NO HOLDING BACK is book number one in Lori Foster’s new series entitled the Mackenzies of Ridge Trail and promises to be a doozy. Human trafficking is a harsh reality. Has been going on for years – perhaps centuries – but now in the modern world, it is insidious and pervasive. Women and children are the prime victims but what we fail to acknowledge is how the families of those victims are themselves collateral damage. These families are forever on the edge looking in vain for their missing members or facing the devastating fact that they are forever gone. Needless to say, it leaves the living feeling powerless. They were unsuccessful in their attempt to find their missing loved ones. They were unsuccessful in helping them even when the missing person was found and returned home. The vicious cycle had no end.

In NO HOLDING BACK, we are learning bits and pieces about the Mackenzie family and each piece uncovers a glimpse into their history and horror. Cade Mackenzie’s cover is as a bartender. He uses his time behind the bar to scope out newcomers as well as serve as a distraction to anyone who might discover what his real profession is – that of uncovering rings of human traffickers. He uses the discipline learned in the military and his personal history as the weapon against these demons.

As for Sterling, who Cade calls by her old name Star, she is having difficulty learning how to trust and work with a backup. You see Star was taken while in high school, managed to escape mostly intact, but with guilt, over those she left behind. There have been some magical people in Star’s life and with trust in Cade building she seems willing to share good as well as bad moments. The problem is Cade doesn’t seem willing to reveal much about himself. All Star knows is that Cade and his brother stepped in and helped her without asking for anything in return.

Cade’s interest in Star is blurring his relationship with this strong independent woman. His family is at odds with his becoming too close to Star who they view as a kind of firecracker who just might explode at any moment and take Cade down with her. She is untrained and has worked solo for several years. All that and her reluctance to trust Cade makes them all weary and worried for Cade.

Sometimes you have to trust your instinct and listen to your gut. Cade knows that and being at Star’s back is just something he feels he has to do. The question is just how far Cade will go to keep Star safe while she continues working to assuage her guilt.

NO HOLDING BACK is indeed a page turner with lots of angst and anger every step of the way. Lori Foster didn’t mince words when describing the fate of these folks that the traffickers hold. Cade and Star are actually working toward the same goal but their procedures are quite different. What really counts is results – right? Well, we will have to wait and see. NO HOLDING BACK is quite an adventure and will at times have you at the edge of the seat. All planned perfectly by Lori Foster.

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