“Hang on for this completely unexpected hard-hitting ride!”—**Fresh Fiction
Not needing him won’t stop her from wanting him…**
Trucker Sterling (Star) Parson is no stranger to the challenges a woman faces, both in her industry and in life. But she can take care of herself. She’s never needed—or wanted—a man around…until she meets Cade McKenzie. The take-charge bar owner sets off all kinds of alarm bells for Sterling, but he also sets her heart racing.
Cade’s lived in Ridge Trail long enough to know trouble when he sees it, and the moment Sterling—Star—walks into his bar, he knows trouble’s come to call. Secrets run deep in the small town and Cade can tell Star’s got as many as he does, leaving him itching to uncover every last one. But finding common ground will mean trusting one another, further feeding an intense attraction that’s growing impossible to resist.
No Holding Back
By lorifoster
This is probably the best book that I’ve read of Ms Foster’s and I’m pretty sure that I’ve read them all. It was pretty intense but considering the subject matter, it has to be. If there were ever two people who were meant to be, it would be Cade and Star. It was a stroke of luck that Star found Cade’s bar and that she felt safe there, realizing that it was Cade, himself, that exuded protectiveness without being overbearing. Even though Cade was exceptionally confident in his abilities, he was pretty perceptive about people, both close to him and with opponents. This was a great start to a new series. It has action, suspense, a few tears, and, of course, a great connection with some pretty hot scenes. What more could you want? It will be interesting to read about Reyes’ story, can’t wait!
A kick-butt vigilante book with a heart of gold. This action packed contemporary romance hit all my buttons. Not only did it have a vibrant and assertive female lead intent on helping people, it had an equally assertive, caring, and sexy male lead. The heat between these two independent characters was dynamic and satisfying. They challenged each other and helped each other grow–all while taking out the bad guys. I highly recommend!
Another great story from Lori Foster. I received an ARC of No Holding Back, but it did not influence my review.
Human Trafficking is a hard topic to write about, but Lori comes thru with a winner, as usual. Her characters are wonderfully written and I love that Sterling (Star) is so strong, but love her need for Cade McKenzie. And I was happy Cade knew exactly how to treat her. There is a lot of action and Foster fans will love it.
First of all, I am so happy to see Ms Foster writing hot, edgy, heroic romance once again. Seems a long time since I’ve been fully immersed in a great hero style from her, with a twist I loved.
Sterling or Star, is a true survivor, bent on saving women from human traffickers. The best way she had of doing that is becoming a big rig driver, easily explained away. Who better to be at truckstops, or driving up and down the same routes often, always blending, but still being a loner.
Cade, a bartender with a hidden agenda, has good instincts and his were saying there was definitely something up with Star, when she often came in to just sit back in a corner and sleep, but he also wanted her in the basest of ways. He broke a Cardinal rule and ended up bringing her to his family’s fortress near Ridge Trail, Colorado.
These two are so well matched in all ways, recognizing each other for equals, feeling a yet unexplained bond between themselves, and respect!
A ton of action in here, heat to scorch, and an amazing journey start to finish! There’s more goodness to come in this series and I, for one, can hardly wait for the next one.
A stand alone and happy ending for Cade and Star, there is more coming from the McKenzie operation.
From this first page Foster grabs your attention tackling a known problem of human trafficking. You’re immediately invested in Star’s character needing to know more of her trauma and how she overcomes adversity and opens herself up to trust again. You feel the strength and honor in Cade’s character. With his background and skills, he stands for justice. Star and Cade have great chemistry but also a deeper connection based on life’s experiences. A must read to see how these two combine their personal and professional lives.
A great start to the new trilogy and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
This is an intense story from Lori Foster. A tough subject matter to be sure. I was quickly pulled into Cade and Sterling’s story and their blossoming relationship. Cade is super protective and Sterling is very determined. This has so many tense moments leading to a happily ever after.
Awesome book. Awesome writer. Love her books.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
No Spoiler Alert but that there will be various topics that can cause triggers
Sterling Parsons and Cade McKenzie are not your typical heroine and hero. For one they are very different but more alike than they know. Sterling has recently moved to Ridge Tail and yet Cade McKenzie can sense that she is hiding secrets and yet they could be the same as his.
If you love Lori Foster’s books then you will love this one. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series to see how they unfold.
Another great book from Lori Foster- I was immediately draw to Cade, his intensity and empathy for Star was masterfully written.
Star’s character arc from loner and avenger of woman had me applaud her courage but she really need Cade to recover and become who she was meant to be, still the avenger at a higher skill level.
I can’t wait to read Reyes story and hope Ms. Foster even gives Parrish his own story. So many layers to all of these characters and definitely needs to be on your to be read list.
The Mackenzie family have devoted their entire lives to hunting down women traffickers. Their goal is destroy them and to rescue their victims. Then they do everything they can to help them get their lives back together so they can return to their families and live normal lives again. The Mackenzies do all of this secretly, without help from anyone.
Cade Mackenzie owns a bar that he uses as a cover so he can gather as much information as possible. One of his regular customers is a trucker, Sterling (Star) Parson. She visits his bar almost daily, but drinks or eats much while she is there. She sits at the same table every day and never speaks to anybody. Usually she just falls asleep for an hour or so before she leaves.
Based on her behavior, Cade believes that Star has been a victim of abuse at some time in her life. He is very attracted to her and makes it his business to protect her while she is at the bar. However, he hopes to befriend her and help her in any way that he can. Eventually, Star joins forces with the Mackenzie family as they attempt to rescue a victim and destroy her captors.
Lori Foster creates complicated, deeply wounded characters. In spite of their imperfection, they completely win the reader’s respect and love. Star is a strong, independent character who has spent her entire life taking care of herself. With no family to depend on, she has learned how to survive on her own. She doesn’t trust other people because she has been betrayed too many times. Star’s goal is very much like that of Cade and his family: they are all determined to destroy traffickers anyway that she can.
As strong, tough and secretive as Cade is, he still has a very soft spot for Star, and he eventually falls in love with her. However, Cade’s family is a problem because they are very secretive about their actions and stubbornly refuse to allow anybody to learn about their secrets. In spite of this, the relationship between Cade and Star is all-consuming even though they are both keeping serious secrets from each other.
Even, the secondary characters, Cade’s brother, sister and father, are so fascinating that when I finished reading, I was already searching for the next book in the series.
This story is exciting and action-packed. Ms. Foster has created a page-turner with a very complicated plot. .She includes so many twists and turns that the reader barely has time to breath.
This new series is definitely a winner!
Lori Foster grabs you in the first line of No Holding Back and doesn’t let you go until the last word of the last chapter.
I love stories with complicated characters full of depth and dimension. You get that by the truckload in No Holding Back.
First, there’s Sterling Parson, Star for short. She’s independent, direct, and has learned the hard way not to trust anyone. But on the inside, she’s still a scared, lonely teenager running from a danger she can’t seem to escape. The only thing that helps is her mission to ensure what happened to her doesn’t happen to another human being. Even if it kills her, and it probably will.
Then we have Cade McKenzie…sigh. He is all the things I love in a Lori Foster hero; tall, built, good-looking, deadly-dangerous, extremely alpha, and once he falls for a woman, he’s all-in and committed to making her his. Cade has his own secrets to hide…it’s the only way to protect his family.
When Cade and Star’s missions intersect, they must learn to trust each other. Not an easy task, but if they don’t, someone could end up dead.
Star about Cade: “He could pretend to be an average guy, he could wear the trappings of a simple bar owner, but she knew better. He hid something, maybe something as monumental as her own secrets.”
Cade about Star: “At a few inches shy of six feet, her body toned, she walked with a self-possessed air that he recognized as more attitude than ability. She wore that swagger like a warning that all but shouted Back off.”
Character shout outs to Cade’s cocky brother, Reyes, and his brainiac sister, Madison. Can’t wait for their stories!! Oh, yes, and Bernard, the “butler and chef, pretty much everything” with a soft spot for a homeless cat and her kittens.
If you’re a fan of Lori’s Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series, you are going to LOVE No Holding Back!
Edge of your seat romantic suspense, alpha heroes, kick-butt heroines, and bad guys that keep you reading with the lights on. What more could you ask for?!
Check out this first book in Lori Foster’s newest series; The McKenzies of Ridge Trail
IF you read the blurb you get a little wary, but not me knowing the author, I mean this is Lori Foster, Lori knows her stuff, she knows her characters, she knows what she is writing about and she tends to write sensitive subjects so not delicately that is not the correct word but close to more like balanced so that you get the understanding of what they went thru without the again I can’t think of the word but hope you are getting my train of thought..Anywho I am trying to say that she knows her stuff and when you start reading you wont put it down, you wont be disappointed and you will read it to the end, I think i have read every single of her books, I was trying to go thru her list to see if I have missed any and I may have missed a couple of her earlier ones and no I am not a stalker, just a ardent reader. but dont take my work for it, grab a copy and enjoy and if you like this, I suggest you go back and grab her mma series or her men of honor series (those guys are hot)..Enjoy!!
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author…(netgalley)…voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
As along time reader and fan of Lori Foster I always am extra excited when she writes a new series. I always look forward to revisiting my friends in each new book. But holy cow! from the first sentence to the very end I was hooked. This series is more on the darker side of her usual storytelling but without a doubt you can still see her humor and style throughout. This first book is about the eldest son Cade McKenzie and how he and his family work behind the scenes in taking down human traffickers. When Star shows up at his bar he knows she into something over her head and he convinces her into working together along with the help of his family in a dangerous pursuit of a human trafficker who has ties to Stars past. I really loved the characters in this story and am looking forward to brother Reyes story to see how he handles his new role as owner of a stray mama cat and her 3 new kittens.
I love when a new series starts! And what a great start it was! There was such chemistry between Sterling and Cade, and I was hooked from the first page! I definitely did not want to put it down once I started it! I love books with strong female characters.
There are some triggers, so be warned before you start of you’re sensitive to certain topics.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.
Emotionally thrilling, action packed journey filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists, exciting turns and undeniable passion. Was an edge of your seat, highly entertaining and exhilarating adventure.
“No Holding Back” (McKenzies of Ridge Trail #1) by Lori Foster is a terrific read. I loved Cade and “Star’ Sterling’s story. This is a fantastic start to this new series. This story is packed with romance, passion, suspense, action, family, and more. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with the McKenzies. Highly recommend to all fans of romance, action, and series.
This book kicks off a new series and boy did this one start off with a bang. Not gonna lie the beginning I was reading through my fingers a bit. This book started off with an intense moment. Sterling is one strong character. With what she had gone through to see the fight she has to help others like her is inspiring. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to come into her life. Cade is the perfect person for her. What really won me over is he appreciates Sterling and supports her to be herself, but is in her corner to keep her safe. You can tell how much it really makes Sterling just blossom as a person. I love Cade’s family. His brother is quite the character and I already feel for his love interest. This book dives into a serious issue that goes on in this world and it breaks my heart that it does. The nasty characters in this one are characters you can easily dislike and hope justice gets served. My absolute favorite part involves Bernard. It just melted my heart and offered the perfect light hearted moment. I read it with a huge smile on my face. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve read by Lori Foster. I absolutely loved these characters and I’m looking forward to reading the future books in this series. No Holding Back centers around Sterling (Star) and Cade. Sterling is a trucker that helps as many women as she can get out of being trafficked. She was kidnapped as a high schooler and she vows to stop it from happening again. Cade owns The Tipsy Wolverine Bar in Ridge Trail, Colorado. It’s the only place Sterling feels safe. Cade is more than just a bar owner, as we learn. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys families that work together for something good, no matter what. I have to say I loved Bernard’s character.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Gritty, realistic romantic suspense story!
This is the first book by this author that I’ve read, and I am already combing through her back catalog for more thrilling books like this one. Star and Cade are fire together, with chemistry for days and an innate sense of the other that makes them perfect partners as they work together to take down a human-trafficking ring.
But it took a long time – a very long time – for them to get past their guarded natures in order to trust each other, and I was simply blown away by the intimacy of their interactions, even well before they ended up in bed together. Both the romance and the crime story had me on the edge of my seat throughout and I loved every bit of it.
Cade and Star have a wonderful HEA, but the series continues with Cade’s family and their foundation. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
No Holding Back is the first book in new series .
The moment I start to read this book, I couldn’t stop.
Reading it, I felt outrage, sadness, hope and happiness.
Star is very strong, she has been through a lot.
Cade is fighting bad guys.
Love both characters.
Another wonderful story by Ms. Foster.