ARC Review: No Holding Back by Lori Foster

No Holding Back
Author: Lori Foster
Series: The McKenzies of Ridge Trail (Book 1)
Publication: HQN; Original edition (January 26, 2021)

Description: Not needing him won’t stop her from wanting him…

Trucker Sterling (Star) Parson is no stranger to the challenges a woman faces, both in her industry and in life. But she can take care of herself. She’s never needed—or wanted—a man around…until she meets Cade McKenzie. The take-charge bar owner sets off all kinds of alarm bells for Sterling, but he also sets her heart racing.

Cade’s lived in Ridge Trail long enough to know trouble when he sees it, and the moment Sterling—Star—walks into his bar, he knows trouble’s come to call. Secrets run deep in the small town and Cade can tell Star’s got as many as he does, leaving him itching to uncover every last one. But finding common ground will mean trusting one another, further feeding an intense attraction that’s growing impossible to resist.

My Thoughts: Sterling Parsons is a trucker who has a habit of rescuing trafficked women when she finds them along her route. She was abducted herself when she was a junior in high school but managed to kill the man who was the first to buy her and escape. 

Cade McKenzie is a bar owner and bar tender in the bar Sterling uses as a refuge. He is a former Army Ranger who invalided out because of damaged knees from all the parachute jumps. He secretly works with his family to shut down trafficking since his stepmother was abducted, trafficked, and committed suicide after being rescued. His father is quite wealthy and quite determined on his vigilante course of action. Cade has a younger half-brother and half-sister who are also involved in the family business.

When Sterling gets into a situation where she is way over her head, Cade is determined to get her out of it and protect her. Her attempt to rescue trafficked women has led her to the man who originally trafficked her and who Cade's family has been investigating for quite a while.

Cade and Sterling fall in love though Sterling finds it hard to trust anyone and Cade has trust issues of his own. The love scenes were nicely hot and the action scenes tense. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this first of a new trilogy. My guess is Cade's brother and sister will also find love before the trilogy is finished. 

Favorite Quote:

Lord, the man was put together fine. Add in a lean jaw, a strong but straight nose, and those cool blue eyes fringed by dark lashes and she assumed he broke hearts on a daily basis.

Not her heart. She wasn't susceptible to that kind of stuff. She could take in the exceptional view and stay detached. She could.

Only...this time she had to really concentrate to make it true.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.