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Stella Crown is recuperating from a motorcycle accident and is also coming to terms with her grief over the loss of Howie, her mentor and long-time farmhand who recently died. He was like a father to Stella, and not only does she miss his help, but she also misses his guidance. She has interviewed a lot of candidates for the job but no one is quite right. That is, until she meets Lucy Lapp. Lucy is a young widow; little, wiry and tough. She knows her way around farms and milking barns. Stella can't believe her good luck and offers her a job on the spot. After Lucy and her young daughter Tess move into Howie's old apartment, several incidents make Stella wonder if her decision was a good one. She gets an anonymous phone call implying that Lucy's husband's death was not accidental. Then in the dead of night someone paints graffiti on the garage calling Lucy ugly names. Lucy's former in-laws also have a habit of dropping in unannounced and make Stella uncomfortable. In addition, Stella is worried about her good friends and motorcycle buddies at the Biker Barn, where she has her bike worked on. Lenny has a secret and he is afraid of something; Stella can't get him to talk but when Bert, his friend and partner is attacked, Lenny tells Stella it is meant as a warning to him. Stella is still not physically recovered from her injuries, but she pushes herself to the limits of her endurance in order to help her friends. This is the second book set in the farm country of eastern Pennsylvania in Mennonite country. Stella's neighbors, as well as Lucy and Tess, are Mennonites. The book is cozy in feeling, with great characters in addition to Stella and her biker friends. Her Mennonite neighbors are warm and wonderful people, especially one of the sons, Abe who is rather sweet on Stella. However, she isn't sure they are right for each other. There is a great sense of place in the book; I certainly enjoy all of the tidbits of information regarding the workings of a busy dairy farm; something this city girl knows nothing about.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, May 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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