Noelle Ferry

Lies and Raspberry Coffee Noelle Ferry

Joanna Reinhard loses her job as a software engineer but refuses to adjust her reckless spending. To keep her three dogs and two horses (the mare menacing and pregnant), she moves in with her best friend, Margaret Lewis, paying for her familys lodging by fixing up Margarets house and barn for sale. Joannas world grows more complicated when Margarets manipulative son Davey comes home from college and reawakens Joannas buried memories of childhood abuse and her anger at an early marriage to a domineering husband. Margaret, however, refuses to acknowledge her sons predatory behavior. Joanna hires a local stable manager, Wayne Armstrong, to lend a hand with the heavy work in renovating the barn. His muscles and equipment are a great help, but his little woman attitude grates against Joannas self-sufficient temperament. The friendship between Joanna and Wayne begins with verbal clashes, but develops into an emotional haven for Joanna when Davey attacks her beloved dogs and horses and Margaret emotionally deserts her.