The Desert Flowers--Rose, page 1
THE DESERT FLOWERS – ROSE
Table of Contents
Title Page
Judith Keim
BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM
PRAISE FOR JUDITH KEIM’S NOVELS
CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY J. S. KEIM
PRAISE FOR J. S. KEIM’S BOOKS
The Desert Flowers – Rose | A Desert Sage Inn Book - 1 | Judith Keim | Wild Quail Publishing
Dedication
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE | ROSE
CHAPTER TWO | LILY
CHAPTER THREE | WILLOW
CHAPTER FOUR | ROSE
CHAPTER FIVE | LILY
CHAPTER SIX | WILLOW
CHAPTER SEVEN | ROSE
CHAPTER EIGHT | LILY
CHAPTER NINE | WILLOW
CHAPTER TEN | ROSE
CHAPTER ELEVEN | LILY
CHAPTER TWELVE | ROSE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN | WILLOW
CHAPTER FOURTEEN | ROSE
CHAPTER FIFTEEN | ROSE
CHAPTER SIXTEEN | WILLOW
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN | LILY
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN | ROSE
CHAPTER NINETEEN | LILY
CHAPTER TWENTY | ROSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE | WILLOW
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO | ROSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE | LILY
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR | ROSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE | WILLOW
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX | ROSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN | ROSE
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT | LILY
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE | WILLOW
CHAPTER THIRTY | ROSE
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE | LILY
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO | WILLOW
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE | ROSE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR | ROSE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE | WILLOW
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX | LILY
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN | ROSE
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT | LILY
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE | ROSE
CHAPTER FORTY | LILY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE | WILLOW
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO | ROSE
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE | ROSE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR | WILLOW
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE | ROSE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX | ROSE
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-desert-flowers-lily/id1557402044
CHAPTER ONE | LILY
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Judith Keim
BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM
The hartwell women series:
The Talking Tree – 1
Sweet Talk – 2
Straight Talk – 3
Baby Talk – 4
The Hartwell Women – Boxed Set
THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL SERIES:
Breakfast at The Beach House Hotel – 1
Lunch at The Beach House Hotel – 2
Dinner at The Beach House Hotel – 3
Christmas at The Beach House Hotel – 4
Margaritas at The Beach House Hotel – 5 (Summer 2021)
Dessert at The Beach House Hotel – 6 (2022)
THE FAT FRIDAYS GROUP:
Fat Fridays – 1
Sassy Saturdays – 2
Secret Sundays – 3
SALTY KEY INN BOOKS:
Finding Me – 1
Finding My Way – 2
Finding Love – 3
Finding Family – 4
SEASHELL COTTAGE BOOKS:
A Christmas Star
Change of Heart
A Summer of Surprises
A Road Trip to Remember – (Spring 2021)
The Beach Babes – (Coming 2022)
CHANDLER HILL INN BOOKS:
Going Home – 1
Coming Home – 2
Home at Last – 3
DESERT SAGE INN BOOKS:
The Desert Flowers – Rose – 1
The Desert Flowers – Lily – 2 (Fall 2021)
The Desert Flowers – Willow – 3 (2022)
The Desert Flowers – Mistletoe & Holly – 4 (2022)
Winning BIG – a little love story for all ages
For more information: www.judithkeim.com
PRAISE FOR JUDITH KEIM’S NOVELS
THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL SERIES
“Love the characters in this series. This series was my first introduction to Judith Keim. She is now one of my favorites. Looking forward to reading more of her books.”
BREAKFAST AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL is an easy, delightful read that offers romance, family relationships, and strong women learning to be stronger. Real life situations filter through the pages. Enjoy!”
LUNCH AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “This series is such a joy to read. You feel you are actually living with them. Can’t wait to read the latest one.”
DINNER AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “A Terrific Read! As usual, Judith Keim did it again. Enjoyed immensely. Continue writing such pleasantly reading books for all of us readers.”
CHRISTMAS AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “Not Just Another Christmas Novel. This is book number four in the series and my introduction to Judith Keim’s writing. I wasn’t disappointed. The characters are dimensional and engaging. The plot is well crafted and advances at a pleasing pace. The Florida location is interesting and warming. It was a delight to read a romance novel with mature female protagonists. Ann and Rhoda have life experiences that enrich the story. It’s a clever book about friends and extended family. Buy copies for your book group pals and enjoy this seasonal read.”
THE HARTWELL WOMEN SERIES – Books 1 – 4
“This was an EXCELLENT series. When I discovered Judith Keim, I read all of her books back to back. I thoroughly enjoyed the women Keim has written about. They are believable and you want to just jump into their lives and be their friends! I can't wait for any upcoming books!”
“I fell into Judith Keim's Hartwell Women series and have read & enjoyed all of her books in every series. Each centers around a strong & interesting woman character and their family interaction. Good reads that leave you wanting more.”
THE FAT FRIDAYS GROUP – Books 1 – 3
“Excellent story line for each character, and an insightful representation of situations which deal with some of the contemporary issues women are faced with today.”
“I love this author's books. Her characters and their lives are realistic. The power of women's friendships is a common and beautiful theme that is threaded throughout this story.”
THE SALTY KEY INN SERIES
FINDING ME – “I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and cannot wait for the others! The characters are endearing with the same struggles we all encounter. The setting makes me feel like I am a guest at The Salty Key Inn...relaxed, happy & light-hearted! The men are yummy and the women strong. You can't get better than that! Happy Reading!”
FINDING MY WAY- “Loved the family dynamics as well as uncertain emotions of dating and falling in love. Appreciated the morals and strength of parenting throughout. Just couldn't put this book down.”
FINDING LOVE – “I waited for this book because the first two was such good reads. This one didn't disappoint.... Judith Keim always puts substance into her books. This book was no different, I learned about PTSD, accepting oneself, there is always going to be problems but stick it out and make it work. Just the way life is. In some ways a lot like my life. Judith is right, it needs another book and I will definitely be reading it. Hope you choose to read this series, you will get so much out of it.”
FINDING FAMILY – "Completing this series is like eating the last chip. Love Judith's writing, and her female characters are always smart, strong, vulnerable to life and love experiences."
"This was a refreshing book. Bringing the heart and soul of the family to us."
CHANDLER HILL INN SERIES
GOING HOME – "I absolutely could not put this book down. Started at night and read late into the middle of the night. As a child of the ’60s, the Vietnam war was front and center so this resonated with me. All the characters in the book were so well developed that the reader felt like they were friends of the family."
"I was completely immersed in this book, with the beautiful descriptive writing, and the authors' way of bringing her characters to life. I felt like I was right inside her story."
COMING HOME – “Coming Home is a winner. The characters are well-developed, nuanced and likable. Enjoyed the vineyard setting, learning about wine growing and seeing the challenges Cami faces in running and growing a business. I look forward to the next book in this series!”
“Coming Home was such a wonderful story. The author has such a gift for getting the reader right to the heart of things.”
HOME AT LAST – “In this wonderful conclusion, to a heartfelt and emotional trilogy set in Oregon’s stunning wine country, Judith Keim has tied up the Chandler Hill series with the perfect bow.”
“Overall, this is truly a wonderful addition to the Chandler Hill Inn series. Judith Keim definitely knows how to perfectly weave together a beautiful and heartfelt story.”
“The storyline has some beautiful scenes along with family drama. Judith Keim has created characters with interactions that are believable and some of the subjects the story deals with are poignant.”
SEASHELL COTTAGE BOOKS
A CHRISTMAS STAR – "Love, laughter, sadness, great food, and hope for the future, all in one book. It doesn’t get any better than this stunning read."
"A Christmas Star is a heartwarming Christmas story feat
uring endearing characters. So many Christmas books are set in snowbound places...it was a nice change to read a Christmas story that takes place on a warm sandy beach!" Susan Peterson
CHANGE OF HEART – “CHANGE OF HEART is the summer read we’ve all been waiting for. Judith Keim is a master at creating fascinating characters that are simply irresistible. Her stories leave you with a big smile on your face and a heart bursting with love.”
~Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of the popular Sun Valley Series
A SUMMER OF SURPRISES – “The story is filled with a roller coaster of emotions and self-discovery. Finding love again and rebuilding family relationships.”
“Ms. Keim uses this book as an amazing platform to show that with hard emotional work, belief in yourself and love, the scars of abuse can be conquered. It in no way preaches, it's a lovely story with a happy ending.”
“The character development was excellent. I felt I knew these people my whole life. The story development was very well thought out I was drawn [in] from the beginning.”
DESERT SAGE INN BOOKS
THE DESERT FLOWERS – ROSE – “The Desert Flowers - Rose, is the first book in the new series by Judith Keim. I always look forward to new books by Judith Keim, and this one is definitely a wonderful way to begin The Desert Sage Inn Series!”
“In this first of a series, we see each woman come into her own and view new beginnings even as they must take this tearful journey as they slowly lose a dear friend. This is a very well written book with well-developed and likable main characters. It was interesting and enlightening as the first portion of this saga unfolded. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it”
“Judith Keim is one of those authors that you can always depend on to give you a great story with fantastic characters. I'm excited to know that she is writing a new series and after reading book 1 in the series, I can't wait to read the rest of the books.”!
CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY J. S. KEIM
THE HIDDEN MOON SERIES:
The Hidden Moon – 1
Return to the Hidden Moon – 2
Trouble on the Hidden Moon – 3)
Kermit Greene’s World
For more information: www.judithkeim.com
PRAISE FOR J. S. KEIM’S BOOKS
THE HIDDEN MOON
“The Hidden Moon is a wonderful fantasy escape for middle grades. As Jack, Collin and Danny come to know the people of Anron and are called to help them regain their freedom. The book is filled with shape-shifters, flying dragons and fun. I bought a copy for my grandson for Christmas and am hoping for more from this author.”
“My granddaughter, age 9, loved this book, so it's not a book you should limit to just middle-grade kids. J. S. Keim has a great imagination that appeals to kids and she adds to that wonderful powers of description. This is a must read for both boys and girls and will definitely appeal to both. A great gift idea for hooking kids on reading and for inspiring their imaginations. They will love it!!!”
“A fun story filled with adventure and suspense. I liked that the author took time to really plan out the story and the characters, and you don't know what might happen next.”
“Fun read, enjoyable for both adult and child; its high adventure for young space jockies. Want to encourage your kids to read more? This is a good book for that purpose.”
RETURN TO THE HIDDEN MOON
“There are heroes and villains . . . and bad-guy problems. But the kids get to sort it all out. Some of the "bad-guys" turn around, become "good-guys." That's a positive message for youngsters who read these books, and exactly what should be expected of an adventure story for young boys and girls.”
“The magic that carries the two brothers and their friend off to another planet is every young person's dream. And all the creatures they encounter, who are mostly good, are described in such vivid detail. I could see them in my own imaginations. Of course, there are the bad guys, but this is what keeps the book exciting.”
Kermit Greene’s World
“As I was reading this delightful book, I kept thinking how much I wished I'd had this when I was teaching. My gifted students loved doing a bird-eye and bug-eye sketch of the same item and this would have been great to read to go along with that. Also, as a former teacher, I loved how math was interwoven in the story during a pivotal point in the plot.
Great book for all kids and a fabulous addition to any teacher's classroom set of books.”
“What a great book for children to transition into becoming readers. This is exciting, fun to read and delights the imagination!”
The Desert Flowers – Rose
A Desert Sage Inn Book - 1
Judith Keim
Wild Quail Publishing
The Desert Flowers - Rose is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, public or private institutions, corporations, towns, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others. For permissions contact the author directly via electronic mail:
wildquail.pub@gmail.com
www.judithkeim.com
Wild Quail Publishing
PO Box 171332
Boise, ID 83717-1332
ISBN 978-0-9999009-0-1
Copyright ©2020 Judith Keim
All rights reserved
Dedication
For all my readers ... without your love and support,
the beginning of another series would not be possible.
You are my desert flowers!
PROLOGUE
Rose Macklin stared at the letter in her hand and felt awash in memories. Alec Thurston was the one man she’d truly loved, and now he was dying and wanted to see her. She grasped the letter tightly in her fingers and walked over to the sliding glass door leading to the deck off her great room and stared out at Black Mountain from her condo in Henderson, Nevada.
Once she and Alec had liked hiking together in the Coachella Valley desert around Palm Springs. For six years, they’d laughed and teased and made love before he gently told her it was over. She’d been devastated, but she couldn’t yell or scream at him. He’d been honest with her from the beginning of their relationship, two years after he’d hired her as the social director of his hotel, the Desert Sage Inn. She’d always known it wasn’t a permanent thing. Not because he was promiscuous or a jerk, but because he couldn’t get over the guilt of losing his wife and unborn child in a fire when he wasn’t there to save them. That’s why he couldn’t stay long-term in any happy relationship. Twisted, but true.
She stared at the writing on the page:
“My dear Rose, I’ve been following your career and am pleased to know you’re doing well. I hope you will consider coming to Palm Desert to see me. It seems I’m dying and need to make plans for the future.”
Rose closed her eyes to hold back tears. Dying? He was only sixty-two. How could this be? He’d always been such a strong, vital man.
She’d kept up with his activities too and knew about the woman he’d dated for a couple of years following their breakup. After that, he’d apparently had no other romantic relationships worth noting.
On this late January day, the air outside was cool. It might be a little warmer in Palm Desert, but even there, winter was chilling the air and clouding the sun.
She studied the letter again:
“If you’re willing to come, please let me know your arrival plans, and I’ll make sure to have someone meet you. You’re welcome to stay at my house on the property. I have plenty of room. Things haven’t changed that much around here in the last fourteen years.”
