Books to Borrow Roaring Spring Public Library Recommends

Released in August 2021, Stronger Than You Know is the second book in the Mackenzies of Ridge Trail by Lori Foster. Set in Colorado, this series centers around a family affected by the evils of Human Trafficking and is a contemporary romantic suspense. In this installment, we get to know Reyes, the younger brother and middle child of the Mackenzie clan, and Kennedy Brooks, a mysterious young lady that comes to Reyes’s attention in the first book when he sees her working out in his gym.

From the beginning, Reyes and Kennedy have a tension filled relationship. However, after they find a stray mama cat behind the gym, Reyes gives Kennedy his phone number so they can share feline custody of the cat. At the beginning of this book, Kennedy returns from a business trip to find her apartment building on fire. She calls Reyes for help. Reyes comes to her rescue and takes Kennedy home with him to keep her safe. While driving to his home, Reyes finds out that Kennedy is a survivor of Human Trafficking. She escaped her captors but remains living in fear. This begins the involvement of the Mackenzie siblings and their father in finding out who is targeting Kennedy.

There is a hint of vigilante justice in the book, but there is also a developing love story between Reyes and Kennedy. He, once the hot head of the Mackenzie family, finds his calming center. She, once doubting if she would fight back if attacked again, finds her silent champion as well as a core belief in her inner strength.

Each sibling has a special set of skills, as does their father, and the Mackenzie family had their own Human Trafficking tragedy which put them on the path which the series finds them. Even though it is a serious topic, there is still moments of levity as well as the family as a whole finding peace. While this book could easily stand on its own due to the author’s ability to draw the stories together without distracting from the current couple, find time to relax and read all the books in the series.