The Lazy S Ranch is home to Jenna Nash, but she's starting to regret accepting Kurt, her ex-boyfriend's friend, onto her equine therapy course. Wyoming is too rugged to give second chances, and Kurt has used up all her patience. Another no-show today, so the guy with the dodgy background may soon be heading for the door.

HOT ON THE TRAIL develops into a tragedy however as Kurt is found dead behind the barn. The assumption is that his drug habit killed him. Jenna's devastated that her Healing Horse therapy wasn't enough to help him. Breaking and training unruly mustangs is enough to fulfill her, but clearly Kurt didn't find it useful. Another friend, Marine Quinn Powell, arrives to investigate after the police leave. Still healing a burned arm after a helicopter crash, he's fighting to stay in service, though he doesn't make that public. If he has to drop out of piloting, he doesn't have anywhere else to go. Investigating Kurt's death is just a way to fill time for his officers. But Quinn starts to have doubts that matters are as clear-cut as they seem.

I really can't enjoy all the strong language from almost every character, not to mention the author keeps referring to various guns, drugs, and terms like carpet-bombing quite gratuitously. The small town has a pawnshop full of guns. Someone openly buys a pawned gun without even showing a driving license or gun license. Is that legal? I have no idea. And what about a known drug dealer taking a gun as payment and hocking the gun? Why isn't there a requirement to report those dealing in dodgy guns to police? Bar brawls and beatings continue the tale.

What I did like was the gradual taming of a black mustang, though Quinn, who admires the horse, still doesn't think he'd fit in the helicopter. Showing how veterans with disabilities adapt to daily life is well done. I was also pleased to meet Sidney the lady wrangler, a main character in MUST LOVE HORSES which I previously enjoyed. She's part of the crew at the ranch. This latest tale from Vicki Tharp contains an adult romance between two physical, determined people, when they're not battling criminals and lowlifes. HOT ON THE TRAIL is not as good for horse lovers as the earlier book, but may appeal to a thriller readership who don't mind constant swearing.