A past poisoned by lies.Toxins expert Eden Foster was trained never to get close to anyone. She’s only broken that rule twice, and each time it ended in heartbreak. Her mentor was murdered in front of her, and now the man she was forced to deceive and leave behind has suddenly become a threat. She wants justice, but the only way she’ll get it is by joining forces with the only man to pose a … forces with the only man to pose a threat to her guarded heart—the CIA contractor tasked with capturing and turning her in.
Risking a second chance could cost them everything.
Zack Maguire has spent his entire adult life serving his country, but this time, he’s torn between duty and his heart. Eden might not be the woman he thought she was, but he refuses to accept that everything between them was a lie. If she’s being hunted, he’s all in. He won’t sit back and do nothing when her life is on the line. As the danger mounts, he’ll do anything to protect her. And when their enemies close in, the only way they’ll live long enough to have a second chance is to let go of the past and learn to trust each other.
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Like I said in my previous review, every book gets better and better.
With this second chance thriller, you’ll yet again be glued to your seat from cover to cover, especially with all the puzzle pieces finally coming together.
You’ll get some jaw dropping answers and like my other reviews I’m keeping this short as dying to jump right into the next book.
Awesome sauce! Eden is a real femme fatale!
She is the mistress of undetected assassinations. But she let down her guard and let the sexy Zack took root in her heart. It almost killed her to leave him, the only way she managed to leave him was by knocking his hulking ass out!
They meet once more on another job and Zack quickly realises that she used him last time around to get to her target. There will be no more manipulations from her! But then he goes and gets intrigued all over again and he’s soon leaving his posting behind to assist Eden and the other “Bitchilantes”.
Zack is just everything you want in a hero. He’s strong, sexy and hides a gooey core. He knows Eden is the one for him, even when she is waxing lyrical about the potency of poisons! The repartee and banter between the Valkyries is brilliantly sharp and witty. My favourite scene has to be of the guys standing around comparing notes, LOL!
My wait is nearly over for Marcus and Kiyomi – that love has been brewing for a while and it’s going to be EPIC!
This book is awesome, the connection between the girls is unique, the men are real alpha men protective and the suspense is taking you to another level.
Twists and turns and some good hot scenes. It is easy to read you can lose your self it it. Go grab a copy.
Female assassin versus mercenary for hire? I’ll take that bet, especially when it’s a Valkyrie up against former CIA!
Eden Foster knows her plants. Knows exactly how much to feed and water them to make them bloom and grow. And knows just how many crushed petals it takes to make a poison that just makes someone quite sick to one that’s deadly. And that is awesome, right? She’s brilliant and deadly. And amazing.
And lonely. And the one time she let down her guard, she almost got herself killed.
And now Zack Maguire is back in her crosshairs. But he’s on her side this time. And he didn’t forget the time he spent with Eden. She’s unforgettable. And now in addition to keeping themselves alive and finding the traitor in their midst, Zack’s bound and determined to remind Eden that what they feel—love, lust, happiness—is real. And worth fighting for—a future worth fighting for.
I loved Toxic Vengeance and loved Zack and Eden. Loved their romance. Their banter. Their love. Their desire to build for a future. To finally give in and over to their feelings. It wasn’t easy for them to overcome their fears and their pasts, but it was so worth the battle. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Marcus and Kiyomi.
Former Valkyrie, Eden Foster is a toxins expert. Trained never to get close to or trust anyone, she shies away from all personal contacts or relationships. The only people she has ever gotten close to were her handler and mentor who was murdered in front of her, and a man she left behind to keep them both safe, who may now be the biggest threat against her.
For the first time in his career, Zach Maguire finds himself questioning if he is on the side of right or wrong. Given a mission to bring in the woman who captured his heart years ago, he can’t believe that she is the threat the CIA says she is and doesn’t feel it’s right to hunt her down. He knows everything between them was not a lie, and now he’s out to prove that as well as the fact that he can be trusted.
Toxic Vengeance was action packed and full of unexpected plot twists and turns. I loved Eden’s character and the fact that her specialty ties back to her childhood. She’s tough as nails, yet a secret romantic . . . who happens to have the ability to kill you with flowers! Zach is a real sweetie, and a bit of a hopeless romantic as well. He never forgot about Eden, and now that he has a chance to win her back, he’ll stop at nothing to gain her love and trust. He’s all about breaking down her walls and keeping her safe.
While it is Eden and Zach’s story, there was a lot of focus in this installment on all of the Valkyries and their overall mission. Their group is getting closer to finding out who the real mastermind is behind the elimination of their kind and we are given a glimpse into the final book – Marcus and Kiyomi’s story which is up next.
Toxic Vengeance was an absolute thrillride, as this entire series has been. I’m both excited and terrified to see how the final book plays out. 4.5 stars!
5 Stars
Holy Moly! If you want excitement that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the page waiting for more, then you need to grab this book today! Eden and Zack have this underlying attraction so intense you will need a fan in the middle of winter! As the Valkyries get closer and closer to solving the mystery behind their creation, the danger gets bigger and their pasts may come back to haunt them. I cannot wait for the conclusion of this series with the story of Marcus and Kiyomi…two damaged warriors who have a connection deeper than I think they even realize.
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
*4.5 stars*
Suspenseful, action-packed romance!
With each read in this series, I’ve become more and more invested! The story arc is unique and the characters that live it equally so. Women and men are equals as they all kick a** while trying to figure out a deadly puzzle….
This time out, Eden and Zack are brought together, unknowingly, with similar agendas. Eden finds herself falling in love and being herself for the first time ever. And Zack is right there with her… Unfortunately, their lives won’t let them be and when it all blows up, they have to figure out who they can trust….
This was an edge on your seat read! Eden was a strong character with vulnerability only around Zack. He was her only weakness and watching her wrestle with threats to both him and her family was heart-pinging. The Valkyries were strong but when enemies threatened who they loved all bets were off…
Zack was such a great male lead. Protective, loving , he was comfortable in his James Bond-esque life, but he would give it all up for Eden and his own moral code.
The enemy was cruel but the emotional upheavals were just as dangerous. And this couple wasn’t the only one struggling to find love and balance… An abrupt ending means more is needed to bring all of the loose ends together so stalking the shelves begins again!
*Reviewed for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty
She’s Toxic
Eden and Zack meet when he’s working overseas, having no idea who Eden really is When he wakes up one morning to find her gone, leaving just a note and a flower behind…he’s saddened
Fast forward a year and a few months and she literally slams into him….now he’s searching for her but so are the agency that created them.
Loved this story of Eden and Zack, it was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat I can’t wait for the next Valkyrie and the conclusion of this series but also sad to see it end as I love these characters and their men
Eden knew exactly who Zack was. He was her way to her mark, but she also managed to fall for him. The time with him had her letting herself pretend to be the person she would like to have been. However she had no choice but to leave him. There was someone else who needed killing.
Zack fell for the beautiful flight attendant, he had no clue she wasn’t who she said she was. Everything checked out with her id both with CIA and other checks. He had no idea that everything was about to change for him when he ran into her after his next target ends up dead.
The way she ditched him was priceless and had me giggling. However things get serious pretty quickly.
Tiffany finds her just as her handler is killed and she just barely manages to avoid getting shot. Since Eden knows Kiyomi that’s the person Tiffany gets on the line and Eden learns the horrible truth that they are all being targeted.
Rycroft lures Zack to a meeting in the UK where instead of the man he meets up with Eden again, and gets a choice to help or leave.
Plenty of action, very emotional, suspenseful and even romantic as this story unfolds with more information and mystery and some laughter too.
I can’t wait for the next book!
For those new to the series, this is about Valkyrie, a group formed by the government that has trained strong , resourceful female operatives to go beyond the expected. But they are also trained never to get close to anyone.
This time the story belongs to Eden Foster, the toxins expert of the group. A woman that took a chance in getting close to two individuals, and sadly, loss them both. One ending in a heartbreak.
Zack Maguire is that man. A man whose life has been dedicated to his country, until he met Eden.
When Eden is in danger, Zack makes it his mission to keep her alive.
Will they survive the evil surrounding them in order to find their HEA, or will they succumb to the enemy?
Once again the author keeps us on the edge our seats from the first page to the last. A story with a complex plot and characters perfect in their imperfections.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
The Vengeance Series just keeps getting better which is hard to believe since the entire series is fantastic! In Toxic Vengeance, book four, by Kaylea Cross Eden Foster is a Expert in Toxins, not as crazed as Chloe from the last book she is still plenty dangerous.
Being a second chance romance with Zack Maguire, this is a favorite of mine from the series. I loved it! One reason is Eden and Zack together but another reason is seeing all the others come together again. This is not a group of people working together, it is truly a family for those who were involved in the Valkyrie Program. I love that!
Not sure at this point that I would say it is a stand-alone. I feel all the books in the series are worth your time to read, seeing how each are brought in and connected to the bigger theme. It may e difficult to keep all the different characters straight if you try to start with this one. Or maybe, it is that I have been with each couple along the way and can’t imagine not knowing each one’s backstory. Anyway Toxic Vengeance is a wonderful roller coaster ride from beginning to end.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.25 stars–TOXIC VENGEANCE is the fourth instalment in Kaylea Cross’ contemporary, adult TOXIC erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of women once known as the Valkyrie-members of a secret CIA government project. This is CIA contractor Zack Maguire, and toxins experct/Valkyrie Eden Foster’s story line. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing arc throughout. The VENGEANCE series is a spin-off from the author’s HOSTAGE RESCUE TEAM series. You do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand but it is recommended to read DISAVOWED (Hostage Rescue Team #4).
SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, an unsanctioned, secret CIA run project ‘stole’, brainwashed and trained a number of orphan girls in an effort to design the perfect killing machine known as the Valkyrie. The project was disbanded but the Valkyrie have since found themselves targeted by someone high in the organization, someone who is willing to kill to protect the secrets they know. Deadly operatives trained to work alone, each a specialist in a different field, the Valkyrie struggle when they find themselves losing their heart and falling in love.
Told from several third person perspectives including Eden and Zack TOXIC VENGEANCE follows Valkyrie and toxins expert Eden Foster on her latest assignment to end the life of an international arms dealer but Eden never expected to come face to face with her most recent past, a man who had stolen her heart when she believed she had no heart to steal. Enter CIA contractor Zack Maguire, and the man with whom Eden will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Eden and Zack as they, as the Valkyries find themselves on the run, targeted by numerous assassins, in an effort to procure one of their own.
Eden Foster has been alone for most of her adult life but never expected to be reunited with the women in the Valkyrie program. From the outset, Zack Maguire’s reappearance forces Eden to look beyond the past when several of their contacts and handlers end up dead. Everywhere to run but nowhere to hide, the Valkyries struggle to stay one step ahead of their past. Zack Maguire has never stopped looking for Eden Foster but discovering Eden was once a part of the CIA’s cover Valkyrie program gave our hero pause, a pause that would place him and the others in the direct line of fire.
The relationship between Zack and Eden is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people who never knew the truth but would one day discover the reality of what was, and what will be The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples: Megan Smith and Tyler Bergstrom (Stealing Vengeance #1), Amber Brown and Jesse Cordova (Covert Vengeance #2), Chloe and Heath (Explosive Vengeance #3) former SAS veteran Marcus Laidlaw, retired SF and NSA agent Alex Rycroft; and Valkyries Trinity Durant and IT specialist Kiyomi. The requisite evil has many faces. Kiyomi and Marcus’ story line is next in Beautiful Vengeance.
TOXIC VENGEANCE is a story of betrayal, secrets and lies; of murder and obsession; of acceptance and falling in love. The premise is fast paced, intriguing and dramatic; the characters are energetic, intelligent and inspiring; the romance is seductive and sensual. TOXIC VENGEANCE is a suspense filled and edgy story sure to inspire us all.
I’ve been a reviewer for the Wickedcoolflight blog for over three years now and a long-time Kaylea Cross fan for longer than that. So sometimes I feel like I say pretty much the same thing over and over about my favorite authors’ books because…well, they ARE my favorites! And truly, each of Kaylea Cross’s books just seem to get better and better. I’ve loved the Vengeance series from the time she announced the concept for it on social media. And once again, the books are more and more amazing the further into the series we get. So suffice it to say that Toxic Vengeance is definitely one of my top picks for this series. While you could probably read it as a standalone title, there are so many backstories and characters now that I think you’d be missing too many nuances that are so intricate to the story that you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice if you didn’t read them all and read them all in order.
What I loved about this book: While Eden and Zack’s story was the main focus, because the mystery is heating up further, we get to see more of the characters from the previous books and I have loved watching them all move from isolated operators into a family of sorts throughout. And I am desperate for Beautiful Vengeance now! The twists and turns this book took had me on my toes (not quite literally) and up waaaaay too late (quite literally) because I just couldn’t stop reading! I HAD to finish it before my brain was satisfied enough with the ending for me to be able to fall asleep.
NICUnurse’s Rating: With some twists and turns I definitely didn’t see coming, and some major hints dropped, Toxic Vengeance literally has me on the edge of my seat and not so patiently awaiting Beautiful Vengeance. I have a feeling that book is going to be pretty epic if this one was any indication!
I give Toxic Vengeance by Kaylea Cross 5 out of 5 stars!