Josiah Thomas

The Heart of Lisbeth Josiah Thomas

The Heart of Lisbeth is a contemporary suspense romance set in rural Oklahoma. It is a story of extraordinary love and circumstances in the lives of ordinary farm people. Lisbeth Henslee is a 42 year old registered nurse living with her 5 year old son Elijah on a 480 acre hay farm on the Cimarron River in western Oklahoma. Lisbeth first husband, Elijah's father died soon after his birth. Not long after she married Chris Henslee, a life-long friend of her deceased husband Doug hoping he would be a good father to her young son. But the union is ill-fated from the beginning, not the least because of Chris' addiction to casino gambling, and his association with another woman. Temptation comes into Lisbeth's life when she hires Jed Payne, a 25 year old drifting carpenter to make repairs to her barn. In spite of 17 years difference in their ages attraction exist from the beginning, and Jed wants desperately to become her lover. Lisbeth is determined to deny the physical attraction she feels for Jed, despite her marriage with Chris being a great disappointment. Attraction turned to love prompts desperation, and homicidal plans are set in motion. An interesting and diverse cast of characters round out the story. Abel Latcher, a handsome young hay contractor, and friend of Lisbeth's who had a gay lover throughout his youth, and was hounded by his former high school teacher, the homophobic Chris Henslee. Gerald Latcher, Abel's grandfather and a Vietnam Vet, known as a kind but tough old man in the community. Sarah Oblander, the owner and waitress at the local cafe who has carried a torch for Abel since childhood. Dwain Henslee, a corrupt County Sheriff, and brother-in-law of Lisbeth. Sexual situations and encounters keep things moving at a rapid pace in this story of some of the ever-interesting people of rural Oklahoma.