Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream

Mejia (Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review) returns to the grungy small town of Ridley Falls, Wash., for the story of Cash Delgado, 30-something single mom and bar manager extraordinaire, who is barely holding her life together when she’s hit by a double whammy: a skeezy ex-boyfriend slinks into town with a plan to open a competing bar franchise, and she is blindsided by sudden erotic dreams about her BFF and coworker, Inez. The ensuing warmhearted wish-fulfillment of two plucky Davids facing off against a corporate Goliath—and discovering truths about themselves in the process—makes for a highly satisfying comfort read, realism be damned. Mejia develops their secondary characters with love and care, from fearless Parker, Cash’s daughter, navigating playground politics to Inez’s Granny O’Conner plotting domination in assisted living. A few too many teaching moments are contrived along the way, but even the lectures are delivered with a welcome and welcoming generosity of spirit. This is sure to win fans. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (July)