Stronger Than You Know is the second book in the MacKenzie's of Ridge Trail. I believe you can gauge the strength of a series by book two and this one hits it out of the park. Watching Reyes and Kennedy slowly fall in love while surrounded by so much darkness is heartwarming. The cast of characters are endearing and heroic too. Make sure you read the author's tease at the very end of the book, it will leave wanting more!

Stronger Than You Know is a book two of a series. For me, it is much better enjoyed after having read book one – to know the overall storyline, the wonderful characters, etc. – but it certainly can be read alone. I’m loving this series so I wouldn’t miss any of these books.

This book is about Reyes McKenzie, the second of the three McKenzie siblings. To say he is a kick you-know-what kinda guy is an understatement. He also covers it up by being a charmer, alpha, serial dater…never really getting involved too deeply. And along comes Kennedy Brooks…

Kennedy is such a strong character – I loved her. She is in very big trouble, though, and has no one she can turn to, except she thinks of Reyes in one very scary situation she finds herself in. Kennedy has a horrific event in her past but she is trying to live her life the best way she can, by helping other women like herself, but sometimes even a strong, independent woman needs a helping hand.

Once again, in this story, Ms. Foster handles a horrific event(s) with understanding, compassion, and eventually love. I can’t retell Kennedy’s story as it weaves all around the characters. Reyes, and his family, take her under their wing and in the meantime, Reyes falls hard. And so does Kennedy.

Amazing story. Kept me on the edge of my seat. The McKenzie family is becoming more…familiar and open; and sometimes, the things that they say made me snort-laugh. They all have crazy skills and Reyes’ are highlighted in this story. My heart went out to Kennedy, Reyes…all the McKenzies…and all the women out there who have been touched by horrific events. I highly recommend.

Even though the subject matter wasn’t the most pleasant and it happens more than we know or can even fathom, this story about Kennedy and Reyes was enjoyable. Kennedy was much stronger than she believed and Reyes cared more than he thought possible. The way he handled Jodi impressed Kennedy. It, also, showed that he and his family knew more than she ever would imagine. I’m looking forward to Madison and Crosby’s story.

The series just keeps getting better!!
Kennedy Brooks is trying to reclaim her life, she is a professional speaker who travels to different schools across the country to talk about the dangers of human trafficking. When she gets home late one night to find her apartment building on fire and her instincts are screaming that she’s in danger, she calls the only person she feels she can trust, Reyes McKenzie.
Reyes owns the gym that Kennedy has membership to but he is also much more then that. Reyes doesn’t hesitate to rush to Kennedy’s side and take her to his house for safe keeping. Reyes has been hoping for a chance to get to know Kennedy better and what he learns makes him determined to rid Kennedy of her nightmares as they re-enter her life.
I love how Reyes and Kennedy are with each other, it would have been incredibly easy for Kennedy to be swallowed up by Reyes alpha personality but instead they balance each wonderfully. Kennedy is rediscovering herself and in that renewed independence, she won’t allow herself to become dependent on Reyes and that’s why their relationship works so well. Reyes need to be the protector and Kennedy allows that but only to a point because she is trying to protect him as well, which is something he never knew he needed. I cannot wait for Madison and Crosby’s book next!!!

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.*

I absolutely love the McKenzie’s of Ridge Trail series! I fell in love with this series in book one, it is such a unique idea of a vigilante family who deals with human trafficking. I loved every character that was introduced in book one. In this book we watch the lovable Reyes fall! Reyes is a great strong character, and I enjoyed watching him grow up and mature in this book. Kennedy is a strong female, with a dark past who has found brave ways to face her past and help others. The storyline was interesting and well paced, once I started this book, I didn’t want to stop reading. I also love the hints that Madison will be getting a story next, and I cannot wait to read hers! Another winner from Lori Foster. I received an ARC from netgalley, and this is my honest review.

I met Kennedy and Reyes first in No Holding Back and they intrigued me. In Stronger Than You Know, that first interest I had in both of them definitely grew. Kennedy had fought so hard to be in control of her life again, only to realize that someone out there did not plan on leaving her alone. Reyes - in all his I don't want commitment glory - felt something for her the first time they met.

When Kennedy found herself in danger, she called Reyes, and he showed up ready to take on the world to help her.

In this novel, the readers learned more about all the McKenzies, and what they do to help others. I love that Reyes and Cade got a better understanding of their dad in this installment thanks to Sterling and Kennedy!

The romance between Kennedy and Reyes was a slow burn - because Reyes was such a gentleman, and Kennedy didn't fully understand why she had these feelings for him. They were hot together, and I think I loved them so much because their foundation is built on trust and respect.

Alpha men, strong women. I’m enjoying this series. Good storyline, great characters, lots of intrigue and steam.

I loved book one in this series and this one was just as engaging.
The McKenzie family suffered a great loss when their mother was taken by human traffickers and later committed suicide. Their father, instead of becoming bitter, dedicated his life to his three children and in fighting human traffickers, often coloring outside the lines, making his family vigilantes of sort. The three siblings are talented in their own way, and are determined to help those needing their assistance.
Kennedy Brooks is a woman who once was taken and abused by a human trafficker. Instead of letting it destroy her, she has become a lecturer aiming to make others more aware of the issue.
They meet when Kennedy joins Reyes McKenzie’s gym. He was attracted to her from day one, but suspected she had secrets. That is until a fire destroys her hope and she called Reyes for help.
From that moment on we are taken on a rollercoaster ride filled with bad guys, suspense, family and of course romance.
Kudos to the author for the reminder tha human trafficking does exist domestically. We as a nation as well as individuals need to do more to help those affected by this horrendous crime. This story is also a reminder that life is not black and white but rather various shades of gray.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

The McKenzie family works to rescue people who have been victims of human trafficking, mostly out of sight of the law. Reyes, the younger son, has been the wild one with no interest in settling down. But he’s been watching one woman at his gym for a while now, Kennedy. He knows there is more to her story that she is not sharing.

Kennedy escaped a sex trafficker and now is focused on educating others on how to remain safe from being trafficked. In the meantime, she knows she isn’t strong enough to fight a man, but at the gym she works hard to be strong enough to escape anyone. Soon Reyes is giving her help in refining her fighting skills. So when Kennedy needs help escaping two men, she calls Reyes to come and get her.

I loved the way these two reacted when Reyes took her to his home to keep her safe. He’s never had a woman at his home, doesn’t really want anyone but family in his home. But something about Kennedy had Reyes questioning his reluctance to be with just one woman. And Kennedy has not allowed any man to get close to her, but somehow, she feels safe with Reyes.

My favorite parts were Kennedy and Reyes adjusting to sharing living space. And then there was Madison, the computer genius, setting her sights on Detective Albertson. He doesn’t know what to make of her, but she is relentless and he doesn’t stand a chance. Their story will be next. I love this series; I think it is my favorite.

I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.

In “Stronger Than You Know” (McKenzies of Ridge Trail #2) by Lori Foster we are brought back into the lives of the McKenzie family. This time around it is Reyes who comes to the rescue when he is called by a frantic Kennedy in the middle of the night. Kennedy needs Reyes help and as they dig deeper into her past, the tragedies she endured not only scare Reyes but they begin to wear away at the amour he usually wears.

Great read with all the characters from the first book in the series back; from Star’s smart mouth to Caleb’s cool demeanor to Madison’s tech savvy smarts plus a new addition in Detective Albertson. I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.

Kennedy is a human trafficking survivor. She’s gun shy for good reason, a bit of a loner, and determined to educate others to hopefully save them from suffering her circumstance. When danger finds her though, Kennedy knows it’s time to ask for help.

Reyes was a horn dog in the first book and I’ve been wondering how he’d have an about face with love. His ex’s are mentioned-no cheating!-in a friendly way, showing how Reyes handles things romantically. (Bless Sterling for her bluntness, lol) He’s a protective alpha with a side of sweetness to Kennedy and a bit of a jokester with his family. I enjoyed his personality and could see how Kennedy fit in with him.

Reyes and Kennedy’s attraction was slooow burning, but it worked for the better. There had to be give and take considering their respective backgrounds and with the suspense thread rolling along, a lot was happening all around!

Book 2 in the McKenzie’s of Ridge Trail opened with a heart stopping scene and rolled in to action sequences this romantic suspense junkie loved!! Madison, Cade and Reyes’ younger sister, is up next and oh boy!! I can’t wait to see the merry chase with her love interest!

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reyes and Kennedy compliment each other well, she is a survivor from a terrible reality, and he helps save those who are victims of human trafficking. Kennedy realizes someone is after her and she goes to Reyes for help. Kennedy is a very strong woman, but stubborn and independent as well. I love how Reyes, Cade, and Madison are always there for each other when the situation warrants it, and how they work together. This is an amazing series, with characters that face terrible realities and fight the bad guys.

I loved how careful he was with Kennedy at first, and slowly became braver where she is concerned, he managed to do/know exactly what she needed at any given time. Reyes and Kennedy's chemistry was unlike anything I have read and it was palpable and exploded off the pages.

I also loved being able to see Crosby and Madison interact,, he was/is always so suspicious of the McKenzie family. And with the sneak peek at the end of the book I expect their book is going to be entertaining. I highly recommend this book and the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series.

https://mistysreads.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/stronger-than-you-know-mckenzies-of-ridge-trail-2-by-lori-foster/

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4035154138

5 Stars
This is a story about a family’s commitment to helping women, children, and sometimes men that are caught up in human trafficking. The characters are caring, resourceful, and capable. There is much chemistry between Reyes and Kennedy, the protagonists, and also between the secondary characters. There is also a bit of humor thrown in so the story doesn’t get too heavy. It’s a great story from beginning to end.

Received a copy of this book for review. Overall it is a good read for me. Love the chemistry between the main characters. Love all the characters. What I love is that each of them does make a difference to the story as it developed. Like to read how the characters In the story are interrelated to each other. It make the story more exciting to read. The setting of the story is nice and is fit nicely to the story.Story plot are well penned out, with a slight twist to it in the end.

Lori Foster knows how to write good books. Kennedy and Reyes are the two main characters. They each have problems and how true love can finite them.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. Lori Foster is one of the best.

Another scorchingly great tale from Ms Foster! I enjoyed the focus on human trafficking without glorifying the abuse that the victims received at the hands of their abusers, which can be a delicate balance to achieve (so bravo for that, Ms Foster!). The plot was well paced and had lots of action that I enjoyed.

Sex trafficking is an increasing issue in the US, as well as around the globe. Lori Foster manages to address this very serious issue while weaving strong women into the romance genre.

Kennedy Brooks is a victim of sex trafficking, having managed to escape through the selfless act of another woman. Since then, she has worked to help prevent anyone else from being kidnapped and abused, writing books about the topic and travelling to give presentations on individuals can protect themselves. She has also protected herself by moving around and not getting close to anyone.

When she arrives home late from the airport to find her apartment building on fire, she knows she needs help and calls the first person she thinks of: Reyes McKenzie. Unbeknownst to her, Reyes is the perfect person for the job, as he secretly works to take down traffickers.

While Stronger Then You Know definitely has strong men coming in for the rescue, the book doesn’t have a diminishing affect on the female characters. Foster does a superb job of acknowledging how the rescue fantasy plays off of how sex trafficking and sexual abuse and harassment affect so many women, fostering a desire to find someone safe. However, she doesn’t leave the saving or strength to the men, who also are sensitive to the experiences of the women in need. There are some strong women in the book who are out to save themselves and any other women they come across.

Overall, if you are looking for a light romance which doesn’t treat women as daft-headed objects, this is a book to pick up. The book releases in August 2021.