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Friday, November 1, 2024

Excerpt Tour: Flamingo Café by Jackie Kang


FLAMINGO CAFE

Jackie Kang


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Women's Fiction


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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.


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Excerpt


Flummoxed, I search up and down the road, desperate for anyone that might have borne witness to my almost demise. 


To my utter disbelief, there isn't a single person nearby. I try to calculate the probability of being alone on the street at this time of the day. But after a few unsuccessful attempts, I recognize I'm too rattled to actually do the math. 


Still shaking, I quickly and carefully gather my tire- stained note cards from the ground and make my way to the other side of the street. It’s not until I’m outside the entrance of the Flamingo Café that the adrenaline starts to dissipate from my body, leaving me unsteady and shaky on my feet. 


As I'm standing by myself, rehashing the events in my head and trying to take slow, steady breaths, the door to the café opens. A gentleman in a suit and tie exits, holding a pale-pink paper bag at his side. He tips his head at me. “Great shirt,” he says, holding the door open, expecting me to pass through. 


The abrupt manifestation of this man on the street sends a new rush of adrenaline into my bloodstream, while at the same time, I'm hit with a strong surge of disbelief. 


Where was this guy a few minutes ago? 


His presence would have been invaluable, serving as a witness to the accident or even possibly helping to prevent it. But, instead, he was inside the café, taking his sweet time stocking up on Cassy's famous Key lime pie rolls and grabbing an iced coffee, oblivious to my plight. 


“Um, are you headed inside?” 


With a start, I notice the gentleman is still staring at me expectantly, continuing to hold the door open. I shake myself out of my trance, remembering his prior compliment, and remind myself the appropriate thing to do in these situations is to offer a response of some kind. 


Looking down at my cerulean blue Save the Manatee t-shirt, I push a strand of hair out of my eyes and manage a reserved “Yes, thank you” before sliding past him into the air-conditioned café, avoiding any further conversation.


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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.


Website: http://www.jackiekangwritesbooks.com   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacqulineK/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacqulinekang/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flamingo-Caf%C3%A9-Jackie-Kang-ebook/dp/B0DCC4NCJ5/ref=sr_1_1


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Giveaway


The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.


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