The Horseman's Secret
Jeannie Watt
Harlequin SuperRomance, Sep 2007, $5.50
ISBN: 9780373714445

New to Wesley Junior and Senior High School, science and social studies schoolteacher Regan Flynn wants to do a good job with her students as she is a dedicated professional. However, the first parent she meets is horse rancher Will Bishop when she caught his daughter Kylie smoking. She asks if he would sell her a horse, but he informs her she is too late as he has only one left in stock and that steed hates women having been abused by a female owner.

The horse trainer and the teacher are attracted to one another although he fears seeing someone seriously after hiding the truth from Kylie re her mom Desiree. They begin to date, but a disciplinarian PE teacher objects with her going out with the father of one of her students causing her problems with the administration and the parents; and his daughter misbehaves as she has problems with her dad dating anyone including her teacher.

The key to this contemporary romance is the negative reactions of other people to the relationship between Regan and Will. Kylie steals the show as she fears that her father will neglect her like her mother does and eventually be hurt when the adult relationship collapses as marriages start with a bang but end with a whimper. Although fans may doubt that this couple will make it into next week, THE HORSEMAN'S SECRET is a fine ranch romance.

Harriet Klausner