FLAMINGO CAFE by Jackie Kang

FLAMINGO CAFE

Jackie Kang

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GENRE: Women's Fiction

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BLURB:

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 harbours 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.

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EXCERPTS

“Oh, come now. I've had the same ‘condition’ as you call it for over fifty years. Narcolepsy has yet to prevent me from performing any of my duties.”

“Of course, you can perform your duties. That's not what I meant.”

“No? What did you mean then?”

“I only want what’s best for you. You should be going out and doing things. You never leave the house anymore, and I’m concerned about you. I just think you should take the last years of your life to enjoy your time with Pappoús. Travel, explore the world.”

“I've seen the world. I've been to fashion shows around the globe twice over. Venice, Paris, and Milan. I've seen it all, and now Pappoús and I are settled here. Palm Beach suits us just fine.”

“I know Palm Beach suits you. But Giagiá, you never leave the house.”

“That is simply not true.”

“Okay, then tell me, when was the last time you went out?”

I am not enjoying the way his line of questioning has taken on a note of hostility. My desire to remain at my own residence should be of no consequence to him.

“Parker darling, whether I leave the house or not has no bearing on my running a business.”

“Of course not. But you're over seventy-five now—"

“And because I'm ageing, you think I should go ahead and abandon my life's work in order to travel around the world until I die off, like a beetle, on my back with my legs up in the air? Like I'm incapable of running a business due to the fact I have grey at my temples? No, Darling. I'm not prepared to live like a fossilized bug for the last few decades of my life.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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.