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DUTCH

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He was trained to eliminate threats. He never expected to fall for one.

Dutch doesn't do relationships. He doesn't make promises he can't keep. And he sure as hell doesn't let anyone close enough to become a weakness.

As the leader of Black Team, an off-the-books unit of former Navy SEALs, Dutch operates in the shadows, doing the jobs no one can acknowledge. He's ruthless, disciplined, and damn good at what he does.

Then Penny Cox walks into his life and threatens every ounce of his carefully maintained control.
Brilliant, stubborn, and entirely too tempting, the former NSA cryptographer has already survived a kidnapping. Now she's determined to uncover who's behind it—and why someone with access to America's most closely guarded secrets wants her silenced.

Dutch knows the smart move is to keep his distance.
Too bad there's nothing smart about the way he wants her.

Penny has spent her entire life fighting to survive. She's learned not to depend on anyone, especially men who think they know what's best for her. And Dutch? He's the most infuriating, overbearing, maddeningly attractive man she's ever met.
He's also the first man who's made her wonder what it would feel like to belong.

When Penny discovers evidence of a national security breach, Black Team is pulled into a deadly international conspiracy where the intelligence can't be trusted, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and one wrong move could ignite a war.

Dutch has spent his life protecting his team and eliminating threats.
But protecting Penny is different.

Because somewhere between trying to keep her safe and fighting the feelings he swore he'd never have, the most dangerous man she's ever known has fallen in love.

And anyone who comes for his woman is about to learn exactly why they call in Black Team when every other option has failed.


First there was Zane Lewis's Red Team.... Now there's Dutch's Black Team.
Elite operatives. Ruthless missions. Protective alpha heroes willing to burn the world down for the women they love.


From high-risk missions and deadly enemies the Black Team series delivers heart-pounding romantic suspense packed with emotional intensity, fierce devotion, and hard-earned happily ever afters.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2026

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About the author

Riley Edwards

98 books2,837 followers

Riley Edwards is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.

Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley's favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter and never miss another release, sale, or exclusive bonus material. https://www.subscribepage.com/RRsignup

https://www.facebook.com/Novelist.Ril...

www.rileyedwardsromance.com

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5 stars
98 (74%)
4 stars
29 (21%)
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4 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda Grace.
904 reviews60 followers
November 1, 2026
I'm so happy to be back in the Z Corps world and this was a fantastic start to the Black Team. Dutch and Penny are perfect for each other. They're both fierce protectors, prepared to defend each other and dig out the hurt after they get past the initial stubbornness. Classic Riley Edwards. I cannot wait for Hollywood's book.

*I loved the crossover scene at The Sapphire Hotel with some of my favorite Brittany Sahin's characters.
Profile Image for Mom Reads Romance.
847 reviews31 followers
October 31, 2026
I loved this book so much. So much. Older characters-fmc is 45 and MMC is (?) I forget but same age?? Doesn’t matter it’s not an age gap so they are around the same age. 🫣🤣

The voices of the men in this series are far different than voices she has penned in previous books. I LOVED it.

It isn’t darker for me, but the idea of Black Team is black ops so in reality there is more at stake but it didn’t feel that dark for me. If one gets caught-they go down bc it’s not “on the books” dealings like Zane’s teams normally do.

Ok. The plot & characters makes more sense if you have read Cash, the last book in Zane’s Z Corp world. That’s where Cash meets Penny, his long lost sister. Otherwise Pen’s emotions and thoughts will confuse you.

This entire world is tied together with familiar characters interwoven. Again the biggest player is Cash. So at the very least read that book.
If you want a buffet then start at the Red Team and move from there. It’s a great series. My fave books are the first one Nightstalker, you could skip to read Ivy’s book where Zane falls in love and then pop around reading whatever floats your boat in that world bf ending w Cash then Dutch.

All that to say, when you get to Dutch, you will have a sense of Riley’s voices for her men. It’s different for Dutch and his men and it’s a BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!

Kindle U 🩵
MF👫🏻

HFN for couple but plot continues in Hollywood’s book!! Which I cannot wait to read. 😇

No preg in this book or talk of children and not sure if this is intentional or there will be in future bc she does write kids and babies in her books a ton. 🎱

Not a ton of spice in the book which is rare for Riley. I’m not sure if this is a new trend for her or not. I don’t care either way bc the book was fun to read 🌶️🌶️

Penny is smart and not one of those dumb annoying stubborn TSTL women. She is sad at times (ok a lot of the book until about mid way) and it’s well written.

Dutch is-well I thought he made a great MMC and I loved reading his POV but I have a feeling Hollywood is gonna be my man. 😂😂 Later on in the book the team and Pen are walking in to meet a CIA agent and Pen gets caught off guard by how different Hollywood looks going into this tense meeting and situation in another country, when for months all she had seen was him goof off and smile. 🥵🤣

Looking forward to all the books tbh. This plot and series feels fresh and reads as smooth as warm butter on hot toast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jane A.
359 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 27, 2026
Pure black gold! Simply wonderful story and everything I want and expect from Riley Edwards - gritty, no holds barred emotions, hard hitting action and suspense and all the humour you need, oh yes a good dose of sweet and spicy too! Make no mistake Black Team are darker and more shadowy than Zane Lewis’ other teams but they are absolutely built from the same mould of growly, infuriating, over protective, gorgeous men that annoy the heck out of you at the same time as making you melt.
I will confess when I met Penny previously I wasn’t convinced I was going to like her - turns out I am both right and wrong, I don't like Penny I absolutely adore her. Stronger than she thinks, smart and stubborn to the hilt, Penny fought to survive and to build her life from the horror of her childhood with her abusive drug addict mother, she survived the recent kidnapping that placed her in Black Team leader Dutch's care. Penny is now determined to uncover the person behind her kidnapping and find out why they wanted her silenced.
Dutch works and lives in the shadows, Black Team do the tasks that don't exist, he was comfortable with his existence then Penny landed in his life and every bit of his carefully crafted control is under threat. He doesn't want to want her, he doesn't want the attraction and temptation that have suddenly crept into his carefully ordered life, he's a ruthless elite operative there is no room in his life for a complication like Penny. Dutch frustrates and enrages Penny to an equal degree, he challenges her control and independence but as uttering maddening as he is he also makes her dream of belonging.
Feelings creep in and get bigger and walls start to fall as both start to see beyond the barriers they have erected, Penny never saw herself as being worthy of love and whilst Dutch would burn the world down for her if he had to. When Penny is drawn into Black Team's latest mission Dutch finds himself in the terrifying position of protecting the woman he loves.
Watching Penny and Dutch's relationship evolve is completely enthralling, both have baggage, both are stubborn, it's intense, they are navigating something neither expected but it's perfect and I loved every moment. Love the new Team too, so many new characters to carve out a space in my heart, so much banter to enjoy - can't wait.
Thank you Riley Edwards - Dutch is truly an excellent addition.
Profile Image for Hope Jones.
Author 12 books91 followers
October 31, 2026
3.75⭐️
2.5🌶️

Before I get started, I wanted to preface this review by saying: Riley Edwards is one of my favorite authors, especially if I'm looking for a military/romantic suspense. She is my go-to for that genre, and I don't see that changing, even with my rating on this one.
Now, lemme also say, I freaking loved these characters. Genuinely, they are probably some of my favorite characters out of her Teams Series.
When I knew Penny was getting her story, I wasn't overly excited for it. I didn't connect with her much in Cash's book.
However, by the time I got to chapter five, that had changed completely. I was half in love with her by then.
And don't even get me started on Dutch. I was really excited to be getting his book, and he did not disappoint.
With all that being said, I was a little disappointed overall. The story was so short that I felt like the characters' backstories were only a quarter of the way delved into. We got very little depth to them, only scratching the tip of the iceberg. The book wasn't long enough to give them justice, in my opinion.
My other disappointment: the spice was nowhere near the normal level of Ms. Edwards usual spice. We only really got one in depth 👉🏻👌🏻 scene and that was at the VERY end. The only other penetrative spice had very little detail & was over in half a page really.
Riley Edwards spice is usually more on point and it wasn't this book, but I wonder if that could be a theme for this series, though we won't know till the rest of the series comes out.
Also, the ending had me very excited for Hollywood's book. I am so ready.
To sum up my point, even though I was disappointed, it doesn't mean I won't read the rest of the series. Make no mistake, I absolutely loved every second of reading this, even if I felt it wasn't long enough.
And I will absolutely keep Riley Edwards on my one-click author list.

Tropes:
✨ Romantic Suspense
✨ Competent Heroine
✨ Growly, Overprotective MMC
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Dual, First Person POV
Profile Image for Lana Humphress.
153 reviews
October 31, 2026
Black Team is proving to be fantastically mysterious

Okay, let me tell you all about Dutch—a total pro when it comes to taking down threats, but man, does he have one hilarious weakness: Penny Cox. She’s sharp as a whip, stubborn as they come, and there’s no way she’s gonna let some brooding SEAL run the show. Honestly, that’s probably why sparks fly—and chaos follows—whenever these two are in the same room!

This book is packed to the brim with secret missions, jaw-dropping reveals, international drama, and a romance that’s basically yelling, “I’m definitely not falling for her”—but, spoiler alert, he totally is. Penny’s got the brains and the guts, Dutch is that perfect mix of tough and irresistibly swoony, and Black Team? They’re exactly the kind of backup you need.

If you’re all about strong heroines, gruff heroes, nonstop excitement, and that slow-burning, heart-melting kind of love, buckle up, because this story is one wild, thrilling ride. Yeah, Dutch can take down the bad guys like a champ... but guess what? No one ever gave him a guide on how to survive falling head over heels in love! This was good but cant wait to see what's in store for Hollywood and the mysterious Berlin.
Profile Image for Denise H.
1,080 reviews56 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 29, 2026
Absolutely amazing book! DUTCH is all that and more. Riley completely knocked the emotional bar out of the park with the start of the Black Team series. The alpha, bada$$, growly, hardened team lead and the smart, scared, healing, lonely protectee make a pair to be reckoned with when it comes to digging for answers, protective streaks, navigating each other, and becoming a team.

My heart ached for both Dutch and Penny as they worked their way through the minefields of conversations and emotions to find their way to love and happiness. The rest of the team were the perfect balance of mystery, protectiveness, and fun banter. I loved how they all treated Penny like a little sister and easily pulled her into their found family; something she had never had but definitely needed. Each man had a unique personality that leaves you wanting to know more about them. I can’t wait for all their stories.

Once you start reading it will be hard to put down, DUTCH pulls you in and takes you on a wild, thrilling ride. Suspense, danger, mystery, action, steam, found family, romance, humor, twists/turns, hard, profound love, HEA, and all the feels! Highly recommend!
163 reviews1 follower
November 2, 2026
Having read some of Riley’s other books in the Downrange series and really enjoying them, I was looking forward to reading Dutch and also because of the crossover with characters from Brittney Sahin’s Falcon Falls series. Dutch and Penny both had issues and were equally strong and interesting. ( I now have to read the Silver Team series.) There was a good amount of suspense with some hints at things to come. The relationship between Dutch and Penny was a slow burn and trust developed over time. While there were instances of spice, it was not overdone. Next up on my TBR is the Silver Team series for background for future Black team books. If you like military romance/ suspense books, I would recommend reading this one.
Profile Image for Lisa Stainker.
53 reviews
October 31, 2026
Dutch and Penny are Amazing!

FIVE well deserved stars as Riley Edwards does it again! What an incredible start to a brand new series. Dutch is a hard man who has lived a rough life. He and his team have sequestered themselves on a ranch to fight their brand of war. Penny needs a safe zone, so Zane banishes her to Dutch's stronghold. Penny is surrounded and protected by the team but is just as alone as she has always been. An accidential misunderstanding open Dutch's eyes to see Penny and her worth. Then it is Game On for Dutch to win her over. An edge of your seat page turner that you do not want to miss.
6 reviews
November 2, 2026
Disappointing Dutch

Being accustomed to deep character development from Riley Edwards, the book is a letdown. It's obvious the book was a rush, the writing just doesn't flow like an Edwards' book. Not only is it shorter than most, due to lack of plot expansion, but there's no cohesive story theme as expected from this author. There's little true development of the feeling between Dutch and Penny, other than a reason to throw in the sex scenes. We'll have to see if the rest of the Black team warrior stories are better written. I would rather the author take time to publish the next one of the series than rush and present more lackadaisical drivel.
281 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 28, 2026
I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down from the moment I read the beginning, I wanted to know more about Cash’s sister. I was so excited to read the first book with the Black Team. Penny was so quiet in the beginning to me but we know why, but to see her grow and learn what family is…I had a few favorite parts that I can’t give away but all I will say is Jesse & Carter from other books, sigh and the part where we talk of a funny moment with Hollywood, it is a must read yall, I almost fell off the couch I laughed so hard. This is a must read for suspense to laugh out loud moments.
Profile Image for NanaX8.
2,691 reviews68 followers
October 30, 2026
Holy Sheetsky Bitsky…this one has it all…I laughed, I cried, I got really ticked off, and then I melted with love for both Dutch and Penny. Both had absolutely horrible lives growing up and building walls around their hearts was their protection from any further pain. Little did they know that things were going to change and opening their eyes and hearts weren’t the worst things to happen.

Grab this action-packed romance as Dutch & Penny fall as someone(s) try to do away with the one they believe has info they do not want out and Dutch will do anything to keep Penny safe!! Loved it!!❤️🔥❤️
271 reviews7 followers
October 31, 2026
Riley never disappoints so why would the first book in a series be different. Dutch is the leader of the whispered Black team. They get in and then get out a whisper maybe. Cash's sister Penny is being protected by Black. Penny has always taken care of herself and kept her safe. But Dutch is fighting his feelings for his team mate 's adjacent sister. What happens when they both stop fighting their feelings but danger is looming? Well you have to read to find out. LOL. Riley is a wizard with her words. You will laugh, cry, cheer, and the groan because you want the next book.
Profile Image for Carolyn Spence.
2,086 reviews16 followers
November 1, 2026
Finally, Dutch. He's on par with Zane! Zane makes an appearance in this and it quite professional in his appearance, and I absolutely loved the ceremony, it was so apropos in it's telling. These alpha men don't know how to act around someone they admire or like, typical screw ups that they grovel from. There is "beauty in darkness", and it's so, so great when the reader gets to see it in the characters. Loved the intensity, loved these new characters and can't wait for more in this series. I will drop everything to read one of Ms. Edwards stories. Come on over to the dark side.
Profile Image for Teresa Reitnauer.
1,029 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 29, 2026
Call the Black Team when every other option has failed. Dutch is broody, ruthless, disciplined, and the team leader. Penny Cox is brilliant, stubborn, and a distraction to Dutch's way of life. They have a mutual attraction that gets harder to resist the more time they spend together. He will protect her with his life. She will show him he deserves to be loved. This is a story you don't want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Fiona  Rae.
119 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy
October 27, 2026
I love these new characters Riley did it again this book has all the elements a riley book has with new twists i am so glad penny got her happily ever after with a grumpy Dutch at first cant wait for the next book in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenn O'Leary.
1,160 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 28, 2026
Dutch is the exciting first book in Riley Edwards new Black Team Series.
This book was full of emotions, suspense, twists, turns, spice and some fantastic banter. I absolutely loved Dutch and Penny.
I could not put down this book! I am loving this new team and can't wait for more of this exciting new series.
Profile Image for Stacey Kelley.
528 reviews35 followers
October 31, 2026
The part I enjoyed the most in this book was the crossover with Brittney Sahin’s characters at the sapphire hotel. For me, personally, I don’t feel like you can do a military suspense book justice when it’s this short. There’s no time to build tension, and our MCs went from hating each other to loving each other with a flip of a switch. I just needed more of everything.
570 reviews15 followers
November 1, 2026
Dutch and Penny

This was the perfect start to a new series. I absolutely love Dutch and Penny together. They were perfect for each other. Dutch brought out the best in Penny. I loved loved all the teammates. I can’t wait for their stories.
Profile Image for Patty.
150 reviews
November 1, 2026
Black team!

The first in the black team series did not dissapoint! Although nothing that Riley Edwards writes does. I can already tell how much I'm going to love these characters. Dutch and Penny were awesome and Hollywood and Berlin will be even better!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews