I don't like to give details in my reviews, but this is a great addition to the McKenzies series by Lori Foster. Compelling and suspenseful, it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

This story blew me away!

Having met Kennedy and Reyes in the previous book, I was really looking forward to reading their story. And wow! It was so much more than I'd hoped! We knew Kennedy was running from something, but her strength and courage were so inspirational to see. Reyes is stunningly perfect as a savior boyfriend; strong and protective, while still being respectful of her need to make her own decisions and stand up for herself.

Reyes and Kennedy are so much more together than either is on their own. Their relationship is a shining example of how partnerships are designed to work, and I loved every bit of their story.

This story takes on the issue of human trafficking, in case that's a trigger. The McKenzies are true heroes for today, working together to combat the kind of evil that most of us don't even realize is all around us. The action and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the victorious HEA was absolutely divine. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Such an emotionally riveting book and even though you can read this one as a standalone I really suggest you pick up the first one because that was just as good and you will want to read that one too! Kennedy Brooks was kidnapped when she was in college and trafficked and after she escaped she rebuilt her life around making herself stronger and helping others to never go through what she did. When she returns home after a speaking engagement the Uber driver pulls up towards her apartment only to find it on fire. She really knows this is no coincidence and knows who to turn to. She calls Reese McKenzie and he picks up and even though he was sound asleep he is immediately awake and lets her know he is on his way. Reese may be the owner of a gym but he and his family run an off the books black op group who hunt down human traffickers and help those they rescue. The McKenzies are a special family and each have their own set of skills but when Kennedy called she didn't know this. I'm not going to tell you what happens other than to say it was nonstop thrills and heart pounding conclusion. Oh, and there is a peak at the next book (YAY)!

Kennedy is a no nonsense woman with an incredible history.

Reyes is an incredibly strong as nails man who has kept an eye on the newcomer but senses her high walls.

When life throws some huge curve balls at Kennedy Reyes steps up to the plate.

An incredibly strong story line that tackles some tough issues. Lori Foster is an incredible author who always has so much depth to her stories.

Stronger Than You Know is book two in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series . This book is about Kennedy Brooks who is a human trafficking survivor. She is used to doing things on her own but when she is in too deep she turns to Reyes McKenzie for help.
While staying with Reyes for her own safety she quickly realizes she is attracted to him and then falls for him. Reyes is set on keeping her safe and also going slow as he knows her past has been hard on her . With the help of his family , they keep Kennedy as protected as possible.
This book is full of action, love , and family. Lori Foster has left readers excited for the third book in the series.

Stronger Than You Know is a second book in series.
Loved this story, Kennedy is great. Reyes is awesome too.
This book is awesome, amazing

Reyes and Kennedy! A great second book to this series that kept me on the edge of my seat! I was excited to see how they both came together. Lori’s writing style is believable and the characters are relatable. Reyes was the perfect alpha and so protective of Kennedy without smothering her. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait until Madison and Crosby’s book comes out! This series is a must read.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest and unsolicited review.

I have been a far of Ms Foster for many many years. She knows how to write a wonderful story there is no doubt about that. Stronger than you know is the second book in the McKenzies series. This one, like the first, centers around the world of human trafficking. If that isn't what you want out of a romantic suspense, this book isn't for you.

Kennedy has survived a lot in her lifetime. She is a survivor of human trafficking and tries to better prepare other young woman (and families) on how to avoid getting caught unaware. She is always looking over her shoulder, never to settle in one place for long or relax even a little bit. When a set of circumstances unknowingly save her life, she doesn't know where or who to turn to.

Reyes and his family have made it a mission to help woman, specifically women finding themselves in trafficking situations. As we met him and his brother, sister and father in book one, their work continues, mostly in the background and under the radar. When he gets a late night call from Kennedy in a panic, he rushes to help her. Together they need to find out who is after her and why.

Overall I love most books Ms Foster writes, this one though I'm not sure what was off for me. Maybe the length of the "technical" parts of the storyline. Maybe how quickly the ending popped, it felt a slight rushed getting them together finally. This type of romantic suspense isn't quite what I'm used to from Ms Foster so that might have something to do with it. Nevertheless, this book was very interesting and you could see the huge amounts of research that went into getting the technical parts of properly telling the stories of human trafficking survivors. Still a solid 4 star read.

STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW – Lori Foster
The McKenzies of Ridge Trail, Book 2
HQN
ISBN: 878-1-335-42000-8
August 24, 2021
Romantic Suspense

Colorado – Present Day

Years after escaping from a sex trafficking ring, Kennedy Brooks wrote a book and gives back to other victims by speaking at meetings about her experience. But is someone mad at her for speaking out? Arriving home late one night, her uber driver is nearly to her apartment when she senses something is wrong. Turns out the apartment building where she lives is engulfed in flames. Since Kennedy has had some recent scary situations, she has the driver stop just outside the apartment complex parking lot and she calls the first person she can think of: Reyes McKenzie. She has known him from the gym he owns, and she instinctively knows that he will help her. While waiting for Reyes to arrive, two strange men come out of the shadows and attempt to grab her. Kennedy fights them off and jumps into the uber and has her driver take her away. Later, she meets up with Reyes. He immediately believes her story of being threatened and takes her to his home to spend the night. Is Kennedy now safe—or has her troubles just begun?

What Kennedy doesn’t know is that Reyes and his family are secretly trying to break up sex trafficking rings. He thinks she is a strong person as he listens to her story about her past and what she is doing to stop others from falling into the cycle. Reyes doesn’t mention to her at first what his family is up to, but it doesn’t take long for her to figure out that the gym is only a front for what they do. And it turns out that there is indeed someone after Kennedy. Reyes will do whatever it takes to protect her as well as a friend of Kennedy’s named Jodi who was also once kidnapped and forced into sex trafficking. Like Kennedy, Jodi escaped, but she is a loner who operates under the radar while she tries to take down the bad guys. But it appears that there is a bullseye on Jodi, as there is Kennedy. Reyes and his family will have to pull all their resources together to take out the perps.

Things get tense in STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW, the second book in Lori Foster’s The McKenzies of Ridge Trail. The McKenzie family are rebels who operate under the radar in their quest to rid the area of sex trafficking rings. Reyes had encountered Kennedy at his gym and knew about her past due to the book. He has also had more than a passing interest in her from afar. Now Kennedy is under Reyes’s roof—and their mutual attraction soon explodes into passion. But first things first…they need to figure out who is trying to kidnap—and probably kill—her, and flush them out. In STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW, there is plenty of suspense and action, with some sensual heat in the bedroom between Kennedy and Reyes. Their attraction has been simmering for a while, but now they get to act upon it. Once Kennedy is safe, what happens to our lovers’ relationship?

If you love heart racing action and the good guys winning the battle, don’t miss STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW. Kennedy and Reyes are endearing and perfect for each other. In the meantime, get ready for the final book in the series, WATCHING OVER YOU, out in late December 2021.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Will also appear on the Romance Reviews Today site. http://romrevtoday.com/

Kennedy Brooks takes a chance and calls Reyes McKenzie, local gym owner, but also a man with secrets, for help when her apartment building goes up in flames. Kennedy was just arriving home from the airport, otherwise she might’ve been killed in that fire. Reyes immediately assesses the situation and spots two men lingering about. It doesn’t take him long to get it out of them their purpose for being there and that they were hired to scare her out of her apartment so that they could grab her. Kennedy met Reyes when she signed up for a membership at his gym. She could tell that he was much more than a gym owner, but she didn’t know what deep secrets he held.

Reyes easily sensed wariness when it came to Kennedy, thus his protective instincts were on alert. Kennedy trusts her own instincts when it came to calling Reyes right away. Reyes takes Kennedy to his secluded cabin with every intent on keeping her safe. Surprisingly, Kennedy trusts him completely. Even though she soon begins to rely on Reyes, she proves time and again her own strengths. Despite being in close contact until they can both figure out who is after Kennedy, she does not plan on letting the feelings that she has been harboring for Reyes take root. She is not alone in this, because he fosters those very same desires.

The first book in this series, No Holding Back, which was Star and Cade's story, is where we first met Kennedy and Reyes. In the first book, readers learned what the McKenzie family stood for - bringing down human traffickers - and that is most definitely continued in this book. Reyes must soon learn how much to trust Kennedy and whether or not he will let her know what secrets he is holding onto. Kennedy once escaped from sex traffickers, and this is in part where she learned to be so strong. No doubt Kennedy and Reyes are perfect for one another, but trust is not an easy commodity for either of them to share.

What an exciting installment in a thrilling series. Book after book, Lori Foster easily snags the reader's attention with personable characters as well as fast-paced and intriguing plots. The transition from protection to romance was done quite well, even though danger followed Kennedy and Reyes at every turn. Stronger Than You Know was a captivating read that I enjoyed in one sitting. I am more eager for the third book in this trilogy, Watching Over You, which will be Madison and Crosby's story.
Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The second book in the McKenzies series does not disappoint. Kennedy is a human trafficking survivor who helps women learn how to protect themselves. Reyes is the local gym owner who just might be the person who would understand her past. Both characters are strong and don’t want to depend on others but when her past tracks her down Kennedy has to depend on Reyes to keep her safe. A great romance with a difficult storyline. Fabulous.

I am Soooo loving this series, book two was so good! We are now diving more into the family dynamic and why they really do what they do. Reyes and his family do everything in their power to help stop and support victims of human trafficking. This is a family project they prefer to keep as a secret. Kennedy was a victim herself and now goes to schools to speak about her experiences. When she feels like she is in danger again she calls the one person in her new town she trust, Reyes the owner the local gym. Kennedy has no idea why she trust him she just knows she can. The more Kennedy and Reyes learn about each other they realize that they have a lot in common and can work together. These two have amazing chemistry but he is so incredibly tender and sweet with her knowing what she has been through. This book was just so well written with well developed characters that each bring so much to the table. Having the laugh out loud banter between Reyes,Cade,Bernard and Parrish never gets old! Let’s not forget about Madison who just puts all the men in her life in their rightful place! Then the emotionally touching scenes about what Kennedy, Jodi and Sterling have gone through this book was definitely an emotional journey. I’m so happy Lori decided to write this series! I’m so incredibly excited about Madison and Crosby’s story, I can’t wait!

This was an amazing storyline and touched on a subject that is very near and dear to my heart. The heroine helps educate others about human trafficking. The sad thing is - this is such an emotional book that I dare say that when you are finished - you will feel relieved in such a good way. LF did her research on this. Being in NC near the airbases here we see more human trafficking than we should. If people think it's only a thing that happens to runaways or those of questionable character-you assume wrong. They happen to everyone and everyday people and the way this story was told was in honor of them. Excellent book but not for the faint of heart.

We were introduced to Reyes and Kennedy in the first book in this series and I was curious to read their story. The author did not disappoint - I just couldn't get enough of this couple. Kennedy was a victim of human trafficking when she was 21 years old and she has worked hard at putting her life together, although she is still cautious about letting others get too close to her. So when trouble shows up on her doorstep, she has no one to turn to except Reyes. And he does not hesitate to help her.

I was going to say this begins their relationship with each other, but really it started that first time he talked to her in his gym. But being in close quarters certainly helped speed up the process. Throughout the story we see all the changes that Reyes has gone through since he was a teenager, even though he hadn't reflected on that until he starts to come to terms with his feelings for Kennedy. For Kennedy's part, she knows she's come a long way but it takes current circumstances and Reyes for her to realize what a strong person she has become.

This is such a great series even though it does revolve around the topic of human trafficking. Thankfully, we don't get a lot of graphic details. We did get a tease of what is to come in the next book with Madison and Crosby's story and I'm looking forward to it.

Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster
The McKenzies of Ridge Trail #2

Packed a powerful punch hooking me on page one and keeping me invested till the very end. This is a series I can see reading again in the future.

What I liked:
* Kennedy Brooks: strong, resilient, survivor, public speaker, giving, caring, cautious, special – so deserving of love and a good man…like Reyes
* Reyes McKenzie: gym owner, lethal, skilled in more than one area, reliable, protective, focused, has a temper, not ready to settle down…or is he?
* Reyes family: older brother Cade and his wife Sterling, sister Madison, father Parrish, butler Bernard, and Chimera – the cat
* The family business that deals with and without the authorities – they save trafficked persons and provide for them afterward.
* The story, way it was written, location, and way it drew me in
* Jodi: friend of Kennedy’s, vigilante of sorts, a bit broken, has potential, hope she gets help.
* The connection between Reyes and Kennedy
* The tender careful way Reyes was with kennedy
* The way the McKenzie family worked as a unit and interacted when on the job and when not
* Getting to see how Cade and Sterling were doing
* Having a glimpse and introduction to who Madison will be with and fall for in book three of the series
* Knowing that there is a book three to look forward to
* The happy ending for Reyes and Kennedy
* That the bad guys were dealt with…had no sympathy for any of them.

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that trafficking is real and too many experience it without being saved
* The baddiies in the story that I was meant to dislike
* Having to say goodbye and now wait for the next book to be ready

Did I like 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 am loving the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series by Lori Foster! Stronger Than You Know is the second book and shares Reyes McKenzie and Kennedy Brooks story. Suspense, family, snark and swoons await you.

----- Review:
I love the McKenzies and their missions. Reyes owns a gym and teaches self-defense classes, but he and his family also run a special op to stop human trafficking and predators. The siblings’ story and how their dad came to run this off the book’s organization will tug at your heartstrings. The family dynamics from banter to their butler will make you laugh and have you wanting to spend more time getting to know them.

While each book works as a standalone and Foster does an excellent job of welcoming newcomers, I highly recommend beginning with book one, No Holding Back.

At the end of No Holding Back, we briefly met Kennedy Brooks as she worked out in Reye’s gym. He knows she is skittish about something and offers to help her with defensive and evade techniques. She declines, but a cat opened the door to their friendship.

In Stronger Than You Know, Kennedy calls Reyes when she returns home from a trip and finds herself in trouble. Reyes didn’t hesitate and comes to her aid. What he finds alarms him. Now he and his family need to figure out what secrets she is keeping and how to keep her safe. With no home and only the clothes in her suitcase, Reyes takes Kennedy to his home.

The tale that unfolds quickly pulled me in. I love the McKenzie family and company. I enjoyed getting to know Reyes. He seemed more like a player in book one, but Foster fleshed him out and made me fall for him. Kennedy is one tough cookie and not a complete damsel in distress. She has kicked some ass and taken names. Her story will tug at your heartstrings and make you hold your daughters and grandchildren a little tighter.

Foster weaved in the horrors of human trafficking by sharing the stories of her characters and the others they meet. I loved how everyone got involved and how each brings skills and assets to the table. Even though the subject matter is hard, the banter, teasing, and the unique dynamics of the McKenzie family lightened things. I laughed and enjoyed page time at their father’s estate.

The romance built slowly, and I loved how patient Reyes was. I enjoyed seeing this sensitive and romantic side of him. It was wonderful to see Kennedy open up, trust and take a leap. If you love a slow burn that ignites, you’ll love seeing their relationship develop and bloom.

Foster once again laid the groundwork for the next book and already I cannot wait for Maddison’s story. She is indeed a force to be reckoned with.

The McKenzies of Ridge Trail is proving to be a Foster favorite. Fans of Rebecca Zanetti’s Deep Ops series will love meeting the McKenzies.

Stronger Than You Know
The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Series - Book 2
By Lori Foster

HQN - August 2021

Contemporary Romance


Kennedy Brooks had learned to trust her instincts, and when she returned home from a trip to find the complex on fire, she immediately called Reyes McKenzie. He owned the local gym and they had rescued a cat together. She had known there was more to him than he showed the world, but she'd had no idea of the network he was part of.

Reyes and his family helped fight human trafficking. He, his brother, sister, and father used their considerable resources, financial, physical, and technology, to investigate and rescue people. Now, they were working to help a woman who had piqued Reyes' interest for quite awhile. Kennedy was tough, but she wouldn’t be able to stop the evil after her alone. Together they could identify who was after her, and why. Quickly, Reyes realized that together was something he also wanted with Kennedy, forever.

Stronger Than You Know was an action packed romance. Kennedy is a strong heroine smart enough to know her limitations. Luckily, the McKenzie clan is capable of stepping in to assist. I enjoyed the romance between Kennedy and Reyes. It had been sweet when they rescued the cat in No Holding Back, but even sweeter now to see them finally fall in love. I enjoyed the interaction with Reyes' family and look forward to his sister's story which is next.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Looking for a wonderfully written, romantic suspense book that will keep you on your toes and fall in love with the characters??? Here it is! Stronger Than You Know is exactly that! Lori Foster has written an amazing romance with a strong heroine (Kennedy) and a protective hero (Reyes), and a storyline that will have you on the edge of your seat.

We met these two characters in the first book of this series (McKenzies of Ridge Trail) but this can easily be read as a standalone. It is a romance with some heat, and violence. This book also centers around Human/Sex trafficking (can be a trigger for some), but is tastefully written. I loved this book and didn’t want to put it down!

The novel begins with a rush of adrenaline, and that’s exactly how the Chemistry feels between Kennedy Brooks and Reyes McKenzie. From the beginning they have an obvious connection, a respect, a trusting friendship. But there’s also layers of interest and romantic connection that build through the book as Reyes knocks down Kennedy’s walls. It’s a slow burn to them finally giving in to one another but that’s the way I like it!

One of the things I love about Lori Foster books is that she finds a way to mesh mystery with romance, and she doesn’t disappoint with this book. There’s this whole undercurrent of danger in the book, to an extent that I had to take breaks reading it at night as my imagination would get away from me. While this is something Lori does so well, this puzzle is specifically very dark, and not something a lot of readers might be able/willing to handle. I did have a little bit of trouble keeping track of who was hunting after who and for what reason, but that issue resolves itself quickly enough.

I also really love this family, the McKenzies, and their dynamic. The insight into their training, the open hearted moments, all together make for an interesting family you want to see succeed. I do hope babies are in the future for the couples! I also cannot wait for the next book, as the story of sister Madison is teased in this one and I am intrigued!

I really enjoyed Reyes and Kennedy's story. The McKenzie family is the best! I love when they all get together, especially when Cade's wife Sterling is there. She's a trip! I can't wait for the next book in the series to see what happens between Madison & Crosby.