“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
No Holding Back is another thrilling, suspenseful, romantic novel from Lori Foster. Within the first five pages of the book, I knew this was not going to be a story that was as light-hearted and flirty as her most recent novels but that does not take away from the exceptional story Lori Foster tells us in this novel. While this book definitely has the loveable, charming characters, Foster is known for; there is a particular edge to the characters in this book that is essential to the story that you don’t often expect when you think love story.
Sterling is a strong, independent female truck driver who does not want or need the help of anyone, especially a man. Cade McKenzie is the bar owner who is determined to help her despite her objections. Together they work to bring down a human trafficking ring and fall in love along the way. The subplot of human trafficking is so dark, and so sad I did not think it could possibly work in a romance novel. This book is not your typical romance novel. It is suspenseful, action-packed, and brings awareness to a horrific crime happening in our backyards. Lori Foster has written about human trafficking in several of her previous books so this is not a new concept but the storyline is unique and entertaining.
Sterling is a tough as nails, resilient heroine who is also vulnerable and gentle. Cade is the ultimate alpha male who goes toe to toe with Sterling until she brings him to his knees. No Holding Back introduces the McKenzie family who will be featured in future books and they are all charming characters who added fun and levity to the story.
I love all of Foster’s books and this one lived up to her exceptional ability to weave a modern romance full of suspense, action, fun, and family.
“I received an advanced reader copy for my review”
One of the Best Lori Foster books ever,crazy suspenseful & edge of your seat action & a REALLY Hot Lead male Character Cade & Strong Female in Sterling…LOVED This 1st book in the new series & I now have a new Book Boyfriend Whew !!!
I loved this book. Lori Foster is my top favorite author. This book had me from the first sentence to the last sentence. It is a page turner in my book, I read the book in 24 hours. It is a very steamy book and romantic book. I love how the characters were able to get together at the end after a rough beginning. Star was leery of Cade, but had noticed him from the first. Sterling was a woman on a mission to help people, especially women who had been assaulted. I am looking forward to more books in this series. I hope that Parrish and Bernard get their own stories also.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3640274282?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
I love that Lori Foster writes strong women. Star is a strong heroine that doesn’t “need” a man to protect or save her. But that doesn’t stop Cade from wanting to do so. And just because Cade is a fierce protector doesn’t mean that Star is not wanting to protect Cade and his family. Ms. Foster writes a lot of feels into her characters and stories. She blends the loner Star so seamlessly into Cade’s family and their life’s work that you think she’s been there all along. A book well worth reading.
Sterling “Star” Parson is a truck driver who spends her time rescuing victims of human traffickers. Star is determined never to have to depend on anyone. Star finds a safe haven at a bar owned by Cade McKenzie where she can sleep without anyone bothering her. Cade knows Star is trouble and wants to learn all her secrets. Star and Cade try to fight their attraction to each other. Will Cade and Star learn to share their secrets and trust one another? Will Cade realize that Star is his other half? Will Star realize she can do more good working with Cade and his family than she can on her own? I love Lori Foster! No Holding Back is a fantastic book to start off The McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. No Holding Back has danger, scorching chemistry, suspense, action, and family. I would highly recommend getting No Holding Back by Lori Foster. I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest review.
I am OBSESSED!!!
Get ready for a thrilling, completely ADDICTING ride!
Lori Foster gets ALL the stars! I wish I could give her more then 5. This read had me hooked right from the first page. My heart was in this book. This book went everywhere with me. I snuck pages whenever and wherever I could.
No Holdback is filled with pulse pounding greatness! An adrenaline fueled story with a soft lovely love story. Lori Foster gives us it all in this one. What a wonderful, fast paced story she weaves! Outstanding!
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I SERIOUSLY can’t wait for MORE! I NEED MORE! The next in series will be an automatic buy for me. I am OBSESSED with this family!
What a great read from Lori Foster!
Sterling feels safe in Cade’s bar and find peace that she doesn’t often feel. Cade watches all and knows that Sterling is troubled and continues to watch over her. When Sterling get herself in between some bad guys Cade is there to hear all. He along with his family show Sterling (Star) that they all want to help with the human trafficking happening around them. Star is very private but little by little she learns to trust jn others which she had never done before. She finds a live of family and the best guy ever!
No Holding Back (The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Book 1) was a pleaser on several levels. You get a very touching romance, plenty of sexual chemistry, danger and intrigue all rolled up in one amazing book! In addition to all that, Ms. Foster brought awareness to a very real problem we face in our society with compassion and realism without losing any of life’s more realistic, even comedic moments. This book was very well written. Although some may consider the topic a trigger, it read more like a story of survival, strength and finding love and life after trauma. This heroine chose not to be a victim, rather to be a survivor. Both our hero and heroine were amazing. I didn’t find it a dark story. It had all the wonder elements we’ve come to expect from a Lori Foster book. The entire McKenzie family was amazing and multi faceted. For those of you that read Ms. foster regularly, you would recognize a similar storyline in her series, The Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor and Love Undercover. All amazing books!
Sterling “Star” Parson and Cade McKenzie are drawn to each other from the start. Both characters have secrets and both are strong and dynamic. Cade is the complete package. He’s a strong and protective alpha while Star is fiercely independent and slightly damaged with a vulnerable side that she does her best to hide. Lori Foster does a great job of rolling out the storyline while drawing you in with amazing characters. You will definitely be as drawn in by the supporting characters as you are with our hero and heroine.
Hats off for the amazing job of bringing awareness and knowledge to the very troubling problem of human trafficking. I felt the sensitive topic was handled with grace and consideration. This is a real life problem and it was handled with honesty, sensitivity and tact. It wasn’t hard as the reader to see the core of strength and determination Ms. Foster gave her heroine to not only come away a survivor but a woman that wanted to be involved and help others. Watching her learn to trust and grow as a person, to fall in love and make a life for herself just shows that we can overcome anything with the right incentives.
I cannot wait to read more about these characters and see the McKenzie’s story continue.
As always, we get our HEA and come away wanting more! Thank you Lori foster, after all these years, you never disappoint! Definitely a 5 star read for me.
I love stories that bring real life perspective. Sterling or Star the heroine, who is stubborn, strong willed and brave. She is fully prepared to stand on her own. Cade is the best kind of hero, because he recognizes that Star needs to stand on her own and wants in on the battles but he is going to do all he can to make sure she is protected even when she doesn’t want it. I loved the battle of snarky remarks between Cade’s brother Reyes and Star are some of the best moments in the book. Also, Lori Foster once again manages to include an animal, in the form of a cat who needs rescuing. I LOVE Bernard and cannot wait for more of the whole family. Amazing job, Lori Foster, you once again made a story where you just want to be a part of the family. You will not be disappointed in spending some time living in this book.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
A new series and I am hooked. Oh what a person Star is. She is able to take a tragedy and use it to become a better person and to help others. When Cade meets Star he isn’t expecting to find a partner or his other half. This story is rough in subject, but they took a bad situation and are able to do good things to help others. Lori Foster once again takes a dark and gritty subject and makes it a feel good moment. Cade’s family is hilarious and accepting. While stars banner with Cade is Fabulous and real as well as their love is real. I just loved this story
I love when Lori Foster starts a new series, because not only do I get an awesome book, but I get the potential of so many more awesome things to come! This book felt a little steamier than her last couple, but nowhere near enough to push her into the “erotic” category – it was just the right amount of heat to have me glued to the story and desperate for more! One of my favorite things about Lori Foster is that she writes such true-to-life characters. Her heroines are women I admire and would want to be friends with, and her heroes are ones I want to meet and fall in love with. I can’t find anything bad to say about this book, which is normal, since Lori can do no wrong. She’s such a good writer, I know I will always get a solid read when I pick up one of her books, and as always – this is a perfect example of that. Highly recommended for contemporary romance fans!
I received an ARC and I’m freely reviewing.
4.5 stars!! Sterling (Star) is stunning. I love her attitude, sass, spirit and just her general humanness. I hope that makes sense. Star had me chuckling, worried for her and rooting for her. When she spoke of the trucker that helped her, gah, my heart hurt for her. Then we get Cade who is this amazing, beautiful, alpha hero that in a way was forced into his job but he does it oh so well. The way Cade and Star are with each other and play to each other’s strengths is wonderful.
The way this story is written is strong, a little humor, pain, this is life. I am a person that works in a place that you see women like Star and this reminds me, some people do get their happily ever after. I adored this book.
No Holding Back was such an exciting read. Great start to the new McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. Loved the kicka$$ heroine, Sterling aka Star and Cade! Omg! He was hot, alpha and protective but so patient and understanding. Star and Cade were the perfect match. Loved the premise. This story reminds me of Lori Foster’s Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series, which I absolutely loved too. Action packed romance filled with danger and love. Kept me reading all day and night. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
4.5 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has secrets, suspense, and heartbreak.
This is Star and Cade’s story. These two both have baggage, and they are dealing with it in their own way. They have chemistry and know they will be explosive together. But they are also working together to take down a trafficking ring. They need to focus on that. The fall into a relationship but work on it slowly and do not force all the feelings. It has them falling but they do so slowly, and you get to see it all build in front of your eyes.
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read. This story is fast paced and will pull you in and keep you turning the pages. Get ready for a wild ride.
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next story from this author.
Wow! Lori Foster is not afraid to tackle the tough subjects. This is not a light fun romance read. This is a real, gritty, nail biting romance that will take you on an emotional roller coaster. And make you grateful for a lot of things.
No Holding Back has it all, mystery, hot romance, laughter and sadness all wrapped up in one amazing book. Cade and Sterling are one of the most amazing fictional couples I have read. Sterling’s story in the beginning has you totally captivated as soon as you start reading and keeps you on edge all the way thru. Cade tries so hard to get Sterling trust, but she doesn’t give it easily after everything she has been thru. Outstanding story that you can’t put down.
This is the first book in The McKenzies of Ridge Trail series and it is an edgy romance that reminded me of her other series The Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor. I will caution those with triggers to proceed with care as the story opens with a vividly detailed scene. Sterling is a truck driver and spends her time driving up and down seeking women who may be taken against their will. Cade is a bartender who has a second sense when it comes to Sterling as if there is more to her than meets the eye. To say that these two have heat is an understatement. Filled with action and drama this is one book to add to your tbr list. As an avid reader of Ms. Foster’s books, she once again delivers relatable characters that anyone can fall for and handles a sensitive topic with aplomb. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! I volunteered to read a copy of this book provided by Netgalley.
A new series from Lori Foster and this one is about Sterling(Star) and Cade…both with the same mission of saving women from human trafficking. I love the energy and excitement from almost page one. Cade and his family have a business of rescue. With this being the first book, we meet the family and it sets up the rest of the series. Each family member has a role to play and is a vital asset to the team. Sterling comes along and fits in perfectly.
Loved the pace and characters and commitment to their missions.
This first book in this new series is much more intense then some of Lori Foster’s books latest books and may contain triggers for some people, as it deals with human trafficking. It reminded me of her writing in her earlier series of books “The Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor Series”, which is still one of my favorite series of Fosters.
This is a well written book filled with intrigue, suspense, unpredictable characters and a relationship worth fighting for. Main characters Cade and Sterling/Star are multi dimensional with strong personalities. I love the tug of war between them, as well as dynamics between Sterling and Cade’s family. Looking forward to the next book in the series!