The Desert Flowers - Willow

Judith Keim

Feb 2022 · Wild Quail Publishing

About this ebook

The power of love and the strength of women working together are proved once again.

When Willow Sanchez is asked to help Alec Thurston, the man for whom her parents work and who’s always treated her as the daughter he once lost, she doesn’t hesitate to leave Boston and come back home to Palm Desert, California. Alec is dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. With her hotel accounting background and financial ability, she’s his perfect choice to help make the sale a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property. She arrives to find two other women summoned to help Alec. Lily Weaver was once Alec’s assistant, and Rose Macklin was heavily involved in the hotel in earlier years. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels.

Willow is assigned to work with two young men, sons of the majority owners of the hotel company purchasing the Desert Sage Inn. One of the men, Brent Armstrong, attended the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University with her and used to bully her with unkind names. His cousin, Trace Armstrong, seems to be very different. Struggling to compete against them for the eventual job of executive assistant manager at the Desert Sage Inn, Willow wonders if she’ll ever find the right man to settle down with as she decides to stay in Palm Desert. A talented golfer, she is forced to take Alec’s place in a foursome with Craig Kincaid, the man both Rose and Lily think is perfect for her. But neither Willow nor Craig is interested in anything serious until Willow wonders if Craig might be the good guy Alec had always thought he was.

A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way.

Be sure to read the other books in the series: Rose, Lily, and Mistletoe and Holly

Other series written by Judith Keim are receiving a lot of love: The Hartwell Women Series, The Beach House Hotel Series, The Fat Fridays Series, the Salty Key Inn Series, the Chandler Hill Inn series, and the books in the Seashell Cottage Collection.

Ratings and reviews

This is book three in The Desert Sage Inn Series and it is Willow's story and it is definitely a must read. When Alec asks Willow to oversee the sale of the inn as he is dying of cancer she arrives to find two other women Rose and Lily and they forge a connection that is so strong and all become friend's so that they can do there best for Alec who is not only there friend but also there mentor but they are all finding it hard to watch him suffer as his cancer progresses but they are all strong and resilient woman who will work together and get through everything together. Willow's parents worked and the inn and Willow tree up there and even though she went to Boston to work she was only too happy to come back home but when the job of executive assistant comes up and would love it but there is a lot of competition and as she wants to stay in the area she applies for it and she would also like to find love which has not happened to her yet. Omg I absolutely loved this book and I couldn't put it down as it had great characters and a storyline that pulled you in right from the start and kept your attention right throughout the whole book. Judith Keim is an amazing author and writer and she is fast becoming one of my favourite author's and I can't wait to read more of her books. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I was excited to read this book but also sad not only thinking it would be the last in the series but also knowing what would happen with Alec. We have seen Willow have interest in Dan and Trace but you just like Willow aren't sure they are right for her and then come into the scene Craig and while at first Willow isn't interested in him due to his perceived player persona I loved how she allowed herself to get to know him more. Not only do we get to see Willow work out whether she wants a relationship but with who and whats next for her career, but also we see things finally wrap up in regards to the Desert Sage Inn as well as continue to see how the other Desert Flowers rose and Lily are going with their lives and relationships. I absolutely love how with each book how we get to know everyone more and their stories continue through the books and you got through the joys, heart ache, good times, love and challengers with them and while I thought this was the last in the series I was over joyed to know their will be more just like how Alec's legacy will continue. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Judith Keim's books are a true treasure. I have really enjoyed this series and am so glad that the series is not yet ending. As the title says, this is Willow's journey to find her place and love. You will probably need a few tissues for this well written book as Willow continues competing for her dream job and wondering if she will find love. The book can be read as a stand alone but is so much richer if you have read the previous ones. The book is about love, friendship, strong women and making your place in the world. I could not put it down.

About the author

Judith Keim enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Winston and Wally, and other members of her family. 

While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love. Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.