FLAMINGO CAFE by Jackie Kang ~ Excerpt Tour & Giveaway

Flamingo Cafe
by: Jackie Kang
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release Date: October 16, 2024
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

A storm is brewing off the coast of Florida, but chaos has already made landfall for four women of Palm Beach society. Abigail, a self-appointed Cuban princess and queen of the WAGs, suddenly finds herself penniless and on the streets. Claudia, a Greek entrepreneur and CEO of a prestigious international clothing line, is entering her golden years only to realize secrets can weigh you down. Cassy, a barista and owner of the Flamingo Cafe, is doing her best to recover from a tragic past. Meanwhile her best friend, Bri, also harbors a secret: a romantic tet-a-tet with Cassy's brother Nick. Each woman has played her part in a society obsessed with appearances and secrecy for years. So, when Hurricane Odette blows through town, exposing those secrets, it's no surprise their lives collide like a clap of thunder. Only one thing is certain: if they don't work together, Mother Nature will teach them the hardest lessons of their lives.

God, I need another drink.

I reach over and grab my Collins glass, squinting at it through my newly purchased CC sunglasses. Only melted ice, muddled mint leaves, and blueberries are left, creating a kaleidoscope of green and blue in the bottom third of the cut glass. “Rosa...Rosa?”

Oh, now where is Rosa? Lord knows, with what we pay the help, I should not have to go in search of someone to mix me a drink. My mixing days were supposed to be long over, but then again, so were Julian's nights at the club.

“Ah, damn it,” I mutter and will my small yet mighty frame to magically teleport from the red and white striped chaise lounge over to the fully stocked wet bar. What a waste of money, paying for help when the help was nowhere to be found.

Pissed—and not entirely oblivious to the fact that my anger is misplaced—I admit defeat and slide off the chaise, taking my empty glass with me as I approach the bar cart.

I start to work, expertly muddling the mint and lime with a pinch of refined sugar. I fill the shaker with ice, rum, and a splash of lime juice and give it a good shake with practiced precision and skill. A simple twist of my wrist sends the frothy clear concoction sliding down the shiny cylinder, over the fresh blueberries, lime, and mint, and into my glass.

I top the drink with club soda and take a sip, letting the sweet mixture work its magic. The second the alcohol touches my bloodstream, the knot in my shoulders starts to dissipate.

That’s better.

Well, at least one disaster has been averted. My dear fiancé́ might have ruined my afternoon siesta, but I still have my blueberry mojito. I manage to make it back to my chaise without sloshing too much of the precious liquid over the rim.

Conscious of the clock ticking down, I don’t hesitate to settle back into the lounge. Due home from that pretentious institution of a primary school of hers, Riley will be walking through the door any minute.

Lord knows the second she sets foot onto the terrace; I will be required to morph into the doting mother instantly oohing and ahhing over her many accomplishments. Showering mi amor with my full attention, shepherding my overly stimulated daughter to any number of after-school activities. All encouraged by Julian, of course, to keep her out of the house and out of his hair. Her most recent enrichment involves marine biology, saving the Florida Manatee population, or some cause equally trivial. Unfortunately, the apple has fallen far from the tree with this one.

Purchase Flamingo Cafe from:

Amazon | Paperback | Goodreads

(Affiliate Links Used)

When not spending her time creating make-believe people and places, Jackie Kang lives in Kirkland, WA with her very real family of 1 husband, 2 dogs, and 3 children. In her past life, Jackie has held jobs as a personal trainer, a spa manager, a dental assistant, and an office manager, but her true love is writing and sharing a well-crafted story. Jackie is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association.

Places to find Jackie Kang:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

You can follow the Flamingo Cafe Name Excerpt Tour here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Subscribe to Read Your Writes Book Reviews: