All you have to do is mention this authors name and I’m all in. Nice cover and a great blurb cinched it. This series deals with sex trafficking and it relation to one families fight against it.
What did I like? The first chapter threw me because it was pretty dark and unlike the authors norm. It was necessary to show how Sterling (Star) started her fight. Cade was also a deliciously protective partner for Sterling as they decide to combine efforts to take down a local ring of traffickers.
Would I recommend or buy? I’d read anything by this author and I enjoyed this nook. I can’t wIt for the next book, if you love this author then you will love this book! Four stars of entertainment!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review!
No Holding Back is a solid introduction to a new series. Lori Foster introduces a great bunch of characters along with a romance with loads of chemistry, and a storyline with danger and suspense. That's a good combination anytime as far as I'm concerned. Star and Cade are good together, and they're both likable, so it's not hard to root for them. The story does take a dark turn with a focus on human trafficking, so that's something to keep in mind, but it definitely held my attention. The writing is good and the story pulled me in and kept me invested in the lives of these characters. All in all, a good way to while away a few hours on the weekend.
I reallyenjoy Lori Foster's writing style. I've been reading her since high school so almost 15 years and she just writes romance and tells full stories so well. This was the perfect amount of action mixed with a strong and emotional MC and even stronger masculine love interest. There's a second part that follows Cade's brother Reyes' love story and I'm definitely going to read that as well because his character was funny and we were introduced to his love interest too and she seems compelling as well.
I did not anticipated the book to open quite as darkly as it did, but it made it very clear what this series is dealing with: human trafficking. It's not the first time Lori Foster has tackled this subject and I hope her books raise awareness. Star got away and developed her life around the ability to help women escape and find support. She's been on her own for a long time and the walls around her soul are Mt Everest high. Cade left the military and joined the family business under protest, but he's bloody good at what he does. When their paths meet and Star wrecks havoc with plans, processes, and routines, Cade is intrigued (when he's not tearing out his hair). I loved the chemistry between the two and the way Star never responds as Cade expects her to. The two of them become a real team and Cade's brother and sister are fabulous back-up. This was a great start to a new series and I cannot wait to discover Reyes and Kennedy's story in book 2. TW: sexual harassment, human trafficking, sexual assault (not on the page, but talked about) Thank you to Harlequin for the ARC.
No Holding Back is the first book in this new series "Mckenzies of Ride Trail" and I will admit that when I listened to the sample of this audiobook I was sure that this would be a such a win of a read, because the first part of the book will really pull you so quickly into the story. This is a book that features some content that may be hard for some as it does contain elements of human trafficking and the slave trade so be aware before reading this book if that is going to be triggering for you. I will admit that this book didn't quite deliver in the ways that I was expecting it to. I think I had too many high hopes or maybe I wasn't worried about the heroine since this author has always delivered on relatable heroines but I just struggled with the romance and certain aspects of the character development that kept this from being a higher rating from me but I still liked it in the end.
No Holding Back is a intense filled suspense which features:
Cade McKenzie-Ex military, Bar Owner, Commando, Protector and Defender of the Innocent
Sterling (Star) Parson-On The Run, Posing as a Truck Driver, Fighter and Protector, Stubborn and Independent
No Holding Back is a story that begins with our heroine, where she gets kidnapped into the human trafficking rings but manages to eventually escape on her own and has been in hiding and on the run ever since. She found her way to getting her CDL license and found a perfect way to find victims of human trafficking rings and being a defender of those victims. But while in a small town, she finds herself making herself comfortable with a bar owner that she feels can see too much inside of her and he intimidates her. A part of her wants to be able to trust Cade, but she knows the evils of the world and she has survived on her own and will continue to do so but Cade is not a man to be denied. He is a defender of the innocent too and he holds secrets that could rival those of Star's. But can these two fighters come together and find a love that is a fierce as their need to bring down the human trafficking rising around them?
No Holding Back is a book that I deeply wanted so much of, and it has been a long time since I have read this author. I have been meaning to get to her, but just other books have gotten in the way of that. I will say that I was highly intrigued by the sound of this one here and I do love books that feature on this "Human Trafficking" because it doesn't get the attention it should in this country. So I really appreciate in this respect, how Lori Foster, really wrote this book and felt like it was done very well in the way you can tell that she definitely did her research on this and it was reflected in this story. When you look at the characters individually you can really respect what they both bring to the table. They are both fighters but whereas Cade is willing to compromise more and adapt .....our heroine ISNT. She is so stubborn, willful, and independent, and to the extremes. I really struggled with Star's character, but a full margin. Because she just ruined the enjoyment of the story, to be honest. She was so stubborn, not wanting to let anyone in, that I definitely felt Cade deserved someone better. I just couldn't really be as invested in the story as I wanted to be because of this. And there was this odd interaction with her and his family. I don't know, I just couldn't really understand these moments. They felt disconnected in certain ways that just had me speeding up the book so I could get to the good stuff. There is a good mystery though, where there are these villains (and one of them you aren't sure if she is a villain or not) so I was really curious to see how that would all play out in the end. I am curious to see how Lori Foster builds this series since I did like the familial connections.
Overall I found No Holding Back to be a likable enjoyable story with many redeemable qualities and if this level of angst is what works for you, then-No Holding Back will definitely work for you.
Vigilantism, revenge, and passion all play huge role in this first book in a new series by prolific author Lori Foster.
Sterling Parson, with a nickname she no longer wants used - Star - is a truck driver who takes breaks at a bar that is on her route. She feel safe there and spends many hours there. She draws the attention of bar owner Cade McKenzie and at it does not take him long to recognize that she is in danger. He offers her safety but the question is whether or not she can trust him.
Sterling is soon injured so her trust really becomes at play because of the very reason she spent so much time at that bar. She had something happen to her when she was a teenager and it is that experience that led her to become a vigilante of sorts.
Revenge comes into play when someone she is after will do anything to bring her to an end, but not without having her suffer greatly. Then there is the undeniable passion that is evident between Sterling and Cade. The connection is all too palpable and proves to only be a matter of time before they give in. However, while this is explored, her safety is something that is very important to him and he never once loses sight of this.
I found this to be a remarkable story. The ultimate joint goal both Sterling and Cade had was to stop sex traffickers. However, Sterling worked on her own, whereas Cade worked with his family. Whether or not they could all work together only time would tell. I found this book to be an absolute fantastic read because it dealt with very serious issues without becoming too graphic. Another fabulous aspect of this book was how Sterling and Cade's relationship grew. I love how it started off on a protective basis but grew to passionate proportions, yet neither of them ever lost sight of the victims of the horrendous actions of sex traffickers.
As this is the first book in a new series by Lori Foster, I am eager to read the following stories, and would love to see this remarkable family take down more disgusting traffickers. I have always loved Ms. Foster and have read countless books by her and have never once been disappointed. This new book kept me riveted from beginning to end, bringing me conflicting emotions - from feeling sad for the victims, yet rooting for the expected happily ever after.
Many thanks to Hqn and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Way too much violence. Hard & heavy topic of human trafficking as well. Not relaxing or fun to read. Excellent writing though. Definitely keeps you interested but not necessarily suspense. Will not read the next in the series.
