White farmer Alex McNaughton become sexually attracted to the wife of his black sharecropper tenant, Annalaurel Wells following the sudden disappearance of her husband John. She, having few choices in the matter, allows Alex into her bed in exchange for food for her starving children.She dies not count on Alex becoming obsessed with her and his efforts to take care of her family. John in the meantime left so that he could earn money so that he could buy property for Annalaurel and his family. Events come to a boil when John returns home after a year away to a pregnant wife. While the concept of the story and the angst the characters was well developed, the author included some unnecessary sexually graphic scenes that detracted from the story and the writing. But this book would provide a lot to discuss for a book club.