Wow, "Desert Flowers" by Paul Pen was dramatic, disturbing and well written. A complex concept, well developed, and left me guessing how it will conclude. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

An interesting thriller that's highly atmospheric. The characters are well done and either very sympathetic or quite villainous.

Great story by Paul Pen. Really thrilling read, great characters and an enjoyable story. Highly recommend to others!!

a very well crafted and written novel about a family, secrets and figuring it all out. I found it a great read that kept me interested throughout it!

Classification: Mystery, Fiction, Drama, Suspense
Release Date: August 8, 2017

I received his book free for review from Netgalley. I have sat on my review for this one for a week and I am still not really sure how I feel about it. This is about a family that lives in the desert, fully isolated from any other neighbors or town. One day a stranger shows up at their door who they are hesitant about. The story just continues on from there. This seemed to me to be a fast paced thriller which I was really in the mood for when I started this one. My expectations weren't quite met, it ended up being a slow paced character build. I still enjoyed the book and I didn't feel let down once the story started to progress. I enjoyed the twist but I didn't enjoy the fact there was no clear closure. That is just my taste specifically so it most likely won't affect your experience unless that is something that bothers you as well. I still say to check this one out if you are interested. It was a very different story from anything else I have ever read and the story is very atmospheric.

This book is quite an emotionally demanding book. It is about a family living in the middle of nowhere with minimal interaction with others. They are a close knit family until they have a stranger living amongst them. At this point all their secrets are out in the open.
I was emotionally heavily vested in this book.

"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."

It took awhile for me to really get into the story but once I did, it had me gasping in shock when the plot pivoted suddenly and then I couldn't put it down. I hated having to go to bed last night, and finished reading on the commute to work this morning.

The less you know about the story, the better your enjoyment.

HIGHLY recommended for mystery and thriller fans.

Desert Flowers

My first Paul Pen read, Desert Flowers is an absorbing tale, full of twists and turns that mess with your head that little bit!

Pen has created a beautifully descriptive tale that built some vivid images in my head, I felt I was there in the desert with the characters. With some dark twists and turns, I really enjoyed this book. Four stars from purplebookstand.

Wow, what a secret this family is hiding!

The story starts out with the day to day life of Rose and Elmer and their four daughters all named after flowers. They seem to be a normal family other than the fact they live in the middle of nowhere.

When a stranger happens upon their land one day, they treat him with kindness and allow him to spend the night. His ever increasing questions, however, have them considering their choice. Was it a mistake to let the stranger into their household?

Oh yeah, this secret was a jaw dropping one. I did not see it coming, at all.

A thrilling read that I sped through, especially towards the end.

Thanks to AmazonCrossing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

While the book did not meet my expectations, I don't regret reading it. After reading the blurb, I was expecting kind of like a thriller or mystery story, but this was more like a family/coming-of-age drama.

The plot was interesting, but not exactly overwhelming. However, I absolutely LOVED the writing, which totally made up for every flaw I found, like the totally ridiculous and unbelievable older sister that really got on my nerves or some non-credible plot twists that seemed too constructed.
But. Each time I started worrying about such things, I lost myself in the writing (again) and then didn't bother at all... I guess my favorite parts actually were those where nothing much happened, like the vivid descriptions of the desert or the quiet 'everyday' moments.

So while the story was OK, the real strength of the book is the incredibly beautiful writing - thanks not only to the author, but also to the great translation by Simon Bruni.

Rose is a loving mother and a devoted wife to Elmer. They have four girls all with very different personalities. Iris is the bookworm in the family and reaching sexual awakening. Melissa is a little different with her penchant for collecting and talking to rocks. Daisy and Dahlia are twins who have a habit of repeating what the other has said.
Rick is a young hiker looking for a little company after leading a solitary existence for the last month. Little do Rose and Elmer know he has a hidden agenda and a tie to their family. Their idea of a happy family is about to change into something more sinister. The girl’s parents have their own secrets and will do anything to keep their family intact
This story evoked a mixture of emotions even to the extent of almost having a tear in my eye at one stage. I feel if I read this a second time I would absorb more than I did the first time round.
Some may find this a little slow to start but I felt it made the perfect backdrop for following events. Initially I was lulled into thinking this was going to be a feel good read and was absolutely taken by surprised when everything changed within a short time.
All the characters were believable and fit together in a very interesting way. At the end I couldnt decide if I liked or despised Rose and Elmer. I know good people some times do bad things but............
The translation from Spanish seems well done. Using the Baja California desert in Mexico was a super idea and even now, thinking about needles on a cactus makes me cringe.
I think this book deserves a lot more than the general fiction label it was given as it seemed to be a mix of genres. Read it and make your own decision. You wont be disappointed.

Four sisters living with their parents in the middle of the Mexican desert: Iris is 16, boy crazy, and romantic from reading too many romance books, Melissa wants friends so desperately she creates them out of rocks and cacti, and the twins Daisy and Dahlia who are forced to take turns being the same person when the school teacher comes for class. Into this situation comes Rick, a traveling young man who works hard to find ways to not be forced to leave. What he is looking for and what the family are hiding is more than a reader might expect and the extremes to which various people are willing to go to for what they want is surprising. As many of my favorite books do, this one doesn't end tied up in a nice pretty package, making for a slightly uncomfortable but pleasing read.

I enjoyed the characters from this book specially the twins. I wasn't happy with the ending.

I have had an affinity for Baja California for years, and read just about anything I can find about this gorgeous part of the world. A family is threatened by a stranger who enters their secluded life in the Mexican desert. You can almost smell the desert and its intriguing atmosphere in this well written book.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to the publisher; AmazonCrossing in exchange for an honest opinion.

After reading this book I was left with an emotional ache, one that was tingled with sadness and happiness that clashed together, a definite sign that this book is an absorbing and addictive general fiction novel which deserves five stars and more.

I know for sure after reading this book, I will be reading other books by Paul Pen and hoping that they are as gripping as Desert Flowers.

Beautifully descriptive and wonderfully imagined, this kept me spellbound to the end. I could smell the desert flowers and dust and see the beauty in the landscape and hear the laughter of the children. The story told mostly from the point of view by the children, unfolds slowly as the middle daughter learns the dark truth about her parents. This is the first book by this author that I have read and now can't wait to read his first book.

Elmer and his wife, Rose, live in a remote dessert of Baja California. They have 4 daughters, all named for flowers, but keep the girls away from their Spanish speaking neighbors. The girls are taught at home by a retired local teachers. The two older girls alternate traveling into town with their Dad once a month for food. However, except for their teacher, Socorro, the girls' contact with the outside world is limited. Also most of the others in their area speak Spanish, a language that the girls were never taught.

The family had lost an older daughter a few years before. However their lives changed dramatically when a young man appeared at the house asking for a place to spend the night and relax from his exhaustive hikes.

This is a psychological thriller and may have the reader eagerly reading to find out what happens next. I found the ending very disturbing. I would have given the book higher grades if I did not feel so let down by the ending.

Paul Pen creates a surreal atmosphere set in the desert in Mexico.

A family of five daughters and their parents live in a house in the middle of nowhere. They don't ever travel into town in groups. One at a time, once a month for supplies. They create their own world of books and rocks and cactus turned into friends. As the living oldest daughter starts to grow up she struggles against the isolation and just wants the romance she reads about in her books.

A stranger makes his way on foot to their isolated location and soon his secrets and theirs start to unfold. When this happens you need to be seriously prepared to dedicate the time to finish this book in one sitting. It will grab hold of you and not let go.