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Mysterious, unpredictable and most definitely scorching hot.

While investigating a criminal network, Detective Crosby Albertson keeps crossing paths with members of the highly trained, suspiciously well-informed McKenzie family. They’re always one step ahead of him—especially their alarmingly attractive intel specialist, Madison. And he needs to find out why.

Madison McKenzie is the tech and surveillance whiz of her family’s operation. A recent case introduced her to Detective Albertson. She finds herself irresistibly drawn to the sexy and mysterious cop. There’s just one problem. He’s a detective and her family’s work is secret. When Crosby starts digging for information about the McKenzies, Madison’s got to get him off the scent…while keeping him at a safe distance.

384 pages, ebook

First published December 28, 2021

192 people are currently reading
744 people want to read

About the author

Lori Foster

419 books11.7k followers
Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.

•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.

•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.

•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.

•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.

•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.

•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.

•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.

•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.

•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.

•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,836 reviews463 followers
November 26, 2021
In the minority here but definite mixed feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is not a standalone story and I usually don’t have an issue catching up in some stories when they are a part of the series. This one was pretty easy to catch up with even though I had not read the prior books.

With that said, one issue I did have was connecting with the female lead character. I did not like her. Because of that, maybe she skewed the results of my overall feelings about this book.

Madison was outspoken, which is fine. However, she was extremely forward and demanding of her “man crush“ and was darn near embarrassing had this actually been a real life story. I really had a hard time warming up to her.

Maybe that’s my fault because I had not read prior books. I usually really like a strong female lead, but she was absolutely annoying when it came to stalking her man crash and I have a hard time finding that an attractive trait in a woman.

The story itself was very enjoyable. Great supporting characters. The plot was believable and interesting with a lot of romance floating around. Foster added in a good amount of tension and suspense which balanced the book nicely.

Overall, the story is entertaining with a nice balance between the characters and a lovely blend of emotion. The ending, however, really caught me off guard with its abrupt closure. I really wanted more wrap-up.

* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/watching-ove...
Profile Image for "Avonna.
1,468 reviews589 followers
April 9, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

WATCHING OVER YOU (The McKenzies of Ridge Trail Book #3) by Lori Foster is the third gripping romantic suspense in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. This story features the youngest and only female McKenzie, Madison and her continuing interest in the local detective who suspects the McKenzie’s are involved in more than strictly legal activities in their dealings with human traffickers.

Madison McKenzie is a tech prodigy and assists her father and brothers in their fight against human traffickers. Her infatuation and frank back and forth with Crosby Albertson is entertaining and leads to an intense build-up of sexual tension. Crosby Albertson, no longer a detective, is now working for Madison’s father. Madison and Crosby must decide if all the family secrets can be overcome. When a secret from his private life is uncovered and endangered, he finds he is more in line with McKenzie family justice than worrying about the legal system.

This is my favorite romance story of the three McKenzie siblings. Madison is a great heroine who is talented, physically strong, forthright, and yet vulnerable. Crosby is an alpha hero who is struggling with his law-and-order beliefs versus the McKensie vigilante beliefs. His love of Madison, family, and any he considers family makes the crossing of the line a decision he must make as they are threatened. It is great when the family comes together, not only to defeat human traffickers, but in leisure at the family mansion to catch up with all the character’s current lives. This suspense plot is as fast paced as the others, but this book has a bit more romance with not only Madison and Crosby coming together, but also Parrish, Madison’s father, and Silver. This is the last book in this series, and I am sorry to see it end.

I highly recommend this final romantic suspense in this series!
Profile Image for Chelsea Ortiz-Gonzalez.
1,184 reviews4 followers
December 31, 2021
I don't think I will ever tire of Lori Foster's amazong talent of writing a book that draws me in so completely.
Her kick-butt characters that could dole out well-deserved justice in one second, then become the most gentle soul the very next, is her specialty. I can't wait to see what she has in store for me next
I would highly recommend.
Happy reading!

Note: I have voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this title.
Profile Image for Karen's Utterly Unashamed .
495 reviews40 followers
December 16, 2021
I'm giving this 3 3/4 stars. I know people are going to love it and there were aspects of it that I loved too. The continuation of the story with all of it's characters is what keeps bringing me back to the McKenzies.

Cade and Reyes are alpha males all way and actually so it their dad. So Madison grew up in a house full of alpha men. So when she finds hers in a man named Crosby can her family full of secrets accept a cop as her forever?

"I don't want there to be any secrets between us."

I expected a lot out of Madison. I was hoping to see all her badassery on full display. I mean she is a tech genius who spars, trains, shoots and could kill with the best of them. And...I have to be honest, Madison fell a little short for me. She was abrupt and cringy in her chasing of Crosby and I do mean chasing. There were times I was like, no stop talking, don't say that to him, don't throw yourself at him. But, Crosby loved hear forward, honest nature so...oh well.

Crosby and the story of Hallie and Silver made the whole book for me. Their background, his help, it was seriously awesome.

There was fighting, bruising, shooting, holding at gunpoint, an adorable butler, a great father, two alpha brothers, a woman who needed a savior, a little girl who gets the best daddy, lots of snow, swimming, cookies, coloring, surveillance, a laptop, a palace, and more than one love story.

Overall, a complete ending to a great series. Although there were a few side characters in these books that could definitely keep the story going (hint, hint, Lori).


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Profile Image for Shirley .
1,944 reviews58 followers
January 3, 2022
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of pretty much anything that this author writes, but I’m partial to Lori Foster’s romantic suspense offerings over her sweet romances. The McKenzies of Ridge Trail definitely fell into the suspenseful category. By the time we got to Madison and Crosby’s story, I adored every member of the McKenzie family, which to be honest, I never really expected when the series began. ❤

Madison grew up the lone girl in a family of strong, protective men. That didn’t mean she was weak because even though her brothers and father kept her clear of the more dangerous aspects of the family business, they made sure she was capable of taking care of herself. That lack of weakness, along with her obvious beauty and intelligence were just a few of the reasons why Crosby was so attracted to her.

Although Crosby knew that the McKenzies worked outside the well-defined lines of the law that he had to follow, he was still intrigued by them. They had secrets that he wanted to unravel and readers learned in Watching Over You that Crosby had a few secrets of his own.

I loved how this story played out and even though the romance between Crosby and Madison was a long time coming, it was totally worth the wait. There were things about this story that I adored, but I don’t want to give anything away. Let’s just say that in Watching Over You, we get to see an entirely different side of more than one character.

Watching Over You was a great ending to the McKenzies of Ridge Trail, but it was still a series that I was sad to see come to a close. I loved getting to know these characters and although we did get glimpses of the rest of the McKenzie family in Madison and Crosby’s HEA, I would still have loved to spend more time with them. *sigh*

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Watching Over You. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for T.J..
Author 14 books570 followers
January 25, 2022
Watching Over You is another amazing addition to Lori Foster's McKenzies of Ridge Trail series.

Madison McKenzie is a confident, direct, highly capable woman who doesn't "need" a man, but boy does she want one. His name is Crosby Albertson, a by-the-book cop who disagrees with her family's methods for bringing down the bad guys. Open, honest, and not a woman who plays games, she lets him know exactly how she feels about him and that they belong together. She will settle for nothing less.

Crosby believes in right and wrong, gray areas do not exist for him. None of that seems to matter where Madison is concerned. She's gotten under his skin and he's tired of denying his feelings for her. But there are other people in his life he has vowed to protect and he's not sure being with Madison is what's best for them.

An evil from the past returns to exact vengeance and Crosby has no choice but to trust Madison and the rest of the McKenzies with their safety.

Lori Foster has created more deep, rich characters whose personalities jump off the page, especially McKenzie. I wish I had half the confidence she does. Crosby is a strong enough man that he not only accepts her strength but embraces them. They are true equals in all things and they "rescue" each other.

Watching Over You is a stay-up-late, eyes-wide-open, joy ride of suspense, humor, and family bonds ... both traditional and not-so-traditional.

You don't want to miss out on this amazing story!
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,600 reviews783 followers
December 28, 2021
Coffee Dates With Watching Over You

First Date: While the two have had several sizzling encounters filled with snark and banter, Madison has it bad. Which is why she is following Crosby when he enters a mama and pop grocers. I love seeing these two work together and love the electric chemistry that envelopes them.

Second Date: Crosby has secrets, which is why he decides on a career change. We learn of a danger to the head of the McKenzie family and with it comes suspense, as Madison and Crosby must learn to trust each other. I loved the interaction between the siblings and how they teased Madison and even Crosby.

Third Date: While the series has some dark threads dealing with human trafficking, the characters and their bond balances out the dark. I loved the interaction between Parish and a new character we meet. I laughed more than once. Character growth and dangerous situations push forward the romance and I liked how it all played out. I didn’t want my dates to end but closed the book with a smile.

Now that the trilogy is complete, it’s the perfect time to binge read them. I think this is one of my favorite Foster series and look forward to her next. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Profile Image for Kari.
4,027 reviews96 followers
January 3, 2022
Watching Over You is the third and final book in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. I had been looking forward to Madison's story from the beginning of this series. Happily, I was not disappointed. This one is Madison and Crosby's story. Someone is targeting Parrish, the patriarch of the family. As they investigate, ties to Crosby and his secret life begin to unfold.

I loved the pacing in the story. The action started from the beginning and didn't let up. I loved how this wrapped up. Madison is by far my favorite character of the series. She is smart, tough and has not had a conventional childhood. Yet she maintains a cheery and positive outlook on life. She was the perfect fit for Crosby. I adored the slow burn of their relationship.

We are also treated to another romance. I won't say who, but it was sweet. I only wish that it was fleshed out a bit more. I wanted to see more of them together. It was fun to catch up with the characters from the first two books. The relationship that Madison has with her family is fun. I'll be sad to see these characters go. I highly recommend this one as well as the series. Lori Foster's books are always a great way to get me out of a reading slump. I'm never disappointed.
Profile Image for Shannon.
2,752 reviews224 followers
December 29, 2021
4.5*

Watching Over You was a great conclusion to the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series! (At least I think it's the last book!) I couldn't wait for Madison's story and I was not disappointed. She's so feisty and strong, which we saw in her brother's books, but I liked seeing a more vulnerable and caring side to her as well.

The McKenzies are still doing their best to eradicate as many people as possible involved in human trafficking in their area, while still keeping things as private as they can. And now Crosby, the detective Madison is completely intrigued with, has entered the picture, causing some concern for the family. But the good detective has secrets of his own, making Madison more determined than ever to to get to know the man.

I really enjoyed this book, it's my favorite of the series. Crosby is definite book husband material, that man is ideal! I know Madison might be much for some people, but I like female characters like her- tough, smart, determined, able to give as good as she gets. She and Crosby were a perfect complement to each other.
I love how the McKenzies work together, they all have their strengths. It made me happy how willing they were to bring Crosby into the fold, once they got to know him and learned more about him.

Things moved pretty quickly in this book, from the romances (get it Parrish!) to tracking down the last lingering trafficker who had it out for both Parrish (the patriarch of the McKensies) and Crosby. This addition to the series focused a little more on the relationships, with the suspense being more of a side "character". I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book, Ms. Foster did a wonderful job bringing everything full circle.
I'd definitely recommend reading this series in order, it'll give you a better appreciation for everything that's happened up to the start of Watching Over You.
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
12.3k reviews92 followers
December 29, 2021
Crosby has been trying to keep his private life private so he is concerned that Madison’s interest in his life and his past could have a dire result. Although he enjoys his job as a police officer, circumstances have changed and he now requires a career that will give him a more regular schedule so he agrees to work security for Mackenzie family even if he believes they take their attempts to help others too far.

Madison and her family have crossed paths with Crosby in the past and she is intrigued by the man. She hasn’t been shy about her interest in him however after his most recent refusal she has decided to take a step back until fate has other ideas when not only is he working for her family but they find out that he and her family are being targeted by the same person.

Madison is strong, fierce and exactly what the protective Crosby needs in his life. There is a great balance between romance and suspense, and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Crosby and Madison unfold as well as catch up with the characters we know and love and meet some new ones who will capture your heart as well.
Profile Image for Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms.
2,803 reviews345 followers
October 10, 2021
*I received a free copy of Watching Over You. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*

The McKenzies continue to surprise me, and I loved Addison and Crosby's story so much! She's been lusting after the detective for a little while, and now, she's decided to up the ante so to say. He's still a bit hesitant, though, because he has some secrets, and people he wants to keep safe no matter the cost...

I loved the family dynamics even more in this installment, especially because we finally get to know the McKenzie clan dad much, much better. Of course, the banter between the brothers and sister is something I'm always there for, and seeing Crosby fit in was just right.

There are some dark themes in these novels, but the McKenzie clan is there to help, and they're not afraid of crossing any lines doing so.

The romance between Addison and Crosby was very well done, and I loved that they both had to work for it in different ways.
Profile Image for Jewlsbookblog.
2,210 reviews74 followers
September 17, 2021
3.5 stars

Crosby and Madison have been circling one another for a while, essentially on opposite sides of the same coin in their fight against human traffickers. Their chemistry was off the charts and I was wondering how they’d mange a relationship with their backgrounds. Here, they’re evenly matched and finally on the same page and I thought things were going swimmingly well! Then…I dunno…the ending was anticlimactic at best. The secondary romance was cute and unexpected and the villain’s bit, well, he deserved what he got. Although I wasn’t wowed by Crosby and Madison’s denouement as I probably should have been, the characters all stand out for personalities and connection.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1,672 reviews43 followers
December 30, 2021
The McKenzies of Ridge Trail is not a western themed contemporary romance series. Don’t be fooled as I was into thinking it was based upon the Ridge Trail in the title. Being a veteran of Lori Foster books I should have known better before I downloaded the first book in the series. It is a three book series based upon the McKenzie family, father Parish, sons Cade and Reyes and daughter Madison in the usual romance/suspense style Foster is known for. Parish McKenzie is a highly acclaimed surgeon whose life was changed forever when his wife Marian was kidnapped by sex trade traffickers. He invests all of his time and considerable money finding and rescuing her. Unfortunately, Marian couldn’t deal with the psychological damage of what was done to her while in captivity, ultimately committing suicide. Parish builds an empire for the purpose of finding and destroying the sex and human slavery trade in Colorado and helping its victims. He raises his three children to be part of the solution. Each one is an expert in martial arts, and weaponry as well as strategic and tactical planning. They often operate outside of the law in bringing those who traffic in human slavery to vigilante justice. The first two books involved Cade helping his now wife Sterling or Star find justice for being kidnapped and Reyes protecting his now wife Kennedy a best selling author and nationally respected public speaker against human slavery having herself been a victim. While Cade and Reyes frequently appear in this book, their wives make only a very brief appearance and are mentioned a few times.
In this book we have the youngest and only daughter Madison, a technology expert able to hack into any system to find information on criminal activity falling for Detective Crosby Albertson who while he doesn’t approve of the McKenzie’s methods, appreciates and respects the results. As a man I couldn’t find anything not to like about Madison. She’s brave, smart, beautiful and has a heart of gold and is deadly. As the only female and the youngest in her family Madison is constantly striving to prove she’s as good as her brothers. In the last book she makes a pass at Detective Albertson and they share a brief and heated kiss. Madison is not the least bit coy in letting Crosby know she’s interested in him for more than a kiss. A trait that apparently annoyed some female reviewers who saw it as her repeatedly throwing herself at Albertson. But hey I’m all for sexual equality so if male leads can aggressively pursue the female leads, whey can’t the opposite be true and Madison isn't afraid to go after what she wants. And she really wants Crosby Albertson. As this story opens Madison is following Crosby when she walks in on three armed goons attempting to shake down Winton a small grocery store owner and his teenage son Owen. Much to his chagrin Madison steps in to help Crosby neutralize the three displaying her intelligence, quick thinking and martial arts skills. Turns out it wasn’t chance that had Crosby at the store when the three shake down artists showed up. When Crosby lost his father Winton stepped up to help his single mom keep him on the right track and is a pseudo father to Crosby. During their interactions Madison is shocked to learn Crosby has retired from the police force. We and Madison later learn he has actually accepted a job as head of security working for her father. He took the job because he has a 4 year old daughter Hallie and he supports both her and also Silver, a woman whom he helped rescue from an abusive boyfriend and now is Hallie’s babysitter/pseudo grandmother. There ends up being a side romance between Parish and Silver but by comparison to Crosby and Madison, Foster doesn’t devote a lot of words fleshing that relationship out. Working for Parish McKenzie will give Crosby more time to be home with his daughter and a larger income to help support them all. Crosby is at first reluctant to get involved with Madison because she is his now boss’s daughter and because even though he works for the McKenzies he isn’t completely on board with the way they do things above the law. But as he learns about what an honorable and generous man Parish is and that he has Parish’s approval to date Madison, Crosby can’t resist the chemistry between them. But it takes a long time for these two to get naked so I guess you could call this a slow burn romance.
Now of course there has to be an aspect of danger in this book because it is a Lori Foster story after all. The danger comes from a sleezy and psychotic sex trafficker Burgess Crow who is pissed at Parish for destroying his budding sex trafficking empire. After two years of laying low Crow is now intent on seeking revenge upon and destroying the McKenzies so he can get his sex trafficking business back up and running. Then as an added bonus he discovers Albertson the detective who helped take down his business is now working for McKenzie and apparently interested in Madison. So Crow figures he can go after both men at the same time using Madison as a means to make them suffer. Honestly Crow didn’t seem like much of a brilliant criminal mind in this story. A psychotic coward yes, but brilliant criminal no. When it comes to brains he was absolutely no match for Alberston or the McKenzies. That said he still managed to form a credible threat to all of them for most of the book leading of course to the fateful final confrontation between them. I thought the way Foster wrote that scene allowing both Madison and Crosby to be heroic was well done.
I liked all the characters in this story although I wish Foster would have given us a little more of Sterling and Kennedy as she did Bernard as this was the series last hurrah. It was particularly noticeable that Sterling wasn’t involved at all in taking down Crow even though she and Cade had teamed up as she became an active and more than capable member of the family’s business. You can’t help but love the Bernard character who gets a lot of page time in this story. I enjoyed the Silver character. She was a take no shit badass with attitude in her own right. I liked how Parish realized that she had the toughness his late wife hadn’t to overcome her brutal past. She also didn’t shy away from owning up to her own younger life mistakes which led to what had happened to her. Based upon the previous slow progress of the relationship between Silver and Parish the way Foster wrapped up their H.E.A. sort of gave me whiplash. Honestly the final chapter where they all get their H.E.A. seemed a bit rushed and brief. But then I’m always wanting more of the happy endings.
1,338 reviews34 followers
December 13, 2021
Watching Over You is the third novel in Lori Foster's, McKenzies of Ridge Trail series, and I'm sad to say that having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the series, I liked this one a bit less than the two previous novels for a number of reasons, and am giving it 3.5 stars.

Madison McKenzie, the heroine in this novel, is the family tech genius, and I found her a bit much to take. She's a bit too alpha for this reader--tall, tough, smart, and usually going her own way with or without any input from her widowed father or her two alpha brothers, as they often skirt the law in order to bring abusers and human traffickers to justice, or simply end them--certainly a noble, if not always lawful pursuit. It's Madison's chance to also find out all she can about the enigmatic detective, Crosby Albertson, who was introduced in the previous novel, and who thus far has managed to keep her at arms' length.

It's at this point I should warn you that there a multiple triggers in this novel, and if domestic abuse, rape, suicide, human trafficking, graphic sex and graphic violence are issues for you, I suggest reading something less edgy.

Madison has been attracted to Crosby, for some time, but they've been skirting around each other, mainly because the McKenzie family often skirts the law in pursuit of justice, and often skirts the police department as well. In this novel we learn that not only has Crosby left the police, Prentiss McKenzie, the family patriarch, has hired him as a Chief Security Officer for one of his companies, putting Crosby and Madison in close contact--contact which leads to a whole lot of heat between these two, and some surprising revelations about the otherwise stoic former detective.

It turns out that Crosby has secrets that not even Madison's mad skills on-line have ferreted out, after checking him out electronically. He has a 4-year-old, rescued and adopted daughter, Hallie, who absolutely steals every scene in which she appears. Another member of his private little family is Silver, another one of Crosby's rescues, who lives next door and acts as Hallie's pseudo-grandmother, and whom for the first time since his late wife's death, sparks Prestiss McKenzie's interest.

When Madison follows Crosby into a small market, she ends up in the middle of an armed robbery and shakedown, and she deals with the criminals in short order, something that irks the heck out of Crosby, but her skills impress him as well. And this is where I began to have a problem with this novel, because while I really liked the dynamic between Crosby and Madison, as well as that between her dad, Silver, Hallie, Madison's brothers, and even Bernard, the McKenzie's butler, in this purported novel of romantic suspense, the suspense in this novel took a back seat to the personal interactions between the characters. The bad guys in this novel just didn't seem bad enough, or dangerous enough, and they all seemed to be way beneath the skill set of Crosby and the entire McKenzie family.

It's not until the very end of this novel in which we get the expected HEA trope, which, for this reader, left me somewhat dissatisfied with how abrupt it all was. This was not a bad read, it was certainly steamy, well-written, and entertaining, but I've come to expect more from Ms. Foster's ability to deliver a much more dangerous and suspenseful read.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Michelle N..
126 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2021
There has never been a novel, short story, or novella that Lori Foster has written that I have not enjoyed. I admit I have enjoyed some more than others but I can honestly say I love her books. That being said, I am willing to admit I was nervous to read Watching Over You. I was truly afraid this might be the first Lori Foster book that I did not like. The reason for my fear was the heroine of the story. Madison McKenzie really rubbed me the wrong way with her insensitive actions towards Kennedy in the previous book in the series, Stronger than you Know. I was worried I would have trouble connecting with a character who seemed oblivious to other people’s feelings.
I am pleased to say I was wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Foster develops Madison’s character much more in this story so she is not just a goal-focused, technology whiz. Madison is a strong, confident, heroine that Lori Foster writes so well. Madison is balanced perfectly with her love interest Crosby Albertson. We were introduced to Detective Albertson in previous books in the series. He is hard working, honest police officer who dedicates himself to taking down human traffickers within the parameters of the law while Madison’s family tends to cross those lines with their vigilantism. While Madison is upfront regarding her attraction to Crosby, she knows she cannot divulge her family secrets to him. Crosby is hesitant to become involved with Madison because of his suspicions of her family and what they do. This developing attraction was introduced in a previous book but is the main focus of the story and it is an enjoyable storyline.
Watching Over You is the third book in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail Series. All of the previous characters make appearances or are mentioned in the book but it is not necessary to have read the others to follow this book. I was happy to have a secondary storyline with the McKenzie patriarch Parrish. The McKenzies are a family who hunt down human traffickers and rescue their victims so there may be some triggers for some readers. Foster excels at writing action as well as romance. This series is a perfect combination of the two.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Carla.
7,653 reviews178 followers
December 31, 2021
This is the third book in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series and is Madison's story. I do recommend you read this series in order, as each story picks up from the previous one. Detective Crosby Albertson kept crossing paths with members of the highly trained, suspiciously well-informed McKenzie family. He always knew they were breaking the law and meting out vigilante justice. He has left law enforcement, so Parish McKenzie, the family patriarch hires him to work for the family in security. This brings him and Madison together again and allows the romance that had begun to show some sizzle in the last book come to a full boil. There are also some bad guys to catch and some women to save.

I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by Madison in this book. She has one bout of saving the day, but otherwise, I did not see the badass Madison I was expecting. This book also had Parish finally showing interest in another woman. His wife and mother of his children has been dead for several years, so this was an unexpected development. I liked the characters of Silver and Hannah, Crosby's daughter. The bad guy was one that I easily detested and couldn't wait to see him get what he was due. I will warn you that there is talk of trafficking, sexual assault and physical abuse, although it is not graphically described. I liked the slow burn romance between both couples and could feel the heat developing. I enjoyed this book and need to go back and read the first one that I missed. John Lane narrates the audiobook and he does an amazing job. He has a deep and gravelly voice perfect for some of the male characters, yet is able to do female voices as well. He differentiates between all the characters, performing them appropriately according to age and gender. I enjoyed this audiobook very much. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
Profile Image for Rose_shelf .
38 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2021
- ARC REVIEW -

When I finished the second book of the series, I was ready to dive into the third one! I loved Maddison so much in the first two books... I could already tell that she was caring, smart and funny! As for Crosby, we didn't know much about him, but he won my heart right away. Both characters were compassionate and deeply loyal to their loved one's, exactly my kind of people!

In this book I got to step inside Maddison’s head, and she didn't disappoint me at all. I found myself laughing out loud while reading the first chapter! Seriously, the first chapter!! That tells you just how good Lori Foster is... she can make you feel anything with her stories. There are enough details to make everything tangible. If a character is about to cry, you can bet that I am too! I always thought that the success of a book could be determined by the range of emotion the author made you feel and this one is on the top of my list.

Lori Foster really surprised me with this book... not with a huge plot twist, but with multiple details and awesome characters. Crosby’s family really touched my heart! I love how I got to get inside Parrish's head as well. I must admit that I didn’t like him until the second book… It took me a long time to understand that character and I felt like getting to know more about him and his thoughts was exactly what I needed. When I put the book down, I was content. I felt like this story had the perfect closure.

Finally, it is no surprise that I strongly recommend this book to any romance lover! It is such a satisfying book with an authentic love story.

Happy Reading xx
Profile Image for Nikki.
249 reviews4 followers
September 27, 2021
What a book!! Couldn’t make myself put it done even when I had to get ready to leave for work!

Madison McKenzie is the baby and only girl of the powerful McKenzie clan. She is the tech genius behind the McKenzie organization finding and shutting down trafficking operations. Madison has been borderline obsessed with hunky detective Crosby Albertson since they first crossed paths and has cyberstalked him ever sense.

Crosby has been trying to distance himself from the very beautiful and bold Madison McKenzie, she is a danger to not only his equilibrium but also potentially bringing unwanted attention to him and uncovering the secrets he has gone to great lengths to hide. Threats are made to not only Parrish but also Crosby and Madison from an old enemy which leads Crosby reveal his secrets to Madison. The entire McKenzie clan descend to help Crosby protect what means most to Crosby and they team up to hunt and eliminate the threat.

I loved this book! It really showed what drove Crosby as a character since he was portrayed as a bit of a stick in the mud in the previous book. I also loved Silver and the fact the Parrish gets his own, more subtle, HEA in this story. This book really could be considered the end of the series as it wrapped everything up nicely but I’m sure it could also continue if Mrs. Foster so chose. *I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.*
Profile Image for Viper Spaulding.
3,147 reviews25 followers
December 29, 2021
This book has ALL the action, ALL the romance!

I fell in love with this author through the first two books in this amazing series, but this third one is the best of all. We not only get to see more of Cade and Reyes and their lovely wives, but we also get more of their dad, Parrish, along with a full backstory on Crosby as his flirtation with Madison shifts into overdrive.

The action and tension are exquisitely paced, intriguing, and suspenseful and perfectly balanced against the simmering attraction between Crosby and Madison. Their love story is full of combustible chemistry, yet it moves at a slow burn as they focus on the threat that is mounting against both their families.

I adored the secondary romance, too, which started with one of the most memorable meet-cutes I've ever read! No spoilers here, but I loved the way the author handed out HEAs like candy, making sure everyone is blissfully happy by the end of the series.

This series is one of the best I've ever read in romantic suspense, and I highly recommend all three volumes. Together, they tell a tremendously satisfying and timely story about the McKenzies and their mission to do whatever they can to fight the kind of evil that had once destroyed their lives. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Kristie.
276 reviews20 followers
December 29, 2021
I received an ARC of this book which in no way affected my review.

Mysterious, unpredictable and most definitely scorching hot.

While investigating a criminal network, Detective Crosby Albertson keeps crossing paths with members of the highly trained, suspiciously well-informed McKenzie family. They’re always one step ahead of him—especially their alarmingly attractive intel specialist, Madison. And he needs to find out why.

Madison McKenzie is the tech and surveillance whiz of her family’s operation. A recent case introduced her to Detective Albertson. She finds herself irresistibly drawn to the sexy and mysterious cop. There’s just one problem. He’s a detective and her family’s work is secret. When Crosby starts digging for information about the McKenzies, Madison’s got to get him off the scent…while keeping him at a safe distance.

_______

Review:
Madison was a bit outspoken which is one of her better qualities but I wish she had just a bit of a..filter and wasn't sooo demanding. I did love how these two worked on their love and made it work. This is the third installment in the series and worth every page, to be honest. I always love a good book and I'm so glad that I'm rounding out my year with this one!
Profile Image for Lesliann Raper.
36 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2021
Watching Over You is the third book in the McKenzies of Ridge Trail and to me this was my favorite! Madison and Crosby's match just worked for me. I enjoyed her brothers Cade and Reyes stories but I always liked Madison best. She is smart, witty, computer guru and very much an alpha as her brothers and when she first sees Crosby that was it for her and she went for him. I found that so refreshing and real. Crosby has been ducking her for to long and when the two get together it's great. Madison's family has always hidden in the shadows staying off law enforcement's radar to hunt and rescue human trafficking victims and bring them home to their families but Crosby being the law always felt there was more to what was going on then what Madison let on to. The addition of Crosby's family added another depth to the already captivating group of Parrish, Bernard and of Chimera and the kitties. I am sorry that this was only a 3 book series I miss these guys.

I received an ARC of Watching Over You from Net galley, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart.
2,463 reviews26 followers
December 23, 2021
Ah Madison, you can tell she was raised by a man. Pretty blunt and straightforward and yet with a heart of gold.
I quite enjoy the exploits of the McKenzie family, their fight for justice and protection. Someone from their has risen his ugly head, determined for vengeance of his own. Their lives and those around them could be in danger. Crosby is an ex cop new to the family business, did he bring danger with him or the other way around. He and Maddison must learn to trust, they're so alike and strong individuals.
All round I really enjoyed this story, it's a wonderful series and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Lisa.
923 reviews26 followers
January 10, 2022
Madison McKenzie is the baby of the family. She's as kick butt as her brothers but they still try to protect her. Crosby Albertson quit the police force and took a job with Madison's family. The McKenzie's are take charge people. When they are threatened and in turn Crosby's family as well they take action. As Madison and Crosby grow closer will the McKenzie's let him in? I love this kick butt family. Tough but squishy on the inside for anyone who needs help. Crosby is going to fit right in once he works through some things. Action packed with just the right amount of sweet this book has it all. Enjoyable from page one.

48 reviews6 followers
January 16, 2022
We are finally seeing Madison and Crosby connect, though not without a lot of resistance on their part. Madison McKenzie is the tech specialist in a family that penetrates the world of human trafficking rings while working outside the strict lines of the law. Crosby Albertson is a former police detective who has been attracted to Madison from the beginning. Watching their journey, learning to trust each other has been fun to watch.

I am a huge fan of Lori Foster and this series in particular! Lori tackled a difficult subject and handled it with care. I received an advance copy but this is my honest review.
8 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2022
Lori Foster doesn’t disappoint with Madison and Crosby’s story. Watching Over You is the 3rd installment of The McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. All the family is here, as well as some new characters that feel like they belong. Maddison is a strong woman and Crosby tried to keep her at arms length but the chemistry is scorching! Great continue on story fighting the good fight to keep sex traffickers off the streets.
This book can be read as a standalone but do yourself a favor and read the other 2 books in the series. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review
Profile Image for Rita.
707 reviews7 followers
December 27, 2021
I really enjoyed the Madison and Crosby story. The attraction between these two is hot, but things keep them apart. Crosby has secrets and Madison is determine to unveiled them. I love all the alpha males in this story but Madison can hold her own too. That ending had me sitting on the edge on my seat. Loved it.
I was given this book as an ARC review.
940 reviews15 followers
February 1, 2022
As always 5 ⭐️ just isn’t enough! I Love,Love,Love this series,thank you Lori Foster for entertaining me 💜 I was excited to see Parrish & Silver come together. What a sweet family Madison,Crosby & little Hallie will make. I’m ready for the next book to be released.
Profile Image for Jjean.
1,155 reviews25 followers
March 11, 2022
Read as a "stand alone" - Interesting story - family ties - strong male & female characters - to be honest it had too much "descripted" sex for my reading preference otherwise well written - first time to read this author.
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