A book that kept me on the edge of my seat I had to know what was going to happen, a well-written story that I enjoyed reading. I know I want to read the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

Okay first off this a seriously wonderful romance story filled with an formerly active Marine cowboy. Oh yeah! Next you have a woman who lives in the shadow of her parents' horrible crime of animal abuse. These two are drawn to each other but Bryan (Boomer) has two addictions that are a serious no go for Sydney, pain-killer medication addiction and alcohol. This story has some fantastic scenes that will have you laughing really hard. The last half of the book, get the tissues out. You will need them.

Yes, this book has swear words (nothing that you don't hear everyday, unfortunately) and there are sex scenes. I have read books where there have been way more cuss words than this. Also, the sex scenes don't drive the story. This is not erotica. This is a honest to goodness-hook-you-in-the-beginning romance book. You will not want to put it down. If cussing does offend you, don't get this. The writing is honest and the plot fast moving and very believable. I need to read the first book now!

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Must Love Horses is the second book in Vicki Tharp's Lazy S Ranch series, but it's the first book I've read in the series as well as the first book I've read by Ms. Tharp, and although I had a few problems with it, and although it got off to a slow start, it was far more than I expected and it gets 4 stars from this reader.

My first issue with this novel was the title. Yes, the first quarter of the novel takes place on a ranch, and yes, the principle female character, Sydney Teller is a horse trainer with a charming, funny and quirky horse named Eli, but this novel was as far from your typical cowboy romance as it gets, and loving horses was the least of it. While discussing Sydney, I will tell you she has a troubled background because her parents had a history of drug and alcohol issues and were cited for beating, neglecting and abusing their animals. Because she uses her own surname, the stigma attached to it follows her, and aside from the Lazy S, her prospects for a career as a horse trainer are slim to none.

My second issue relates to the names of the the female characters. I don't know why in the world the author chose to give the only two women in this novel traditionally male monikers--Sydney and Mac. Since I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book, "Sidney" was spelled with an "i", but as I started to post this review, I noticed that in non-ARC reviews that the "i" in her name was changed to the letter "y", which would have helped me determine whether the character was male or female from the outset. I don't know if these names have any significance to the author, but they confused the heck out of this reader for the first third of the novel, something I felt was unnecessarily confusing and rather irritating.

Beyond those two issues, this was a very good read, and far more complicated than the title suggests. Also on the ranch is cowboy Bryan "Boomer" Wilcox, a wounded warrior who lost part of one of his legs while in the military, and in addition to his PTSD, has two more strikes against him in Sydney's eyes, his overuse of and addiction to both alcohol and the opiates he was first prescribed for pain. Although these two characters share a mutual attraction, Sydney is wary of involvement with him, having already dealt with her parents' addictions. While introducing us to these two main characters, the pace of this novel is slow, and I expected it to include the basic tropes common to this sub-genre-- messed-up wounded warrior meets attractive woman who helps him get over his issues and they fall in love, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Because of the remote and rather isolated location of the Lazy S, there are drug cartels moving their product up from Mexico, and everyone on the ranch and in the vicinity is made aware of the need to keep a keen eye out for strangers. When Bryan and Sydney take time off to have a dip and a flirtation at a nearby pond, they aren't paying much attention to anyone but each other, and three suspicious and obviously Mexican characters come upon and overwhelm them, stealing their horses, including Sydney's beloved horse, Eli.

Unwilling to let the law handle the search for their stolen horses, everyone on the ranch heads in different directions searching for them, but it's Sydney who discovers a well-concealed path in the mountains and she and Bryan follow it. The weather plays a part and the two mus take shelter overnight in a cave, where they get to know one another physically, and are startled awake when these same Mexicans, now more than just three in number, overpower and kidnap them, the bad guys believing that Sydney and Bryan have intercepted a package of drugs and/or money meant for them. The two are then taken to a well-hidden base camp, where they are imprisoned when they refuse to tell the outlaws/drug runners where the package is hidden, and where Bryan is subjected to numerous beatings, and Sydney is confined to a small hut and both starved and isolated. Bryan plays along with the outlaw's original misconception as the only way to stay alive during their captivity, but the repeated violent beatings and isolation also mean that Bryan has no access to his opiates or alcohol, leaving him to experience their absence by going through the horrors of cold turkey withdrawal in the middle of their already tense and dangerous situation.

From the moment these two are captured, the novel takes a very dark and ominous turn, and the reality of the dire situation these two must endure makes for a very harsh, very graphic and very suspenseful read. While it does eventually have an HEA ending, which I won't give away, there's a lot more that these two characters have to face before Ms. Tharp eventually gets them there, and while I will warn you that this is not a novel for the fainthearted, it is most definitely a novel worth reading.

Sidney Teller is determined to land the horse training job going at the Lazy S Ranch, but with what her parents did in the past, it might prove harder than she realized. However, proving what she's capable of is part of the plan, and luckily Bryan 'Boomer' Wilcox is willing to take a chance on her. Yet, with danger brewing and the threat to the ranch, Sidney knows she's going to have to trust Boomer, even though that's not an easy thing to do considering his past demons and what he does to cope. Will Sidney and Bryan get their chance at happy ever after, or will the threat to the ranch land these two in trouble that they may not be able to get out of?

This was a very entertaining and thrilling read that I loved from the start, as Sidney is out to prove she's nothing like her parents, if only someone is willing to give her a chance. Can she convince the owners of the Lazy Z Ranch that she's good at what she does? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where things really get interesting, as it seems everyone knows what her parents did and it's hard to make people see that she's different with such a black mark against the family name.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories that had me sympathizing with the hero, as he struggles with addiction to numb the wounds of his past; and also had me feeling sorry for the heroine because she can't escape her parents terrible crimes. Will these two be able to help each other heal from the wounds of their pasts? Will the heroine be able to help the hero break free of his addiction? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how determined she was to prove that she's not her parents. I also liked that she gave the hero a chance because he needs someone like Sidney in his life. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine was how she handled the danger she and the hero face. While the hero, he's gruff, hard-working and I loved how determined he was to protect the heroine when it comes to the danger they face. He's also a good guy and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him when it comes to his addiction. He has a tough fight on his hands if he wants to be free of his addiction and I liked that he was willing to do everything he can to show the heroine that his past demons won't win.

Overall, Ms. Tharp has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is strong and just keeps getting stronger with every interaction between them; the romance was delightful and had me loving this couple together; and the ending had me worried for the main characters, but had me loving that everything works out for the best for Sidney and Bryan because they need each other. I would recommend Must Love Horses by Vicki Tharp, if you enjoy contemporary romance with a good dose of suspense, the enemy to lovers trope, or books by authors Gail Chianese, Laura Carter, Melinda Di Lorenzo and Codi Gary.

First, I must put a disclaimer for those that prefer clean or christian romances, this book is definitely not for you. Second, I would give it a four star but, instead, must give it 3 stars because of language and explicit sex scenes.

It deserves 4 stars for a good plot, character development, and handling of difficult subject matter i.e. drug and alcohol addition. This is worth reading but not for a keeper shelf.

Bryan is a veteran who gave his all for his country, losing his leg in the process and now depending on alcohol and pain killers to dull his emotional and physical pain.

Sydney is a very good horse trainer but one who has trouble getting anyone to trust in her work once they know who she is--the daughter of horse trainers guilty of abuse of horses.

But Mac, Bryan's Marine buddy from Iraq and her husband Hank hire Sydney anyway. Mac and Bryan understand each other but Mac realizes Bryan is fighting demons and is in denial.

Sydney and Bryan develop a relationship but she makes it clear that as things get more involved that they can't go further unless he deals with his additions.

Bryan and Sydney are kidnapped when they are searching for their stolen horses, by very dangerous men. Bryan is forced to realize what he has denied all along and that it had endangered both their lives; but Sydney doesn't blame him. They both begin to recognize that what they feel for each other is love and Bryan feels compelled to extract a promise from Sydney, one that no one should ever be asked to keep.

The struggles, twists and turns in the story make for interesting reading but at times seems to drag out. The HEA is good but somewhat lacking, imho.

I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.

I was really into this storyline until the last third/quarter of the book. It got so unbelievable and outlandish, I had a hard time sticking with it. Sydney and Bryan were interesting characters and had good backstories and chemistry.

I was completely entertained from beginning to end!
Knowing there’d be horses in the book is what drew me to it, so of course they were my favorite part. Sydney’s horse, Eli, has such a sweet and fun personality and is so smart! I loved how Sydney interacted with him and with the wild horses she works with and trains. Eli warmed my heart with the way he was absolutely determined to be as close to Sydney as he could get, even if he had to be mischievous to do so, and how he would bend down for her so she could get on his back.
I also loved the beautiful Wyoming horse ranch setting. I felt for both Sydney and Bryan (Boomer) throughout the story, and enjoyed seeing them get to know each other while also confronting their own very real personal challenges. Several chapters of the book were extremely tense and stomach-churning and they kept me on the edge of my seat. Things got quite scary and intense, but I was left with the feeling that without a doubt heroes come in all shapes & sizes and sometimes the key to true heroism lies in working together. Also, for some things in life, you have to be your own hero.
If you like a carefully constructed, entertaining story, I definitely recommend this book!

Bryan has a prosthetic leg and lives on the large S ranch. Bryan lost his leg while deployed and in the service. Bryan is basically in charge of construction. Bryan has adjusted pretty well but there is still pain both real and phantom and some PTSD.Bryan dealt with the pain with painkillers and alcohol. Sidney was trying to get a job at the Lazy S as a horse trainer. Her parents had been horse trainers before her but had abusive ways and were alcoholics and had been exposed for their abuse and they tainted the chance Sidney had of doing something she loved and she was good at. Bryan recognized the her last name.Sidney had her own horse Eli who was an escape artist and all he wants to do is be near Sidney. Bryan decies to hire Sidney even though his gut told him she could be trouble. At first Bryan and Sidney don’t get off to a good start but she does earn Bryan’s respect. Then there is an attraction between Sidney and Bryan but Sidney was afraid of Bryan’s use of alcohol and painkillers she didn’t need the problems after her parents. Bryan let Sidney know he didn’t do casual and Sidney threw out mixed messages. Then there is some trouble with drugs being taking across the border.
I enjoyed this story but choked up at times. I loved Sidney’s horse Eli and felt he added to this book. I advise you to read the first book in the series so everything goes together and is understood. I thought it was foolish when Bryan and Sidney didn’t have backup when they went up looking for the lost horses. This did drag for me at times but not enough that I didn’t finish and enjoy this. I liked the plot. I felt this could be a realistic portrayal of issues our wounded warriors face. I did like Bryan and Sidney together once she decided to stop fighting their attraction knowing Bryan didn’t do casual. I like the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

I really loved Cowgirl, Unexpectedly so I was super excited to get an ARC of this, the second book in the same series. Especially because I already fell in love with Boomer in the first story.

Sidney is the perfect choice for Boomer aka Bryan. (Note: in the blurb about the book her name is spelled Sydney, in the ARC I have it’s Sidney. Since I don’t know what it will be in the final publication I’m going to stick with Sidney.) She doesn’t pull her punches and calls him out on his crap. Although Boomer is a great guy, he definitely has a problem. His close friends, like Mac, either don’t see his issue or don’t want to see it. Although Sidney has a strong, almost visceral, attraction to Boomer, she’s not going to let his lapses slide.

While Sidney has her own hang-ups, we don’t really get to dive deep into those issues. Through the whole story I kept waiting for her to tell Boomer more about her upbringing and the reasons she feels so strongly about certain things, but she never does…not really. We also never really get the back story of what happened with Boomer’s ex-wife. If you read the first story you know that things weren’t all wine and roses in his marriage after he was discharged from the military. But in that book, as far as I remember, he was still married and trying to work things through. So I wanted to know what happened that he now was divorced and living on the Lazy S Ranch full-time. Although it’s something that obviously bothers him and is a huge part of his issues, his divorce isn’t really delved into much.

The connection between Boomer and Sidney is such that, although I’d like the deeper story on both of them, their pasts are incidental. No matter their intentions, they have an undeniable pull toward each other. It’s not just a sexual pull either. There is some sort of elemental understanding they have for each other.

I hate giving spoilers so I will try to give my feelings about the next part without giving too much away. Sidney and Boomer find themselves in quite a predicament at one point. While I found the situation to ring true on how they would be treated and the things that happened to them, I felt this part of the story went on a bit too long. Not necessarily in their time and how long the situation lasted for them. That was fine and probably how long it would have taken in real life…if anyone ever found themselves in such a crazy jam. But the reader didn’t need to know every minute. The good news, just when I was getting frustrated with the time it was taking things started wrapping up on that.

Just as with the first story, this isn’t an easy-peasy simple misunderstanding romance. This story will gut you and shove your guts back in the wrong way so you get gutted again before everything is put to right. This author is great at giving you real and raw feelings. I can’t wait for more!

After falling in love with the characters from Cowgirl, Unexpectedly, I was impatiently awaiting Boomer's story. Not only did I get my hands on an advance copy, I was so certain I would love this book that I also preordered it months ago. As I anticipated, Ms. Tharp delivered and then proceeded to make my expectations seem like a gentle rain shower in comparison to the hurricane of her talent in this book. I have a soft spot for cowboys, military men and damaged but tender-hearted heroes, and Boomer is the perfect storm!

Where do I even begin with Boomer? He’s such a strong, alpha hero but wounded far deeper than the eye can see, yet still honorable with a giant marshmallow heart. As I watched him struggle with PTSD and saw his determination to control his environment and himself, his internal battles were so realistic I felt like I was fighting alongside him. And I loved the message that when he was at what he perceived to be his weakest, he was exhibiting more strength than he realized he had. How could you not love this guy? I just wanted to wrap him up in my arms and make him all better, so I was impressed with Sidney's wisdom in handling him. I loved that Sidney didn’t put up with his shenanigans (Amazon won’t let me use the “S” word I really wanted to), yet also treated him similarly to one of her wild mustangs, and that the work Boomer did to get mentally healthy he did for himself, first and foremost.

Sidney was also easy to love. Aside from her penchant for running when things get tough, she was a strong, intelligent woman who had overcome a lot yet still had some challenges. Her gift for horse training made her a natural fit for the ranch, but the shadow of her parents' scandalous history of horse abuse made it even more difficult to prove herself to the outside world.

Then there’s the plot. OMGee, this storyline!! Aside from the fact that the chemistry between Boomer and Sidney was off the charts and so strong it was palpable, there was never a dull moment in this book! It grabbed me by the heart and wouldn’t let go, so I was still caught in its clutches long after the story had ended. Not only was Boomer a little slow in realizing he couldn’t make something be so just because he willed it to be, which of course made for some rough road between him and Sidney, but external circumstances also plotted against them at every turn. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and furiously swiping pages to find out what happened next. My skin was tight and prickly and my heart was thundering in my chest as I read; and is it possible to have an anxiety attack from reading a book?!

Ms. Tharp's story construction reminds me a lot of BJ Daniels and Lindsey McKenna, but (dare I say it?) I think her delivery may be even better! This was one adrenaline rush of a ride with all the elements of an exceptional romantic suspense present and accounted for. These books are standalone but interconnected, so you don’t really have to read them in order. Grab this guaranteed great read now and then pick up the first book in the series. If you’ve not read Ms. Tharp’s work, you’re really missing out, so what are you waiting for? You won’t be sorry!

Review by Amanda for Love Romance Books Blog

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read by Vicki Tharpe. While Must Love Horses can be read as a stand alone novel, if you think you might read more of the series I would recommend reading Cowgirl, Unexpectedly first since I suspect that there are more than just the who-ends-up-with-who spoiler (which I don't really consider a spoiler as the book jacket gives that away every time).

It was a complex plot with complex (but certainly not perfect) characters. I appreciated the honesty between characters even if their thoughts/actions were conflicted.

Must Love Horses is book two in the Lazy S Ranch series by Vicki Tharp. When I read the first book in this series, Cowgirl, Unexpectedly, Vicki was a new to me author and I fell in love. There was no question I would continue the series but oh my gosh, I was not prepared for this book!

We first met Mac’s friend whom she served and deployed with in the first book, Bryan “Boomer” Wilcox. It’s been two years since the ending of the first book. Mac and Hank are now married and Hank’s daughter is off to college. Bryan now lives on the Lazy S and is more or less in charge of construction. Bryan has a prosthetic leg. He lost his leg while deployed. Bryan has adjusted pretty well to living with his prosthetic. But there is still pain, both real and phantom, and perhaps some PTSD. In other words, Bryan is still dealing with some demons and perhaps not dealing in the most healthiest of ways.

Now about Sidney Teller. Sidney is a horse trainer. She is a tiny woman but has the strength, both physically and mentally, of a hundred men. (In my opinion, that is.) Sidney is out of money. She is applying for a job as a horse trainer on the Lazy S. But it’s Bryan that recognizes her last name. Her parents were trainers as well, but they were also alcoholics and used abusive methods to train their horses. They were exposed for their abuse and their reputation is making it difficult for anyone to trust Sidney, no matter how good she is at her job, and let me tell you, she is good!

Let me tell you about the star of this book, Sidney’s horse, Eli. This horse stole my heart. He is an escape artist, can get out of any stall and jump any fence. All he wants is to be near Sidney. He kneels down so she can mount his back to ride him. He seems more human than horse most of the time. I can’t wait for you to meet him.

“It felt like he was in her corner, that she had a one-man cheering section, that suddenly she wasn’t so alone, that somehow, she mattered.”

Sidney and Bryan get off to a rough start but Sidney quickly earns Bryan’s respect. It doesn’t take long for the attraction to ignite between them. But Sidney knows that Bryan has demons, demons she can’t allow back into her life again. No matter how much she likes him.

“As much as she liked him, she must cut him free to save herself.”

There is trouble near the Lazy S. There has been evidence of drug dealers in the area running drugs across the border. Everyone is on alert and it doesn’t take long for the trouble to touch them. A camping trip which starts out as a horse training exercise goes wrong and lives are in danger.

First, I fell in love with Sidney and Bryan. They were falling for each other but Sidney fought it hard. She was trying so hard to protect herself and I couldn’t blame her. But swoony Bryan made it pretty difficult. Their romance is kind of a slow build. Now, the first book in this series was pretty suspenseful. But this one, holy smoke, was a nail biter. I think half the book was off the charts intense. I didn’t expect this at all. And the ending was pretty surprising as well. I didn’t expect what happened and it made me love these two all the more.

You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. But then you would be missing a lot of awesomeness. You might not understsand the relationship as well between Mac and Bryan. But still, it wouldn’t take away from your enjoyment of this one if you haven’t. The author says the next book in the series is called, Hot on the Trail, and I can’t wait. I don’t know who the book will focus on and am so excited to find out.

Must Love Horses by Vicki Tharp
Lazy S Ranch #2

Have you ever wondered what you would do when facing a painful situation there seemed to be no way out of? What about knowing what to do when you meet someone you could love but know is all wrong for you? And, how do you rebuild your name or self when it seems to have been destroyed? Well…those and other questions face Bryan “Boomer” Wilcox and Sidney Teller in this wonderful story of strength, endurance and perseverance.

Boomer has a feeling Sidney is going to be trouble when he lays on her but his gut feeling does not dissuade those in charge from hiring her to train the next batch of wild mustangs purchased. Sidney has a lot riding on this job – she needs to prove herself and in doing so prove that the legacy her parents left behind does not apply to her, too. The two are attracted to one another but Sidney is leery of putting her all into a relationship with Bryan knowing that his issues may be greater than she is willing to deal with – no matter how charming and wonderful he otherwise may be. When the two find themselves on the trail facing a danger there may be no way out of they both reassess what is important to them and what each might mean to the other long term…if they survive.

I enjoyed the first book and was eager to find out what would happen in book two. It was nice to touch base with the characters that became friends as Hank and Mac made their match and now I am eager to find out what will happen with Jenna and Quinn in book three. I wonder if this will be a trilogy or if there will be more than three books in the series as there is room for more if the author decides to write them. PTSD, addiction, abuse, military veterans and what they deal with when they come home, romance, drug dealers and more were part of this story and all of it was plotted and written well. I take my hat off to the author for doing a splendid job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

I loved this book. This is definitely more than just a romance novel! Sydney is struggling to make a name for herself after the public humiliation of her parents practices at their horse training business. Bryan aka Boomer is a wounded warrior who is battling alcohol and pain killer addiction. The two meeting was written in the stars. They come together and help each to overcome their individual problems and also help capture diamond smuggling operatives. If you like romance with a little suspense then this book is for you!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Definitely, “Must Love Horses” presents a powerful take on the wounded warrior, with no self-pity and a self-deprecating humor!
I liked the realistic, sometimes poignant, portrayal of the stoic wounded veteran fighting so many issues and winning some battles in the end, with the help and love of the heroine, of course. Vicki Tharp doesn’t sugarcoat reality and the story shows what it’s like to suffer from phantom pain, becoming a pain killer addict and alcoholic because of it and going through a painful withdrawal while in a captivity context.
As in the previous story, I loved the setting, the horses and "burros", and the characters, especially meeting again Mack, Hank and the lovely older woman, Lottie.
A thing I didn’t like was the over usage of comparisons, I thought the analogies were often farfetched or the humor/sarcasm/joking tone they sought was not what I felt appropriate (for example, in danger situations or solemn/serious moments) and it sometimes got in the way of my enjoying the story.

I received an arc from Netgalley. This book took a surprising turn that I was not expecting. Sidney was someone just looking to train horses. Bryan was a veteran dealing with an amputation, drugs, and alcohol. When these two met never did they imagine they would be captured by a devious enemy.
The two of them along with Mac, Hank and crew had to pull together to prevail over the enemy. In the midst of it all Bryan also has to deal with withdrawal. Sidney sticks with him and they overcome so much.
I could not put this book down and enjoyed this author very much.

The romance and suspense were well written. A couple of times I wished that the story would move on. But other than that, I would definitely reread, Must Love Horses.