The Desert Rose

by Larry McMurtry

First published 1983

Harmony is a showgirl in a glitzy Las Vegas casino, dancing her way through each night to support herself and her young daughter, Pepper. But when the casino's owners threaten to fire Harmony, she must fight to keep her job and protect the only stable life Pepper has ever known. As Harmony navigates the ruthless world of Vegas entertainment, she struggles to balance her dreams, her duties as a mother, and the grasping hands of those who would exploit her. In the end, Harmony must decide how far she'll go to secure a future for herself and her daughter in this neon-lit landscape of high stakes and broken promises.

Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, family-drama

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, single-parent

Setting: Las Vegas, Nevada

Period: 20th-century

275 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Pocket

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