Forgotten Island

Gia Santella #2

by Kristi Belcamino

An exciting new series character ...

Gia Santella is a fast-driving, hard-drinking, karate-trained free spirit, who is gorgeous, sexy, and a young heiress. She also has a fierce temper and zero tolerance for people in power preying on the vulnerable ... especially when the injustice takes place in her neighborhood.

Late one Autumn night, violence breaks out in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, as a hate group and counter-protesters come face to face. Gia Santella rushes to the protest to help find her friend's granddaughter. Sasha Kennedy is a student journalist at U.C. Berkeley covering the protest for the school paper.

But when Sasha mysteriously disappears at the protest, Gia learns that the young woman was on the brink of uncovering a story that would blow the whole city wide open.

In her efforts to find the girl, Gia finds herself investigating more mysterious disappearances and begins to unravel a string of dark secrets that lie below the surface of her beloved neighborhood, threatening to destroy it.

But then her plan goes terribly wrong.

When Gia receives a terrifying message, she is caught in a race against time to find the young journalist before it's too late...

If she fails, more innocent people will die ...

And it will all be her fault.

A page-turning dark and gritty thriller packed with edge-of-your-seat suspense. Gia and the Forgotten Island is perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner, Patricia Cornwell, and Gregg Hurwitz

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Adventure, Mystery Thriller

188 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2017

About the author

Kristi Belcamino is a USA TODAY bestselling author, an Agatha, Anthony, Barry & Macavity, award finalist, a newspaper cops reporter, and an Italian mama who makes a tasty biscotti.


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FULL LIST OF BOOKS:

Gia Santella Crime Thrillers:


Related to Gia Santella Crime Thrillers:
Gia (prequel novella)
Lone Raven (novella)
Taste of Vengeance

Queen of Spades Thrillers


Related: Eva (prequel novella)

Vigilante Crime Series:


Stand Alones:


Nonfiction


Gabriella Giovanni Mystery Series:

Blessed are the Dead
Blessed are the Meek
Blessed are Those Who Weep
Blessed are Those Who Mourn
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the Merciful

Related:
The Saint (prequel novella)
Misc:
City of Angels
Tomb of the Queen
Crush Your Query

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that in my introduction to Gia Santella, I was not a fan, and I get it that she has experienced life difficulties that are not necessarily comparable to mine; however, we all get kicked in the crotch every now and again. That's how we learn to protect those areas from people who aren't going to treat those secret spots as sacred. I may be excessively flippant, too much I admit, but my point is that Gia is not a nice person in the first book. She's better now in the second book.

Here, she has to endure a temptation to stray romantically, the disrespect of her father's Board of Directors, and ascertain why numerous black homeless people have disappeared. When Gia's friend and Tenderloin neighbor, Darling, asks her to investigate the fact that her granddaughter, a UC Berkeley student journalist, has numbered among the disappeared, Gia feels compelled to intrepidly ask questions, avidly pursue leads, and doggedly irritate the powerful.

I found this entry surprisingly suspenseful. The addition of a motivational gift sent to Gia's home added a horrifying element to the proceedings which IMHO propelled the narrative with grave imminent peril and awful gruesomeness. Nice touch for a horror fanatic like me.

[Chris Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second entry in the Gia Santella series, and was as enjoyable as the first.

By the end of the first book, Gia had inherited a company and put in charge of a lot of money, and was witness to how the homeless of San Francisco are often buried under the political machines that drive the city's economy. Now that she has some wealth and influence, she has decided to build a new apartment complex to assist the homeless of the area in housing and job placement.

Problem is, someone is killing off the homeless under the radar.

And a journalist that Gia is friends with is kidnapped when she investigates the happenings in the neighborhood.

So here's Gia to see what she can do to fix these problems....

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia Valentina Santella is back for a second novel, and she is ramping up the action in her chosen neighborhood of the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Having lost her parents, her brother, and her godfather to murder in the recent past, Gia has adopted the people of the Tenderloin as her family, those that she will fight for with all her being. Of course, Gia is also fighting her own demons of drinking, personal relationships, and inherited business responsibilities. Still, this young Italian-American woman is a karate-trained, intelligent, passionate, and resourceful person who is willing to jump into the fray to protect or save those about whom she cares. Author Kristi Belcamino gives us this wonderful character who is able to rise above her own hot mess of a self and be the person who anyone would be lucky to have on their side.

With enough inherited money to generously give to herself and others, Gia is having her old apartment building that burned to the ground rebuilt with major improvements for all the tenants who lost their homes and possessions in the fire. After all, it was because of Gia that the fire was set. While waiting for the building to be finished, Gia catches wind of the disappearance of some the Tenderloin’s homeless, in particular, African-American homeless. When a hate group decides to hold a rally in Gia’s beloved area, counter-protestors show up, too, and there are those attending bent on provoking the peaceful protestors. Then Gia’s friend Darling’s granddaughter, who is a journalist for the U.C. Berkley student newspaper is kidnapped from the rally, and the Darling asks Gia for her help in finding Sasha. Sasha was working on a story that would rock the political scene in San Francisco, so her disappearance is especially alarming and time to find her is of the essence. With Darling counting on Gia, we see the best of what Gia can be, and we see it in non-stop action. In her pursuit of Sasha, Gia will uncover a heinous plan to destroy the Tenderloin. The stakes are high in this latest Gia Santella adventure, and every page is a thrill to read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristi Belcamino has done it again! While the first Gia book captivated me, I absolutely loved Gia and the Forgotten Island. It felt like coming home to people I already knew and cared about. Several of the characters I enjoyed the most are back including Dante, Kato, and Darling. The reader meets a new character, Danny, the drone-loving teenager whom I hope returns. Plus, we are taken to a new part of the city, Forgotten Island – where Gia makes a discovery and goes to battle. This story has the disappearance of several homeless within the Tenderloin. Darling’s grand baby is missing and she only trusts Gia to find her. And if that is not enough, Gia is also thrown into the corporate world which she takes by storm. Or by Gia storm! The writing is vivid and the action is extremely real. Throughout the chapters, there are warrior sayings which Gia uses to propel her forward in her trickiest situations. This book could be a standalone because there is just the right amount of details from the first Gia book. However, I highly recommend you read them both! What makes Gia so likable and realistic is, she is human! She has relationship troubles, drinks too much, sometimes parties too hard all in a tough, gutsy package. But Gia would lay down her life for her family. When I grow up, I want to be Gia Santella. This is a testament to Kristi’s writing which allows the reader into Gia’s world, her passion for the people in the Tenderloin, her emotions, and her feelings. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia Santella is back, and back in a big way, in Gia And The Forgotten Island, the second novel from Kristi Belcamino featuring her young, neurotic, kick-ass, Italian-American firebrand of a protagonist. The story begins with Gia, now a wealthy young heir to both a personal fortune and corporate holdings, in the process of rebuilding her life from the ashes of the events told in Gia In The City of the Dead. She is still a living rehab project in process, both in her personal relationships and in her corporate responsibilities, and she is facing challenges in both. Life in the Tenderloin is never dull, however, and Gia finds herself drawn into the search for a kidnapped female college reporter, which entangles Gia in a political web of collusion and murder. Gia knows only one speed, which is a full out sprint through the hurdles and obstacles in her path, and she enlists the aid of some interesting additions to her network. There is drinking, and sex, and violence, and self-loathing; everything we have come expect from the amazing Gia Santella!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read, still getting use to (or not) first person narrative.

Gia overall has a big heart but along with that she has issues of commitment and she is rather reckless.

Someone is kidnapping African-American homeless people and leaving no trace. When Gia's good friend, Darling's niece is taken - it's Gia's mandate to find her and bring her back home.

A fairly face-paced read, some twists and turns, enough to keep the reader interested.

No spoilers here!

[Mikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia will capture your heart! Beautiful and rich, Gia Santella is a young lady full of wonderful hopes and plans to help the homeless in San Francisco, and luckily she has the inherited fortune to fulfill her dream. But she finds herself thwarted by criminals who would clean up the city for profit's sake by murdering those poor helpless souls. Thankfully Gia has the skills to not only figure out who the criminals are, but with help from her friend on the police force, and some other friends, she finally succeeds in bringing an end to the murders. There are many moments of intense suspense where the reader is not sure all will end well, but like most good writers, Belcamino keeps us engaged and turning the pages and brings us to a very exciting and satisfying close. I had read the first Gia book and liked it, but this one (Gia #2) is even more exciting and believable. Gia really comes to life in this one and I now look forward to more Gia adventures. I highly recommend all of Kristi Belcamino's books. She is an excellent writer and does not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this advance reader copy and gladly offer my honest review.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia is not about to let some tiny little protest group stop her from doing what needs done.....and Gia needs to find Sasha Kennedy a missing student who was writing a story that could put the whole town in turmoil. The more Gia digs into missing Sasha, the more mysterious things she uncovers and dark secrets that some doesn't want to be revealed. Then the kidnappers put a time limit on Gia or else other innocent people plus Sasha could die! This is a high action, take no prisoners, ass kickin' story! Once you start this one...you won't want to stop until the very end. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia Santella is a fierce, smart and kick ass heroine. The kind of woman you want on your side no matter what the circumstances. Krist Belcamino has created a character I will follow anywhere.

[Amanda Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story telling, engaging plot. Hard to swallow political slant and unrealistic dream of the homeless problem in SF, but oh well. Subtract the political message this would be an easy 4 Stars.

[Ruby Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

-This author has a talent for easy reading, while at the same time, can easily bring her characters into a tense situation that keeps you glued to the pages.
-The character of Gia Santella is that of a young woman who has learned to live on her own by necessity but she still has difficulty in learning how to cope with life. The daughter of a self made man, she was orphaned when her parents were killed and was raised by a family friend. With a very large expense account, she was able to have anything that money could buy, but that money brought her a loose sexual life, drink, and drugs. Her lifeline was a karate instructor, who taught her how to physically defend herself, and how to prepare mentally for obstacles that faced her. His teachings are constantly drawn upon whenever she faces danger.
-Gia discovered her resilience in the first book, when she set out to find out and avenge herself against her parents’ killers. This did not go unnoticed, as, in this book, one of the people that she’s friendly with, Darling, who owns a beauty shop, but also does a back room business of forgeries of licenses; passports, etc, for those people who are being hurt by the “system”, (abused women escaping from their husbands, etc.) now herself needs help. Darling’s granddaughter has been abducted and Darling has turned to Gia to find her.
-While still battling her own inner demons, which cause her to fear relationships since anyone she’s gotten close to has met an early death, Gia has to search out for Darling’s granddaughter, Sasha. At the same time, she must take over and bring back to profitability, her father’s company, which is being bled by those now in charge.
-Sasha is a reporter, and is on the verge of a blockbuster story. This involves corruption at the highest levels in the city, from the mayor on down. Sasha has gotten information on this from someone within the Mayor’s office, and, in order to prevent Sasha from revealing what she knows, she’s been kidnapped. Darling has left it to Gia to rescue her, and Gia proves to be resourceful as she follows up with whatever sources she could find to get closer to finding out where Sasha is being held. She only has a few days, as events will occur that will cause the kidnappers to kill Sasha.
-As the clock continues to tick, Gia feels hopelessness at times, especially because of her own personal life, but she realizes she has no choice, and she moves forward rapidly. But this means that she has to put her own life in danger and use both her wits as well as her fighting skills to confront an enemy that is overwhelmingly more powerful than her.
-Though the messages in the story aren’t deep, it’s a very enjoyable read, and the author has created a second enjoyable character on which to base a series.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia and the Forgotten Island - a review by Rosemary Kenny

I must be honest - the title has nothing to do with the plot of Kristi Belcamino's second novel in the Gia Santella series - in my humble opinion.

Gina's story develops most entertainingly, as she moves away from her rebellious heiress mode, with less than endearing personal habits and a reluctance to commit to her boyfriend, Bobby.

As the CEO of her late father's company, she changes into a responsible adult, taking charge of decisions about the direction things should go and unveiling the management as unfit for purpose to say the least.

At the same time, Gia's sense of honour involves her coming up against corruption and evil while putting herself at risk to rescue her adoptive mother-figure's daughter before it's too late.

Will she succeed? Read Gia and the Forgotten Island by Kristi Belcamino to get the scoop on what happens next!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the mafia is no longer after her, Gia is in trouble again because she was asked to help find a friends granddaughter.

The story picks up a few months after book one and while some things have changed, some have not. Gia is trying to figure stuff out about money, Dante is there being the BFF, Darling and her new friends are present and she is making a difference to her family of choice. These are all good until Sasha is kidnapped and Gia goes down a rabbit hole of missing homeless, intrigue, corruption and murder trying to find her. Oh and along the way Gia has a few relationship glitches occur.

This is a fast paced story and series. The characters are vivid and the writing has me invested in the actions and lives of the people in the series. I recommend this read for anyone who likes strong female leads, action, crime, and a tad bit of the emotional romance/family/friend dynamic thrown in!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to state that I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. I truly enjoy the authors writing style, the author pulls you into the book from the very beginning and makes it so you don't want to put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading from cover to cover. The plot is fast paced. All the characters are very well portrayed though out. I recommend this book. This book is incredible. I loved it cannot wait to read more from this author. A must read!

[Chris Norbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, serviceable mystery/amateur sleuth novel featuring an immensely flawed yet likable heroine. Gia Santella has a drug and alcohol problem, more money than she knows what to do with, a kickass attitude to go along with a comparable and looks, and severe commitment issues. But her loyalty, compassion, and sense of duty shine strong and clear.

The plot is decent and believable. But the bad guys lack serious ominousness(?) Belcamino puts a nice ticking-clock factor into the plot, and the pace is excellent. The book is easy to read and is full of voice and style.

If you like mysteries featuring badass female protagonists, this is a book for you.

[Chuck Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow-up to the first book in the series, GIA IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD. I enjoyed reading more about Gia and her friends. Her adventures seemed a little more realistic, maybe because I was more used to her character. This is close to a five rating, but maybe that will be for the next book in the series. I already own the next two and will be getting to them soon. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading the first book to better understand Gia and some of the other characters in the book.

[Gerard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing weak sophomore effort in the Gia Santella series. Needs copy editing .. "is" instead of "his," telling us George was a bouncer twice in three pages (hey, heard you the first time).

The plot is marred by a SJW theme, caricatures of business people -- she gains control of her late's faher's company because all of the "bad" directors have exploitable secrets, with no discussion of who the shareholders are and how many shares each has. The ANITFA thugs turn out to be white supremists in disguise, fantasy that the homeless can be saved if someone just provides them housing and jobs -- as if that has never been tried before.

Positives remain Gia's determination and emerging relationship with other characters, and some personal growth in those relationships. I'm undecided if I'll try book 3 or not.

[Michael Slavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and does not disappoint.

A rich girl with an inheritance from her murdered parents, who are badass, sexy, drinks too much, and a little loose about sex. A very interesting character.

What I liked:
-Gia the main character.
-Detailed account of setting in San Francisco.
-She is a reluctant heir, using her money to help others.
-Rich secondary characters

What I didn't like:
-Nothing major

Good book! I'll read the next one.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is just not enough Gia Santella goes way above and beyond Wow.

Gripping, thrilling with a shot of bourbon to chase it all down.

I love the adventure, the drama the total uniqueness that is totally Gia Santella and how she say's bugger the world I'm doing it my way.

There is a badass cheekiness to her that is really infectious.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristi's books were recommended to me and I acquired several as I worked on my reading queue. I enjoyed the prequel so much I binged my way thru 6 of Gia Santella's adventures. A kick ass female on her way to finding her true self and her place in the world. Great characters and story. Non-stop action and layers of intrigue will keep you reading long after you should have been asleep.

[Sharon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me hooked!

Kristi’s books are perfect for me: set in San Francisco, tough female lead, a little bit of romance, and a lot of action and mystery! Forgotten Island kept me turning the pages, driven to know what happens next, making my own (wrong) guesses. A quick, fun, exciting read that’ll keep you coming back for more!

[Mark Vitale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vigilante?

I read the first book in this series and thought I would give the next book a chance. Big mistake. I guess I’m not getting the vigilante thing. Gia is more of a victim then a vigilante. She takes matters in two her own hands but only when she is forced to. I think rebel might be a better title. I won’t read the next book in the series.

[Pamela DeMine · Rating 3 out of 5]

good, UT predicyablr.

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[Robert J. Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow-up to the first book

Another good story line with a lot of plot twists. As in the first book, for someone with ten years martial arts training Gia doesn't seem very good at defending herself. Still I guess it adds to the suspense of the story. I would recommend it.

[Mrs D D Poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just discovered this author really enjoyed first two in series hope to continue enjoying the rest I love it when I discover someone and they become a good friend along with my other favourite authors. I love female heroes who kick ass!!

[Sherie Lundmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gia has fast become one of my favorite heroines. She is Intense, determined, loyal and protective of victims. I love a good thriller and this book is fast paced with interesting characters that I connected with immediately. Can't wait for the next Gia adventure.

[Louise Pledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series sounded so appealing, and I was looking forward to reading all of it. However, I won't make it past this one, because of the language and content. In just the first few pages, the story was concentrating on swinging boobs and condoms. Not my kind of book at all!

[Bonnie McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Gia Santella

A woman of courage fighting to find herself.
She has a beautiful heart and wants to help those who need it.
I felt her desire to do well but had a tendency to falter. She makes people smile but still blames herself for so much.

[Karen Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of action!

Wow, lots of plots and twists! This book kept me hooked from the beginning right until the end. Great writing and the characters were well rounded. Can't wait for the next book!

[Jackie Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good