Desert Flowers

By: Paul Pen, Simon Bruni - translator

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Rose and Elmer have created an idyllic sanctuary for themselves and their five daughters in Mexico's Baja California desert. Out there in the middle of nowhere, blissfully cut off from the burdens of modern society, they're free to raise their beautiful family...and preserve its secret.

And they're never giving it up.

Then a young hiker named Rick comes looking for a place to stay. It's just for the night, he says - but long enough for Rose and Elmer to fear they've made a horrible mistake. As the stranger grows more intrusive and more suspicious, the couple know they must do what they can to protect themselves. What they don't know is that Rick has a secret, too. Soon, home and family will prove to be as cold and dark as the desert nights. And even with so many places to run, there's still no escape from the past that binds them.

©2017 Paul Pen. Translation copyright 2017 Simon Bruni. (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Well played Mr. Pen, well played...

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to listen to and had a good story line. I got into the characters and found myself really vested in the outcome.

Quite a twist!

I had to keep listening ! and with each new chapter I found I had to listen more. It's a story of a family and the Stranger who comes into their lives. sometimes it made my frustrated especially with the oldest dsughter Iris. I wasn't expecting the end, the suprising end both filled me with sadness and satisfaction. I want to read more by this author.

Paul Pen is now in my top 3 favorite authors!

Do not hesitate to use your credit for Paul Pen! This book is outstanding! The Light of the Fireflies is also not to be missed! Enjoy!

Desert Flowers

Can see a second part , was very descriptive and left me wishing for one thing but being surprised at ending. Really enjoyed his writing, left me wondering.

Well written and well narrated.

Though this story did include some disturbing and awkward scenes, the characters were so diverse and dynamic that they all alone with their unique and identifiable personalities. The narrator honored the story and characters with unique character voices throughout the story.

Didn't Disappoint!

I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book... probably because of some of the reviews.
As soon as I started listening I was hooked. I do agree with a few of the reviews that felt that the ending left a lot of room for a sequel! Emily Sutton-Smith was awesome as usual!

Excellent story, Narration could be better

I absolutely loved this story. It was so bittersweet and beautiful. Very well written, good pacing, great tone, excellent climax and pay off. However, I wish the voice actor gave Elmer’s character a little more emotion to his voice. All of his dialogue was delivered in the same exact tone and never really matched with what was being said or felt by him in that moment. It kind of ruined his character a bit for me because he basically has no emotion in this reading.

Unnerving

Chapter 11 – ‘when pain is over, the remembrance of it often becomes a pleasure”. Disturbingly true sometimes...

Not as creepy and dark as “The Light Of the Fireflies” but still goes down the same unnerving alleyway. I got similar feelings that reminded me of when I first read/saw Stephen King’s “The Shining” and “Misery”. I was absorbed to finish quickly. Again, the ending leaves me craving another book from this author…

Maybe predictable, but a good book anyway

I liked this book and the quirky family in it. It was beautifully descriptive. The only objectionable part was the performance, which didn't always flow well, and seemed stilted at times. I liked Paul Pen's other book, The Light of the Fireflies, little better but I am glad I read this also.

Loved the ending!

I almost didn’t read this due to all the reviews complaining about the ending. Ignore them! The narration was good although the father’s “voice” was annoying, I have to say...