some rough patches and scary stuff along the writing journey. Rejections, bad critiques, and nasty reviews aren’t pleasant. Learn what you can from them and keep going.
Be Flexible – You are going to run into all kinds of roadblocks and dead ends. Figure out ways to move forward and to advance your goals. Use your gifts. Be creative and find your way out of the haunted forest.
And one pair of shoes can change your life.
GASP! I was today years old when I found out the lady in the Maxwell House commercials was the wicked witch! Thanks for this wonderful guest post, Heather!
About Heather Weidner
Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers is the first in her cozy mystery series, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries. She also writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series set in Virginia. Her Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries debut in 2023.
Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Author Links
- Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner
- Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-weidner-0064b233?trk=hp-identity-name
- BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003
Purchase Link – Amazon
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Film Crews and Rendezvous Tour PARTICIPANTS
November 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 17 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 17 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT
November 18 – Mythical Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 18 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
November 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT
November 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
November 22 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
November 22 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – THANKSGIVING
November 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 26 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
November 26 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
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Thanks so much! I appreciate you letting me visit and the review! Happy Thanksgiving!
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
This sounds good to me! Cute book cover!