No Holding Back: A Novel

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

First of all, I am so happy to see Ms Foster writing hot, edgy, heroic romance once again. Seems a long time since I've been fully immersed in a great hero style from her, with a twist I loved. Sterling or Star, is a true survivor, bent on saving women from human traffickers. The best way she had of doing that is becoming a big rig driver, easily explained away. Who better to be at truckstops, or driving up and down the same routes often, always blending, but still being a loner. Cade, a bartender with a hidden agenda, has good instincts and his were saying there was definitely something up with Star, when she often came in to just sit back in a corner and sleep, but he also wanted her in the basest of ways. He broke a Cardinal rule and ended up bringing her to his family's fortress near Ridge Trail, Colorado. These two are so well matched in all ways, recognizing each other for equals, feeling a yet unexplained bond between themselves, and respect! Excellence here, really loved this!

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.