“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
I like light easy romance, when I started this book I took pause when the book starts with such a heavy theme, I didn’t know if I wanted to continue but Sterling’s character pulled me in. Sterling is survivor and a loner, she’s not taking anything from anyone, at least not without a good fight. Yes the theme is heavy but there is humor, a melt your knees sexy Cade who understands Sterling better than she knows, plenty of passion and kick butting. The cast of quirky characters and their true loyalty makes this a wonderfully written story! I am so glad I kept reading–I had to know what happens next and the banter between Sterling, Cade and his family kept me coming back for more:) You don’t want to miss this one! There’s even a heart stealing mama and her kittens.
She Saved Herself to Save Others
Lori Foster has created another relationship inspiring page turner with her newest novel “No Holding Back!” A story of perseverance, the will to survive, and courage to help others. Our main character Sterling, also known as Star, survived horrific events only to use her freedom to rescue other women from the same fate. Sterling is a strong independent woman who never imagined aligning herself with another human, especially a man. That is until her paths cross with Cade. At first glance he seems like an overly handsome dive bar owner, but soon she realizes he is so much more. They soon find out that they have more in common than they initially thought. A story that moves quickly and keeps your heart racing from beginning to end.
Another great start to a new series! I really enjoyed the suspense and the character dynamics. Lori always writes relatable stories and slowly draws you in. I could not put this book down! I’m excited to see where this series will go!
I received an ARC and this is my honest and unsolicited review.
Wow this first book of a new series!!
No Holding Back is packed full of action and adventure and oh my word the steamy times!
I loved this book.
We meet new people and a new family who steal our hearts and minds and keep us flipping pages long into the night, way past our bed times.
I’m not giving anything away or talking about any of the characters because Lori Foster is so talented you can’t help but wish you were more than just a reader.
No Holding Back will make you wish you were part of the story.
I can’t wait for more!
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Careful with this book, it could cause lack of sleep. I had to stay up and finish the entire book, because well, I had to know how it ends. Love the characters, Cade the bartender and Star the trucker. Their background stories are worth waiting for and they are both strong willed people that wind up battling not just themselves, but their pasts.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Wow just WOW!! Great read. Didn’t want to put it down. Love the characters and love the family. Hot and mysterious.
What an amazing start to a new series. The content is gritty and raw but very well written. There is a perfect balance between the romance and the suspense with plenty of family drama and dynamics thrown in.
I truly enjoy this author’s writing and her ability to make the reader feel like they know every character with her descriptions and dialogue.
I will be patiently (well maybe somewhat impatiently) waiting for the next book in the series.
Sterling ‘Star’ Parson is a trucker, she trusts no one with her secrets or her private crusade. While she had an ugly past, she’s become a strong, smart, woman, willing to train and fight so no other woman has to go through what she did.
Cade McKenzie is a former Ranger and now bar owner. He’s more than he seems and he too has a personal crusade.
When Sterling enters the bar Cade not only knows she’s trouble, but that he will have her one day. Sterling is only looking for a place to rest for a few hours while she’s on the road. She trusts no one but for some reason she feels safe in Cade’s bar.
I loved watching these two circle each other. Sterling slowly begins to trust and rely on Cade’s strength and persistent care showing her another way to live and fight.
These two are perfect for each other, they are both strong and fierce, who learn to work as partners for a common cause.
Danger, love, family and hope bring this story together, in a compelling read I was unwilling to put down until I got to the end. I can’t wait to read more about this family.
I received a free copy of this book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This latest release from the author grabs your attention and gets your heart pumping from the very first sentence. Sterling aka Star was tough, she had to be. Spending time in this seedy bar gave her the opportunity to rest and get herself back to a sense of normal. Too bad the guy behind the bar made her feel like he knew all about her. He was always watching her, but she found she didn’t mind it. He was a distraction she didn’t need but did she want?
Cade knew Star had a rough life, he tried to get her to relax around him so she felt comfortable to let him in. Knowing what she most likely has been through, seeing it first hand, made him both angry and incredibly sad. She didn’t deserve this, none of them did. That’s why he made it his mission to make the men responsible pay.
Star, Cade and his family need to work together if they are going to be able to take down this ring of nasty people. But with each core member having their own agenda, that could prove to be more trouble than success.
No Holding Back is a great introduction to interesting new characters. As with all Lori Foster books, this pulled me right in and right along for the ride. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for the McKenzies.
Thrilling by the seat of your pants! should be this books motto. Action packed with sexy good guys, a take charge lady, Star, and family dynamics to make you want to be a part of their family. Star has a past that haunts her and her goal is to make sure no other girls go through what she did. Star follows her own instinct. Cade feels a connection with Star, but Star has a wall around her. A common goal brings them together. A 5-star way to start off this new trilogy! Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
This is the first book in a new series and it starts of with its main focus on catching human trafficking. **FYI could be a trigger** That being said Sterling aka Star is a very strong female who has dedicated her life to help those escaping that dark world. She has a past history that turned her into a vigilante. Cade own/ operations a Bar but that isn’t his main job but what he does there is a part of what helped shape him into the man he is. Just can’t always judge books by there covers. The book is full of suspense, attraction, and mystery Cade family dynamics make for a whole story within the story I cant wait for the books and to see more of Star and Cade HEA. I was given an ARC from the author via Netgalley and this review is based solely on my options
If you’re looking for something good to read I recommend No Holding Back by Lori Foster. Sterling and Cade’s story is book 1 in her new The McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. Sterling’s past has shaped her life and she uses her experience to help others. She intrigues Cade, the owner of a bar she frequents. Before long she realizes Cade can help her in her pursuits and they are soon getting close. No Holding Back will keep you glued to the pages until the end.
First in a new series, with a heroine who is a survivor and a fighter, and a hero who lives and breathes the family business: busting up human trafficking rings.
Sterling (Star) Parson drives her semitruck across Colorado, as a cover for what she’s really doing: searching for women she can help. She has a passion and drive to help trafficking victims, and she uses her trucking routes to hide her pursuits. Star is a loner, and she’s never needed, or even wanted, anyone to help her, until she walks into Cade’s bar.
Cade McKenzie isn’t just a bar owner, but most people don’t notice or care. Until Star. She walks into his bar, and all his responsibilities, and hopes for secrecy, go out the window. He knows she is up to something, and he wants to help her, but he isn’t at liberty to spill all his own secrets to her either. How can they work together, if they’re both determined to keep doing everything their own way?
Cade and Star were drawn to each other from the start, but they were each wary too. Star had no attachments in her life, and was in no hurry to change that. Cade didn’t have the kind of life that made it easy to have a relationship, but he couldn’t get Star out of his mind. They both had to figure out that the other was worth the risk of getting involved, and I loved watching them fall into each other.
Cade’s family dynamic was fascinating, and his brother Reyes had an irreverent sense of humor, which I enjoyed. I was fascinated by the family’s backstory, and how they got into this line of work. I can’t wait to get to know the family even better as their stories continue on, with Reyes’ book next!
I enjoyed this story quite a bit, though I will say that while this book had a similar feel to the author’s Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series (which is an all-time favorite of mine), it didn’t feel nearly as FUN as those stories. I’m hoping, based on what I’ve seen of Reyes’ personality so far, that his story might bring some of that fun back.
Content Warning for mentions & mild depictions of human trafficking, on and off page, in discussions and flashbacks.
ARC provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I loved this book. It is a great start to a new series. It may have triggers for some due the the human trafficking backdrop of the book. But still an amazing read. I read it twice because I didn’t want to put it down.
Te heroin needs no help backing herself up. She is a kick ass and take names later kind of girl. She does what needs to be done to protect others even though it may scare her to her soul.
The hero knows just when she needs back up and when she needs protecting. Soft and sensitive but definitely the man for the job. He is strong as well as sensitive. He is just the man (Star) deserves.
Oh my goodness! I was not expecting a book about sex trafficking, those aren’t normally books I read. This one was absolutely amazing! Star (Sterling) is a wonderfully strong woman who has been through unmentionable things and fought to not only get back to a normal life but to also save others along the way. Cade sees something in her and knows that she needs help and falls in love with her along the way. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. Sterling and Cade came together under unusual circumstances and him and his family helped her find security, a family unit and justice for her past. I can’t wait to see more of this series to follow this family and their fight to help those who are trapped in situations beyond their control.I received this arc for my honest opinion.
Lori Foster had me sucked in right in the beginning. I wanted to constantly read to know what happened next. I can not wait for the next story.
No Holding Back by Lori Foster
The McKenszies of Ridge Trail #1
Sweet story with a whole lot more to it than I first expected. Star has found a safe place to “rest” between truck hauls and most of that safe feeling comes from the presence of Cade the bartender. That more will occur is a given and a HEA eagerly hoped for as I read about each of these main characters that so deserved to be together.
What I liked:
*Sterling “Star Parson: strong, resilient, intelligent, on a mission, a defender, and driven to make things “right” – she has a lot of heart and strong feelings for Cade…eventually
* Cade McKenzie: more than just a bartender, ex-elite-military, working for a cause, a protector, strong family ties, and is taken with Star. Loved his relationship with his siblings
* The relationship that develops between Cade and Star was equal, delightful, loving, generous and a whole lot of fun to watch unfold
* The McKenzies and the dynamics between siblings and their father
* Bernard: a man that is more than a butler and chef…would love to know more about him
* Learning the backstory of the Cade and Star and the motivation of the McKenzies to take up the task they have set for themselves
* That everyone is “strong” in their own right
* The hook to the next romance that could be between Reyes McKenzie and a woman that is a member of his gym
* That the bad guys are easy to hate and that they met their just desserts
* All of it really…except…
What I didn’t like:
* The fact that the crime everyone was working against is real and ever present and really does need to be eradicated.
* The bad guys…they are the scum of the earth and it was easy to hate them and what they do for a living
* Having to wait for the next book in the series.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQN for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
I love a great start to a new series, it leaves me anticipating more to come. This story stands alone and I’ll assume the next stories are the siblings.
These characters live in a place where their roads seem like the highway to hell for many women. A route for human trafficking. This family are vigilantes and find a like minded woman, all have personal reasons for their thoughts and actions. Star is a survivor and determined to help women but her resources are limited, combining forces they will be unstoppable.
Of course there is love and romance, she’s so independent and prickly that he has met his match.
I couldn’t put this story down, absolutely loved it.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars
The book deals with the all too real issue of human trafficking. It does a fantastic job of delving into this world and raising awareness of this horrific problem. Sterling (Star) is a strong, independent woman who does not trust easily and given her history it is more than understandable. Cade is a take charge man, who serves to help all those that he can. When he senses Sterling is walking into danger, he automatically inserts himself into her life and protects her.
There are parts of this book that I enjoyed and then there are parts that I had a hard time believing. The attraction between Sterling and Cade is there from the beginning, that much is obvious. It just felt that one second they were just trying to get to know each other and trust each other, then the next it was full steam ahead, jumping into bed. I did like how Cade let Star take charge and call the shots, trusting her instincts. But then later in the story, all the sudden Star is second guessing herself?? That just wasn’t her personality. The premise of Star trying to take on a bunch of human traffickers by herself is just unrealistic. She’s not some trained superwoman who can take down a bunch of armed men by herself and she is smart enough to know that. And the premise of Cade’s family taking down human trafficking groups outside the law just didn’t sit well with me. So, his father funded some task force, but how does that give them the authority to work outside the law? Maybe if a little more background of how they worked together with the task force was provided that would help clear some things up.
I did really like Cade’s siblings, Reyes and Madison. They accept Star easily and welcome her into their mission and family. Reyes is a cocky, smart ass who is going to meet his match in the next book and I am looking forward to it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.