Ms. Tharp was a new-to-me author when I read the second book of this series, Must Love Horses, and after reading that book I was really looking forward to more of this series.

This third book takes readers on quite the journey. It's a second chance romance with plenty of emotion, suspense-filled moments as well as both sweet and hot times between this couple.

Getting into this book was easy, as Quinn and Jenna are wonderful characters that have been through a lot in their lives, especially Jenna. She's sacrificed a lot to be where she is in her life and she's not about to let anyone ruin what she's made of her equine therapy program and The Lazy S Ranch. Luckily, she has Quinn on her side. He's such an interesting hero. Jenna's past rejection hurt him but he's not about to let that stop him from protecting her.

Overall, Ms. Tharp has penned a wonderful, gripping and enthralling read in this third book of her Lazy S Ranch series. Really, this book is at the top of the series for me so far and now I can't wait to read books 4 to 6.

I cannot get enough of this author and this series! Each book is an intense emotional and SEXY storyline that grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and on edge throughout the whole book!

Hot on the Trail is the third book in the Lazy S Ranch series and the second book in the series I've read, and if there's a romantic suspense novel out there which combines more romance tropes than this one, I've yet to encounter it. Because of those tropes and because of the way they were integrated into this novel, it gets a 4-star rating from this reader.

First, let me enumerate some of the aforementioned tropes: second chance at love, wounded warriors, suicide, accidental drug overdose, survivor guilt, murder mystery, equine therapy, AA and NarcAnon, drug running, human trafficking, wild horse training, undercover operators, and more.

The main characters in this novel are Jenna and Quinn, who fell in love years ago, but Quinn proposed marriage it was too much, too soon for Jenna. Quinn was in the Marines and his love of flying helicopters meant he wasn't going to give that up. Jenna had her own dreams of opening an equine therapy ranch for wounded veterans, and that was her priority. Unfortunately for the two of them, their dreams took them away from one another, but Jenna felt that Quinn didn't seem to care about her dreams, only his, and the next thing Jenna knew was that he was gone and he never contacted her again, breaking her heart but not her spirit, nor ending her commitment to helping wounded warriors.

Jenna is so close to getting her equine therapy program accredited and licensed when her first trial client, Kurt, doesn't show up on time for a session, and the search for him on the Lazy S Ranch ends with Jenna's dog finding Kurt's dead body. The local police are called and quick to rule Kurt's death an accidental suicide by drug overdose. Jenna, although devastated by his death and its possible effect on her program, just doesn't believe or accept it, because Kurt, who arrived at the Lazy S clean after getting a handle on his drug and alcohol issues, had been regularly attending AA and NarcAnon meetings, and had never seemed to be under the influence for the 6 months he'd been on the ranch.

As if that wasn't enough of a shocker, Kurt's best friend soon shows up at the Lazy S to bury him, and to find out how he died, and that best friend and comrade in arms, is Quinn, the man whom Jenna had loved and lost. Quinn now has issues of his own. He an Kurt were the only two survivors of the helicopter crash that left both Quinn and Kurt wounded, and the rest of their team dead. While Quinn was piloting the helicopter, and an investigation into the crash exonerated him of all blame, although, of course, he still blames himself. Quinn doesn't believe and won't accept the fact that Kurt might have gone back to substance abuse, and when he and Jenna begin their own investigation into Kurt's death, all the clues they find lead them to believe that Kurt was murdered, but what was the motive?

As their investigation continues, it's clear that Jenna and Quinn's feelings for one another haven't changed, but the basic cause of their estrangement, different goals, is still there. Jenna is still committed to helping wounded warriors with her equine therapy program in Wyoming and Quinn wants to heal well enough from his injuries to return to flying helicopters for the Marine Corps, based in California.

We also get back to the story and characters who appeared in the second novel in the series, most notably, Pepita, the 14-year-old girl rescued from the camp of El Verdugo, a violent, sadistic, drug- and gun-running bad guy. There's certainly more than a little suspicion of his possible involvement in Kurt's death--and that's just for starters. As the mystery heats up, so too does the relationship between Quinn and Jenna, and these two certainly generate quite a bit of heat.

The secondary characters in this novel add complexity to an already complex story, but the author does a very good job of giving them distinct personalities and issues, and just when you and the main characters believe they've solved the mystery of Kurt's death, there are even more issues, more complications, more secrets to be revealed and enough action to also classify this novel as a thriller. While it all worked for me on some levels, and was certainly an engrossing read, there were some hard to believe scenes as well, which are what kept me from giving this novel a 5-star rating.

All in all, this was an exciting and complex read, that gets off to a slow start, and if you've not read the first two novels in the series, especially the second one, you might find it difficult to understand some of the characters and their inter-relationships, especially the female characters who, for some reason only the author knows, have men's names. Yes, it's still a romance, and yes, there's an HEA ending, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Jenna Nash and Quinn Powell had once been in love, or at least Quinn had thought they were when he proposed. But, then Jenna had turned him down and he had left to join the Marines. Four years later, he was back because his best friend died while at Jenna's program to help veterans heal and rebuild their lives.

The same feelings he had for Jenna were still there but he didn't want to get hurt again. Jenna's feelings had never changed. She had only refused him because she didn't want him to give up his dreams of flying. Would their time together bring them together or drive them further apart? Kyle's death had initially been deemed a suicide, a drug overdose. But, as they looked closer, there were things that just weren't right and they weren't convinced that he hadn't been murdered. Would they be able to solve the mystery of his death in time to save the veteran's program or would Jenna have to start over? Would they find something darker and more sinister than they could have imagined lurking below the surface and would they be able to protect those they loved? Would they be able to save themselves?

I enjoyed reading this story very much but I am not a fan of lots of foul language and descriptive sex scenes. This book has both. For that reason I probably would not feel comfortable recommending this book to my friends. I was given an arc copy of this book and I offer my review willingly.

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The third book in the Lazy S Ranch series and I found it to be a story I enjoyed reading. Jenna and Quinn's story kept me turning pages I had to know who was the villain. I received a copy through NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

Review: HOT ON THE TRAIL (Lazy S Ranch) by Vicki Tharp https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aPp
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
Genre: Western Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4.5 Stars

This was a fun mystery, clue gathering and adrenaline rushing romance. I liked how Jenna and Quinn handled their reservations about rekindling their romance. It was done naturally and made sense, while keeping me geared up from all the sexual and emotional tension. It just seemed to flow the overall story and added to the fiery climax. I also like that the people around them are close-knit and added depth to the story. This murder mystery isn’t filled with a cowboy storyline, but it has enough to keep those who love horses, happy. I honestly couldn’t put it down.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle $3.99 https://amzn.to/2v1QLWy

Review by Amber for Love Romance Books Blog

Jenna runs a rehab facility that focuses on helping veterans with equine therapy. She has been struggling to get her business off the ground, when one of her clients turns up dead. She is stunned. She thought that they were making progress, and can’t believe he would commit suicide. Worse, he was her ex’s best friend, and she has to call him with the news.



Quinn has had a rough time lately. His recovery from a crash being slower than expected, and his military career is on the line if he doesn’t heal soon. When he gets the call about his best friend, he has just been sent on mandatory leave. It is only natural to go to the place his friend died, even if it brings him in contact with the woman he let get away.


When Quinn and Jenna reunite, the sparks are still there. They decide to work together to figure out what happened to Kurt. They each have their own reasons, but slowly the investigation brings them together. What will happen when Quinn’s leave is over, though. Will history repeat itself or will they be able to start again?


This book is part of a series. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I think reading the other books in the series would help to see the bigger story. I would give this book 3.5 stars, though. I like how the author made the story into a mystery as much as it was a romance.


I was asked by the author for an honest review.

I received an arc from Netgalley. This suspense and second chance romance will captivate you right from the beginning.

No matter how much Jenna and Quinn wanted to deny their feelings they could not stay apart. Fans of Katie Ruggle will also enjoy this book.

4.5 stars

I’ve gotta say, Vicki Tharp is really killing it with this series. It was great to see everyone at the Lazy S Ranch again, and especially to see Quinn back with them…even if it’s under bad circumstances.

Jenna has been a spitfire from the very beginning of this series. Although she’s grown up a lot and is now a woman, she’s still has that fighting spirit inside. She and Quinn both have major chips on their shoulders from things that happened while they were kids. Feelings of being unwanted or not good enough. Because of the way their young teenage romance ended a few years back, those insecurities only seem to come more to the surface. They both feel wronged and as if they’re not good enough, while both also wonder what could have been but know they did what was best for themselves when things ended.

Since this story deals with a possible suicide or murder of a veteran things can get very heavy. Little Pepita helps provide some lightness to the story, just has she had in Must Love Horses. Although this isn’t her story, or even her foster parents’ story, she is heavily involved in things that are happening since, yet again, the name El Verdugo rears its ugly head.

This story also deals with human trafficking, so proceed with caution if that is a trigger for you. I, for one, appreciate the author shining a light on this issue and our (American’s) “not in my town” mentality. It’s happening everywhere and having these fictional stories portraying the problem with such candor can only help raise awareness.

There were some new characters introduced that I enjoyed. I’m not sure if the author plans to continue the series with any of them, but if she does I will certainly be reading their stories.

A beautiful and heartbreaking demonstration of love, loyalty, and friendship, in a story with second chances, that is filled with intense emotions, healing conversations, and suspense and action where no one is safe and everyone's lives are put on the line.
Jenna Nash and Quinn Powell are characters easy to like and relate to. They both are strong, smart, capable, goal oriented, determined to the point of stubbornness, and fierce protectors of what they believe is right and of the people they care about. They have a history that broke both of their hearts, yet the pain has dulled over the years apart, even if their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls still recognize their mate.
Quinn's career in Marines is on the line because of a helicopter accident while on duty that left him wounded. Jenna has worked vigorously to start her program to the military vets, yet now everything is put on the line because of her first client, Quinn's best friend, is found dead on the property by an apparent overdose of drugs.
I loved everything about the way and the time span Jenna and Quinn have to rekindle their feelings, to have the healing moments from the past hurt, and to connect on a deeper, true level again. The pain is palpable, but so is the connection and attraction between them. The trust doesn't come easy, yet on a very basic level, they know they can count on the other. They have to work on the forgiveness, on themselves and their issues, on building something lasting between them again, while in a middle of an undercover operation to find out what really happen to Quinn's friend.
The character growth, while subtle and fragile, was a beautiful thing to witness. As likable and lovable Jenna and Quinn are, even with their imperfections or maybe because of them, I cheered for them, rooted for them to find a way, to find a compromise they both could live and be happy and content with. It does not come easy, there are no obvious conclusions, it takes time, work, and sacrifices, but the willingness to find a way and fight for the happiness shines through.
The author's knowledge about the healing powers of the animals is shown numerous times through the tale. It is demonstrated with both dogs and horses, the interactions endearing and adorable. The a-ha moment when everything clicked for Quinn was so powerful it brought tears to my eyes.
With an intriguing and entertaining cast of characters providing drama, banter, and demonstrations of love and loyalty, with the delightfully sexy and charming love story developing, and with the deadly danger from the cartel and drug and human trafficking, this story held me captive, enthralled, and excited until the swoon-worthy end.
An alluring love story with lusciously adorable romance mixed with captivating and thrilling suspense and deadly action makes a highly entertaining tale of cowboys, soldiers, and cartel members
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Hot on the Trail by Vicki Tharp
Lazy S Ranch #3

Second chance romances are not my favorite cup of tea but it definitely worked in this book. Why? Well, I think that Jenna and Quinn may have loved one another when they separated four years before the story begins but both had grown a lot over the years apart and were able to see the other and give a bit more once they meet up again.

Jenna has an equine therapy program she is trying to get accredited at the beginning of this story. The program takes in horses and military veterans that will work together to “heal” through the program. Kurt, one of the first in the program, is found dead at the beginning of the book. His death puts the program in jeopardy and also brings Quinn back to the ranch to bury his best friend. Quinn is NOT sure that an overdose was the reason Kurt died and puts himself to the task of finding out the truth…and Jenna joins him.

This story has a LOT going on…just as the first two books did. It is more than a love story. Add in a cartel, human trafficking, drugs, undercover work, wild horses to tame and the camaraderie of the group on the Lazy S Ranch all working together for a common cause and you have a big story with a lot of heart that provides a HEA for some and the potential of a HEA for two new characters introduced at the end of this book. I am hoping that Moose and Stirling will have their stories told next. And, I kind of wonder what type of suspense will be brought to the table in the next book, too. That said, I did have a bit of trouble with the believability factor at times with the positions that Jenna and Quinn found themselves in but otherwise found this a great book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Caress – This is my honest review

4-5 Stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hot in the Trail is a great continuation of the Lazy S books by Vicki That. This book begins with Jenna trying to get her horse therapy business going until one of the veterans is found dead. Not only is Kurt in her program, but he's also her ex-boy friend's best friend. Quinn comes to the Lazy S for Kurt's service, only to discover the apparent suicide leads him to ask many more questions. Together, Jenna and Quinn try to figure out the truth behind Kurt's death, but they also discover they still have feelings for each other. This is can intense story with a great plot, lots of suspense, as well as romance.

It was a treat to return to the Lazy S Ranch. This series combines two great book worlds – cowboys and military veterans. Reminiscent of B.J. Daniels’ style of western romance, we get wonderful, heartfelt love stories with a bit of mystery and suspense. Hot On the Trail is Jenna's and Quinn's story. We met them previously while they were high school sweethearts and their romance ended with Quinn's poorly planned marriage proposal and them both going their separate ways – Jenna to college and Quinn to the military.

Jenna has returned to her family and home at the Lazy S after completing college to start the Healing Horses therapy program for veterans. After eighteen months of dealing with red tape, the program near and dear to her heart is threatened when the program's first participant is found dead. Not only that, but the dead soldier is also Quinn's best friend and brother in arms, which brings Quinn back to the Lazy S.

Jenna and Quinn are the youngest of the main characters so far in this series, and there were times their lack of maturity showed and I found myself thinking, “That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” or yelling at them to “Don’t do that!” but their story certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. Their love story was a sweet second chance and the mystery kept me engaged and cheering for everything to work out in the end, which it did, of course. I love this series, enjoyed Jenna's and Quinn's story, and can’t wait for the next book in the series!

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

This book was a perfect mix of suspense and romance that will keep you turning the pages right to the last sentence.The characters are easy to follow and love.
The interactions seemed a little uneasy at first, but the chemistry between Jenna and Quinn is hot and sexy.
I feel that this was a very well written story and loved it!

I took this book because I’m a Marine from Wyoming. There was potential to be seriously disappointed. The good news is Tharp does a credible job of describing both. Quinn Powell is driven and hard on himself like I’d expect of a Marine. He loves to fly and can’t imagine a life without it. Jenna is a ranch girl through and through. She’s spent her entire life on her family farm and can’t envision a life elsewhere. When Quinn proposed before shipping out he never thought she’d turn him down. The pair both end up hurt and create lives independent of each other despite being madly in love.

When his best friend Kurt, the first and so far only guest in Jenna’s program to help veterans, is found dead on the ranch, Quinn rushes back to Wyoming. It’s a slow progression at first to get over the hurt each feels from their breakup but the pair can’t help but find their way back to the other as they spend time trying to unravel the real circumstances of Kurt’s death.

Quinn using chopping wood to relieve stress and over time realizes it’s actually more effective than the physical therapy he’s been doing since he crashed his helicopter. Kurt was the only other survivor of the crash and with his death, Quinn’s survivor guilt just gets worse even worse.

The story had a lot of suspense as the pair chase clues and end up on the wrong side of an evil cartel. The cartel the ranch residents had already fought and thought they’d squashed is still bringing it’s illegal and highly immoral activities to Wyoming. This is where I wished I had read the first book in the series as there was a lot of the backstory I wasn’t up to speed on. Tharp did a pretty good job at filling in the gaps and I was able to enjoy the book as a stand-alone but I still think I need to go back and read the other book. (That one has a woman Marine with a Harley. It's like Tharp is writing about me!)

I enjoyed watching the well-defined characters deal with the stresses of everyday life as well as the horrendous situation they’ve been thrust into. I also liked Quinn and Jenna and enjoyed their path back to love. The book was entertaining.

reviewed by Jem

HOT ON THE TRAIL is a suspenseful romance that will keep you enthralled right to the last sentence. Quinn and Jenna were left heartbroken when they last parted. He had proposed and made a multitude of decisions without consulting her. Jenna had not been ready to marry and had dreams of her own. Instead of trying to make things work, Quinn made a complete break from Jenna and became a helicopter pilot with the Marine Corps. Flash forward a few years, and Quinn makes a return to the Lazy S Ranch after the death of his best friend, Kurt, who had been a vet in Jenna’s equine therapy program.

Though their interactions are stilted and uneasy at first, the chemistry between Jenna and Quinn sparks to life when they begin to investigate Kurt’s death. They quickly realize that his death was in fact a murder. The investigation, encounters with drug dealers and human traffickers, and kidnappings force Jenna and Quinn to face their true feelings. They love each other, but how can they be together, when he stationed far from the ranch? Read this smart, sexy and danger-filled romance and find out. This book is another keeper, like the others in the Lazy S Ranch series.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a story about Quinn and Jenna. She lived on a ranch where she started a program to help veterans Quinn was a pilot who was in love with Jenna. Four years earlier he asked her to marry him but she would have to move and give up her dream of helping vetrans. She said no and they broke up. When Quinn's best friend and copilot goes to the ranch to be in the program, he ends up dead. Quinn comes back to find out what happened to his friend and recconects with Jenna but, nothing has changed her life is at the ranch and his is in the sky. Will they find a way to do what both of them love, and to love each other? This is a suspenseful read with a hea. I would definitely recommend this book.

Having met young Jenna and Quinn in “Cowboy, Unexpectedly”, it was lovely to meet them again now as the romantic couple in “Hot on the Trail”, mature and really ready to commit. I loved the way Vicki Tharp wrote this process of them growing and learning as people and as a couple, and how the events taking place, the other characters and even the ranch animals have a role in this complex web.
Quinn and Jenna are great characters, honest, strong and solid, with a few vulnerabilities that only make them more human; Quinn is recovering from a devastating helicopter crash, fighting by all means to return to the military life (his final decision about it shows how he has changed and grown). Jenna is an amazing young heroine, fulfilling all the potential her character had shown in “Hot on the Trail”.
Nonetheless, I felt that their undercover operation was a bit thin, what with their connections with the Lazy S Ranch.
It was great to meet Hank and Mac and Boomer and Sydney again. Boomer is fantastic in his role as a father, fiercely protective of young Pepita.
There are some new characters that left me curious, such as St. John and Gill Brant, perhaps they’ll be featuring in future stories.

Overall a good mystery murder romance. I was enjoying the story of the mysterious death and discovery of Quinn's friend, found at Jenna's ranch, and the coming back together of the two. I also liked the big bad biker Moose, and the idea of working with horses. What I didn't like as well was the Mexican drug cartel influence, the selling of women, and the drugs. A lot thrown into the story, and seemed excessive at times. Overall though, I was kept interested to the end, and would recommend the story and author.