{I've Been Reading} Joanna Campbell Slan's Second Chance Series

If you read Joanna's guest post a couple of weeks ago, you already know that she has a new book out. Before I could read that one myself, I had to catch up on the third book in the series. I'd purchased it when it was first released and then somehow managed not to read it. It's easy to lose track of Kindle purchases, especially if you download as many free titles as I do. I definitely need a better system! Anyone have suggestions?




I've built a very short list of vacation dreams based on the cozy mysteries I read and this series has me almost convinced I want to see the Treasure Coast of Florida. We travel by car and it's about as far from home as I could get without leaving the country....but Joanna makes it sound like such an incredible place I could almost be tempted to get on a plane.

As fantastic as the setting is, the mystery is even better. On an early morning walk, Cara discovers what she first thinks is a sand sculpture of a mermaid. To her horror, she realizes that it's a woman there at the water's edge, barely clinging to life. That's the first in a chain of events that I don't want to spoil for you so I'll keep my mouth shut. It's a great book that will keep you turning pages.

I loved the mystery, but I also loved the stuff going on in Cara's personal life. Her friends are people I'd like to spend more time with...I might've put off reading this book because I liked the Kiki Lowenstein mystery series better, but that was a dumb decision.



Second Chance at Faith picks up not long after the previous book left off. You'll miss out on a lot of the emotional impact if you don't read these two in order. The big mystery in this one is a missing coral and gold artifact from the Spanish Armada, which was stolen from a highly secured charity auction. Cara  can't imagine how anyone made off with the piece and, as one of last people who was in the room, she's under suspicion herself. There's also a lot going on with Cara and her friends. I just read these two books back to back and I'm already anxious for the next one.  I want to find out what's going to happen with the characters and I want to read more about the Treasure Coast.