I'm a fan of Isabella Maldonado's writing and I have a weak spot for a drug cartel angle in my crime thrillers, so it's easy to understand why I wanted to read the Veranda Cruz trilogy. I've been wanting to continue the series ever since I read and enjoyed the first book last year... This has a lot to do with the main character, her personal connection and her determination to take on the Villalobos cartel. I have to say that Phoenix Burning ended up being an excellent sequel! Sure, you definitely have to be able to suspend your disbelief and certain parts of the plot are over the top, but on an entertainment level there is no doubt that Phoenix Burning hits the spot. It would work SO well as a movie/series adaptation! Isabella Maldonado is always so good at bringing a Latin flavor to her stories, and Veranda Cruz and her family are extremely easy to warm up to. We already had some pretty dark secrets revealed in the first book, and these same secrets play a big role in the plot of this sequel as well. It's one of the reasons I highly recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers. I once again appreciated how the story offered us both sides with the help of its multiple POV structure; I always love it when we get to see things through the eyes of the villains as well. One minor niggle: I wasn't a fan of the little romance incorporated and I sure do hope Cole isn't here to stay... Even Diaz would be better than him, and that is saying something. Anyhow, Phoenix Burning turned out to be a more than solid sequel and I already can't wait to read the final book to see how it would all end. 

2024: 4.0

I'm always an Isabella moldonado fan, the Agent Vega series is definitely her earliest work and it does show. Loved the book overall but it did feel a little repetitive and I did predict some of the twists. Excited to read the last in the trilogy!