Sara McFarland is bitterly disappointed that her parents have to sell their farmhouse and hundred acres - the economic climate has left them with no choice. She lives in a stone house not far away and teaches in the town of Summerdale. Now some bigwig from Chicago has her family farm, and fearing that it may turn into a corporate development, or building site, she decides to spy on him.

THE GENTLEMAN FARMER is named Colin Wyndham and he's not getting much co-operation from the locals. Exasperated, he tackles the next stranger on his land, but it's Sara, keen to ask if she can draw water from his well. He invites her in for coffee as his first visitor, and she can't really refuse. Colin's purchases of new equipment haven't stopped with the Case outside; he's got new kitchen goods and a computer. Sara feels the strangeness keenly. Colin is a bit too familiar, with his city ways, and she's predisposed against him, so she's quickly off once she's got agreement on the well. She lives alone, and it's not right to give a strange man encouragement anyway.

With intensively reared pigs, crops, cattle and sheep, Colin needs more advice than he's getting from one slow old farm hand, but he's upset that the community isn't welcoming. The dog he bought isn't much use for guarding, but at least he's a friend. Colin would really like to get closer to the lovely Sara, but she's not minded to give him time or good advice. She has plumbing to install, and she would be rather pleased if Colin failed as a farmer. Sara's ex-boyfriend Buck is keen to take up with her again, and regards Colin as a trespasser who needs warning off.

A lot of amusing incidents fill this story, with a stock dog that's afraid of stock, a bull with an eye for the ladies, and a practical joke involving coyote shooting minus coyotes. There's an Irish saying that a joke goes a long way in the country, and seems like that's true in America as well. This book looks at modern farming, the practicalities and times of year, and the dirty hard work. It's a great background for a romance between genuine individuals as there is always something happening, or that needs to be done, and Colin turns out to have something to contribute to the community. THE GENTLEMAN FARMER by Lynn Patrick was first issued in 1987 and is a well-deserved reissue.