The stunning beauty and quiet majesty of the Wyoming wilderness can heal your soul. But one woman will discover that her heart is fair game . . . The Lazy S Ranch is everything to Jenna Nash. It’s given her family, friends, and a fulfilling career: helping veterans rebuild their lives. She sacrificed a lot to get her equine therapy program off the ground—including love. But suddenly, she’s in … But suddenly, she’s in danger of losing it all . . .
Joining the Marines was the best decision Quinn Powell ever made, even if he had to go it alone without Jenna. Now his best friend’s death has brought him back to the ranch he once called home—and to the woman who rejected him.
Quinn hasn’t lost his touch—with the wildest horses or with Jenna. Though she’s falling for the brash, impulsive cowboy all over again, Jenna has reason to be wary. But when she and the ranch are threatened, Quinn will put everything on the line to save them both . . .
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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
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
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.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/24/hot-on-the-trail-book-review/
Hot on the Trail is book three in the Lazy S Ranch series by Vicki Tharp. I have loved this series from the first book. They have everything that for me makes reading my favorite thing to do. There is plenty of sweet romance, sexy times, and nail biting suspense. You can read these as stand alones but the characters all follow through in each book and the bad guy in this book is a continuation from the previous book. And believe me, the previous two books are worth taking the time to read first.
Jenna Nash has sacrificed everything for her veteran’s equine rehabilitation program. Four years ago, she turned down the proposal of the man she loved because he wanted her to go with him as a military wife when he knew that her dream was to stay on the Lazy S and to help veterans. Now, after eighteen months of paperwork and jumping through hoops, she has her first client, ironically, the best friend of her former boyfriend. After one month on the ranch, though, the unthinkable happens and he is found dead. With her program in trouble of being cancelled, she needs answers as to how he really died.
Quinn Powell has been grounded ever since his helicopter crash. His arm was badly burned and he hasn’t been released for duty by his doctor yet. Then, he got word that his best friend was dead, the friend he recommended for Jenna’s rehab program. So he uses some of his leave to go home to the Lazy S to help deal with his friend’s death. Only that means seeing Jenna again. It’s been four years but he never completely got over her.
The details just don’t add up. The police want to label it as a suicide but Quinn and Jenna aren’t convinced. So they decide to do a little investigating on their own. At the same time, these two have the opportunity to get to know each other again as the adults they are now. What they shared all those years ago is still there but the issues haven’t changed. When this is over, Quinn is going back. His dream is in the skies. It’s what he was meant to do. And Jenna’s dream is on the ranch helping veterans. It wouldn’t be fair for either of them to give up their dreams, even if their hearts are broken all over again.
What an amazing book. I’ve grown to love everyone in this family and I loved getting more of how all of their lives are doing. As always, this family sticks together, no matter what. I knew Quinn was brave but oh my gosh, Jenna was too. She’s one tough woman. And she’s also a woman who is still in love with the only man she has ever cared for. Get ready for some nail biting suspense as they dig deeper into the investigation. This is such an amazing series. Vicki Tharp’s writing is spell binding. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
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