“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 was a great & emotional start to a new series. I loved how Sterling was prickly but also didn’t hold back, she has a lot of layers to get through based on what all she has gone through & suffered from. She is a true survivor who now helps victims of human trafficking. I loved Cade and his family, how protective he is & how they loved helping others. There is a lot going on in this story. In a way it reminds me of Lori’s Edge of Honor series.
What a great start to a new series. Loved Cade and Sterling. Chemistry that leaps off the pages along with a story I couldn’t put down. Great supporting characters and can’t wait for more. No spoilers just a great way to start the series.
I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a review
Ahh, Lori Foster did it again! It was everything I expected. A strong heroine and an alpha hero. You have romance, suspense and great characters! From the beginning to I was at edge of your seat! Lori has a way that will have you love the characters you need to love and dislike the one you need to dislike. And, boy did I want to get my hands on Adela and Mattox 😉 Hahaha, I especially loved the scene with Bernard, Reyes and the cats. If you don’t believe me, why not go ahead and read the book? You will enjoy it, if you like (love) Lori Foster’s books!!! I can’t wait for the next book in the series 🙂 I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Great story!!
I love how Ms. Foster can pull you into a story right off the bat and keep you there throughout.
So much evil in this book but also so much more good.
Star and Cade are so well matched. They each have something the other needs to make them complete.
Then bring in Cade’s amazing, kickass family…perfection!
Looking forward to more from that family. They all deserve happiness and I know Ms. Foster will give that to them and I will be right there to read about it.
5/5 for badassery from every character.
Brilliant. Breathtaking. Intense. What a way to start a new series, it left me gasping for air and yearning for the next installment, while made a huge impact. WOW!
Everything about the story is intense: the tempo of the tale, the relationships between the whole cast and crew, the tangible connection of the hero and heroine, the love scenes, the environment the story unfolds in, the McKenzies family, and the work they do, the story unfolds like an explosive thunderstorm that puts you on the edge at the same time as you can just admire the beauty of it.
You have to pay attention and focus your mind, read the nuances, and interpreted the twists and turns of the plot cause the McKenzies are moving at their own speed and do not temper it for anyone.
Sterling (Star) Parson and Cade McKenzie have such smoldering chemistry that I am surprised it didn’t melt my Kindle. The connection between them is natural, it was like they were meant to be together, and they had been on a journey to meet each other all their lives. Their destinies were entwined, and their feelings grew authentically. With the detailed, ardent love scenes the readers get to witness their emotions get involved and feelings grow, alluring, and dazzling, they captured my mind.
The riveting suspense and up close and personal action are palpably edgy and horrifyingly intimidating as they are fighting against human traffickers, the lowest scum on earth. The culprits are creepy, and the violence is unavoidable, the fight is fierce, and the women are right there, in the middle of it as well, strong, capable, and equal partners in the fight for justice.
This thrill ride went directly to my emotions with the deep, heart-stirring feels, with the strong family connection, and the loyalty of the team. I was as much charmed and infatuated by the romance as I was on the edge and riveted by the danger and threat.
A marvelous start for the trilogy, a pleasing and satisfying romantic suspense story
~ Five Spoons!
Star Parson developed a thick skin a long time ago and it has suited her well being in the line of work that she is in. Being a truckdriver is typically something one would label a man’s job, but she has found a way to make it her own, and also use it to do her true mission in life, save people from human trafficking. She blends in, scans the other drivers, and can quickly pick out someone who doesn’t belong, her instincts are usually spot on. That is until she runs across bar owner Cade McKenzie… that man found a way to sneak past her radar and wander straight into her heart!
No Holding Back is an action-packed tale riddled with edge of your seat suspense and intense toe curling romance. As I settled down with this one I had an inkling that I was going to be in for a real treat and boy was I ever! I loved the tough as nails heroine, it’s not too often you find one of those that can honestly stand toe-to-toe with the man vying for her heart. Star was not only impressive on paper, but inspiring as well. She had made it her mission to save others from a very ugly world, and she didn’t care if she lost herself in the process, she was selfless and so strong. And when that world got a little ugly and a little too close it was Cade who came to her rescue, and he did an outstanding job at saving the day…. and stealing my heart right along with Star’s! These two were pure magic together, they brought intensity, passion, compassion, and strength to every page… I loved everything about them! I look forward to more additions to the series, if they are anything like this one I know I will love them! Got to say Ms. Foster really outdid herself with this one, it took the top seat as my favorite read from her to date! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Y’all, this story is seriously good and I can not wait for the next book in this new series.
I loved Cade and his honorable, alpha male ways and it’s worth admiring a woman as fiercely protective as Sterling.
I read an advanced copy of this book
4.5 stars
Rating this was hard, possibly because the subject matter was difficult, but extremely well handled, which was so appreciated. Sterling and Cade are two great characters to read about, and they made a fascinating couple. Dealing with such a heartbreaking subject, human trafficking, a strong lead was needed, and Sterling was one of those characters who you pull for.
This was one of those books where you want to ask not just yourself, but everyone you know how this keeps happening, why this issue is still topical? Starting with a teen “Star” being taken and brought to be sold and trafficked, you see how it affects her later in life. And, this seems so odd to say, she was lucky. Now as an adult, Sterling uses her history to help others.
Then you have Cade’s family, his siblings and father, also affected by human trafficking, but in a different way, one that affects them all to current day. His family takes matters into their own hands.
Theses two definitely butt heads, but they also send sparks shooting through the air. Reading this has the feels and the heartbreak, there were also the moments when I sighed in happiness, shook my head at the antics of Cade’s younger brother, and wanted to climb in and personally throttle certain coconspirators.
No Holding Back (The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Book 1) Kindle Edition by Lori Foster
This is the first book in the series and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
This is Cade and Sterling’s (Star) star story. The whole McKenzie family is involved and I am sure they will play very important part in the following books. This book covers a very horrific topic that is happening in the world today and the people fighting against it. Cade is a strong H and Star is also strong and still dealing with some horrors in her past. There is intrigue, angst, family interactions, heroes, bad guys, violence, laughs, tears, and lots of steam to get us to a very HEA. I can’t wait for more.
This new series based on a family that after a tragedy have become vigilantes of sorts, is not for the faint of heart. A series in which life is not black and white . The lines between the two is blurred and makes you wonder how one would react in similar circumstances where human trafficking is so real and justice is sought.
The first story in the series centers around the older son , Cade McKenzie, owner of a bar who in reality keeps tabs on what illegal things are being planned by some patrons.
Tucker Sterling/Star, is one of the patrons who frequents the bar. She stops by whenever her trucking route brings her close by. She somehow feels safe enough there that she frequently stays in a corner table and on occasion dozes. Her past has molded her present. She’s a survivor determined to help women in need. Cade suspects she’s trouble, but is very much drawn to her.
With a plot full of twists and turns, a very bad and evil man that is not only trafficking but also is after Star/Sterling, a complex family, and of course romance, this is definitely one story that will keep you on the edge of your seats from the first page to the last.
Kudos to the author for reminding the reader that human trafficking is very real in our country. As a nation and as individuals we need to help those in need. A reality hardto accept. Thanks goes to the author for bringing up this topic.
I am looking forward to more stories in this dynamic series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
If all you’ve ever had was yourself to depend on, pain & fear, how do you let someone into your life? Sterling escaped from an abduction and has been in a journey to rescue women from traffickers ever sense. She has fear as a constant companion, so much so that she really didn’t get a good nights sleep. She had one place where she felt safe enough to nap. She didn’t know why but she trusted “him” to keep her safe.
Cade didn’t know why he was drawn to the woman but he was. She was full of anger, attitude & fear. He had been trying to slowly get her to trust him. Since she left immediately after his first talk with her, he was afraid he’d scared her off. He couldn’t put a name to his feelings yet but knew that he was concerned about her. His instincts were telling him to stay close.
I love this start to the new series. Ms. Foster has brought her customary detailed character development to the characters in this series. Her descriptions are so detailed, as a reader, you instantly have a picture in your mind. The plot somehow moves at the perfect pace – giving enough detail to keep you reading but not so much that it bogs the story down. I just love the way this story drew me in from the start & kept me hanging until the end. I can’t wait to read the next in this series!
When Sterling “Star” Parson was a teenager she managed to survive an extremely dangerous situation. That was the foundation of her present determination to save as many innocents from the evil sex traffickers of the world and take down as many of said evil sex traffickers as she could. To that point she didn’t trust easily, if at all. As a trucker she did become comfortable stopping in at the Tipsy Wolverine bar and resting there. She didn’t quite know why she felt safe there, but she did. Perhaps it was because the bartender there always seemed to be keeping an eye on her. Not in a stalkerish way. More in a protective way. Then one night a couple of “them” walked into the bar and she decided that this was her chance to get an invite to Misfits, an “by invitation only”establishment that Star was sure was a sex trafficking location. Little did she know that the bar owner, Cade McKenzie overheard her acceptance to go to Misfits the next night. She knew what she was doing – until her plan fell apart. She wasn’t expecting to have to deal with Mattox, her nightmare from the past. How was she going to get herself out of this dangerous situation?
Cade McKenzie owns the Tipsy Wolverine bar. But he is more than an owner/bartender. Not only is he ex-Delta Force but he is also part of his family’s task force to take down sex traffickers. Plus his wealthy father funds this task force which strives to take down sex trafficking rings and offers assistance to the victims after they are released. Recently at his bar he has noticed a woman, a truck driver, who comes in and spends hours in a booth”resting.” She has managed to raise his awareness of her so he has already had his sister Madison, the computer guru of the family, check out this woman’s background. So, yes, he knows her name and other things about her. Cade was very surprised when he overheard Star agreeing to go to Misfits the next night to “entertain” some guy. She had always seemed so aware and cautious. The next night Cade arranged to have his brother Reyes be his backup while he watches out for Star at Misfits. This was very strange behavior for her. Since he was so attracted to Star and feeling very protective of her Cade knew he had to act on her behalf. Good thing…
No Holding Back by Lori Foster is a very well-written story that is filled with humor, action and intrigue. Ms. Foster has treated her readers to exciting, fascinating characters who are very likable. The sexual tension in the story is very well done. The bedroom scenes between Star and Cade are super hot. All this is great but what really stands out to me is the plot. The McKenzie family dedicates themselves to destroying sex trafficking rings and doing all they can to help the victims. This kind of justice is very high on my list of what is needed in the world. I applaud Lori Foster for addressing the issue of sex trafficking. Any author who does is my heroine/hero. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.
No Holding Back is one of Lori Foster’s best books! Its my new favorite. These two characters are strong, independent, caring people. I loved the way these two built trust with one another before jumping into a relationship. Great read, highly recommend.
Fan-freaking-tastic book. I’m huge Lori Foster fan and read everything she writes. Human trafficking is real, it happens and as ugly as it is to read and think about, Lori did a very good job writing this story. Enjoyed how Sterling and Cade came to be together, in typical Lori style, plenty of action and romance with the perfect HEA. I LOVE the dynamic between Reyes (Cade’s brother) and Sterling. Their interactions brought a grin and look forward to the next book in this series.
I really appreciate an author who can write a lot of books but keeps each one fresh and interesting. Foster is one of those authors. Maybe because she changes up the focus of each series, she never seems to run out of good story lines, interesting characters and great suspense.
I really enjoyed No Holding Back. Foster used a story “ripped from the headlines” style of a survivor of human trafficking who’s spending her life fighting back. She made her escape in the nick of time and she’s focused on freeing or saving others before they go through the horrors of being forced into the sex trade. Figure the odds she’d meet a man with the same goals A man who can also help her learn to enjoy dating and sex again. Cade is tough, sexy and dedicated. Sterling, aka Star, is skittish with a thick self-protection layer that tries to keep everyone at arm’s length but that’s OK. Cade sees a woman who’s worth waiting for and gives her the space to work out her demons while showing her all the affection and attention she’s able to deal with.
The suspense is a great add to their love story. There are plenty of nasty villians including the main one, a couple of deadly situations and, of course, justice . The McKenzies are a very intriguing lot and I look forward to learning more about their stories as the series continues. I hope we’ll not only get to know Cade’s brother and sister but I’d really like to see dad find a new love again.
What an awesome start to a new series! Such a great story. An emotional storyline that was engaging from the first page to the last. Star has always been alone but slowly learns to trust Cade and ends up with an amazing support system and family. The cast of characters is so amazing. I can’t wait for the other books in this series!
This is a book that I couldn’t put down and it resonated with me long after I read it. Tackling the very tough subject of human trafficking and the emotions with marketing people for sex against their will and the law, kidnapping, abuse, fear, brainwashing, and the other ugly actions of this trade is difficult. Adding a story of love and healing that takes center stage is even more of a challenge. Ms. Foster has used a special touch in weaving the story line around the backdrop so the characters are not lost in the shocking depravity of those who feel it is a business opportunity to control people without consent.
She leaves a nugget for a future story that will keep me up at nights. Oh and an animal rescue – who can resist an animal rescue.
Get ready for a heart-pumping ride! No Holding Back is a new series from Ms. Foster and it was fun to meet a whole new cast of characters – and they are characters! The overall story had a hard topic for me but it was handled well and really made for an amazing story. I won’t give any spoilers but I want to tell you what was most important for me. Star/Sterling is a take no crap, very strong heroine. The author doesn’t make her a cartoon character – she charges into situations, trying to right many wrongs to young women, and it is extremely personal for her. And Cade. He is a hero for the ages, imho. The best part is he isn’t an alpha-jerk. Oh, he IS definitely an alpha male but he is thoughtful about how his actions effect everyone around him… Well, maybe not his brother Reyes (just kidding!) but he thinks about his actions and if there will be a fallout from them. He and Star make a great team. The bad guys are really bad. The good guys really ARE good. And that’s all I can say as you really have to unfold this story for yourself. It was really annoying when I had to stop reading in the wee hours of the morning so I could get some sleep. Plan ahead!
I loved this book and the characters are quite independent, stubborn, quirky, yet loveable. The heroine in this book, Sterling (Star) Parson has been alone all of her life, she doesn’t need anyone to help her, nor does she want anyone in her life. She has an agenda and she will not be swayed from it even if it means getting herself killed. She has an attitude, courage, strength, a smart mouth, and a gut instinct that has kept her alive thus far. What’s not to love about this character?
Cade McKenzie is a bar owner who knows there is more to Sterling or trouble as he calls her before knowing her name. He watches her from afar until he sees the trouble that finds her. He is a former Ranger and his skills from his military days serve him well in his family business. He is strong but he lets Sterling make her own decisions, he doesn’t bully or manipulate her in any way. They are perfect for each other.
Ms. Foster pulls you into the pages with these wonderful characters and the action and drama that follow. I was hooked from the beginning and can’t wait to find out more about this quirky family that sets out to save women from human traffickers. They all have a personal reason for being involved in this business. I can’t wait to read more about this incredible family and the justice they will serve to those who need it most.
Wow this new series from Lori Foster started out with a bang. Sterling was abducted by human traffickers and somehow managed to escape. Now she is determined to help other women if possible.
Case first noticed Sterling but to him she is Star. He is captivated by her and begins to watch her movements in his bar. Soon he realizes she is up things that will get her hurt. The Mackenzies have been tracking down human traffickers and now Star becomes the focus. Star and Cade are such a perfect match.
Human trafficking is a serious problem and Lori Foster did a wonderful job bringing problem to life in her book. Please be aware and safe!!