There had been a time, I’d been happy—blissfully happy—then a single act of brutality tore Thaddeus Bench from my life. But not from my heart. I never thought I’d see him again. But I did. In a cantina in Mexico. And when he looked over at me with so much hatred in his stare, it pulverized what was left of my heart.Emerson Pierce was my own personal hell. The agony of her betrayal still as sharp … still as sharp as it was the day I’d come home and found her gone. I’d spent years doing whatever I could not to think about her. To stop myself from wondering where she was and why she’d left me.
Now my team needs answers from her to stop a criminal mastermind and I can’t trust a damn thing that comes out of her pretty mouth. Emerson’s no longer the sweet girl I fell for, she’s the girlfriend of a notorious drug runner and dog fighter. Or at least that’s what I thought until her lies unravel and the truth explodes.
Nothing about Emerson was what it seemed. Nothing about our latest mission was easy. But one thing is for sure…I will save Emerson Pierce, even from herself.
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I couldnt put it down! The Gold Team just gets better and better. Thaddeus is even better than the first book of the series, Brooks. Lovers reunited and the feelings are stronger than ever. Emerson and Thaddeus have to work out their issues, but the twists and turns their relationship take are page turning. Riley Edwards has hit a home run with this one.
My Heart Is In My Throat
Ms Edwards penned a read that simply tore me up. Still feeling the effects of a journey of a 2nd chance romance after 10 years of not knowing wthh! Running into your blast from the past is not always a good thing even on the best of days, but during an op with a chance to kill. Holy crapoly!
Thaddeus was steeped in emotions, but had to shut that all down. They had their op to complete however, & it was very nicely tied to Emerson, his soul mate who had ghosted him 10 years ago. I wasn’t fond of Emerson either at this point lol, until her reasoning & some very disturbing Intel becomes known. Very messy business trying to stay focused when all he could think of was her, what he felt.
This one hits hard, bringing in life’s realities making me feel the gamut of emotions that hit just thinking about human trafficking and the sick, depraved people who who keep it running, or the same sick, depraved people who keep dog fights going. My heart bleeds for all the innocents in reality. I can understand why vigilantes exist when there’s nothing left but emptiness or rage.
A lot of action, twists, and surprising outcomes reading this and while Thaddeus and Emerson get their day, all is not over in the grand scheme. While this is NOT a cliffhanger, I’m very anxious to read more of the Gold Team Series as there are a few loose ends that need ending.
I received an advanced reader copy and am giving my honest opinion voluntarily (crying while I’m writing) bc its just that d**n good.
Man, oh man this book! Explosive, riveting, absorbing, emotional…just a few words to describe this amazing read. It will tie you in knots, have you holding your breath, gritting your teeth, sniffling, laughing, and cheering on the team from the start. I was so engrossed in this story from the beginning I could not put it down until I finished.
After getting over the tremendous shock of seeing each other again after so many years, Thaddeus and Emmerson have some hard truths to face concerning their past and present. It does not help that neither wants to be in the same room nor do they want to have to work together or deal with the emotional upheaval their unresolved issues are revealing. But for the sake of the op and their safety they have to come to terms with each other and work together in order to survive the dangers they face.
Thad’s heart was shattered when Emmerson left and seeing her again brings everything crashing back as well as the million questions swimming around in his head as to the circumstances that brought her back in his life and where she has been for the past ten years. The betrayal and pain run deep for him and his internal battle rages strong as he struggles to come to terms with the truth when it is revealed. She broke him once but he hardened his heart and became a different man; however, this time if he takes the risk, he could end up destroyed for good.
Emmerson had everything she could have dreamed of and then lost it all in the blink of an eye…by her own hand. She will never forgive herself for the devastation she caused Thad, but she will also never forget…it is a living memory etched on her soul. She clings to them in the dark when she struggles for the strength to continue on the path she chose. She has changed over the years, having to become someone she no longer recognizes in order to fulfill a promise she made. Even when Thad walks back into her life she is determined to keep up the charade. When her past catches up and collides with Thad and his team’s current op the truth must be shared. This time she cannot run, she has to face Thad and their past head-on. Will this time be different or will it break them both beyond repair.
This book is terrific and has everything you could ask for in a romantic suspense read. It is full of non-stop action, twists and turns, protective alpha men, strong women, and combustible chemistry. There is also plenty of drama, suspense, witty banter, sass, and gut-wrenching emotions. A must read!
*I received an ARC of this book from the author and I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Loved the story. So much heartache and pain Emerson had gone through for her family. And poor Thad he had his heart broken and essentially didn’t trust. I liked the banter and the back and forth and the growth and time as you watched them come back to each other. Autumn was baddass and I’m sure we will see her again. Loved seeing her pulled in and the group dynamic shift to include her. Loved getting to see Sidney and Gumby and then a brief cameo from Ace.
Thaddeus and Emerson
This couple is the next on the Gold Team to find their way to each other…but in this case it’s a second chance romance and it’s fraught with danger Not only are they fighting against underground dog fighting rings, they are also fighting against human traffickers and a large powerful organisation
This story was fantastic even though the issues they are fighting are well and truly devastating I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the guys stories as I gear up for Declan which comes out in July and features him and Emerson’s sister, Autumn
Really enjoyed Thad and Emerson’s story. gold team series is great.
Thaddeus is a great story but a deeply emotional one that deals with tough subjects: sex trafficking, dog fighting,drug smuggling and heartbreak. It’s also something of a second chance romance bringing Thaddeus and Emerson back together under stressful, dangerous circumstances, after 10 years apart. Needless to say it’s not a happy reunion. Thad wears his perceived betrayal by Emerson on his sleeve. Emerson is a woman on a decade long mission and she’s definitely not the woman Thad once loved. There is lots of hard-hitting action here with bad guys coming out of the woodwork
While this gold team book is written in the Susan Stoker world, Riley Edwards is an amazing author in any world. Trust me you want to read everything she writes!
Gold Team just keeps getting better! Another win for Riley Edwards! Thaddeus and Emmerson have some major unresolved issues to deal with when they see each other again for the first time in ten years. Neither is ready to see the other or deal with what comes next. So much emotion for each to deal with, lots of suspense and intrigue. This book gives you everything! You won’t be disappointed! You get the alpha males, the strong females, the chemistry, the non-stop action and so very much more.
Wow, wow, wow what can I say but wow. I knew going in this book was good so my expectations were high but Thaddeus totally exceeded them from the first chapter. It was explosive, full of emotional pulls, total angst and sadness. My heart broke a few times but there were others when I laughed like this one comment below……
“Though I’d pay money to see Ivy explode if Zane handed her a bottle of Tylenol and a thank you card after labour”
This had me giggling so much and I myself would want to read that book if ever there was one. This is book 2 of the Gold Team and it’s now Thaddeus’s turn at being brought to his knees. He loved and lost 10 years ago….Emerson….. his love who walked out on everything he had for her. Now she is back and they aren’t the same people they were although Emerson puts on a real good show, an act of sorts for getting close to bad men.
This was emotional as we see the rebuilding of a love story between Thad and Emmy but it does come with consequences sometimes on both sides. My heart rate ramped up as I neared the end and boy was that a high rollercoaster ride I enjoyed. An amazing read with awesome characters, great back stories and it was so awesome to see Tex in there. I can’t wait for Kyles story now.
This book is packed full of action and suspense. Thad meets a blast from his past when his girlfriend from 10 years ago shows up on the arm of a sex trafficking, dog fighting scumbag and he is pissed. Emerson walked out of Thad’s life 10 years ago without a word. There are secrets revealed and Emerson tries to help the team catch more bad guys and save some trafficked women. Emerson and Thad also have to fight to get back what they once had. You will need tissues and probably a drink or two lol. I loved reading this one and can’t wait for the next book.
Oh my! This book was nonstop adventure from the start. This is the second book in the Gold team series. Thaddeus met Emerson when he was in BUD/s. She kept him dialed and helped him keep his head on straight while trying to survive it. She was the light of his life and she ghosted him when he was away on a mission. He has never forgotten or forgiven her for leaving him.
First time he sees her I’m Mexico he’s beyond mad she’s with this well dressed Man and dripping in stylish clothes he could never afford.
Can these two overcome their past relationships to work together to take down a common enemy.
Emerson has spent the last 10 years of her life missing Thaddeus something fierce. She is not the woman he used to know. She has changed and some questionable things that she cannot change or would not if it meant women were free from being taken and sold into human trafficking.
This was a page turner that I could not stop reading until it was done. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team. This group of alphas is gonna fall hard.
Thaddeus (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) Gold Team Book 2 by Riley Edwards is a story that is filled with so many emotions, a real page turner, as you follow what happens when Thaddeus Bench and his brothers from the Zcorps are thrown into the dark world of drugs, dog fights and human trafficking as they have to take down the criminal who is in charge of it all. But once in Mexico, Thaddeus happens to see the one person he never thought would enter his life again; Emerson Pierce the woman he loved who broke his heart when she left with no explanation 10 years ago. Emerson was thrown off her game once she saw Thaddeus the man she always loved, but she has plans of her own to complete and nothing or no one will stand in her way. Thaddeus and his team have to stop the man who just happens to be heavily involved with Emerson as they embark on this dangerous misson. Now Emerson is thrown into the mix as they need answers from her to complete their mission, but can she be trusted. Now things may not be what they seem, once Emerson’s lies unravel and truths revealed, can Thaddeus and his team believe her as events become deadly? Now he finds he will do all he can to protect the woman he loves, even from herself. With so many twists and turns, you will be left on edge as you take this journey into this brutal dark world.filled with suspense, danger and romance. This is a must read and I highly recommend this book to all Riley Edward’s fans. I voluntairly reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I’ve been looking forward to the next installment of Gold Team and just WOW! Of the charts good. You start to get riled with some of the men’s attitudes but damn, when you start to understand how they are, how they care and love, it’s amazing.
Riley did an absolutely awesome job interweaving characters from Susan Stoker’s book. I am so looking forward to the next book. These men fall so hard in love in a spectacular way.
Absolutely loved this story! I could not put it down!!! Start to finish it kept my attention. It’s a story of love lost, of heartache and pain, yet one of redemption and second chances! Amazing!! Can’t wait for Book 3 in this series!!!!
Oh this book was so good, an action packed second chance romance. I had not read book 1 going in but found I was quickly caught up to speed on the main characters in this Gold Team series. This book focuses on Thaddeus and his past love Emerson. Emerson left Thaddeus over a decade ago and broke both his and her heart but when their paths cross again during a mission both must learn to forgive or neither will survive. As the mission gets more dangerous and they are forced to spend time together Thaddeus learns that Emerson wasn’t as selfish as he thought and he still loves her more than ever but she has to learn to trust him not just to save her but to love her again. A suspenseful plot line that started in book 1 and will continue throughout the series. I loved Thaddeus, he was everything you want in an alpha H. Emerson was a strong h that was willing to fight for family and give up her happiness to save the world. A book well done.
This is book 2 in the Gold Team series and I have been waiting impatiently for it since this character was introduced! Emerson and Thad dated when he first started out in the Seal’s and Emerson was in college. While he is away on a mission, Emerson leaves. Thad never knows why and is so angry, he never goes to find her to find out what happened. He just assumes she is something she isn’t. Fast forward to years later, and he see’s her while in Mexico. And it just brings up all his anger all over again. He never expects that his mission will throw her back into his life. Or that his team will need answers from her that he doesn’t think she will give. Until he finds out just how wrong he truly is about her and her motives for what she does.
I absolutely loved this book! What would you do for the people you loved? Emerson will go through hell and walk through fire for someone she loves. And she proves that again and again. To the point that your heart breaks for her and everything she has been through. Thad has been hurt but he could have saved himself some of his heartache if he had just figured out where Emerson had gone and followed her to have a conversation. But I get why he didn’t. I truly do. And I am glad he realizes the mistakes he made on top of hers. I really liked Thad in this book but I think Emerson truly made the book for me. There are so many things that she does and goes through that just truly made me love her. Of course after seeing snippets of her sister, not I want a story for her as well!! Of course I also need a certain teammate’s story as well!! Can’t wait to read more in this series!
Thaddeus has me hooked from the moment I started reading the book until the very end. This book has it all, action, romance, alpha hero and a kickass heroine. I could not stop reading it. So far this is my favorite book author Riley Edwards and I can’t wait to see what is in store next
10 years after being ghosted by the love of his life, Thaddeus is not expecting to have to protect that ghost when she becomes part of an Op he and the Gold Team are on. When it come to Emerson, his heart is like ice. She left him…in the wind. When the truth comes out as to why, will that ice melt away and will he let her back in? Will tragedy strike again and Emerson be gone for good? Like I have said before, Riley cannot write a bad book! Truly enjoyed this one and the continued success of the Gold Team series.
This book.. where to begin. Long lost lovers who were ripped apart but still miss each other dearly no matter how much they try to say and prove different. Emmerson is one tough chick who gave it all up to find her sister and save her man from making a career ending mistake. She is tough as nails but still vulnerable who has seen the worst of the worst. Thad of any woman would want them one of him. He is moody, broody, witty and a strong alpha. He saves the one who got away and tore his heart out but wants to keep her at arms length but fate as a way of throwing a bomb in that plan. These two together along with the rest of the team save the day untill fate steps in again and tries to tear them apart but this time Thad is having no part of it and he is getting the girl come hell or high water. This book has an amazing storyline, all the emotional feels and lots of action and STEAM! Riley Edwards has hit it out of the park.