Stronger Than You Know: A Novel

Lori Foster

Aug 2021 · The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Book 2 · Sold by HQN Books

About this ebook

Their secrets run deep, but desire runs deeper…

Kennedy Brooks has spent years learning how to protect herself, and empowering other women to do the same. Still, there are some hazards that can’t be predicted. That includes Reyes McKenzie, who owns her local gym. Strong, capable, and watchful, he seems like the one man who might understand her past. For once, Kennedy is tempted to let her guard down—something she’s vowed never to do.

The moment petite, fiercely determined Kennedy walked into his gym, Reyes knew that she carried secrets. What he didn’t expect was that she could tell the same about him. When trouble tracks her down, she turns to Reyes, unleashing a maelstrom of protective instinct and mutual desire. But will her need for him end when the danger does, or will they take the ultimate risk—on each other?

“Emotionally spellbinding and wicked hot.”—Lora Leigh, New York Times bestselling author, on No Limits

The McKenzies of Ridge Trail
Book 1: No Holding Back
Book 2: Stronger Than You Know
Book 3: Watching Over You

Don't miss The Honeymoon Cottage, an all-new romantic family saga by Lori Foster where locals of a quirky small town help an on-the-shelf wedding planner find her own happily-ever-after.

Ratings and reviews

STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW is the second instalment in Lori Foster’s contemporary, adult MCKENZIES OF RIDGE TRAIL erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the McKenzie family. This is motivational speaker Kennedy Brooks, and gym owner Reyes McKenzie’s story line. STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading book one NO HOLDING BACK for back story and cohesion WARNING: Due to the nature of the storyline premise there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. Told from several third person perspectives including Kennedy and Reyes, STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW follows in the wake of Kennedy coming home from her latest weekend speaking engagement to discover her apartment building on fire, and two men dressed in black looking for our story line heroine. A panicked call to Reyes McKenzie, finds Kennedy holed up with our story line hero, as he and his family begin an investigation into the who, how and why. When Kennedy reveals the truth about her past, and her friend in a similar situation, the McKenzie family take control, in an effort to protect the woman with whom Reyes is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Reyes and Kennedy, and the potential fall-out as Kennedy’s past is determined to take back what doesn’t belong. Reyes McKenzie has lusted after Kennedy since the first time they met but Reyes suspected that Kennedy was hiding a secret, a secret that when exposed would draw in the McKenzie clan, like no one else. The McKenzie family is a force unto themselves working behind the scenes, sometimes skirting the edge of the law, in an effort to save the young and vulnerable. Kennedy Brooks continues to struggle with demons from the past but uses her speaking engagements to warn others about the potential dangers that lurk around every corner. The relationship between Kennedy and Reyes is one of immediate attraction but Reyes knows that Kennedy is in no position to engage in a sexual arrangement. Living together while the McKenzies work outside of the law, means up close and personal for our story line couple. The $ex scenes are passionate, intense and seductive. We are introduced to the wonderful and impassioned McKenzie clan: father Parrish McKenzie, and his friend/assistant Bernard; Reyes’ brother Cade and his wife Sterling (No Holding Back 1); their sister Madison, police officer Crosby Albertson,and Kennedy’s friend Jodi Bentley. The requisite evil has many faces. Crosby and Madison’s story is next in WATCHING OVER YOU. STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of power and obsession, betrayal and vengeance. The character driven premise is strong and twisted; the romance is captivating and provocative; the characters are inspiring and spirited.

Stronger Than You Know by Lori Foster The McKenzies of Ridge Trail #2 Packed a powerful punch hooking me on page one and keeping me invested till the very end. This is a series I can see reading again in the future. What I liked: * Kennedy Brooks: strong, resilient, survivor, public speaker, giving, caring, cautious, special – so deserving of love and a good man…like Reyes * Reyes McKenzie: gym owner, lethal, skilled in more than one area, reliable, protective, focused, has a temper, not ready to settle down…or is he? * Reyes family: older brother Cade and his wife Sterling, sister Madison, father Parrish, butler Bernard, and Chimera – the cat * The family business that deals with and without the authorities – they save trafficked persons and provide for them afterward. * The story, way it was written, location, and way it drew me in * Jodi: friend of Kennedy’s, vigilante of sorts, a bit broken, has potential, hope she gets help. * The connection between Reyes and Kennedy * The tender careful way Reyes was with kennedy * The way the McKenzie family worked as a unit and interacted when on the job and when not * Getting to see how Cade and Sterling were doing * Having a glimpse and introduction to who Madison will be with and fall for in book three of the series * Knowing that there is a book three to look forward to * The happy ending for Reyes and Kennedy * That the bad guys were dealt with…had no sympathy for any of them. What I didn’t like: * Knowing that trafficking is real and too many experience it without being saved * The baddiies in the story that I was meant to dislike * Having to say goodbye and now wait for the next book to be ready Did I like 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

Incredible series! This is Reyes and Kennedy's journey, fraught with life-threatening drama, filled with action that had me holding my breath, and enough heat to scorch my mind's eyeballs-in a good way. It - was - amazing!! The McKenzie family's past plays a huge part in this family seeking justice for the victims of human trafficking. If it falls a tad outside of the law books, who really cares. All justified in my book. I was all in on this incredible roller coaster romance.

About the author

Lori Foster is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author with books from a variety of publishers, including Berkley/Jove, Kensington, St. Martin's, Harlequin and Silhouette. Lori has been a recipient of the prestigious RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Fantasy, and for Contemporary Romance. For more about Lori, visit her Web site at www.lorifoster.com.