Second Chances

On a moonless night in Rio de Janeiro, Mattie makes the wrong decision, one that will drastically change her life. Leaving a young woman for dead after having run her over, Mattie realizes her nasty divorce has taken her to rock bottom. Racked with guilt, she returns to the crash site only to find her victim, Rose, very much alive but unable to recall her name. Rose's jewelry-filled backpack raises Mattie's suspicions. But it's the innocuous looking flash drive that puts them both in sudden danger. While reclaiming family jewelry from her hostile stepfather, Rose has unwittingly stolen files that expose a web of corruption and violence involving high-ranking public officials, the Brazilian Mafia... and her own stepfather. Mattie and Rose quickly realize they must rely on each other to have any chance of besting powerful forces intent on retrieving the information and leaving no witnesses behind. Making matters worse is Marcos, Rose's dear friend and aspiring journalist, oblivious to the danger his exposé, a scoop, creates for all of them. Thrown together by fate, Mattie and Rose go on the run, not knowing whom to trust and where to find safety. With so much riding on each decision, can they learn to trust each other, and find courage to fight for their lives -- and for second chances? Unforgettable characters, including a pesky Jack Russell terrier, populate this lively début novel, which brings alive a lush Rio de Janeiro, with scenes set in secluded condos, favela slums, and tropical islands in the emerald bay of Angra dos Reis, paradise of millionaires. A genuine page-turner filled with suspense, Second Chances will keep the reader in thrall until the very last page.