Winning Ways by Tony Leland
Liz Barnett, a veterinarian who also breeds Arabians, has moved from Kentucky to California, where she is not quite trusted by the locals. At a show, she meets Kurt, a trainer from another Arabian barn, whose owner Eve is a win-driven woman whose only interest in her horses seems to be how their performance will increase her status and the horses’ saleability. As the budding romance between Liz and Kurt goes up and down each time they meet, Eve does everything she can to ensure Liz’s Arabians do not place above hers in the show ring. When Liz’s yearling colt is found to have drugs in his system, he loses his chance for a championship. Would Kurt have done that for Eve? Softcover, 259pp.