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Flamingo Diner
Returning home has never been so bittersweet in this acclaimed novel from #1
New York Times
bestselling author Sherryl Woods
Flamingo Diner has always been a friendly place where everyone knows your name. Unfortunately, in the small town of Winter Cove, Florida, it is also the place where everyone knows everything about you. As a teenager, Emma Killian didn’t recognize what a remarkable business her family had created, and so she moved away.
Now her father’s tragic death has brought her home to face a mountain of secrets, debts and questions about why and how her beloved father died. As Emma grapples with her out-of-control family, the responsibility of keeping Flamingo Diner afloat and a pair of well-meaning senior-citizen sleuths, she finds support from an unlikely source.
Onetime bad boy Matt Atkins is now the Winter Cove police chief. Matt has always had a penchant for trouble and an eye for Emma. Now it seems he’s the only one who can help Emma discover the answers to her questions...and give her a whole new reason to stay home
Flamingo Diner has always been a friendly place where everyone knows your name. Unfortunately, in the small town of Winter Cove, Florida, it is also the place where everyone knows everything about you. As a teenager, Emma Killian didn’t recognize what a remarkable business her family had created, and so she moved away.
Now her father’s tragic death has brought her home to face a mountain of secrets, debts and questions about why and how her beloved father died. As Emma grapples with her out-of-control family, the responsibility of keeping Flamingo Diner afloat and a pair of well-meaning senior-citizen sleuths, she finds support from an unlikely source.
Onetime bad boy Matt Atkins is now the Winter Cove police chief. Matt has always had a penchant for trouble and an eye for Emma. Now it seems he’s the only one who can help Emma discover the answers to her questions...and give her a whole new reason to stay home
393 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2002
717 people are currently reading
1091 people want to read
About the author
Sherryl Woods
556 books4,530 followersWith two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 27, 2018
So I generally dislike books that try to depict real life in fiction form, I find they either have too many coincidences or are too predictable. Also, too much romance.
I grabbed this from the break room at work on Monday when I left my Hard Case Crime at home.. it was the better of two options. And I have to say it was well written enough, and had fun enough characters for me to actually finish it.
It was pretty clear exactly what the plot was by the time the characters were all introduced, and things proceeded pretty much exactly as one would expect. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, and it just didn't.
I was also a bit annoyed at how easily the mom of the family (Rosa) dealt with crippling depression.. I mean, two counselling sessions and poof, she's better? really? As a person who used to attend conferences and sell books on such things, it was almost insulting to the real people that deal with such issues how easy it was.
I suspect this is a pretty good example of the genre, but I'll very happily stick with what I like, thanks.
I grabbed this from the break room at work on Monday when I left my Hard Case Crime at home.. it was the better of two options. And I have to say it was well written enough, and had fun enough characters for me to actually finish it.
It was pretty clear exactly what the plot was by the time the characters were all introduced, and things proceeded pretty much exactly as one would expect. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, and it just didn't.
I was also a bit annoyed at how easily the mom of the family (Rosa) dealt with crippling depression.. I mean, two counselling sessions and poof, she's better? really? As a person who used to attend conferences and sell books on such things, it was almost insulting to the real people that deal with such issues how easy it was.
I suspect this is a pretty good example of the genre, but I'll very happily stick with what I like, thanks.
January 27, 2021
I was looking for this book to scratch a particular itch, and, sadly, it didn't really do that at all for me. This is my first dabble with Sherryl Woods, and I have to say, it was... just ok. There are a couple of issues here, but let's start with the good stuff. The whole family owning and running the diner in Winter Cove, Florida, was a cute idea. It read quickly and didn't require me to invest a ton of time or brain power. Everything was surface level and readily accessible.
Now, the not-so-good stuff. The characters felt like stereotypes of themselves: the bad boy turned cop who has always had a thing for the girl who left town, the retired buddies who are bored and play private eyes, the tattooed, pierced druggie girl who protests for things without knowing why, the brother who no one understands and gets into drugs, and the girl who flew the coop and is torn between her new life and her old one. There's nothing new here. The mother gets over the suicide of her husband from two group meetings after sulking in her room for two months. (I know everyone deals with grief in their own way and in their own time but really?) There is massive insta-love between the two main characters- so much so that they spend THE FIRST NIGHT after she gets back on the couch together, after not seeing each other for ten years. The last minute reveal that one of the characters who goes to the diner every day is actually a retired executive chef and can help out so Emma can do her own thing (how super convenient). The fact that Matt, the cop, literally admits to dragging out the plot by withholding information from Emma. I could go on, but you get the point. There's too much convenience, and WAY too much repetition in the speech of the characters. They retread the same things, to each other and in their heads, over and over again to the point of me yelling at the pages.
This is fine if you're looking for a quick read that doesn't expect much from you, but there's not a whole lot of substance here that you can sink your teeth into.
Now, the not-so-good stuff. The characters felt like stereotypes of themselves: the bad boy turned cop who has always had a thing for the girl who left town, the retired buddies who are bored and play private eyes, the tattooed, pierced druggie girl who protests for things without knowing why, the brother who no one understands and gets into drugs, and the girl who flew the coop and is torn between her new life and her old one. There's nothing new here. The mother gets over the suicide of her husband from two group meetings after sulking in her room for two months. (I know everyone deals with grief in their own way and in their own time but really?) There is massive insta-love between the two main characters- so much so that they spend THE FIRST NIGHT after she gets back on the couch together, after not seeing each other for ten years. The last minute reveal that one of the characters who goes to the diner every day is actually a retired executive chef and can help out so Emma can do her own thing (how super convenient). The fact that Matt, the cop, literally admits to dragging out the plot by withholding information from Emma. I could go on, but you get the point. There's too much convenience, and WAY too much repetition in the speech of the characters. They retread the same things, to each other and in their heads, over and over again to the point of me yelling at the pages.
This is fine if you're looking for a quick read that doesn't expect much from you, but there's not a whole lot of substance here that you can sink your teeth into.
Read
May 1, 2018"In a well-plotted story that tackles some tough emotional issues, Woods shines. This is a gripping read" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).
July 22, 2025
How did I not know about Ms. Woods before picking up this novel? I was browsing in a secondhand book shop and thought, "I like diners. I like flamingos. Sold!"
Ms. Woods does not try to reinvent the wheel here, and I see some reviews criticizing that. It doesn't bother me. Isn't that what you want in a book from time to time? To pick up a tested formula that just works? It feels new yet familiar at the same time. And Ms. Woods is a good writer.
I thought the novel handled grief nicely. Each character has their own journey, and I really liked that. The colorful secondary characters kept the story fresh and from feeling too heavy. The dust jacket categorizes this as romance, and there is a healthy dose of it, but I would put it more in the fiction category. There aren't a lot of burning loins, no satin sheets, and honestly just one or two love scenes. The youngest brother was perhaps written a little younger than his described age, and the mother goes from on the ground to standing up straight a little quickly, but otherwise I quite enjoyed this.
A nice, comfortable read written with a practised hand. I would have no hesitations picking up another work by this author in the future.
Ms. Woods does not try to reinvent the wheel here, and I see some reviews criticizing that. It doesn't bother me. Isn't that what you want in a book from time to time? To pick up a tested formula that just works? It feels new yet familiar at the same time. And Ms. Woods is a good writer.
I thought the novel handled grief nicely. Each character has their own journey, and I really liked that. The colorful secondary characters kept the story fresh and from feeling too heavy. The dust jacket categorizes this as romance, and there is a healthy dose of it, but I would put it more in the fiction category. There aren't a lot of burning loins, no satin sheets, and honestly just one or two love scenes. The youngest brother was perhaps written a little younger than his described age, and the mother goes from on the ground to standing up straight a little quickly, but otherwise I quite enjoyed this.
A nice, comfortable read written with a practised hand. I would have no hesitations picking up another work by this author in the future.
June 19, 2018
This book was a good read, I enjoyed the story, the characters and the plot. The only thing that I was a bit upset about was that this was a re-print of a story from 2003 - they just gave it a new cover, rebranded it and called it a day. The words/technology was a bit outdated due the age of the story. I did enjoy the overall story, the location and the name! Anything with Flamingo in it must be good! This is a great summer read, so grab your copy today!
April 12, 2020
Protagonistas: Emma & Matt
Profesiones: Anticuaria & Policia
Pais: USA
Profesiones: Anticuaria & Policia
Pais: USA
September 30, 2018
This was a very good book about a very tough subject, suicide. The story explores the effects and getting on with life for family and friends, while still honoring our loved one.
August 28, 2020
Good story full of emotion
June 1, 2018
Good story although a little predictable. I loved the characters & the happily ever after.
June 4, 2015
The first of this author's books to disappoint me, Flamingo Diner fails at actually making me like the main characters. Not to mention the sort of commentary on Emma's brother's girlfriend, who is a teenager who dresses like half the teenagers I see but does drugs and apparently tries to be an activist but doesn't wholly understand the issues. You know, because she's a teenager. Teenagers just don't understand these things usually. Why is Emma, a grown woman, seemingly mocking her? It's one scene but that's all it takes to dislike a character. Anyways, like all the author's stories, Emma comes back to her small town and decides to stay despite the fact she has a job she loves waiting for her. Because it's a story about small towns being amazing, something I've actually never heard from someone from a small town. Her father's dead, his family suspects suicide, and the only reason this gets two stars instead of one is Emma's mother, who I think is the only believable character in this. Certainly, the only one I liked, even if I'm still not clear on why her father decided to do what he did.
August 3, 2020
Wow! This book packs a wallop! Matt - former troubled teen, present police chief, he's been in love with Emma since they were teenagers. Emma - raised by loving parents, couldn't wait to spread her wings and move out. Now she lives in Washington, D.C., but comes back to Winter Cove, Florida, to help out after the death of her father. She feels the spark with Matt, but is more focused on helping discover the details behind her father's death. Matt is more than willing to help her seek answers, and he's hoping that in the process he can convince her to stay in Winter Cove, to stay with him. This book is so much more than "just a contemporary romance". It is the story of mourning, moving forward, searching for answers, self-discovery, hope, recovery, friendship, family, and love. Excellent read!
May 18, 2010
Heavy on the romance which seems to take precedence over the mystery. The characters were okay. Likable. Believable. There was hope there would be a twist since it took so long to end after the mystery was solved.
April 29, 2018
A different read from Sherryl
Loved it but a bit different than what you expect from Sherryl. Very emotional and a difficult subject but she did the story so classy. I couldn't put it down. A must read
Loved it but a bit different than what you expect from Sherryl. Very emotional and a difficult subject but she did the story so classy. I couldn't put it down. A must read
February 12, 2013
Disappointed in this book.Not enough depth to the characters.
August 9, 2016
it was ok but not a keeper
October 19, 2017
Could have been several hundred pages shorter! Kept repeating itself and got no where!
July 14, 2020
Emma get a call from her brother saying that something is wrong with her father and that he been acting very strange. Emma tries to reasure her brother everything is okay and that she will take a flight home soon to see him and her parents, but before those plans can come to pass Emma gets a call saying her father commited suicide and could she please come home for the funeral. Emma books the next flight home, but when she arrives more is wrong than just her father suicide.
Her mother has given up living and deos not want to go on with life, instead she stay's huddle up in bed well Emma takes care on the dinner. Emma trys to tell her mom that her father is dead, but her mom has trouble facing the reality.
Her little brother blames her for her father's death, thinking that if she had come home sooner her father would still be alive.
Her second brother is having his own life problems, he seems to being doing more drugs and a slacking on his responsibilites.
Lastly Emma finds the new Police Cheif is a boy her parents helped raise and she had a bit of a crush on.
Seems like Emma has a lot to figure out.
Her mother has given up living and deos not want to go on with life, instead she stay's huddle up in bed well Emma takes care on the dinner. Emma trys to tell her mom that her father is dead, but her mom has trouble facing the reality.
Her little brother blames her for her father's death, thinking that if she had come home sooner her father would still be alive.
Her second brother is having his own life problems, he seems to being doing more drugs and a slacking on his responsibilites.
Lastly Emma finds the new Police Cheif is a boy her parents helped raise and she had a bit of a crush on.
Seems like Emma has a lot to figure out.
August 19, 2018
Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods is a story involving a major tragedy within a family and how that tragedy sweeps through into the lives of each family member affecting them all in different ways. It goes through each stage of the terrible circumstance highlighting the grief and sorrow, the guilt and anger, but also the strength and hope found in family and friends and how no matter how bad a hand life throws us, we have to keep moving forward in baby steps and look out for the light through all the darkness. I adore SW’s writing, however this one I probably wouldn’t of picked up if I knew the heaviness of the subject matter; I just tend to like stories that are more lighthearted. There are many points in this story that are light hearted, however, it just wasn’t my FAVORITE type of story to read that’s all; which is the reason for the 4 stars. Definitely well written as always, and very likeable characters! There is a romance entwined and it is super sweet and will make any woman wish for a Matt Atkins! Happy reading!
April 10, 2019
This was a great novel about how to reboot after everything goes bad. I really enjoyed this novel and the workings of the local diner. We all love diners and we do get to know the wait staff and kitchen help-I really liked how everything was wrapped up at the end. I feel bad for their father abruptly passing away. The reasons were slowly shown at the end..but it always rings true, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I feel this each month that goes by. When we are young, we let our emotions run our lives..then something clicks in the 40s...I really hope more people take the warnings seriously and please reach out. As I always say-I rather have a crying and depressed you sitting next to me than a dead you sitting next to me...And more people need to share this. They need to be open to talk about these issues. Silence doesn't do us any good. A well written novel!
April 16, 2019
The book was unnecessarily long, I thought, and not thoroughly researched. The author dealt sensitively enough with the subject of suicide and its differing effects on surviving family members. I never did figure out what the family did about the insurance money. The idea that life insurance doesn't pay out in the event of a suicide is fallacious; most policies have a two-year exclusion. It was not stated in the book as to when Don had taken out a life insurance policy, but I inferred it had been in place for some time. Also, for a spouse to mortgage a house and a business that is joint property without knowledge/consent of the partner would be extremely difficult to pull off. It was unclear as to why Emma was so obstinate in her desire to return to her dead-end job. And the ending wasn't satisfying, either. So in retrospect, 3 stars is fairly generous.
May 17, 2018
In the author's "Dear Readers" greeting, Sherryl Woods explains that this book has a serious storyline about suicide. Each character went through all the emotions in his or her own way. At first wanting to believe it was an accident, to secretly thinking it was a suicide. In the meantime trying to keep the Flamingo Diner open and realizing how much the Diner meant to their community. Even with all this drama, there was light-hearted and humorous dialogue. There was also a serious drug-related incident - that wasn't entirely caused by the suicide. I was very glad the ending answered the question of why suicide so the family could have some closure. Interesting to see which characters will have their story in future books.
September 5, 2018
Ms Woods never disappoints.
Emma grows up in loving family with strong bond with her Dad. She leaves home for DC to make a life for herself. after several years, she is called home for her Dad's death only to find out it wqas no accident and he has taken his own life .
Upon her return, she finds Matt her best friend from childhood and sparks fly as they try to work thru this loss.
Her Mom and both brother are taking this very hard and Emma thinks she is going to be tied to their family diner for ever.
She soon learns that she really does not mind being home and her and Matt find love as her Mom and brothers come out of their dark place and things turn around.
Hope there will be a book about rest of her family in future.
Emma grows up in loving family with strong bond with her Dad. She leaves home for DC to make a life for herself. after several years, she is called home for her Dad's death only to find out it wqas no accident and he has taken his own life .
Upon her return, she finds Matt her best friend from childhood and sparks fly as they try to work thru this loss.
Her Mom and both brother are taking this very hard and Emma thinks she is going to be tied to their family diner for ever.
She soon learns that she really does not mind being home and her and Matt find love as her Mom and brothers come out of their dark place and things turn around.
Hope there will be a book about rest of her family in future.
July 5, 2018
I think the biggest problem that I had with this book is that one of the main characters was in love with the other for over 10 years. Which is fine. I’m all for true love. But the weird thing is that they were never a couple. Never dated. He fell hopelessly/head over heels in love with her when she was a teenager, and then never stopped loving her. Other relationships failed because he couldn’t get over her. BUT THEY WERE NEVER IN A RELATIONSHIP. And then she moved away. AND HE STILL LOVED HER. Did this amount of unrequited love not bother anyone else? If he loved her as much as he said he did, he should have visited her. At least once. I’m just saying..
October 14, 2019
This book was depressing! Emma Killian returns to her hometown of Winter Cove, FL after her father dies unexpectedly. The family runs the Flamingo Diner, but Emma didn't want to stay and work there - she's happy with her life working with an antiques dealer in Washington DC. Police chief Matt Atkins has always loved Emma and is hoping to convince her to stay in town. The circumstances of her father's death has her leaning on Matt to help discover what happened to him, as she and her mom think it was suicide. On top of that, her mother won't leave her room and one of her brothers seems to be getting into trouble with drugs. So, overall, not a happy book at all.
May 11, 2018
This is a very heart warming story of a family that lost her husband and the kid’s father to what could have been a car accident but was it? It is a story of a family trying to cope with their loss and trying to heal and keep together as a family. Sometimes it is better not to know the truth and sometimes it takes the truth to get better. Sheriff Matt Atkins tries to hold them together because he has always had a crush on the daughter, Emma Killian, but when she comes back to Winter Cove, Florida after moving to Washington, can he convince her to stay? Good story
July 13, 2018
In the small town of Winter Cove, Florida, is the family run Flamingo Diner. It is owned and run by Don and Rosa Killian. Their three children, Emma, works in Washington, DC, Jeff, a senior in college, and Andy, a senior in high school. One day, Don is found dead in the lake in his submerged car by Matt Atkins the police chief, and long time family friend. Emma rushes back to home to help the family come to terms with her Dad's death and finds Matt still the rock to lean on and much more. A good romantic read.
January 24, 2025
Interesting and intriguing plot. I had some difficulty getting through the book because the main character, about a third of the way through, became difficult to like. She was mean, impulsive, and egocentric. The other characters I enjoyed immensely. The oldest brother, who was depicted as having a drug addiction, was portrayed accurately and was compassion. The ending was enjoyable, and at about the last 10%, the main characterbecame in inviting. It took me a little longer to read this book then most books because I had to put it down. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2025
If I could give this book 0 stars I would. It was the worst book I’ve ever read. The dialogue was corny, uninteresting & too many platitudes. The fact that they all automatically jumped to suicide was ridiculous when the author spent so much time detailing what a great guy he was, how level headed, etc. There was a brief mention of a gambling problem early in his “courting days” that never crossed Rosa’s mind when she found out he mortgaged everything. Don’t get me started on the daughter. Awful awful awful
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2019
I read this on the long flight from Oregon to Ohio and back again and it was a reasonably absorbing read to take my mind off my surroundings. It was kind of a sweet story that dealt with the sobering issue of suicide. The writing is pretty good and the characters are likable, although the protagonist's love interest, Matt, says some pretty sexist things.
Not great, not bad, hence, 3 stars.
Not great, not bad, hence, 3 stars.
November 9, 2025
2.5 stars.
Flamingo Diner was not awful; but it also wasn't very good.
There was potential as the story line was less of a romance (the billed genre) and more about family challenges, specifically grieving after suicide and betrayal. Unfortunately the characters were flat and it was hard to feel empathy for them. The romantic alliance was without any discernable spark.
Woods has not made it onto my "read more" list.
Flamingo Diner was not awful; but it also wasn't very good.
There was potential as the story line was less of a romance (the billed genre) and more about family challenges, specifically grieving after suicide and betrayal. Unfortunately the characters were flat and it was hard to feel empathy for them. The romantic alliance was without any discernable spark.
Woods has not made it onto my "read more" list.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews