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Unholy Trinity #2
The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty
They're back - the boys you go out looking for precisely because your mother warned you not to - the bad boys every good girl needs at least once, if not twice...
Raphael "Rafe" Santiago may have left the streets years ago, but the street has never left him. A rough childhood in the Bronx taught him never to let his guard down, to keep everything in order, and always to trust that little voice in his gut that tells him when someone's got something to hide. horse trainer Elena Caulfield, is definitely hiding something, and Rafe intends to find out what it is and take care of it - his way.
But his way wasn't supposed to include feeling an intense attraction to the tomboyish Elena. With her mud-caked boots, quiet strength, and gentle manner, she's nothing like the flashy, seductive, overtly feminine women Rafe usually beds. The closer he gets to her, the harder it is to control that fiery passion he's worked hard to keep cooled, the kind that can catch a man off guard and leave him open to danger - because whatever secret Elena's protecting, it's big...and worth killing for. Because when you're from the Bronx, you take care of what you love - or die trying...
359 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
27 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Donna Kauffman
148 books1,800 followersUSA Today bestseller and award winning author of the Cupcake Club series and the Blueberry Cove series, DONNA KAUFFMAN has been gratified to see her books get rave reviews in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, where she is happily working on the next book in her brand new Blue Hollow Falls series, set right in her mountain home area. When she's not writing, she can be found recapping the popular tv show NCIS for USA Today, or escaping into her garden to play in the dirt. Donna also works as a volunteer wildlife transporter for two local sanctuaries, giving orphaned and injured wildlife a second chance at survival. You can catch up on all of her adventures via her author page on Facebook, or on Twitter, or Instagram @writerchick. Donna loves to hear from readers!
Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.
Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 27, 2013
This was a really good book. I loved the characters, story line, emotions, suspense, scenes, and overall feeling in the book. The is something I wouldn't mind reading again. I laughed, snickered, teared up a little, held my breath, had a death grip on the book for a little while, sighed, and had to clear the windows a some. Towards the end, I did sooo not see that coming. The ending was perfect. I can't wait to see what's going on, and gonna happen, with Finn. I had fun and enjoyed reading this. Great for pretty much an anytime read, unless you don't have much time cuz some spots you're just not gonna want to put it down. On the hunt for the last book...Enjoy!
June 30, 2014
Loved it. I accidently stumbled on this series and what a treat! It's really a "book" with lots of pages and a consistently, well told and interesting story. The characters are memorable and come together in a believable way. Off the find the last one!
August 16, 2025
The Unholy Trinity, Bk 2.
This is Rafe Santiago’s story. Bro c boy son of a hotel maid, Rafe was sent to Camp Winnimocca by his Mother’s wealthy employer, Rafe joined Donovan/Mac MacLeod, son of camp’s alcoholic handyman and the rebellious Uber wealthy golden boy Finn Dalton. The three wild teens came together a decade later on Finn’s vast Middleburg,VA estate to dismantle Finn’s ruthless father’s ill got investments and form their own private surveillance firm to provide justice to the downtrodden and revenge on their oppressors.
Rafe is attracted to Mac’s partner Kate’s new manager, boyish Elena Caulfield, horse trainer and Barn manager, who has come with her pregnant mare to the serene Dalton Downs the home base of the (Unholy) Trinity Co., and Kate’s school for disabled children. But something about Elena strikes Rafe as off, though all her employment references were excellent. She seems to be hiding something and he starts digging into her background and discovers she was at a race horse estate when a famous, 2/3 Triple Crown winner dies in a barn fire.
Rafe wants to help Elena and the sexual tension between the becomes harder and harder to resist.
This is Rafe Santiago’s story. Bro c boy son of a hotel maid, Rafe was sent to Camp Winnimocca by his Mother’s wealthy employer, Rafe joined Donovan/Mac MacLeod, son of camp’s alcoholic handyman and the rebellious Uber wealthy golden boy Finn Dalton. The three wild teens came together a decade later on Finn’s vast Middleburg,VA estate to dismantle Finn’s ruthless father’s ill got investments and form their own private surveillance firm to provide justice to the downtrodden and revenge on their oppressors.
Rafe is attracted to Mac’s partner Kate’s new manager, boyish Elena Caulfield, horse trainer and Barn manager, who has come with her pregnant mare to the serene Dalton Downs the home base of the (Unholy) Trinity Co., and Kate’s school for disabled children. But something about Elena strikes Rafe as off, though all her employment references were excellent. She seems to be hiding something and he starts digging into her background and discovers she was at a race horse estate when a famous, 2/3 Triple Crown winner dies in a barn fire.
Rafe wants to help Elena and the sexual tension between the becomes harder and harder to resist.
Read
December 29, 2019DNF
Very pushy and irritating hero. He was so interfering. Like that fly or mosquito near your ear, once or twice you swat it and then it starts getting on your nerves when it continues to buzz near your ear.There is a difference in being concerned and constantly being in someone's space and asking questions. Its her life. She will tell you if she wants to. You need to earn her trust instead of assuming that she will just spill her secrets when you demand them. Ugh!
I totally agreed with the heroine.
“Whether or not that’s the case, I’d prefer to handle my own affairs my own way.” “Just because we lost our heads for a few moments this morning doesn’t mean I need or want your interference. It’s nothing personal, just, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and I like it that way.”
Very pushy and irritating hero. He was so interfering. Like that fly or mosquito near your ear, once or twice you swat it and then it starts getting on your nerves when it continues to buzz near your ear.There is a difference in being concerned and constantly being in someone's space and asking questions. Its her life. She will tell you if she wants to. You need to earn her trust instead of assuming that she will just spill her secrets when you demand them. Ugh!
I totally agreed with the heroine.
“Whether or not that’s the case, I’d prefer to handle my own affairs my own way.” “Just because we lost our heads for a few moments this morning doesn’t mean I need or want your interference. It’s nothing personal, just, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and I like it that way.”
February 2, 2018
This is the next series by Donna Kauffman that I decided to read. There are three books in this series which is full of hot guys in kilts how can that be bad. Some of the stories are a little unbelievable but that makes them every girls dream - right?
December 8, 2018
Very entertaining
June 7, 2022
This was a really great book. A bit vague in some places and I felt like it was all a mystery until right in the last few pages and it went super fast. However, it had a deep mystery that kept you on your toes wondering what happened and a push and pull relationship between the characters. If you like slow burn romances this is a good book.
August 24, 2014
*I received all three books in the Unholy Trinity trilogy from the author after entering a giveaway on her Facebook page.*
We met Rafe briefly in THE BLACK SHEEP AND THE PRINCESS, so I already knew his style and personality would be quite different than Mac's. I'll admit right now that I like Mac's cover better than Rafe's – there's just something about a man in jeans and a black t-shirt. Mac also appealed to me because he was a former cop, and I like stories with cop/former cop heroes. Rafe is more the white collar type, always impeccably dressed and groomed. Which of course provides an immediate contrast between him and our heroine, Elena, who is always dressed in overalls and boots, often with a thermal underwear top, and usually dirty/muddy/horse poopy. Most definitely not Rafe's type, yet he can't seem to keep himself from watching her as she trains the horses for Kate's camp kids.
I followed with the plot this time around much easier than in Mac and Kate's book, finding it less convoluted and confusing. The fact that it revolved around horses, and Elena's previous job as a trainer at a racing stable, may have helped, as the world of thoroughbred horse racing used to be my life's dream, back when I was a teenager.
Rafe of course is one-third of the Unholy Trinity, the three friends who grew up terrorizing summer camp, and are now partners in a company called Trinity. They help people, the underdogs, righting wrongs, championing those who don't have the means to champion themselves. Elena is a horse trainer, hired by Kate to work with the horses at her camp for disabled kids. She previously worked for a large racing stable, and supposedly left that job in search of a calmer, quieter environment for her own horse, who is pregnant, and who had difficulties with her first pregnancy. Elena keeps to herself, is friendly but does not go out of her way to befriend other employees at Dalton Downs. After covertly witnessing a conversation between Elena and her vet, who showed up unexpectedly to talk to her one day, Rafe is convinced that Elena is hiding something, and determinedly and doggedly sets out to uncover her secret.
The writing felt a little crisper, and like the first book, there is a lot of characterization and dialogue, both internal and external, along with plenty of amusing banter, not only between Rafe and Elena, but between Rafe and Mac. Mac is a little more involved in Rafe's story than Rafe was in Mac's, and that was a good thing, giving us a look at the friendship and brotherhood bond between them. I figured out Elena's secret quite awhile before the guys did, or part of it anyway, but it didn't bother me or take away from my enjoyment of watching the plot unfold. And things got pretty tense towards the end, leading to a very satisfactory resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed the actual mystery/plot more here than in the first book, but I think if I had to choose between Rafe and Mac I would go for Mac. Sorry Rafe!
We met Rafe briefly in THE BLACK SHEEP AND THE PRINCESS, so I already knew his style and personality would be quite different than Mac's. I'll admit right now that I like Mac's cover better than Rafe's – there's just something about a man in jeans and a black t-shirt. Mac also appealed to me because he was a former cop, and I like stories with cop/former cop heroes. Rafe is more the white collar type, always impeccably dressed and groomed. Which of course provides an immediate contrast between him and our heroine, Elena, who is always dressed in overalls and boots, often with a thermal underwear top, and usually dirty/muddy/horse poopy. Most definitely not Rafe's type, yet he can't seem to keep himself from watching her as she trains the horses for Kate's camp kids.
I followed with the plot this time around much easier than in Mac and Kate's book, finding it less convoluted and confusing. The fact that it revolved around horses, and Elena's previous job as a trainer at a racing stable, may have helped, as the world of thoroughbred horse racing used to be my life's dream, back when I was a teenager.
Rafe of course is one-third of the Unholy Trinity, the three friends who grew up terrorizing summer camp, and are now partners in a company called Trinity. They help people, the underdogs, righting wrongs, championing those who don't have the means to champion themselves. Elena is a horse trainer, hired by Kate to work with the horses at her camp for disabled kids. She previously worked for a large racing stable, and supposedly left that job in search of a calmer, quieter environment for her own horse, who is pregnant, and who had difficulties with her first pregnancy. Elena keeps to herself, is friendly but does not go out of her way to befriend other employees at Dalton Downs. After covertly witnessing a conversation between Elena and her vet, who showed up unexpectedly to talk to her one day, Rafe is convinced that Elena is hiding something, and determinedly and doggedly sets out to uncover her secret.
The writing felt a little crisper, and like the first book, there is a lot of characterization and dialogue, both internal and external, along with plenty of amusing banter, not only between Rafe and Elena, but between Rafe and Mac. Mac is a little more involved in Rafe's story than Rafe was in Mac's, and that was a good thing, giving us a look at the friendship and brotherhood bond between them. I figured out Elena's secret quite awhile before the guys did, or part of it anyway, but it didn't bother me or take away from my enjoyment of watching the plot unfold. And things got pretty tense towards the end, leading to a very satisfactory resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed the actual mystery/plot more here than in the first book, but I think if I had to choose between Rafe and Mac I would go for Mac. Sorry Rafe!
July 25, 2016
I was given this book by the author.
I thought this audio book was great! This was my twelfth Kauffman book. I love Donna Kauffman's books and this one was no different! This is the story of Rafe and Elena. Elana is a horse trainer who is working for the wife of one of Rafe's friends. It is obvious to Rafe that Elana is hiding something or hiding from someone. He is determined to find out what her story is. When Rafe approaches Elana on the pretense of wanting riding lessons from her, Elana is drawn to him, but terrified to get too close to him at the same time.
Kauffman had just the right mix of suspense, engaging dialogue and sizzle to make this a very enjoyable story. Although there were some editing issues, the narration by Sebastion York was beguiling to listen to. Draw me in......
I thought this audio book was great! This was my twelfth Kauffman book. I love Donna Kauffman's books and this one was no different! This is the story of Rafe and Elena. Elana is a horse trainer who is working for the wife of one of Rafe's friends. It is obvious to Rafe that Elana is hiding something or hiding from someone. He is determined to find out what her story is. When Rafe approaches Elana on the pretense of wanting riding lessons from her, Elana is drawn to him, but terrified to get too close to him at the same time.
Kauffman had just the right mix of suspense, engaging dialogue and sizzle to make this a very enjoyable story. Although there were some editing issues, the narration by Sebastion York was beguiling to listen to. Draw me in......
January 14, 2014
When I started this book I didn't know how it was going to be. I kept reading and the more I read the more I got into it.
This book had a lot of twist and turns in it. The one character changed her life but she wouldn't share with anyone what happened in the first employment place. She kept it all bottled up inside and thought I would stay that way...until a tall dark handsome man walked into her life.
He kept asking her questions but she wouldn't answer him and he started doing his own investigation of his own on her.
But he started falling in love with her and she was falling in love with him as well. How as this relationship going to work out with so much going on with her past? Things will work themselves out in the end.
This book had a lot of twist and turns in it. The one character changed her life but she wouldn't share with anyone what happened in the first employment place. She kept it all bottled up inside and thought I would stay that way...until a tall dark handsome man walked into her life.
He kept asking her questions but she wouldn't answer him and he started doing his own investigation of his own on her.
But he started falling in love with her and she was falling in love with him as well. How as this relationship going to work out with so much going on with her past? Things will work themselves out in the end.
April 27, 2010
What I learned was that there is a lot of sexaul innuendos when it comes to horses! The author does a good job of light-hearted comedy mixed with intense emotional relationship issues. What I didn't like...was the initial inability of the hero to see the heroine as attractive. I don't really think that it's a fault in the book it's just something that irked me. I believe that most women aren't glamour girls. We all do our part to look attractive. But a woman can look super hot in overalls and long johns. And still I liked it. The storytelling was good and managed to tease while keeping my attention. I definitely reccomend.
February 28, 2009
Elena Caulfield is a horse trainer at Dalton Downs working with troubled horses, when she comes to the attention of Rafe Santiago. His job involves solving problems and he senses that there is some problem with Elena, possibly involving her horse, Springer, who is soon to give birth. In typical romance fashion, the two meet and sparks fly. As they begin to know and care about one another, real problems come to the forefront. An enjoyable romance, with a little suspense thrown in.
February 1, 2008
Actually grabbed this one because of a review in Booklist. Grabbed the first book too. This got a better review than the first book, but I actually found that romance a little more interesting than the one in this book. Like the first book, it was just ok. I'll probably read the third book just to complete the trilogy.
September 6, 2008
Although technically well done, for some reason the characters did not seem to have any depth and the storyline failed to pull me into the book. I’ve read Donna Kauffman before and enjoyed her story’s but this one is not going to be one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2010
Aweful title. Great plot, if you like or even don't mind a lot of horse gibberish. A little too wordy at times, particularly the first riding lesson scene - no I'm not giving anything away. A few unanswered questions - minor though, so don't let it stop you.
November 25, 2011
This one wasn't as good as the first one. I found myself putting it down often. IT just didn't hold my interest for long. I didn't care fore the characters or the mystery. Will probably finish the trilogy just to say I did.
March 27, 2008
Not as good as several others I've read by her. Very predictable.
Read
June 28, 2009Even more boring than the first. 0 stars.
Read
January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
July 28, 2011
One of my favorite pairings: the bad boy with a soft heart and the tomboy looking for the right guy to bring out the woman in her. I thought it was great, and makes me want to read the other two!
January 14, 2013
My least favorite of the trilogy. Not all that exciting and kind of a boring read.
February 4, 2013
loved it! all 3 books worth reading
January 6, 2014
Beautiful!! I LOVE this author!!
September 13, 2010
Sweet romance about a horse trainer and a detective.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews