What happens when a woman who’s done the unthinkable needs protection—can a man who’s lost his belief in humanity keep her safe?Max Brown doesn’t trust anyone but his team. The former SEAL learned early in life that people let you down—they lie, they steal, and they lie some more. Love is a word that is used to manipulate. Family is meaningless. Max is an island and he prefers it that way.A woman … way.
A woman who needs a safe harbor—but is undeserving.
Cyber genius, John “Tex” Keegan rescued Eva Dawson, a single mother who was forced to do something inconceivable to save her children. Tex somehow sees the good in her when no one else does. She is redeemable. Now, just when she’s getting her life back together someone wants her dead. Tex calls in the Gold Team to help—specifically Max Brown, the man with a past that mirrors that of Eva’s.
A past that clouds the present.
Tex has a plan—he always does. But neither the protector nor woman who’s been marked for death make it easy. Neither of them trust and both will fight to stay in control. If Tex can keep them both alive long enough, he knows the duo is the perfect pair—each of them will be what the other needs to heal the sins of the past.
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This story is one of the most powerful stories I have read. The emotions that come off the page, well it is like you are living the situation with the characters. It was a fantastic ride and well worth every tear.
Max – He is one untrusting man, broody and 100% Alpha male. Underneath he struggles, he is torn, and he is real. I have never wanted to snuggle up to a character more than I have with him. He loves just as hard as he broods.
Eva – She is one tough mama bear. I could connect with her so much and I felt every emotion she had. She is amazing, feels worthless, and hasn’t forgiven herself for past actions. Once she lets go, she flies.
This book, well I know it will be one I will always remember and most definitely will be a reread many times over.
There are a lot of good authors out there, but the great ones make you FEEL the story. That is what Riley continues to do in this series. Have your Kleenex handy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one storyline that had some twist and turns with Max and Eva along with her two kids. Max doesn’t trust her for what she did to his friends in Alaska and even when he first reads her file he can’t understand why Tex would put him on the job. Eva is questioning her past decisions and doesn’t feel she should be forgiven. Leave it to Tex, of all people, to play matchmaker to these two lost souls. It would seem that Max and Eva had similar lifestyle growing up, however just went different paths when they became adults. Both are head strong, stubborn, and protective of their family especially Eva with everything her kids went through at the hands of their father. I can say I cried, cheered, and laughed with this family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What an awesome read. I just couldn’t out it down. I absolutely love the writings is Riley Edwards. She takes her own characters and builds them into something real and then takes another character from Susan Stoker’s book and makes it into an even better storey than you could imagine. Max (Maximus) doesn’t people, he especially doesn’t trust women and he trusts Eva even less when he hears who he will be helping. When I read about Eva in Susan’s book I knew it was characters I wanted to know about and just like that voila Riley brought her to life. As always you get the ups and down, the twists and intrigue until they play out and you get the ending. It’s best to read securing Zoey first to get a feel of who Eva is and what she had done. I so can’t wait for Declan’s story and I know that one is going to be so good.
Wow, wow, wow!!! I loved Maximus!! Each book in this series just gets better and better. Max does not want the job assigned to him….Eva. As far as he is concerned she isn’t worth his time or effort. But what Max doesn’t know, he will soon find out and when he does? All bets are off. Max has never trusted people because they have always let him down. Eva has been burned in life and has had to learn to depend on herself. But when these two meet? Holy smokes do things change! Amazing story!
Seriously….I went through so many tissues with this story I could have bought shares in Kleenex. This story had me from the get go and I had my doubts on how this author could make me like the “bad” girl from the previous story into a character I would even somewhat like. OH MAN this author delivered and had me having all the feels for Eva, who redeems herself many many many times and the bad she did to Mark and Zoey…oh boy…did she ever redeem herself.
Maximus is sent to Florida to protect Eva and her two boys who have been through a lot and Max isn’t liking the assignment at all, and dislikes Eva even more because of her past deeds. When a contract is put out on Eva, Max is determined to protect her, no matter what she did in the past since Tex asked him to, and he trusts Tex. As he gets to know Eva, her past and why she did what she did and what her boys went through, he starts to feel more for the woman he misjudged and they both end up filling the holes in their lives they both have and accept each other for who they are….scars and all. Now they just have to thwart a contract killer and keep her and her boys safe.
WHAT A READ!!! HOLY SMOKES!!! The steam and passion from these two….oh my my my my. The heartache, heartbreak, trust issues, betrayals, abuse….made my eyes run like a waterfall and the two boys, learning to trust and opening up to Max and the other team members….oh boy. The story flowed flawlessly, the characters were amazing, the boys were precious and Max and Eva….my favorite couple right now. I LOVED the honesty between them, no holding back or playing games and the way Max was with the boys and how he related to them, had my heart melting into a puddle of goo.
Dam this was an amazing read from beginning to end !!!!
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*
A single mom needing protection in the form of Max, a member of the Gold Team? Yes, please sign me up. Action packed, emotional and captivating Ms. Edwards delivers again.
I loved this book! In fact I loved it so much I stayed up all night reading it! These two were the perfect blend of tough and sweet. I loved their stories separately and even more together!
Maximus of the Gold team trusts no one. He is skeptical of everyone and trusts noone but his team. He has deep trust issues that go back to his childhood.
Eva Dawson has done many things in her life that she’s not proud of but she’s done what she has had to do to take care of her boys. They are the most important thing in life to her. She doesn’t think she is worth helping or having anyone be nice to her or forgiving her for some of the choices she has made in her life. She has done nothing wrong since Tex got her boys back to her and helped her move to Florida. She keeps her head down, goes to work, takes care of her boys and helps those she can.
Tex sends Max to keep Eva safe, Tex tells Max that she is in danger. Max doesn’t trust her, how could he, when she put Bubba’s life in jeopardy. He’s not sure she’s worthy of Tex’s kindness or forgiveness.
Max is drawn to Eva but doesn’t want to be. He doesn’t want to like her. Her boys Eli and Liam are the sweetest boys he’s ever met. Eli is shy and does whatever his big brother does. Liam at 6, has had to be the protector and keep his little brother safe. He is leary of men.
Max is drawn to this woman and her boys, but isn’t sure he can trust what he feels. Can he and his team figure out who’s out to kill her or harm her and the boys?
Great read reminding everyone how hard it can be to overcome emotional and physical abuse and learn to trust again.
Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and a big box of Kleenex. Great well written story as always. We even get to catch a glimpse of Zane and his craziness. In true Riley Edwards fashion we get to touch base with the entire Gold team and meet the members of Blue team.
It is never easy for an author to turn a perceived dislike character by the readers into a beloved one but Riley Edwards did it in Maximus (Gold Team Book 4). What heart breaking story and when the readers read the reasons by the actions made by Eve (do read Securing Zoey), the reader can’t help but emphatise with the h. I’ve been intrigued by Max for the longest time and I’m glad he found his HEA at last.
Another well written, emotionally wrung story. Highly recommend!
Maximus has no idea that being a bodyguard for Mia and her boys is exactly what Tex has order for his battered soul. Constantly being used Max has hardened his heart and assumes women are users. Eva has done wrong but for the right reason her babies. Even though Max thinks she’s like every other crooked woman Eva is his cryptonite!
You will love this book! It can be read alone but I suggest you the entire series so you can get the full effect of Zane and the other characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Max and Eva are two scarred souls that find each other. Protection is second nature and the force that finally binds them. A great story with drama and suspense. Just when you finally think it is over, something else happens. Anxiously awaiting the final book.
This book should come with a major disclaimer—not some cute little, happy whoo-whoo blurb about a girl that gets in trouble and a guy that saves her. That is not this book. Well, that’s not all this book is. I’m doing my civic duty in warning you.
Let’s start out with some basic facts. ‘Maximus’ is the 4th in the Gold Team series authored by Riley Edwards and a new book related to the Susan Stoker Special Forces World. Hopefully, you’ve read the first three Gold Team books with Brooks, Thaddeus, and Kyle. You don’t need too, but it makes the story more complete if you’re familiar with the Gold Team, their commander and women.
On to my civic duty—Eva’s life has been fraught with bad decisions. All she wants to do is make up for her mistakes and raise her two sons to be good men. Nothing wrong with that. Except that the whole scenario is fraught with wrongness and she’s learned life is not that kind. Enter Max. I’m sure you’d love to read that they meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. So, yeah, they do that. But, Riley Edwards doesn’t write for the Cartoon Network. Get real people. She’s like if Cartoon Network and… Investigation Discovery (it’s a cable channel; all sorts of crazy, scary crime scene show with killers) got together for a dinner party. There might be a beautiful heroine and a sexy-alpha male, but you know you’re going to get angst, maybe a kidnapping and a creepy weirdo lurking in the shadows somewhere.
Back to my civic duty—Eva is all that: a beautiful, strong-willed, and highly pragmatic. She’s doing the best she can with the circumstances she’s found herself in. And she lucky or to her way of thinking un-lucky enough to find herself in Max’s world. Max can’t believe Tex has asked him to protect Eva. He knows what she’s done. He knows what type of woman she is and has been burned in the past. He’s alpha, and kind of a$$hole-ish. He’s not the most patient, understanding guy but he is strong, dedicated and determined.
‘Maximus’ is like a smoldering embers kind of book. You really have to settle into this book. Don’t expect flashbang military action or wild drama. Settle into this book like you’re settling into a comfortable chair with your favorite blanket and a glass of wine. Don’t misunderstand though; there is drama and angst and emotion. It’s just so subtle. It smolders…and it only needs a steady breath of air to catch fire.
‘Maximus’ is a fantastic book. Eva and Max are a matching pair that fit together beautifully. Ms. Edwards does a wonderful job of creating a believable world and a host of supporting characters that are almost as lovely as the story between Eva and Max. Alright, I might have stretched the civic duty thing a bit, but I don’t think so. I’m doing you a solid. You’re welcome.
They both have issues trusting people.
Tex sends Max down to check on if there is a legitimate threat to Eva and her boys.
He does recon checking on Eva and her boys and shows himself
When someone tries to kill Eva.
Eventually they begin to trust each other when Eva is kidnapped
and trusts that Max , Tex and the Gold Team will rescue her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maximus was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it didn’t disappoint. Riley does such a fantastic job representing Susan Stoker’s characters, many of whom are present throughout the story. The heroine of this book, Eva, is essentially one of the “bad guys” introduced in Stoker’s Securing Zoey. However, Eva is anything but the evil mastermind she’s made out to be. Tex (another beloved Susan Stoker character) saw the real Eva and did everything in his power to help get her life in order, enter Max Brown. Their journey resembles that of an action movie at times, with some who-done-it twists throughout. Eva’s boys were the sweetest and broke my heart. Another great story filled with emotion and suspense. Recommend!
The advice about reading Securing Zoey first does help with this book. As soon as I started reading this, I remembered instantly who Eva was and at first was like, really? A book for her. But wow! What a book. Hardly two chapters in and I did not blame her for what she did to protect/save her boys.
I just love when the big alpha men fall big time for their women and when there are kids involved, even better. I had tears in my eyes as Max talked with the boys. God I love a man good with kids
Eva Dawson has a tragic past that has led to her making bad decisions hand over fist. The last bad decision led to her ex-husband getting custody of her two sons and using them to blackmail her to do something unforgivable.
Max Brown grew up without love or the ability to trust. He became a Navy Seal and found a group of men that he calls his “brothers.”
When Tex asks Max to protect Eva, he doesn’t understand how he is supposed to protect someone like her. But shortly after meeting, he realizes that all is not how it appears. Eva didn’t have a choice. Max also discovers that he and Eva are more alike than he could have imagined. Can these two broken souls help each other heal or are they destined to live life alone?
Maximus was very well written and had me hooked from the beginning. This is book 4 in Riley’s Gold Team and is packed full of action, danger, hot military alpha’s, and life lessons. Forgiveness being the biggest lesson. I enjoyed catching up with old friends and I can’t wait for the next one to be published
I wasn’t to sure on how I would feel about Eva getting her happily ever after after reading about her in Securing Zoey but…… I couldn’t wait to read about Max. I have been waiting for his book. I knew he didnt have a good life, in fact he a terrible one. He was so closed off from being hurt that I just knew it would take someone special to open him up. I knew Tex wouldn’t lead him astray and that there were two.sides to every story so I went into this book with and open mind on Eva and let me tell you I’m so glad I did. The love she has for her kids and the sacrifice she will make for them….. Now that is someone who deserves her happily ever after. The fact that her and her boys get Max to let go of and heal from old hurts, open up to the possibility of love and live. Yep they both deserve their HEA……This book also goes to show a little fight, emotional healing, and the power of prayer works every time. Riley knocked Max and Eva out of the park.
OMG! Amazing! Awesome! This story tops my all-time favorites. A story filled with so many emotions. A compelling, well-written plot filled with wonderfully created characters. Max and Eva have great chemistry not only in bed but in their daily lives. A mama bear and an Alpha protector, they complete each other. They find the elusive love missing from their lives in each other. I love Riley Edward’s books and am never disappointed. Looking forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What would you do if someone had your children and threatened to hurt them if you did not do as they say….
I think anything bad to do with one’s children, is the worst thing that can happen and when faced with it no-one knows how they will react.
Well Max Brown is in for a surprise. Eva Dawson is not an evil woman, but just a mother who wants to protect her children and make up for past mistakes.
She needs help and someone to keep her safe, but because of what happened in Alaska (See Securing Zoey) she think she is undeserving of help.
Max doesn’t trust anyone, except his team, and for good reason. Being hurt by the one person that was suppose to love unconditionally, he feels that he is unlovable and not relationship material.
The journey to trust is a difficult road, and the children as well as Eva and Mix need to go through deep waters to see that some people are with the risk.
Loved the book!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.