Cara Mia Delgatto Books
At sixteen while on vacation in Florida, Cara Mia Delgatto lost her heart to Cooper Rivers. But her interfering parents didn't approve. They moved Cara away from the Sunshine State and cut off all communication between between the two young lovers. In an act of rebellion, Cara makes a nearly fatal mistake--and nearly destroys both her family and their business. To make up for her rash behavior, Cara spends the next twenty years of her life being "a good girl," working in her family restaurant. When her parents die within six months of each other, Cara decides to take a road trip and visit her son at University of Miami. On a whim, she buys a vacant building in Florida and opens a trash-to-treasure décor store. She believes, with all her heart, in second chances...but then Cooper Rivers walks back into her life. Can Cara and Cooper rekindle the love they felt that magical summer so long ago? Or is Cara going to take the blame for the dead man whose corpse is left in her building?
Cara Mia Delgatto's cup runneth over with worries. Her ex-husband is refusing to pay their son's college tuition, her evil sister is pulling mean pranks, and her old boyfriend has broken her heart. And that's just the personal stuff. She's also concerned about keeping the cash register ringing at The Treasure Chest, her retail store specializing in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed decor items with a coastal theme. The media event that Cara plans turns nasty when reporter Kathy Simmons threatens to share unsavory details from the shopkeeper's past. Things get really dicey when Kathy mysteriously disappears. Cara's other problems seem trivial in comparison to...a murder investigation!"
Cara Mia thought she found a sculpture of a mermaid in the sand…and then it moved! Rescuing a half-drown immigrant was not what she wanted on her morning walk. Stuart, Florida. Was it the right thing to do? Will the woman survive? And if she does, will she be okay? Or was she better off dead? And where are all the other immigrants who made the perilous ocean voyage with her? Someone is behind all these beached landings of immigrants. Cara might have uncovered a human trafficking scheme. To trace these soggy deaths back to the source will take every bit of Cara’s courage, plus a lot of help from her cranky grandfather. And then her son gets involved. Suddenly it’s Cara’s family that’s at risk as a run-in with deadly coyotes threatens to destroy everything and everyone Cara loves. How could one good deed go so badly wrong? All Washed Up is the charming third novel in the Cara Mia Delgatto cozy mystery series. If you like witty heroines, ripped-from-the-headlines plots, and a generous helping of Florida’s beautiful Treasure Coast, you’ll adore Joanna Campbell Slan’s captivating tale. Buy All Washed Up and escape to Florida with a romantic, crafty, get-away today! Also published as Second Chance at Hope. Book #3 in a series that IndieReader calls "an incredibly fast and enjoyable read" A Florida set gem--Deborah Sharp, author of the Mace Bauer Mysteries Crafts, crime, and cunning twists--Nancy J. Cohen
Cast Away: Book #4 in the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series The fourth book in a clean, romantic, mystery series set in Florida that focuses on love and friendship with a touch of history, too. Stuart, Florida -- A priceless coral and gold artifact intended for a queen disappears from a locked hotel room . The item was on loan as part of a charity event--and Cara Mia Delgatto was one of the first people who entered the empty ballroom. Who else could have stolen it but her? The situation seems impossible! The philanthropic community of South Florida is blaming Cara for the loss --and the charity event is promptly canceled. The backlash could hurt sales at the Treasure Chest, Cara’s store specializing in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed goods. A single mom, Cara moved to the Treasure Coast of Florida for a second chance at life and love. Things aren't exactly working out as she had planned. Now it looks as though Cara's business is might be caught in the undertow . In the meantime, one of her friends has breast cancer, and the other is pregnant and has been rejected by the baby's father. Needless-to-say, Cara's support system is seriously shipwrecked. With all this going on, Cara's life is in turmoil. Can all this stormy weather sink Cara just like it did the Queen's Treasure Fleet of 1715? Is she doomed to go down with the ship? Or will Cara fight the undertow and make it back to shore in time to save her business and her sanity? Get Cast Away today and enjoy a Florida coast vacation without all the hassle of sand in your undies! (Previously published as Second Chance at Faith)
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan has done it again! From the author of stories in five of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Bestsellers comes the continuing the saga of Cara Mia Delgatto, a single mom trying to grab a SECOND CHANCE at life! When a young caregiver is falsely accused of stealing from her elderly client, Cara Mia Delgatto refuses to stand by with her mouth shut. That famous Italian temper of Cara’s is hotter than a bottle rocket. Instead of ignoring the girl’s plight, Cara launches her own investigation, even though she has plenty to keep her busy at her store, The Treasure Chest, a shop specializing in upcycling, recycling, and repurposing with a coastal theme. If that wasn't enough, Cara's new beau has disappeared--vanished! --and she's forced to wonder how her taste in men could possibly be so bad? Meanwhile, she's assisting two brides-to-be as they plan their weddings and occasionally acting as referee when the two women clash over dates for their nuptials. And yeah, then there’s that online bashing her reputation is taking. Otherwise, it’s just another sunny day in Paradise! This series is perfect for fans of Amy Vansant’s PINEAPPLE COVE MYSTERIES, Elaine Viets’ DEAD-END JOB SERIES, as well as books by Dianne Harmann and Tonya Kappes and anyone who loves uplifting reads!
A Cozy Mystery That's a Real Hit! First they warned Jocelyn Johnson. Then they ticketed Jocelyn Johnson. Then someone murdered Jocelyn Johnson. And Cara Mia Delgatto was looking for a lost ball when found Jocelyn “JJ” Johnson face down in a sand trap. Gave a whole new meaning to “take a drop.” It wasn’t a surprise. The neighbors hated JJ for the reckless way she drove her golf cart. Sure, she lived on the grounds of a swanky golf club, and yes, she had tons of money, but JJ ruined flowerbeds, terrorized grandkids, and made a nuisance of herself. Except…except…she’s quiet now. Lying there in the dirt at Hole #6. Someone bashed in JJ’s head. (Who would risk ruining an expensive Homna golf club like that?) Cara doesn’t want to get involved. But when Gerta Hunsickler is named the prime suspect, and Gerta’s husband is so angry at his wife that he’s starting divorce proceedings, Cara can’t sit on her hands. She knows what it’s like to be unfairly accused. So she promises to take a swing at it and see if she can hit a long drive down the fairway of justice! Meanwhile, back at The Treasure Chest, Cara’s friends are busy creating fabulous and fun Mother’s Day gifts. There are two brides-to-be working for Cara, and their two mothers-in-law-to-be have decided not to play nice. Can you say, “Mama’s boy” ten times really fast? I thought you could. If you love warm-hearted, clean books, that feature female amateur sleuths, fur babies, family, and friends, you’ll love this charming DIY/recycling/upcycling series set on the Southeast Coast of Florida. Reading is My Super Power Editorial Review -- This was my first book in this series – and by this author – but Sand Trapped won’t be my last. I loved Joanna Campbell Slan’s writing voice and the way the first person narration gave me quick insight into Cara’s personality without having to tell me. The family feel of Cara’s upcycle store, The Treasure Chest, provides the book warmth in spite of the murder mystery. And, speaking of that, the plot kept me guessing, though I did pick up on some clues that Cara missed the first time around. Though this is the sixth book in the series, it works really well as a standalone. A fun cozy mystery and a new author for me to follow! Cara Mia has a gift for friendship -- and solving mysteries. You'll love these well-crafted stories about kind, resourceful Cara Mia. -- Elaine Viets, Author of the Dead-End Job and Angela Richman, Death Investigator mysteries Add this to your cart today!
Man plans and God laughs. – Anonymous Cara’s life is spinning out of control. A double-wedding is canceled at the last minute. A baby comes early. Her son decides he hates college. But none of that is as upsetting as the death of a young acquaintance, a delightful food service professional with her whole life ahead of her. The drive-by shooting has left the cops without a suspect. Maybe it was simply a random act of violence. But Cara’s curiosity, and her innate sense of humanity, drive her to keep asking questions. Who killed the girl with the purple hair? And why? Of course, Cara has plenty to keep her occupied. “Season” in Florida is the short window of time when visitors from the North come to town and spend money. It’s a make-it or break-it time for a retail shop like The Treasure Chest. It’s also the worst time ever for Cara to learn that her ex-husband is withdrawing his financial support. How will her son finish his education? How will Cara pay the looming tuition bill when she’s knee-deep in the holidays? She can’t even take time off to talk to her banker, given his short Christmas/New Year working hours. But Cara is nothing if not resourceful. She’s a multi-tasker, and her mind never stops. Add in a generous amount of creativity, and Cara’s practically unstoppable. Except…except…there’s still that unsolved murder. It’s taking up a lot of her psychological energy. Can Cara keep her head above water? Can she keep her business afloat? Can she rescue her son’s college career? Or is she about to go down with the ship? Grab your copy today and celebrate a Christmas on the beach with Cara and her friends! (Note: Very small bits of this book appeared in an earlier short story.)
Cara Mia Delgatto is doing historical research when she visits the House of Refuge, a way station for shipwrecked sailors, on Hutchinson’s Island, Florida. But Cara gets a dose of historical reality when another visitor is stabbed—and she’s called upon to administer first aid. The subsequent death of the victim weighs heavily on Cara. The police are stymied, but Cara is spunky and determined. Until she finds out whodunnit—and why—she’s haunted by the senseless murder.
It's raining outside, and it's raining inside. Hey, that's Florida. But as sassy entrepreneur Cara Mia Delgatto watches a van full of Highwayman paintings walk out the front door of The Treasure Chest--because the collection's owner is taking them back--she's crying on the inside all the way to the bank. There will be no quick fix for this. Instead Cara focuses on an outstanding bill. When she visits the wealthy woman who has stiffed her, Cara stumbles over another stiff, a dead body. With multiple crisises in her business life, Cara grieves the loss of her live-in love and her rescue Chihuahua. The man and the dog have left a huge hole in her heart. Will Cara survive all these losses?