HIDDEN DESIRE Available now from The Dark Castle Lords HIDDEN DESIRE is the sequel to A FIRE BURNS DEEP - published in July - which was Brent and Lara's story.

Alyssa Charlton works at the St.George Art Gallery and is busy writing the catalogue and bio of the artist, Marco Alvaréz, when Marco comes in. They are thunderstruck with each other. Tom, the gallery owner and an inveterate matchmaker, invites them for Saturday brunch and a swim. Marco invites Alyssa to have dinner with him. Very soon, passion flares between them, and he stays to spend a night of love with her. When she wakes, he is gone. Puzzled and hurt, she hears from Tom that Marco left a note saying he has to return to Phoenix to deal with something, and he'll be back the next day.

But Marco does not come back.

What Tom and Alyssa couldnt possibly know is that Marco, on his way back from breaking with a casual girlfriend, has been the victim of a drunk driver, who caused a serious accident. Marco has amnesia. When he regains his memory, he instantly phones Alyssa.

Alyssa, who is pregnant by Marco, has moved to a bigger apartment, renting her small studio out to a friend of Tom's. When Marco phones there, the friend says casually that Alyssa is at the doctor's, a first pregnancy is often a bit troublesome. Marco replaces the receiver, devastated. Obviously Alyssa has not waited, and he has just spoken to the father of Alyssa's child. Marco goes on a painting trip in the Rockies -- hoping to forget the crushing pain of what he sees as Alyssa's betrayal.

Meanwhile, Lara has discovered that Alyssa is her half-sister. Furious, she refuses to have anything to do with Alyssa. Tom speaks to Marco's Phoenix dealer, and the two concoct a scheme to get Marco and Alyssa back together. But will they succeed, with Marco convinced Alyssa has a child by another man?

During the preview of Marco's exhibition, Lara stresses that Marco's interest has always been in her. Brent will not allow this rampant self-aggrandizement and takes Lara away without waiting for Tom's grand reception and dinner.

The next day, Brent comes into the office, asking if Alyssa will receive Lara briefly. Lara apologizes, and reconciles with her half-sister.

Marco's mother has her heart set on him marrying the daughter of a French countess, and she is livid at the thought of him being interested in a woman who works in an art gallery. She brings her considerable power and influence to bear on derailing whatever there might be between the two. Will she succeed in destroying her son's chance at happiness?

Reviews:

"Ms. Hofman writes fine romances with handsome and sensitive heroes and strong and very feminine heroines. This is no exception. Marco is the perfect Latin Lover type, but very sensitive. Alyssa seems a bit submissive at first, but is tough where it counts. The character of the half-sister Lara is a bit unsettling. She is a heroine of a previous story and pretty horrible for most of the book here. Other than that, I enjoy the fact that the author revisits the same community in her stories and that so many of the characters are familiar. It is like visiting with old friends. The love story here is passionate and complex and a little melodramatic, in a good way. I really enjoyed it." - Maura, Coffee Time Romance

"Author Kate Hofman continues to demonstrate her flair for what 17th-18th century French literature valued as the comedy of farce. In Ms. Hofman's novels, however, the misunderstandings common to her hero and heroine (and usually obvious to their friends and loved ones) are seriously detrimental and life-changing. The comic relief occurs when at last the misunderstandings are explained, all is worked through, and hero and heroine can reunite. Ms. Hofman leaves no stone unturned in her quest to set her protagonists on the best path for each, and the reader appreciates her efforts. Any reader looking for heartfelt romance, a hero and heroine suffering courageously through trials and tribulations, and deeply held friendships will value any of Ms. Hofman's novels, each of which is a treasure and a joy to read." - 5 Pixies, Frost, Dark Angel Reviews

"Hidden Desire is a very beautiful love story, Ms. Hofman has written a great, moving story of Alyssa and Marco’s life, and how these two characters fell in love despite a difficult road before them." - 5 hearts, Margo Arthur, The Romance Studio