Jeanette Baker The Lavender Field

The Lavender Field

Jeanette Baker

Mira, Jun 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0778323110

Dr. Werner Pohl, director of the famous Vienna Spanish Riding School, is worried as his latest Lipizzan horse comes down with Navicular Disease. Pohl realizes the only hope to save the school resides in California where years ago Franz a trainer from the school brought the horses to keep them safe from the Nazis. The government hires Kentucky attorney Whitney Benedict, heir to Whitney Downs thoroughbred stable, to negotiate with the late Franz's son Gabriel Mendoza owner of the California Lipizzan stock.

Gabe loves the three children he raises with the help of his mom Mercedes; their mother Kristen walked out on them to tour with a rock band. The older two are his stepchildren while the youngest is his daughter. Sixteen years old Eric seems reasonably adjusted and enjoys living on the ranch. Fourteen year old Emma misses her mother and shows her anger. Claire suffers from Asperger's Syndrome.

Whitney arrives at the ranch to offer the Austrian deal to Gabe. He tells her he must speak with his three sisters before deciding, but will probably say no. Whitney meets his three children with Emma acting nasty, Eric welcoming, and Claire introverted. As Whitney and Gabe discuss the proposal over the next few days they fall in love; but she is thoroughbred Kentucky and he is Lipizzan California leaving no room for compromise.

The fine lead characters are complemented quite nicely by a strong support cast especially their extended families and the Lipizzan horses. The interesting story line contains several people and the Austrian horses having problems that enhance the relationship between the lead couple. Though vehicle failures is used as a hokey "matchmaking device", fans will enjoy this romance between two likable people with different breeding.

Harriet Klausner