42-year old Emily Diggs has vanished without a trace, leaving her 6-year-old son uncared for.  Lola begins investigating Emily’s life and quickly learns that no one believes Emily would have abandoned her young son, though she is still bitter over the death of her brother Garrett from a “heart infection.”

In Emily’s diary Lola finds reporter Jack Callaghan’s business card and knows she must confront Jack if she has any hope of finding Emily.  Jack tells Lola that Emily thought Garrett died from an infected tattoo and now Lola thinks these suspicions may have gotten Emily killed.  When Emily’s body turns up near the Marina, Lola’s case is technically over. But she can’t help herself and continues to investigate what happened to Emily, putting herself at great risk, at least for having to get a tattoo or piercing.  

Lola is a terrific new character who is very entrenched in her Latina heritage, but is also a modern, American woman. These two often conflict as her mother still has some old-world views about how Lola should be living her life (married, at home with several children).  Lola has never forgotten her crush on Jack (who is one of Lola’s brother’s good friends) and hopes Jack doesn’t realize she was tailing him all those years ago, but may just be willing to let bygones be bygones and take a shot at a date or two with him. 

Lola is also puzzled by her boss’s apparently newfound interest and confidence in her; though, like many other things in her life, she finds it intriguing and something worth investigating.  There are some great characters in Lola’s life and the plot is tightly constructed, though it is pretty easy to figure out who killed Emily early on. 

A great book to read while sipping a margarita, Living La Vida Lola will win many fans for Lola and have them eagerly practicing their salsa dancing while waiting for her next adventure.                                                              

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry