The Lavender Field [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeanette Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

The best views are seen from the heart . . .

Cool, gracious, international relations attorney Whitney Benedict hasn't completely given up on marriage, but she does have a checklist of qualities for the man of her dreams: affluence, intelligence, good looks and absolutely no prior baggage.

So when she travels to California to make an offer on behalf og the Austrian government for Gabriel Mendoza's famous Lipizzan horses, no one is more surprised than Whitney at the effect Gabe, his children, his stepchildren, his ex-wife, his mother and the rest of his zany family have on her heart.

When an accident prolongs her stay, she settles into the routines of the "hacienda" with every intention of organizing this dysfunctional family, only to find that horses and children have a way of rearranging the best-laid plans and that a checklist isn't always the final measure for happiness.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Whitney Boone was raised on a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm, but she left that world to purse a career as an attorney specializing in international law. The Australian government asks her to go to California to convince a Lipizzan horse owner to sell. Gabe Mendoza is plagued with problems and has no interest in selling his horses, a legacy from his father. Accustomed to winning all her cases, Whitney is stymied by Gabe. Abandoned by his wife, he sure could use the money since he is barely making ends meet and is responsible for his two teenage stepchildren and an autistic younger daughter. Whitney is entranced by Gabe's children and the beautiful horses, and she realizes that although Gabe is not the type of man she was looking for, he may turn out to be the man she needs. Baker's heartwarming romance focuses on the heartbreak and joy that family brings. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Baker is an excellent storyteller." -- Romantic Times BOOKclub on A Delicate Finish

"Baker's sweet romance will appeal to young and old alike." -- Booklist on A Delicate Finish

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778323110
• ISBN-13: 978-0778323112
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,869,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeanette Baker is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, most of them set in the lush countryside of historical and contemporary Ireland where she lives and writes during the summer months. Her ancestors, the Flahertys, hail from Inishmore the largest of the Aran Islands located off the coast of Galway. She takes great pride in the prayer posted by the English over the ancient city gates, 'From the wrath of the O'Flahertys, may the good Lord deliver us.'

Jeanette graduated from the University of California at Irvine and holds a Masters Degree in Education. For the remainder of the year, Jeanette teaches in Southern California and enjoys the company of her grown children. She is the Rita award-winning author of NELL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine romance, June 5, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lavender Field (Mass Market Paperback)

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