Life in Paradise isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Cara Mia Delgatto feels like she is drowning in problems! Stuart, Florida. Her ex-husband is refusing to pay their son’s college tuition (as promised), her sister is pulling mean pranks, and her old boyfriend has broken her heart…again. And that’s just the personal stuff. She’s also concerned about keeping the cash register ringing at the … cash register ringing at the Treasure Chest, her store specializing in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed goods.
An important media event goes sadly wrong and Cara’s famous temper gets the better of her. Then a prying reporter turns up dead, practically in Cara’s backyard. Could the reporter’s murder have anything to do with a century’s old blot on Florida state history, the infamous Dozier Boys School? Suddenly, Cara’s personal problems seem trivial compared to the abuse and murder of hundreds of innocent boys.
Kicked to the Curb is the charming second novel in the Cara Mia Delgatto cozy mystery series. If you like witty heroines, former flames reconnecting, and Florida’s beautiful Treasure Coast, you’ll adore Joanna Campbell Slan’s captivating tale.
Buy Kicked to the Curb and escape to Florida with a romantic, crafty, get-away today!
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Book 2 in this series written by Joanna Cambell Slan. I am enjoying this series and love the development of the characters in this book. I have read book 1 but feel that these books could be read in any order. I look forward to seeing what other adventures Cara and her friends will get into.
A wonderful cozy mystery set in Florida at The Treasure Chest store. The characters are well fleshed out and I saw all sides of their personalities. From quirky to compassionate, they had a musketeer quality of a “one for all” attitude.
Cara Mia soon became my favorite. Struggling to come to grips with finding out her true identity after going through a bad divorce, opening a new shop, and sending her son off to college, she finally discovers that she is stronger than she thinks. I loved her wonderful quirky behavior and the writer’s ability to show that second chances do happen.
There are lots of twists and unexpected events throughout the story. It was laid out wonderfully and the ending wrapped up all the questions I had. It kept me guessing until the end.
Highly recommended. I will be reading the rest of the books in the series.
This series is going to be as big a hit as the Kiki Lowenstein series.
Things haven’t gone the way I thought they would for Cara. I thought she’d pick up with her first love but that fell apart. So she decided to try a new interest the local cop, that fell apart too. But she has found the home of her dreams and it sounds just wonderful!! She’s invited the three women in her life to be a part of her family. They support each other and care about each other and that’s a wonderful development. Ms Slan has introduced the Florida Highwaymen artist into the series and these paintings have become their own characters. Amazing!!! I love these paintings and wish I had about 100 of them. Her descriptions of places and things make the event come alive while you’re reading. I can’t put the book down. Ms Slan is an awesome storyteller, all of her books are full of humor, kindness, friendship, and great storytelling.
A good clean cozy mystery.
I am really enjoying this spin-off series from the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series. Cara Mia Delgatto has decided that the best place to start her new life is near her grandfather in Florida. Her new business and relationships with both animals and humans are a source of great entertainment in this story.
This is a clean, fun, easy to read mystery with a little romance added that enhanced my reading enjoyment.
I loved that this was a middle aged protagonist, and I, also; loved how the book is told from varying points of views.
Cara Mia Delgatto, owns The Treasure Chest in Stuart, Florida. The Treasure Chest uses items to re-purpose them into pieces of art. Cara has the help of her friends, MJ Austin, Skye Blue and Sid Heckman, who is a technology whiz.
While trying to drum up business, Cara holds a special event just for the media, where the star attraction is a wall covered in recycled framed photos of Florida through the years. She hopes the media will write favorable about the store. The photos were to be on display for thirty days, although the pictures could be bought, they’d remain on the wall until the thirty day period. At the end of the event, Kathy Simmons, approaches Cara about one particular picture and becomes insistent that she take the photo with her. The insistence turns ugly using Cara’s past to threaten her with writing about them, which in turn would put The Treasure Chest in a negative light. MJ convinced Cara to sell Kathy the picture.
Three days later, Detective Lou Murray, shows up at The Treasure Chest to question, Cara, and if she recognizes the Toyota parked behind her grandfather’s gas station. It’s Kathy Simmons car and Cara has just become a suspect.
MJ suggests bringing on Honora and her daughter EveLynn. Honora makes miniatures and EveLynn is a seamstress. Their crafts enhance items in the store. Honora is also very well known and liked.
Cara’s life becomes more complicated, when her son calls to tell her that he needs money for college. Her sister has been sending her vile messages, and her grandfather causes such an upset that Cara fears for her business. Meanwhile, the picture that Kathy bought is missing. Unknown to most, a prominent figure and an ugly past hides in plain sight.
Enjoyable read with lots of twists! Although, this is the second book in the series, it can be easily read as a standalone.
I received an ARC and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.