The Kitty Cooper will be getting its finishing touches today. Finally! I will, weather permitting, take pictures and share with all of you tomorrow. Woo hoo!

And, as my latest Black Sheep book - The Black Sheep & The Hidden Beauty - will be hitting the shelves early next week, I thought I’d share a very nice advance review I received from Regina Paul over at Coffee Time Romance to whet your appetites! Check this space tomorrow for the link to the first chapter excerpt!

THE BLACK SHEEP AND THE HIDDEN BEAUTY
DONNA KAUFFMANISBN# (13) 978-0-75482-1727-1/(10) 0–7582-1727-7
January 2008
Brava/Kensington Publishing Corp.
$14.00
384 Pages
Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 cups

Elena Caulfield is a horse trainer at Dalton Downs. She is in hiding because she is afraid that someone may discover a secret she is holding about a fire that occurred at her last place of employment and killed a very prominent race horse. She just wants to live quietly at Dalton Downs, and care for the horses there, and her own pregnant horse Springer. She notices Raphael Santiago watching her right away, but figures she is not his type. So while she thinks he is hot, she does not think he will be attracted to someone like her.

Raphael “Rafe” Santiago works with Mac, and Finn in their company Trinity. Their company is set up to help people, and Rafe spots right away that something is off with Elena and her story. He is concerned that whatever she is hiding could adversely affect Dalton Downs. Under the guise of asking for riding lessons, Rafe attempts to ferret out just what Elena is hiding, as well as, what it is about her that has him so attracted.

When Rafe and Mac dig up more than they could ever have imagined on Elena, Rafe knows he has to get her to talk to him, but that is easier said than done. However, when Rafe’s digging brings a very rude insurance adjuster onto the scene, Elena gets spooked and eventually tells Rafe most of what happened. Rafe is willing to give her some time to trust him with the rest of her secrets, but not much time when it comes to admitting their mutual attraction for each other. It is not long before they are each falling head over heels for the other, but someone else knows Elena’s secret, and they will do anything to get his hands on her prized possession, including murder. Will Rafe and Elena be able to figure out what is going on in time before anyone dies? Or will the killer get one up on them?

I loved reading The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty! It was so refreshing to read about a heroine that was not your typical glamour gal. Rafe was a treat to read about as well, and reminded me of my own husband who also has to have his clothes, and hair just right. The suspense is killer in this book and kept me on the edge of my chair wondering who the murderer was. Rafe and Elena’s relationship progresses beautifully from the beginning to the end. Their lovemaking is intense and emotion-filled, making this book a keeper. I gladly give The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty my highest rating, and highly recommend it!

Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

Tags: Writing //