Blackfoot Falls, Montana, has its share of rugged cowboys and lively ladies! Following on from a Christmastime story, we meet up again with Annie Sheridan and see what caused her to set up a large animal sanctuary so far from anywhere. Annie is happiest when caring for abandoned horses, llamas, buffalo and other creatures, but she occasionally socialises on nearby Sundance ranch where the McAllisters board dudes. Her charming computer-literate friend Shea, from 'A Snowy Christmas Night', now dating a McAllister, is very supportive and everyone worries that Annie's cabin isn't up to scratch - as if she cared!

In NO-ONE NEEDS TO KNOW we discover what makes Annie tick. And... someone is on her trail. Tucker Brennan, benignly writing cheques for fundraisers from his ranch, sees Annie's name pop up in a Net search for a woman who embezzled charity money. This Leanna fled Manhattan leaving his gullible brother to take the blame. The photo of Annie isn't clear and Tucker decides to fly to Montana himself. Meanwhile Annie panics over the photo and gets Shea to take it off the webpage. She explains that in the past she got taken in by her partner, but couldn't prove it and stupidly fled. Tucker arrives ready to drag Leanna - if it's her - to the DA's office, and ends up helping Annie to wrestle a panicked goat free of wire instead. So... what next? And could Annie's being found put her in jeopardy?

The characters and locations are so real in these books by Debbi Rawlins that they jump off the page. We can feel the tension and taste the dirt. Annie's Spartan living space contrasts sharply with the excellent facilities for the animals that she has been building, a new well to save hauling water and so on. 'There's no such thing as too sore working a ranch,' Annie tells us wryly. Sanctuaries are typically run by one or two dedicated people. At this one, the high-school kids use it as an educational resource, gaining credits. Suitable animals are rehomed, so the whole community benefits.

The is a great addition to Debbi Rawlins' Made in Montana series which gets better by the book. NO-ONE NEEDS TO KNOW is a slow-burning romance and all the better for it, an intelligent read and a wonderful treat for Rawlins' followers - and all lovers of outdoor romance.