Anaya Baker knows pain—she got her first taste when she was orphaned and put into foster care. Then it was forever embedded into her soul when she was sold to a sex trafficking ring. Nearly two decades later the stench still clings to her. It coats her skin and burns her gut. Since being rescued, Anaya has dedicated her life to helping others, yet no amount of good she’s done has lessened her … anguish. While on an assignment with the Peace Corps she learns of brothel posing as an orphanage and she cannot turn her back. Not even the civil unrest or the death of her friend will stop her. Anaya has one mission: save the young girls for the horrors she herself had suffered.
Kyle Smith couldn’t say no. Not when the beautiful woman with haunted eyes asked him and his teammate to escort her to a remote island to save a bunch of children. Her plan was crazy. The island was overrun with rebels and the unrest was at an all-time high. There was no stopping the woman, she was resolute and Kyle was just as determined to keep her safe. His personal life was in turmoil, his team at war from with a high-power criminal syndicate. He had no business falling in love—but was helpless against her bravery and strength. He tumbled head first and now he had to let her go. But when the threat closes in and one of their lives hangs in the balance, Kyle has to make a choice. And the wrong one could mean death.
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Such a great book! Each book gets better. And I love all the cameos from Susan stoker books. We got to see Piper and Ace. I still have to read the red team series and will after finishing the gold because I’m stuck in their story. And essentially will be backtracking but who cares. Loved Kyle. He is amazing and a kick ass book boyfriend. Hot, strong and protective and the most sensitive to her feelings and mental state. Watching him with Anaya was beautiful. Loved how she and Emerson kicked ass. And finally some headway with that jack hole Landry. Can’t wait for Max’s book.
4.5 Gold Stars
Anaya is eager to return to Timor-Lest in her quest to save girls being sold into servitude or being married off at a VERY young age Ace secures her a meeting with Dec and Kyle from the Gold Team and set off on their dangerous mission. However, Omni is closing in and so is intel on Harry – the sex trafficker they are trying to nail.
Lots of action in this story, but also a story of a woman who comes into her own with a man who loves her, deep to his soul Keen to find out more about Max and find some peace for poor Declan
A great story with plenty of action. Danger, love and heat.
Another hit out of the park for Rikey. Be prepared to have tissues handy! The feels, the action, the love it’s all there! Kyle and Anaya are just wow!!!!!
I could not get enough of this book. I was on the edge of my seat. Each page I turned faster and faster. Great writing and characters. The chemistry and suspense was so good.
Anaya is a woman determined to save orphaned girls from the same fate as her. Trapped in the shell of her former self, she simply exists. When she meets Kyle as part of the team that will help her rescue the girls – she begins to live again, feel again and yearn for something more with Kyle. Kyle helps Anaya break down her sky high walls and she begins to fall for him – hard. But with the Omni’s sights still set on taking out his team & hurting anyone they love – do Anaya and Kyle have a fighting chance? And as they dive deeper into the underbelly of the human trafficking world, will their growing feelings be enough to conquer all of her demons?
Riley Edwards does it again! She has masterfully woven personal, heartfelt experiences into an engaging and all consuming story line. I devoured this book like a starved, hormonal woman who finds her favorite chocolate bar hidden in the freezer. (You know you do it too! 😉 ) I was amazed at Riley’s details of the human trafficking world. It’s obvious that she put her heart & soul into this book even though it may have cost her a small chunk of both to discover some of the seediest things of the underworld. I applaud Mrs. Edwards’ ability to capture the essence of a person who cannot bear to be touched and the utter joy that is found when they can comfortably experience a simple touch once again. Something so ordinary for normal people becomes a monster of anxiety & fear for those that have experienced physical abuse of any kind. I cried tears of joy watching Kyle & Anaya’s relationship blossom into one of mutual trust and respect where she truly could give him all of her – her heart, mind and soul.
Special thanks to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
OVERALL RATING:
BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS
Plot: 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine): Kyle & Anaya – 5/5
Secondary Characters: DECLAN!! Omg!! Emmy & Thad! Brooks & Tatiana!
The Feels: 5+/5 – Every emotion under the sun is felt in this book & it’s SOO good – even the painful emotions!
Pace: 5/5
Addictiveness: 5/5
Angst:4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemistry: 5/5
Theme or Tone: 5/5
Flow (Writing Style): 5/5
World Building: 5+/5
Originality: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Triggers? Yes – vivid details & descriptions of human trafficking. Recovery from human trafficking.
Book Cover: H.O.T.
Series: Gold Team – Special Forces: Operation Alpha
Source: Kindle Unlimited eBook
Would I recommend this book? Yes.
Would I read more from this author? Yes! Can’t wait for the next book!
I admit that I am addicted to Riley Edwards and have been waiting impatiently for the book 3 in the Gold team series. I am happy to report that she did not disappoint with Kyle’s book. A captivating story that I could not put down. This is the story of Kyle and Anaya. Anaya is on a mission to rescue those that might end up as part of the sex trafficking trade, as she did when she was younger. Hearing of an orphanage that isn’t an orphanage she requests the help of the Gold Team, Kyle’s team to rescue a group of girls. Kyle finds himself unable to say no to Anaya and as he sees her fierce determination to save others he begins to fall for her. An action packed, intensely emotional story that reads fast and furious. I loved the strength in Anaya’s character and the respect that Kyle had for her strength. Another homerun of read in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha by Riley Edwards.
Kyle is the 3rd book in the Gold Team series.
Awesome read. Love Riley Edwards’ books. She’s the queen of suspense and action romance.
Anaya and Kyle’s story is amazing. As always you get lots of suspense and action and an amazing storyline that had me glued to my Kindle.
Anaya is a strong heroine and brave. Love that she helps young girls victims of sex trafficking and child prostitution.
She hires Kyle for protection because she’s going to the island of Timor-Leste to rescue some young girls there.
Kyle’s attraction to Anaya was instant. Love how protective he was of her. But also he understood she had to be her own person and he helps her become the woman she
The men of Z-Corps Security are amazing. Love them and love how loyal and protective they are of each other.
Can’t wait for the next book in this series.
5 STARS!
I am a big fan of the Gold Team series and couldn’t wait for Kyle’s story to arrive and what a story it is! Before I go any further, I recommend that you at least read Brooks and Thaddeus first so that you understand who most of the characters are. Kyle never planned on tying himself to anyone but then again he never planned on Anaya walking into his life. She is such a wounded soul but she keeps moving forward in life and doing good work with the Peace Corps that it just warmed my heart. I don’t like when people reveal spoilers in their reviews so I won’t. If you want to know how Kyle plans to capture Anaya’s heart and keep it you’re going to have to read their story. It will bring tears to your eyes because Anaya had a very difficult start in life and built up a wall around herself for her own self preservation. Their story is told from dual POV and is loaded with action, angst and plenty of Riley Edwards signature heat! I am looking forward to more Gold Team action!
Kyle is jammed packed with hard hitting action and deep emotions. It deals with an abhorrent subject, human trafficking, its suvivors and the aftermath of their experience in a respectfully dignified and insightful manner. Anaya is crusader and a champion of trafficking victims yet bubbling just beneath the surface of her bravado bubbles the victim who has isolated herself emotionally in order to survive. Kyle recognizes, though he denies it at first, Anaya as part of his soul from the moment he sees her. His resolve to protect and care for her is pushed to its limits on several occasions. Several other Z Corps characters play prominent roles in this powerful romance. Riley Edwards definitely penned a winner with this book!
Kyle’s story was just as great as the others in the series and I had a hard time putting it down. The story was engaging from the start, the characters interesting and the storyline gripping. Edwards always does a great job of bringing her characters to life and making them feel real. I always enjoy the easy banter and camaraderie between the men on the team, their women, and their strong bonds of brotherhood and family. As on par with Edwards’ other books in the Gold Team series, the suspense, action, angst, emotional turmoil, romance, and character development are strong and plausible and there are a few unsuspecting turns of events that will have you holding your breath, along with some great surprises sprinkled throughout the book related to others on the team. It was just a wonderful book all around and I am really looking forward to more in the series; especially after getting a glimpse of the next story at the end. Definitely more awesomeness to come!
Kyle and Anaya made a great couple. The circumstances under which they met were definitely not the best and the situations they found themselves in along with the circumstances and events they had to endure were trying, to say the least, but I liked that they both had a strong mindset, uncompromising beliefs, compassion, endurance, and an unwavering love for each other that got them through. I strongly admired Anaya’s character. With everything she had been through from such a young age, she pushed forward to face her past and fears and overcome them. She had an amazing fortitude and resilience with everything thrown her way and even though she shut herself off for a time when she met Kyle and the team (especially Emmerson) she fought through her trauma to heal and let herself live and be happy. It was so encouraging and awesome to watch her transformation under Kyle’s tutelage. I enjoyed watching her relationship with him grow strong. She was quiet but fierce. She was determined to prove she could stand on her own, as well as by Kyle’s side. And Kyle’s alpha tendencies aside, I loved that he understood Anaya and let her be her own person and work through her haunting memories in her own way to conquer her fears so she could move forward. He was so kind, understanding and patient with her and their honesty with each other and the strong bond they formed was beautiful to see, and their chemistry was just wow!
This book can be read as a stand alone but why would you want to do that when you can enjoy the other fabulous books in the Gold Team series?! And with that being said, I would, however, suggest reading Susan Stoker’s Securing Piper before reading Kyle and Anaya’s story because there are events in Stoker’s book that are built upon within this one (though again not necessary, just helpful for certain references within the book).
*I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Kyle and Anaya have an be instant love story that doesn’t feel forced. Kyle and Dec set out to help Anaya rescue girls and everything builds from there. I loved seeing other characters from Zcorp books and how they have grown. This book can be read as a standalone, but does carry on the story line from other gold team books. If you are looking for a HEA with great character development and suspense read Kyle and anything else Riley Edwards had written!
OK this book can absolutely be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading Securing Piper by Susan Stoker before reading this book because this book builds on events that happened in Securing Piper. And if you haven’t read that one, you may not understand some things or understand some of the characters that are spoken about. In this one we meet Anaya Baker and Kyle Smith. Anaya has spent her life dedicated to helping others since she was rescued from a human trafficking ring. And when she learns of a brothel that is posing as an orphanage, she will stop at nothing to help those girls to get to freedom. Kyle couldn’t say no when he was asked to help a woman save young girls from a life of being sold. And the more he learns about Anaya, the more he falls for her. Even knowing that he has to let her go. But he doesn’t know that in letting her go and thinking he is keeping her safe, now there is a target on her back and their enemies are coming for her.
I absolutely loved this one! When I read Securing Piper I was heartbroken with the situation those other girls were in and I love the fact that this book not only picked up where that one left off but expanded on what was going on with those girls and gave me some resolution! And then you throw Anaya and Kyle in there and I loved it even more! This woman went through literal hell and still managed to somehow survive. And while she wasn’t truly whole, she is strong. And Kyle just makes her stronger by not only allowing her to be who she needs to be but he is willing to stand beside her and protect her when needed and stand aside when it’s not. These two together are beautiful and perfect for each other. I loved seeing the way their relationship comes together along with pushing the storyline that was started at the beginning of this series. I loved it! I seriously can’t wait for the next one!!!
Kyle
Once again I can’t say enough about getting lost in Riley Edwards book world, much less when she’s writing in Susan Stoker’s operation alpha world.
Kyle is the third book of the gold team. Kyle and Declan have agreed to take Anaya Baker back to Timon-Liste to save a bunch of young girls from a sex trafficking ring that was identified when some soldier friends were there a few months back.
Anaya has always held herself back from really developing any kind of relationships due to her lack of trust,from growing up in foster homes and being sold into sex trafficking when she was younger. Kyle has never really thought he’d be the forever kind of guy.
This is a well written story about self discovery for Kyle, Anaya and even Declan where we learn a little bit more about his past.
We even get to catch up with Zane and the rest of the teams. With special deliveries, kidnapping and lost of tough alpha males and a chuckle or two about a Susan Stoker’s book.
Great read as always. Grab a tissue and enjoy this great book.
This book was soooo good. This is the second book I have read from Riley Edwards. She is now my new one click author. She builds amazing characters that totally suck you into the book! The plot is not cookie cutter and it has so much depth. So excited to have a new author to read!
Kyle is the 3rd book from the Gold Team series by author Riley Edwards. If you’ve read the previous books, our favorites are back and they bring everything you’d expect and then some. I am definitely recommending this book. If this is your first experience with the Gold Team, then you are in for a treat. There’s more crazy, bossy, Zane, who happens to be the owner of Z Corp. Max, Brooks, Thad and my favorite Dec who round out the Gold team.
There is so much to be said about this book, it was intoxicating, powerful and emotional. Riley Edwards just have a way with words and character development that leaves you desperate for more. Each character, event and surprise ties-in to the story perfectly. Kyle’s book is action packed and the flow of the story will keep you turning page after page.
The men on the Gold team are so much more than teammates, they’re a family. They are fun, the back and froth is just like any family. I also enjoyed the women in this book. They are all strong, bold and very supportive of each other. It’s always great to read about strong female characters that have friends who understands and accepts them.
The first few chapters provide a background on the characters and the general idea of the story-line. Anaya, enlists the help from a mutual friend to help her find protection. she wants to return to the island Timor-Leste to rescue girls from being sold and forced into prostitution and marriage. Thats where Kyle and one of his teammates, Declan come into the story. They agree to travel with Anaya, to help rescue young girls.
The story is simple, accompany Anaya and rescue the young girls, then return home and carry on as normal. What could possibly go wrong for Kyle? Let’s start off with falling for the woman who you should be protecting. The return of a bad guy from the past, that everyone wants dead but he’s too slippery to catch. Then there’s a few surprises. Que the dramatic music
The female lead Anaya is quick thinking, smart and brave. Although, she doesn’t give herself enough credit for her bravery. One of the things I liked about her was, her passion for helping others. She didn’t care the risk, she found her inner strength and pushed through.
Kyle is all about the team and his missions. He’s honest, strong, funny and now he he’s fond of Susan’s Stoker books thanks his long plane ride. Kyle showed so much compassion and patience throughout this book, it made his character that much more lovable.
Both Anaya and Kyle don’t see themselves settling down and having families. For Kyle it’s his job, that keeps him in danger but also away from home for periods of time. Where as Anaya, between her past and her current job, a future of a family and love was never something she thought about.
The journey of these two take to find their HEA, was written in a way that offers hope to anyone ever doubting their self worth. It takes a special force to knock down walls that have been built up for years. It takes patience to build up someone who doesn’t know or feel like they deserve it. Kyle is persistent and relentless in his pursuit to protect but as he falls for Anaya, that just goes deeper.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I am impatiently waiting to see where the next story will take us!!!!
The story of Kyle and Anaya is a vast world to spend some time and enjoy an adventure. I first discovered Riley Edwards’ books via Susan Stoker’s books, and it continues to be a most pleasant discovery. I appreciate how all the series and characters know each other, and you see them in various situations interacting with each other. Kyle is the 3rd book in the Gold Team series. I like these guys, and I love their banter, I love their fierceness, and I like the brotherhood they have built among themselves and the members of the Red Team. Bonus this book, and we find out there’s a Blue team to meet (we got a very brief introduction to Myles). Also, Riley had many surprises all through this book that made me smile and laugh. There are open doorways of storylines that are just begging for exploration. The interweaving between two unfinished series that are dealing with the heinous crime of human trafficking is timely and heartbreaking. It’s hideous, and having fictional heroes (male and female) fighting those kinds of bad guys makes for an intense novel.
For all the hardships Anaya has been dealt with, she is strong and resilient, and Kyle is strong enough to help her realize those attributes are in her. But she’s still into reading romance novels, and her choice is a particular favorite of mine. I noticed there was more interaction between these Gold Team characters and the characters from the Red Team. I liked this. One of the hardest parts of finding a series you love is its ending and saying good-bye to beloved characters. I feel like everything is alive and well and still going well in the world of Z-Corps Security. Knowing the background from the previous Gold Team and Red Team books only make the book more enjoyable. You are dealing with people in the book you already know and like and seeing their lives playing out in the storyline. Seeing those stories mesh with this story only makes the story that much more immersive (and trust me when you get immersed in a story, then the author has done a great job).
Ok, Riley time for more Gold Team and now Blue Team. I love these stories, characters, and the bigness and badness of the evil Omni group that is going to involve all the teams in their take-down. This book is epic world-building, and you are doing a great job!!
Riley has done it again with the Gold Team series! Kyle meets Anaya on a mission to save some girls from the sex trade. Anaya is bound she’s going to save all the girls. We see and feel how her life has been and what she has had to do to survive! This book is full of action, suspense, and twists and turns you don’t want to put the book down. These books just keep getting better and better.You won’t be disappointed with this book. Can’t wait to see what she brings next with Max and Declan’s story’s.
Riley Edwards writes female characters to whom one can aspire; they’re strong; they’re smart; they’re unbelievably courageous. This book introduces Anaya, who is one such character, and it also revisits so many of her other awesome heroines, as well as Piper, who with Ace (Operation Alpha) helps Anaya to go back to Timor-Leste to rescue some of the girls from the appalling conditions there. The blurb has it all, so I’m not revisiting that, but I have to say more about the way the characters are written. They come alive when you read Riley Edwards’s books; her men are living, breathing people, as are the women in their lives. The pain they feel becomes yours, the jokes make sense to you because they’re in your world too. Kyle is another character that becomes a friend – dreamworthy and not just because he’s hot. And this is special in any book, and it’s something that I look for when I read. This book will leave you wanting – wanting more of the Gold Team, wanting justice for those killed and abused, and wanting to see Omni vanquished once and for all.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
Another great read from Riley! No surprise there! You wont want to put it down! I was hooked on Kyle after he admitted he liked what he read of a Susan Stokers romance novel. I was in total love with him when he was patient and encouraging with Anya . Not only did he give her a safe place to “fall’ if needed , he gave her a new life full of family and friends.
Cant wait for the next book!