He was my first love… went on I only missed him more.
She was my best friend… the only woman I ever loved.
When I ran off to join the Army, I left behind everything I had ever loved. I thought I was doing the right thing, but my good intentions quickly turned into my biggest regret.
Every year on the anniversary of Shane’s death I watched as Lillian Nelson visited Shane’s grave and spilled her secrets to a dead man. Each year I hoped she wouldn’t be back, that her heart would finally heal and she would move on. But year after year she was back. So many times I wanted to reach out and comfort the beautiful woman, but I knew she would never forgive me. It was my fault Shane was dead.
Until… A terrorist shows up looking for revenge.
I had to come out of the shadows and protect the one woman I had no business falling in love with.
Free is a steamy last chance at love military romance. No cheating. Guaranteed HEA. Over 18! Bad boy alpha military men use foul language and enjoy dirty talk.
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A very engaging friends-to-lovers read. Riley’s military suspense has an authenticity that’s hard to find. The hero, Shane, is a sexy, badass black-ops alpha; the heroine, Lily, the perfect mix of strength and vulnerability.
The story covers more than twelve years of separation and is told with a beautiful, tragic poignancy until they get together again. The depth of the feelings these two have for each other and the lengths they were willing to go kept me turning the pages and putting everything else aside until I finished.
Looking forward to reading the next in the 707 series.
Loved this book and highly recommend this series.
I loved this book! So glad that Ms. Edwards doesn’t draw out the scenes where the characters need to pull the ir heads out of their butts. Great read
Not your usual military romance. The usual rescue was just the beginning for Shane and Lily. New author for me. I liked her voice, I liked the alternating POV. And I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
This is the first book of Riley Edwards that I have read. It definitely won’t be the last either. She has been added to my TBR list. It’s time to save my book allowance.
The blurb really grabbed my attention and made me really want to read this. I’ve been in a book funk lately, and most haven’t been grabbing me.
This book grabbed me oh so good!
This is a great second chance read.
Lily and Shane were best friends. In a world of money and fakeness, they were all each other really had.
Until he left for basic.
Until he deployed.
Until he died.
Lily isn’t what you would expect from someone that grew up like she did. She has a huge heart and uses her money for good and to help others.
Lennox has always been in love with Lily. But he doesn’t let her know. He stays away.
To keep her safe.
Until he has to be seen to protect her.
Secrets come out. There’s some lies and betrayals as well.
I have to say that I hope there will be books for the other three. Especially Jasper!
Loved the story! Loved all of the action! Great writing! The only thing that threw me off was sometimes you wouldn’t know who was talking, Especially at the beginning of chapters.it would’ve been a lot of help telling us who was speaking.
Other than that, this book was great! I loved all the characters! Can’t wait to read more of her books.
Wow! This was my first ever Riley Edwards book but it certainly won’t be my last!
Although not normally a fan of “second/last chance” romance, this book punched me square in the feels and actually took me a day to enjoy before I felt able to review.
Steamy hot, sexy and well written with characters you fall for, I loved every word and *someone* is now on my one-click list.
5* smokin’ stars
I am in absolute awe over this book. I just don’t know where to start with the review of this story because it so absolutely perfect. This is one of those reads that I feel that I just can’t get enough of. I fell in love with these characters, their story and I’m so in need of more. This book sucked me into the story line from the very beginning and I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is so freaking good that it had me feeling every emotion possible. I am highly recommending you read this!!!
Happy Reading Everyone!!!
Genre: Romance – Second Chance, Last Chance, Military, Black ops, Friends to Lovers
Stand Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: No (well I don’t think so but I would love to get a story for the other guys)
POV: Lily and Lenox
Steam Level: Toasty Warm
5/5
This is the first book I’ve read by Riley Edwards and it was really good. I whipped through it in less than a day. The suspense was intense with the tension and action ramping up. The guys and their interactions were funny and helped to cut some of the tensions to give the reader a small break before kicking up again. The violence was graphic (but not gratuitous). Overall a fantastic romantic suspense that keeps you reading way later than your bedtime. I really hope that this is only the first book in a series featuring each of the men Lenox’s team.
Please tell me we get more Black Ops Romance by Riley as a series!!! I finished Free and see so much potential for more! I love the men of the 707 special unit. Shane swooped in and captures your heart at the age 16. Lily describes their friendship as pure. Untouched by the darkness until Shane enlists in the army. Then, for next 12 years, Lily’s world is destroyed. Lenox comes in and steals the show. He crushed my heart, stomped on it, then little by little he pieced it back together. Did I say my heart, maybe I meant Lily’s…who knows. I was that invested in this story.
I read one other book that was written by Riley and was hooked. Free was a whole different side that was unexpected. There are some authors that stick with a certain theme or genre in the Romance community when they write. Eventually, the lines start to blur and every story starts to sound the same. Not with Riley. I love the new and unexpected in her stories.
Free lives up to its name with these characters. The sexy side of this book brings on the heat. The emotions make you a mess. At the end I was happy how it all played out. But like I said before, I loved the whole team of 707. I want more. No, I need more and only hope that we will get it. Riley is an exceptional writer. So I am telling all the readers in the Romance Book World, Free brings it with the Military Romance that you will never see coming!
Just started this series, living it so far!
A love story between Lily and Shane who have been in love since high school. The intensity of their feelings and situations will have you screaming, crying, laughing, fanning yourself from their heated passion, angry and hoping things can work. Great characters and an introduction to the next installment.
Love it.
A best friend and a long dead friend and 707 Black Ops. And bad guys, lots of bad guys. It is a page turner, the start of a promising series (I want to find out what happens to each of the 707 members). A romance and a tragedy and family uniting.
I received a free copy of this book via BookFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first time reading Riley Edwards and I want more!! Free was the first book in her 707 Freedom Series. It was a quick, sexy, edge of your seat, roller coaster romance!
Lily tried to move on but was stuck in the past. Her life had not been the same since her best friend, Shane, passed away. He was the only person who fully understood what her life was like.
Shane had been laid to rest many years prior; his new identity was kept a secret. He was never very far from Lily but she could never know he was there. That was until a kidnapping attempt was made on her. Breaking cover would be the only thing to keep her alive but would Shane coming back cause more harm?
All the emotions! I was bawling. I couldn’t even imagine going through all of that and getting a second chance! All the twists and turns kept me going until the very end!
Loved the start to this series
I only recently discovered Riley’s books with the Gemini series so I decided I was going to do myself a favour and buy some box sets! After finding a reading order I decided to start with the 707 series as I know there are some new books coming out and I’m eager to get stuck into them
Suffice to say this story was fantastic! It flowed well, the characters were amazing and the couple’s chemistry was off the chart hot Lily and Shane grew up together but he decides not long after finishing school that he’s going to join the military. Not long after that he dies, leaving Lily alone to grieve him. But twelve years later, her life is in danger and suddenly Shane reappears and her life that she knew is gone
Can’t wait to read the rest of this series
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I will be reading more of her books. Well written and thought out. I like the way the story wasn’t convoluted and progressed at a good pace.
I have found that the thing I like most about a Riley Edwards book is the characters. She gives her characters such emotional depth. They are richly layered and complex. The stories she builds around these characters have the right mix of romance, suspense, intrigue and danger. I have found myself sitting at the edge of my seat anticipating what may happen next during a suspenseful moment or during an action packed scene. And, whew some of the sexy scenes almost set my tablet ablaze. I love that she interweaves characters from book to book.
Free had all the above listed elements and more. Shane Owings made the wrong decision for all the right reasons when he chose his duty and country over his best friend and love of his life, Lily Nelson. For 12 years they both struggled to get over their feelings but it just didn’t happen. Now she’s in danger and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe even if it means breaking her heart again.
I confess, I started with the second generation and came back to read about the Freedom series. Sooo good. I don’t know why I haven’t read them earlier. I’ve had them on my kindle forever.
Love everything about this book. The suspense, the brotherhood between the 707 and the chemistry between Shane(Carter Lennox) and Lilly.
Absolutely WOW I loved Free and having read Riley Edwards Nightstalker (RED Team series) and her books in Susan Stokers Special Forces Operation Alpha series I knew that I wouldn’t be disappointed.
With this new series you have a Black Ops team that is off the books and a young woman who grew up privileged in Beverly Hills she fought back and created a place for center for children to thrive. But she missed Shane her BFF and first love who hated his family and joined the Army that cost him his life, or did it?
Shane Owings hated his wealthy family that ignored him so he joined the Army and found a purpose there and eventually become a ghost with the 707 Black Ops group. So he ‘died’ but every year he returned home to see Lilly mourn him, never telling her he was alive. Little does he know that the man he’s been searching for has found Lilly and will do anything to draw out the 707 to fight them to the end. Can he save Lilly in time and will he decide that she is his whole being or will he walk away again?
Lillian Nelson loved Shane from the moment they met but she regrets not telling him. She visits his grave telling him how much he’s missed. She takes her trust fund and creates a safe place for kids growing and expanding in rough neighborhoods. But when men show up to kidnap her Shane takes her to their safe house. Will Lilly understand why he left her thinking he was dead and that he’ll chose the Army instead of her? Especially when one of her donors is the man he’s searched for who’ll kill her to get him? Will they be able conquer their differences to make a life together?
I really enjoyed this book. How the characters interact with each other is really well written, the action is so good, and the love story between Lilly and Shane was amazing.