One of my favorite things about reading is starting a new series. I love meeting and getting to know new characters. No Holding Back is the first book in a new series featuring the McKenzie family. This one is Sterling and Cade's story. I loved the book and couldn't put it down. It had great characters, tense moments and steamy love scenes.

My favorite character was Sterling (Star).I loved how she was so strong and kick-ass. She could take care of herself and didn't need anyone to do it for her. Her relationship with Cade was an added bonus. They fit very well together. They had great banter. Even thought Cade was an alpha male, Sterling was able to give as good as she got. I also loved Cade's family I can't wait until his siblings get their stories. The book does deal with human trafficking. However, I thought it was done in a very tasteful way. It also looks like it will be part of the series going forward.

I highly recommend this one. It's a wonderful first book in a series. I look forward to the next book. I'm hoping it is Reyes's story.

Ahhhhh, what a hero.

Cade is everything you want in a hero! Another fast paced read by Lori Foster. I’m so excited for this new series. A must read for fans of this author. The story is grittier than her norm but with this female heroine, you are all in.

This is book 1 in a new series & it is GREAT! A wonderful mix of intrigue, suspense & romance, Lori Foster's characters are believable and likable. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!

Action-packed, sexy & suspenseful... 😍

In this book, “No Holding Back” we meet Cade & his awesome family. Under less than desirable circumstances Cade meets Star, but they become quite a sexy, kick-ass pair. Luckily we also get to meet Cade’s siblings, Reyes and Madison along the way who help make this book that much better to read. This book is definitely a must read... plus I can’t wait to see if Cade’s siblings will get stories of their own too... Love the McKenzies! ♥️

*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

This is the first book by Lori Foster that I have read. I enjoyed her writing and the characters in this book and would like to read the next book in this new series when it comes out. Cade and Sterling are a unique couple who meet and discover they both work to combat human trafficking along the highway 25 corridor in Colorado. Together they make a great team and kick some serious butt. This is a story of survival, courage, vigilantes, and family, with a little love story mixed in. I would caution people about some of the violent occurrences in this book, which could be upsetting to some.

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
The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Series - Book 1
By Lori Foster

HQN - February 2021

Contemporary Romance


Sterling Parson just wanted to be left alone. She would go to the bar, spend time by herself, and leave. She wasn't there for conversation, interaction, or anything else. Unfortunately, bar owner Cade McKenzie wasn't willing to leave well enough alone. Her instincts had screamed he was more than just a bartender, but then he had to confront her and prove it.

Cade's family had made a life of watching for trouble and Sterling was suddenly part of that mix. While Sterling might once have been trying to help the unfortunate out of bad situations on her own, Cade knew only as part of a team can anyone be a success. She may not realize it, but Cade knew that Sterling was no longer alone. She was now with him.

With No Holding Back, Lori Foster again delves into the world of human trafficking. Luckily Cade's family has the resources to be not only successful, but safe when investigating leads. Unfortunately, Sterling has only her instinct. This leads her into an unsafe situation when using her heart over her head. She was also abrupt and abrasive with people and it was a bit difficult to understand Cade's interest in her. I found Cade's family entertaining and look forward to seeing whose story is next.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Lori Foster gives us something exciting with her new book. Sterling is kind of a small time vigilante helping women in need in the sex trafficking's she encounters as a trucker. She's been hanging out in Cade's bar and Cade's been noticing her and wanting to know more. When Sterling gets into some trouble and Cade comes to the rescue it's his chance to delve deeper and find out what Sterling is all about. This book starts off quick and stays at a quick pace. Cade and his family do the same as Sterling but much more organized and trained and Sterling fits right in. Someone from Sterling's past is after her and Cade and his family will stop at nothing to protect her and others like her. I really enjoyed this book. Lori Foster really hit it out of the ballpark for me and I can't wait for book number two.

This was a really interesting read and definitely different then what I thought it was. It deals with human trafficking and abuse in a real manner which I appreciated. We start with Sterling “Star” Parson a trucker who uses her jobs transient nature to find and help trafficking victim since she was one herself when she younger. She frequents Cade McKenzies bar when she comes back to town after a run and he notices her and tries to help her but she doesn’t trust him. Cade ends up creating a diversion when she accepts an offer to go to a bar as “entertainment” from someone that they have been surveilling that is involved in trafficking in the town. She was just trying to scope out the scene and ends up in over her head so Reyes is in the bar as well and makes a ruckus to help them escape. I really enjoyed the premise of this and that while Sterling was damaged from her experiences, she is a survivor and got away from her captors before she was too traumatized and now uses that to try and find other woman that have been similarly targeted. Cade’s family is in on the whole operation with his dad running the show with Cade who is an ex-Army Ranger, younger brother Reyes who owns the local gym and there little sister Madison who does all their computer work. I loved how Sterling’s story came full circle and she got closure and justice. All in all, a really good read.

Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

Well I seem to be in the VERY small minority of readers that just did not love this one. Cade and Star are separate vigilantes trying, each in their own way, to do their part to stop human trafficking. The premise is great, but I just didn’t connect with these characters. I did not find myself rooting for them or their relationship. I would have liked a bit more background and history on what made Star so jaded and guarded so that I would want to root for her and her happiness. It just wasn’t there for me.

The writing was great and the sex scenes were steamy. I just wish I was a bit more invested in the story. I would put it down and never think to pick it back up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an 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

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.

3.5 Stars

This book is the beginning to another series by Lori Foster. It tackles some very serious subjects, including abuse and human trafficking, and they are addressed in a very real manner. This book is about Cade and Sterling (who goes by Star). Cade, who has a doozy of a family secret, runs a bar that Star frequents when she needs a little bit of rest. Star is a tractor trailer driver dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking.

I really enjoyed the way the romance developed in this book between Cade and Star. I really enjoyed how Foster wrote Star as a strong capable woman and that Cade respected that aspect of Star and didn’t just override her “because he was the man”. I will say the background characters (who will most likely be the main characters in the remainder of the series) were not my favorite, so I am not as excited about reading this series of Foster’s as I have been others. Nevertheless, I will read the remainder of the series and look forward to seeing how their stories play out.

I LOVE LORI FOSTER!
I’ve read everything she’s written and always want more.
This book is great!
We have a new world, new family and new crisis.
The characters have amazing chemistry and it develops slowly ... from friends to lovers.
It’s definitely a romantic suspense story.
Just delicious! I can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am fully INVESTED in this family!!! I love all of Lori Fosters books but I really enjoy when she does series/families that are about saving people or into “crime” fighting. Usually both main characters are strong and independent then but have to figure out how to work together. I can’t say this enough Lori Foster writes amazing, strong, independent, smart, driven, female characters in normal body types. That may be one of the main reasons I keep going back to her writing, these women and their “flaws” that they see are what these men find so attractive.

Anyways onto my review of this new trilogy, I really liked “Star” she of course is kick ass and determined to not get close to anyone for good reasons. I would also like a necklace just like hers and is it a real thing? She was probably the most evolved to me character in this whole book besides Bernard because I did not see that ending coming. I felt her pain the whole way through the book whether physical or mental, sometimes I don’t think she realized how much of hero she was on her own. Once Cade opened her eyes to what she had already accomplished though and what more they could do together, I can’t wait to see more.

Cade was obviously a tough guy but he approved Star with kid gloves in the beginning. I liked how she was almost like a cactus to him he didn’t know how best to approach without getting stickled. However he seemed to just anticipate all of her needs and I really just enjoyed that part of him. His family dynamic really threw me off in the beginning, but once he was with them more I really understood it and enjoyed them immensely. He didn’t have as much of a character arc throughout the book, but he did grow in his relationship with his father and I did enjoy that.

I have to say Cade’s family was an obvious highlight for me and since they are the whole Trilogy that was probably the point. Lori Foster set up the next book in this book to be his brother Reyes and I cannot wait because I am fully invested in him also since his sparred so much with Star. I also want to know what happens with Bernard will we get a novella about him??? Inquiring minds want to know.

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.

No Holding Back is the first in a new series by Lori Foster. This is our introduction to the McKenzie Family . This book is the typical heat and suspense we have come to love.
Star is used to working alone but ends up with some unexpected help from Cade and his family . She quickly finds herself attracted to him. They become an item and work together to help solve a human trafficking ring .
This action packed romance keeps you on the edge of your seat with a serious real life issue. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an ARC for my honest opinion .

"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.

What an amazing start to a new series by Author Lori Foster.

Trucker Sterling (Star) Parson is a total bada** who has a chip on her shoulder a mile long. Seeking to end all who did her wrong and who prey on others for sex trafficking. Sterling aka Star ran smack into her savor only at the time she thought him to be a huge pain in her backside.

Cade McKenzie is one hot scary dude, that would make any woman’s pulse race. Cade and his family operate a operation that helps locate and save the innocents that are to be trafficked. What Cade had not counted on is an attitude hot package that took up a place at his bar as his fantasies every night.

Talk about star power when it comes to characters Cade and Sterling aka Star have it in spades. I could not get enough from them. Both have their own battles even if they are different in someways, they both open up and learn to trust. In the end they both had the same goals.

The supporting were just as amazing in my option I can’t wait to see them all get their own stories. What truly drew me in was how intense No Holding Back was right from the first chapter till the end, every chapter held either a sense of sexual chemistry, intense kick but take names vibe and well some freekish plot twist that had me stunned. All in all Lori Foster does what she does pen amazing romances that makes her an auto buy for me.

Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommend Read by Deb !

Raw and gritty. Lori Foster focuses this book (and maybe the entire series?) on the sensitive (but needs to be dealt with) subject of human trafficking. Cade and Sterling, the hero and heroine, become partners. And that's exactly how this feels. Yes, there are sexy times, but the couple doesn't exude the raw sexuality that is seen in some of Foster's other works. The focus appears almost more on the subject matter than, per se, the subjects themselves. Though I do like the grit behind the two characters and the suspicious nature of the premise that is similar to her Road to Love series.

I did receive an Advanced Reader's Copy of the book for an honest review.