Dessert at the Beach House Hotel Read online

  Dessert at The Beach House Hotel

  Judith Keim

  Contents

  BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM

  PRAISE FOR JUDITH KEIM’S NOVELS

  CHILDREN’S BOOKS BY J. S. KEIM

  PRAISE FOR J. S. KEIM’S BOOKS

  Dedication

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER ONE

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  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

  Dessert at The Beach House Hotel – 6

  THE FAT FRIDAYS GROUP:

  Fat Fridays – 1

  Sassy Saturdays – 2

  Secret Sundays – 3

  SALTY KEY INN SERIES:

  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

  The Beach Babes – (2022)

  DESERT SAGE INN SERIES:

  The Desert Flowers – Rose – 1

  The Desert Flowers – Lily – 2

  The Desert Flowers – Willow – 3

  The Desert Flowers – Mistletoe & Holly – 4 (2022)

  CHANDLER HILL INN SERIES:

  Going Home – 1

  Coming Home – 2

  Home at Last – 3

  SOUL SISTERS AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN LODGE:

  Christmas Sisters – Anthology

  Christmas Kisses

  Christmas Castles

  Christmas Stories – Soul Sisters Anthology

  Christmas Joy – (2022)

  THE SANDERLING COVE INN SERIES:

  Waves of Hope – (2022)

  Sandy Wishes – (2023)

  Salty Kisses – (2023)

  OTHER BOOKS:

  The ABC’s of Living With a Dachshund

  Once Upon a Friendship – Anthology

  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.”

  MARGARITAS AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “What a wonderful series. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next book to come out. There was even suspense in it. Thanks Judith for the great stories.”

  “Overall, Margaritas at the Beach House Hotel is another wonderful addition to the series. Judith Keim takes the reader on a journey told through the voices of these amazing characters we have all come to love through the years! I truly cannot stress enough how good this book is, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!”

  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 – Books 1 – 4

  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 – Books 1 – 3
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  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 featuring 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.”

  A ROAD TRIP TO REMEMBER – “I LOVED this book! Love the character development, the fun, the challenges and the ending. My favorite books are about strong, competent women finding their own path to success and happiness and this is a winner. It’s one of those books you just can’t put down.”

  “The characters are so real that they jump off the page. Such a fun, HAPPY book at the perfect time. It will lift your spirits and even remind you of your own grandmother. Spirited and hopeful Aggie gets a second chance at love and she takes the steering wheel and drives straight for it.”

  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.”!

  THE DESERT FLOWERS – LILY – “The second book in the Desert Flowers series is just as wonderful as the first. Judith Keim is a brilliant storyteller. Her characters are truly lovely and people that you want to be friends with as soon as you start reading. Judith Keim is not afraid to weave real life conflict and loss into her stories. I loved reading Lily’s story and can’t wait for Willow’s!

  “The Desert Flowers Lily is the second book in The Desert Sage Inn Series by author Judith Keim. When I read the first book in the series, The Desert Flowers-Rose, I knew this series would exceed all of my expectations and then some. Judith Keim is an amazing author, and this series is a testament to her writing skills and her ability to completely draw a reader into the world of her characters.”

  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!”

  Dessert at The Beach House Hotel

  The Beach House Hotel Series – Book 6

  Judith Keim

  Wild Quail Publishing

  Dessert at The Beach House Hotel 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 Dessert at The Beach House Hotel 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:

  [email protected]

  [email protected]

  Wild Quail Publishing

  PO Box 171332

  Boise, ID 83717-1332

  ISBN# 978-1-954325-25-8

  Copyright ©2022 Judith Keim

  All rights reserved

  Dedication

  For my readers who kept begging for more stories about Ann and Rhonda

  CHAPTER ONE

  On this late August day, I walked with my business partner, Rhonda Grayson, along the sand in front of The Beach House Hotel, the upscale boutique inn we’d created out of her seaside estate on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Looking at it from this angle, it resembled a pink diamond, bright and beautiful, sparkling at the edge of the beach.

  It was rare for the two of us to have time like this; being out in the salty air was a pleasant way to talk business and help the creative juices to flow. Bernhard “Bernie” Bruner managed the hotel, but Rhonda and I were the unique forces behind the operation.

  As friends and partners, we were as different as two people could be. Rhonda was a free spirit who said whatever was on her mind while I, a product of my strict grandmother’s upbringing in Boston, still cringed at some of her words as I took care of the many small details of the business. But from the beginning, we complemented each other’s skills and had grown to love one another like sisters who accepted the best and worst about the other.

  Rhonda’s cell phone rang. She checked caller ID. “Vice President Swanson,” She stopped walking and straightened. “Good morning, Madame Vice President,” she said and grew quiet. “Uh, huh. I see. Sure, I’ll talk to Annie about it and get back to you. But I’m going to say yes right now.”