Search for Treasure (The Islanders)

Search for Treasure (The Islanders)

The sequel to New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe’s The Islanders , an “exciting, tender, and absolutely wonderful” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) story of friendship, loss, and the healing power of nature. Jake Potter is back on Dewees Island for another summer with his beloved grandmother, Honey. This time, Jake is excited that his dad will be there as he continues to recover from his injuries sustained in Afghanistan. But Jake also knows they both need get used to a new normal, which isn’t easy. Jake also discovers that his two best friends, Macon and Lovie, are struggling as well. Macon is adjusting to being a big brother, while Lovie is navigating a new relationship with her dad, who has long been absent in her life. To cheer everyone up, Jake decides that the trio needs a new mission, just like they had the previous summer in saving the turtles. He discovers that his dad loved spending time in an old tree fort on the island, and there is a special treasure box hidden somewhere nearby. Jake just knows if he can find it, maybe his dad will be happy again—and he knows Macon and Lovie are the perfect fellow treasure hunters! Their search leads them to discover there might be actual buried treasure somewhere on Dewees, all while they battle some unwelcome guests on the island, of both the two- and four-legged kind! On the three friends’ biggest quest yet, they realize that the treasures they really want in life were with them all along. "Exciting, tender, and absolutely wonderful." -- Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including the bestselling The Beach House series. Monroe also writes children’s picture books, and a middle grade fiction series called The Islanders. She is a member of the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame, and her books have received numerous awards, including the South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award; and her novel, A Lowcountry Christmas , won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction. The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie MacDowell. Several of her novels have been optioned for film. She is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction . Monroe is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards. She lives on the South Carolina coast, which is a source of inspiration for many of her books. Angela May is the founder of May Media and PR and a former award-winning television news journalist who helps promote great books and share important community stories as a media specialist. She has been working with Mary Alice Monroe for more than a decade. The Islanders series are their first books together! Angela’s husband is a middle school assistant principal. They have two children and live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Connect with her at AngelaMayBooks.com. Chapter 1: Back to Dewees Island CHAPTER 1 Back to Dewees Island THIS WAS GOING TO BE the best summer ever! I stood at the bow of the ferry plowing along the Intracoastal Waterway. My hands clutched the ferry railing as the salt-scented sea air cut through my hair. I was on my way back to Dewees Island! My heart raced as fast as the big boat engines below, whipping the water into a frothy wake. To my right I spotted a small motorboat gaining on the double-decker ferry. I hurried to the side, and shading my eyes from the sun’s glare, I squinted and saw a girl with a long blond braid driving the boat. My mouth dropped open. “Lovie!” I shouted, and waved my arm overhead. The girl turned and tooted the boat’s horn. Then, with a smile, she gunned the engine. I laughed out loud as she sped past the ferry and soon became a small dot in the distance. Lovie only had one speed—fast. Seeing her buzz by in her boat, I couldn’t wait to get out on a motorboat again, to feel the wind push back my hair, or kayak on a lazy, slow-moving creek, or swim in the wild waves of the ocean, feeling the sun on my face. I couldn’t wait to do my chores in the golf cart! Most of all, I couldn’t wait to see my friends. We had all promised to stay in touch during the school year, but it was hard when you lived in different cities and had different schedules. When I did try to text them, I didn’t know what to say. It felt so awkward. Macon and I did meet up online sometimes to battle together in our favorite video games. But when Lovie sent a text—which wasn’t often—our messages went like this: Lovie: Hi! Me: Hi Lovie: How was school? My day was B O R I N G Me: Yeah. Same. Lovie: Ok. TTYL But still, I missed them. And I wouldn’t have to wait long to see my friends in real life! The ferry slowed in the No Wake zone