Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Taste of Desert Green 
AUTHOR: Kim Fielding
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 302 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2022
BLURB:
Struggling business owner George is stuck in the past. Rootless Zephyr lives only in the present. Can they find the courage to build a future together?
At thirty years old, George Harlow is at risk of becoming as fossilized as the prehistoric tourist attraction he inherited—the one that’s headed the way of the dinosaurs. Even if staying afloat didn’t take all his energy, the dating pool in his town is as dry as the desert surrounding it. As for the family trauma from his past? That can stay buried.
Then Zephyr Steiber blows into his life.
Zephyr lives up to his name, drifting wherever Fate takes him, sometimes renting his body in exchange for a ride. With his high heels and lace and bright personality, Zephyr brings a spark of life to George’s dried-up existence.
For a while Zephyr is content to shelter in George’s refuge and to be George’s solace in return. Together they create an oasis. But with Zephyr haunted by the ghosts of bad decisions, and with George’s home and livelihood threatened by a global pandemic, can their tentative dreams for a future together survive reality?
REVIEW:
It’s 2019 and George Harlow lives in a dusty town running his small tourist attraction in the desert that is about to be lost to the new bypass. It’s already a dying town, but the new road is really it’s death knell. One evening, he’s emptying the trash and finds a man in a skirt who has obviously been walking barefoot through the desert. He’s been beaten and is really rough shape. George gets him inside and gets him cleaned up and gives him some food and his own bed for the night. The next day he help the man, who gives his name as Zephyr, some food, clothes and money to be on his way.
Months later, Zephyr returns – in much better shape and with a much better wardrobe and pays back George with quite a bit more than George had given him. But he wanted to repay the kindness. George is overwhelmed – and grateful as the business is failing and he’s not sure what to do next. Then COVID comes. George has to close his business and figure out what to do with himself. And lo and behold, Zephyr shows up out of the blue with a suitcase – and nowhere else to go. George of course lets him stay. He’s grateful for the company for one thing. But then Zephyr leaves again. George does hear from him surprisingly.
Year two of the pandemic, Zephyr shows up again. But he’s not in good shape. George takes care of him again while still trying to keep the business going. But trouble hasn’t stopped following Zephyr and George still has plenty on his plate as well. Zephyr is grateful to George but more than that, he’s starting to really care about him and as more than someone who just seems to keep saving him from himself.
Once again, Kim Fielding comes up with a story that is just a real pleasure to read. Her characters are always interesting – rarely just the average Joe. The twists here add layers to George and Zephyr that might not have made me fall for them quite as hard. George’s lot in life isn’t what he imagined, but he’s given it his all. He’s got a great group of friends in the quirky little town – and these supporting characters add flavor and nuance to an otherwise pretty drab existence. Zephyr has never had an easy life and he’s not made great choices, but he wants to do better. The two of them bring out the best in each other – after a bit of struggle. I truly enjoyed this entire story – the pacing, the characters, the setting (which acted as another character in the story). Ms. Fielding is really great at pulling on the heartstrings in just the right way and this book is another fine example. This is why she is an autobuy author for me. This is a lovely and memorable story and I highly recommend it.
RATING: 
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