mazie jennings finds herself in the role of the proverbial "mule headed to the barn", intent on one thing, and one thing only, self-pity to the nth degree. her plan, if you could call her subconscious race back to north florida a plan, is to hide out at her recently deceased grandparents' farm, and lick her divorce wounds. step two is a given - she has to buck up before returning to san francisco and her high-profile publishing career. however, mazie is not allowed to be left alone, much less have the time for a pity party. the farm's looming grape harvest requires her immediate attention and try as she will; she cannot escape its responsibilities. with a community anxious to help with the harvest and a handsome, though mysterious, straw boss suddenly available to direct them in the task, the harvest begins, sweeping mazie along in its frenzy. add to the mix, queenie, the family's longtime friend and housekeeper hell-bent that mazie remain and live up to her family responsibilities. mazie becomes acquainted with old friends and discovers some are not who they seem. when suspicious activity in the vineyards wakes her in the dead of night and fish begin dying in the river behind her home, she struggles to stay uninvolved. but, when a close friend is attacked and property is damaged, she is forced to action. secrets emerge as the old french winery gives up its secret wealth and ancient spirits make themselves known to mazie. set where the rolling red clay hills meet the gulf of mexico's sandy marshes, the 1800's riverbank farm has a colorful history. originally occupied by native americans, then early spanish explorers, crackers, gypsies and a small community of french settlers, the land's multicultural fabric is woven deeply within mazie.