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Red Team #2
Protecting Olivia
When the daughter of a White House aide goes missing, the President calls in Zane Lewis and his team of former special forces soldiers to find the missing girl. The Red Team, having a well-earned reputation for being the best, discovers the true motive behind the kidnapping, and all hell breaks loose.
All Olivia Cox wants to do is escape her life. The harder she tries to break free from the pressure and obligations of her stifling family, the faster she sinks into a nightmare of her own making. This latest decision may be the last one she ever makes. Finding herself in a dingy room handcuffed and held prisoner, Olivia becomes an unsuspecting pawn in a game she didn’t know was being played.
Leo “Panther” Gillonardo is a former SEAL who thought he knew the game better than most. He's a professional, a tier one contractor. She’s the mission. Protecting Olivia should be his only objective. So why does he keep finding himself in her bed? Even if she's fully clothed and terrorized by memories of her kidnapping, he knows better and is desperate to keep Olivia at arm's length. As the days pass it becomes nearly impossible to keep his growing attraction under wraps. The stakes are high, and his heart is on the line.
With a drug cartel in hot pursuit, Panther and the Red Team have no choice but to take Olivia on the run. With time running out, Wolf and Abe offer them protection from the deadly warlord Gomez. Alone in Abe's mountain cabin, sparks fly. Giving in seems inevitable, and Olivia must decide if she’s all in or if she’ll fold as Panther plays a no-holds-barred game of the heart.
All Olivia Cox wants to do is escape her life. The harder she tries to break free from the pressure and obligations of her stifling family, the faster she sinks into a nightmare of her own making. This latest decision may be the last one she ever makes. Finding herself in a dingy room handcuffed and held prisoner, Olivia becomes an unsuspecting pawn in a game she didn’t know was being played.
Leo “Panther” Gillonardo is a former SEAL who thought he knew the game better than most. He's a professional, a tier one contractor. She’s the mission. Protecting Olivia should be his only objective. So why does he keep finding himself in her bed? Even if she's fully clothed and terrorized by memories of her kidnapping, he knows better and is desperate to keep Olivia at arm's length. As the days pass it becomes nearly impossible to keep his growing attraction under wraps. The stakes are high, and his heart is on the line.
With a drug cartel in hot pursuit, Panther and the Red Team have no choice but to take Olivia on the run. With time running out, Wolf and Abe offer them protection from the deadly warlord Gomez. Alone in Abe's mountain cabin, sparks fly. Giving in seems inevitable, and Olivia must decide if she’s all in or if she’ll fold as Panther plays a no-holds-barred game of the heart.
256 pages, ebook
First published July 17, 2018
1915 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Riley Edwards
109 books2,694 followersRiley 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
December 24, 2021
Protecting Olivia is short to my liking. The whole story is more focusing on moving around Olivia. Miss Edwards does not invest much into the plot.
The chemistry is hot. But not sizzling hot. I like Olivia. She is fun heroine. Her inner dialog is hilarious. Leo is a typical brooding hero. Their banter is minimum actually. When they speak, their banter hits the point.
Overall an OK read on Christmas eve.
3 stars
The chemistry is hot. But not sizzling hot. I like Olivia. She is fun heroine. Her inner dialog is hilarious. Leo is a typical brooding hero. Their banter is minimum actually. When they speak, their banter hits the point.
Overall an OK read on Christmas eve.
3 stars
April 22, 2021
(audiobook) It was exactly what I expected. Medium heat–though lots of tension–some action, military jargon, alpha males. Maybe I’d have liked to have a little more depth, like some deep theme running through the whole story, because there was potential for it.
The characters were also a bit two dimensional, more stereotypes than real people. At least they were different enough that you could differentiate them, since there are so many of them. Though it wasn’t too confusing, I felt that I would have appreciated it more if I had read the first book of the series.
It was your regular instalove, with the added bonus of an alpha male who care about the girl because it’s his job, then because she may be more than just a job. It was sweet to watch Leo change in the course of the story.
The narration was impeccable. Both narrators are masters at their craft, and while the male narrator nailed the military alpha, the female narrator did a great job with Olivia–both when she’s strong and when she needs help. A very pleasant audiobook.
Quickie
- Series: Red team #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romantic suspense #military romance #instalove #age gap
- Triggers: some gruesome depiction of kidnapping and sequestration, death
- Main couple: Olivia Cox & Leo Gillonardo
- Hotness: 2/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + Gillonardo familly’s acceptance of Olivia was sweet
- – does Olivia really need to marvel at every man she sees?
The characters were also a bit two dimensional, more stereotypes than real people. At least they were different enough that you could differentiate them, since there are so many of them. Though it wasn’t too confusing, I felt that I would have appreciated it more if I had read the first book of the series.
It was your regular instalove, with the added bonus of an alpha male who care about the girl because it’s his job, then because she may be more than just a job. It was sweet to watch Leo change in the course of the story.
The narration was impeccable. Both narrators are masters at their craft, and while the male narrator nailed the military alpha, the female narrator did a great job with Olivia–both when she’s strong and when she needs help. A very pleasant audiobook.
Quickie
- Series: Red team #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romantic suspense #military romance #instalove #age gap
- Triggers: some gruesome depiction of kidnapping and sequestration, death
- Main couple: Olivia Cox & Leo Gillonardo
- Hotness: 2/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + Gillonardo familly’s acceptance of Olivia was sweet
- – does Olivia really need to marvel at every man she sees?
Want to read
July 4, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/4/2019)! 🎁
August 18, 2019
4.5-5 stars
This was a great story. I really liked both Leo and Olivia and enjoyed their story very much. Fair warning, this is an insta-love story but it's written well and it worked for me. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'll probably read more of her work in the future. FYI, this series is actually written in the universe of another writer, Susan Stoker, and has characters from Stoker's "SEAL of Protection" series in it.
Olivia is a student in law school and the daughter of a White House staffer that works for the first lady. Olivia was a good girl until the last year or so when she realized she hated her life and went a bit too overboard with the partying. She happened to be out partying when she was kidnapped by bad guys.
Leo is a SEAL that left the military and now works for a private firm that does jobs for the Government. Leo grew up in an Italian family and although he lost his father in his teens, he still is close with his Ma, sister and 2 brothers. Leo has dated women but hasn't found anyone that made an impact.
Olivia has been held (not nicely) by kidnappers for a couple weeks when Leo and his team rescue her. Leo is the one that finds Olivia and they make a connection immediately. Olivia trusts Leo and feels safe with him and he feels protective towards her so the team lets him be the main protector with the rest of the team acting as backup. There is an attraction between them but its ignored at first because of what Olivia's been through and the fact that she's still in danger. Before too long though, the danger to Olivia is dealt with and she and Leo confirm their mutual attraction and jump into a relationship. Things work out well and by the end, Leo and Olivia are firmly together and heading to a HEA.
This was a really enjoyable story. I liked Olivia...she wasn't perfect but her behavior seemed right in line with what you'd expect from a woman that had just gone through what she did. Leo was great and I liked that once he knew that Olivia is the "one", he went into it fully with no holds barred (kind of a family thing). I really liked the characters and the story is very well written, fast paced and engaging so I'd definitely recommend it. :D
This was a great story. I really liked both Leo and Olivia and enjoyed their story very much. Fair warning, this is an insta-love story but it's written well and it worked for me. This is the first story I've read by this author and I liked it well enough that I'll probably read more of her work in the future. FYI, this series is actually written in the universe of another writer, Susan Stoker, and has characters from Stoker's "SEAL of Protection" series in it.
Olivia is a student in law school and the daughter of a White House staffer that works for the first lady. Olivia was a good girl until the last year or so when she realized she hated her life and went a bit too overboard with the partying. She happened to be out partying when she was kidnapped by bad guys.
Leo is a SEAL that left the military and now works for a private firm that does jobs for the Government. Leo grew up in an Italian family and although he lost his father in his teens, he still is close with his Ma, sister and 2 brothers. Leo has dated women but hasn't found anyone that made an impact.
Olivia has been held (not nicely) by kidnappers for a couple weeks when Leo and his team rescue her. Leo is the one that finds Olivia and they make a connection immediately. Olivia trusts Leo and feels safe with him and he feels protective towards her so the team lets him be the main protector with the rest of the team acting as backup. There is an attraction between them but its ignored at first because of what Olivia's been through and the fact that she's still in danger. Before too long though, the danger to Olivia is dealt with and she and Leo confirm their mutual attraction and jump into a relationship. Things work out well and by the end, Leo and Olivia are firmly together and heading to a HEA.
This was a really enjoyable story. I liked Olivia...she wasn't perfect but her behavior seemed right in line with what you'd expect from a woman that had just gone through what she did. Leo was great and I liked that once he knew that Olivia is the "one", he went into it fully with no holds barred (kind of a family thing). I really liked the characters and the story is very well written, fast paced and engaging so I'd definitely recommend it. :D
July 12, 2019
Freebie from amazon
Overall the story was good. Alpha male, insta-love, kidnapping, danger. There were a few things that kept me from loving it. #1: overuse of the term "cunt hair". As in "...we were a cunt hair away..." This wasn't just used once. I think it was at least 3 times. It just was gross. Also, in the beginning, there were LOTS of characters and a LOT going on and a LOT of military talk. My eyes kind of glazed over.
I liked both Olivia and Leo though and the story had a good plot!
Overall the story was good. Alpha male, insta-love, kidnapping, danger. There were a few things that kept me from loving it. #1: overuse of the term "cunt hair". As in "...we were a cunt hair away..." This wasn't just used once. I think it was at least 3 times. It just was gross. Also, in the beginning, there were LOTS of characters and a LOT going on and a LOT of military talk. My eyes kind of glazed over.
I liked both Olivia and Leo though and the story had a good plot!
March 13, 2024
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review , luckily I loved it! It drew me in from the start. The story was fast-paced with good twists and turns. It was very true to Susan Stoker’s characters where they appeared and follows on well from the previous Red Team book. I can’t wait for the next ones.
January 20, 2018
An amazing book. I love reading new authors and Riley's book secured me getting more of her books. Leo is a retired seal and now works for Z corps. He is called in with the rest of the team to find a kidnapped girl whose mom works at the white house. Olivia was kidnapped after a night out where she got to drunk. Held against her will and woken with a beating every morning and a sore around her wrist she resigns the fact that this is it, she will die there and never see her mom again.
The emotions running from Olivia and the way the author made you feel as though she was pouring her heart out to you was amazing. She does get rescued but there is still a threat and Leo "panther" takes on the role. There is a mole within the CIA and with one person neautralised and the team not knowing who the other baddies is can Leo and the team save Olivia. We also get to see Tex, Abe, Wolf and Caroline in this book.
My heart broke for Olivia when she was told a secret that had spanned 25 years. A secret her mom had kept to herself. Which was a reason why Olivia was kidnapped. A wonderful book to read and now I want book two. I need to know about Zane and what happens to the traitor they didn't find. I recommend this book and was a great addition to Susan stoker's Kindle world.
The emotions running from Olivia and the way the author made you feel as though she was pouring her heart out to you was amazing. She does get rescued but there is still a threat and Leo "panther" takes on the role. There is a mole within the CIA and with one person neautralised and the team not knowing who the other baddies is can Leo and the team save Olivia. We also get to see Tex, Abe, Wolf and Caroline in this book.
My heart broke for Olivia when she was told a secret that had spanned 25 years. A secret her mom had kept to herself. Which was a reason why Olivia was kidnapped. A wonderful book to read and now I want book two. I need to know about Zane and what happens to the traitor they didn't find. I recommend this book and was a great addition to Susan stoker's Kindle world.
January 17, 2018
Loved this book. It is the first time I have read a Riley Edwards book, and I can honestly say I will be reading more of her books. I had a hard time putting the book down. We get to see Tex, Wolf, Caroline and Abe from Susan Stokers books. Riley has incorporated them nicely, kept the character that Susan gave them. Leo is a big old mama's boy, but he knows when Olivia is introduced into his life that she will be the one that is most important to him. Lots of action, and a steady story line. There are no slow moving parts to this book. This was given to me as an ARC and I can tell you it worth the read.
July 20, 2020
Leo and Olivia😍
Protecting Olivia is the second book in the Red Team series by Riley Edwards. It’s fast paced and one hundred percent action packed with a side of intense Alpha male😜
Olivia is reported missing by her mother and Red Team finds information and goes in to rescue her at the behest of the US President. Leo is the one assigned to her and as they say the rest is history❣️I loved Leo’s family and I can’t wait to read more in this series (currently reading the Red Team Boxset)❤️
Protecting Olivia is the second book in the Red Team series by Riley Edwards. It’s fast paced and one hundred percent action packed with a side of intense Alpha male😜
Olivia is reported missing by her mother and Red Team finds information and goes in to rescue her at the behest of the US President. Leo is the one assigned to her and as they say the rest is history❣️I loved Leo’s family and I can’t wait to read more in this series (currently reading the Red Team Boxset)❤️
January 23, 2021
I don't know why but this book did not give me the same vibe as the res of the books in the Red Team and Gold Team series. I know its weird but it felt off and disconnected from all the other books as if they were not even set in the same fictional world.
Love K
Love K
February 3, 2018
Protecting Olivia,interesting read. I love the characters and the story. Leo and Olivia, both are easy to like. The drama/issue of the story is good. Overall, it's a good book.
Want to read
February 26, 2023Purchase Amazon July 4, 2019
November 23, 2020
Such a sweet story, though the plot is a little tough. Being captured and tortured for the time being and suddenly rescued is a tough thing. But with Leo everything seems manageble. So when they have to go into hiding, they literally get to know each other very well. A very good, but rather short story you'll get to re-meet other characters from different series. Very entertaining.
October 9, 2024
Protecting Olivia
Oh my word! I was on the hunt for something different and that is what I found with Riley's books.
To say I am in love with this series and all her other works is an understatement.
I have binged on each and everyone of her books and love each and everyone.
Hot, steamy, sexy, sizzling with hot alpha males. I am in heaven.
Oh my word! I was on the hunt for something different and that is what I found with Riley's books.
To say I am in love with this series and all her other works is an understatement.
I have binged on each and everyone of her books and love each and everyone.
Hot, steamy, sexy, sizzling with hot alpha males. I am in heaven.
January 15, 2019
This was fabulous! I am so looking forward to more reads like this from Ms. Edwards. This was the first story of hers I have read and I was in no way disappointed. Protecting Olivia is full of wonderful characters and a strong engaging storyline that includes drama, suspense, danger, unveiled secrets and a sweet unfolding romance. Leo (Panther) is great all around. He is a warrior who is committed to his duty and team and has a deep love for his family. He is upfront, honest and dives in head first fully committed in all he does. It is refreshing to see his character stand strong, determined and true to himself and Olivia as he stands by her side and helps her heal. He has a strong protective streak where she is concerned and a sweet gentleness that she brings out of him. Olivia just wants to break free of the stifling pressures of her family and turns to a party lifestyle. She is failing out of school and has alienated her best friend and finds herself waking to a nightmare where she is losing hope of escape. Just when she makes peace with her situation, she is granted a second chance. Leo and Olivia develop a connection from the start and their bond grows stronger the longer they are together. It is endearing to see them grow together, learning to trust and love along the way. There is plenty of action in this story along with witty dialogue by the characters that keeps you entertained and holds your interest. Overall a wonderful story and I hope there will be more to come.
February 19, 2022
Protecting Olivia: Special Forces Operation Alpha: Red Team Book 2 is by Riley Edwards. This series is about Z Corps and the men who work for Zane Lewis. All of them are former Special Forces from the various military sections. Together in teams of six, they are prepared to go anywhere for any length of time to solve any problem that arises in the world. They mainly deal with those involving innocent women and children, drugs, or missing people. Each of the three teams, Blue, Gold, and Red have their areas of expertise; but are always available to help each other out. Red team is the ultimate team and is stationed at headquarters. The others are stationed at distant places.
President Anderson called Zane Lewis with a problem. His daughter’s best friend, Olivia, had been kidnapped. He wanted Zane to find her as soon as possible. Zane dropped everything and set his best team to finding Olivia. Luckily, they did but not before she had been beaten and mistreated. When Leo went into the cell where Olivia was being held, he was horrified at her condition and it brought the protective instinct to live within him. He stayed with her through the doctor examination and the reunion with her mother which turned into a disaster. He was assigned to stay with her until they caught the mastermind behind her being kidnapped. Could he keep her safe? Could he keep himself safe from her?
President Anderson called Zane Lewis with a problem. His daughter’s best friend, Olivia, had been kidnapped. He wanted Zane to find her as soon as possible. Zane dropped everything and set his best team to finding Olivia. Luckily, they did but not before she had been beaten and mistreated. When Leo went into the cell where Olivia was being held, he was horrified at her condition and it brought the protective instinct to live within him. He stayed with her through the doctor examination and the reunion with her mother which turned into a disaster. He was assigned to stay with her until they caught the mastermind behind her being kidnapped. Could he keep her safe? Could he keep himself safe from her?
March 10, 2018
Military Men...
Secret Ops...
Military Men...
Suspense...
Hot Military Men nonetheless...
Just Fan Me Now...
Riley Edwards had me hooked from page one. Let me first start off saying that I loved the fact that we got to see Tex, Wolf, Caroline, and Abe in this book. Having Susan Stolker’s men filter into Riley Edwards book made my day. I loved getting to see them all again.
Protecting Olivia is a must read! I couldn’t put the book down. Like I said before from page one I was hooked. Olivia finds herself in an unthinkable situation and she is left to wonder how she could possibly get out of it. But then her savior “Panther” (aka Leo) and his team come to the rescue. What ensues thereafter is a life or death situation of the trying to Protect Olivia and keep her alive. There are bumps along the way with a few shocks and surprises but the book is full of suspense and has you needing to know more. While all the drama is unfolding around Olivia there is a pull between Olivia and Leo that is forming - the attraction that they each feel for one another came on from the first time they made eye contact and continued to grow. I loved watching them fight the attraction. When they finally came together it was explosive.
Riley Edwards, Protecting Olivia was everything and then some. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.
Secret Ops...
Military Men...
Suspense...
Hot Military Men nonetheless...
Just Fan Me Now...
Riley Edwards had me hooked from page one. Let me first start off saying that I loved the fact that we got to see Tex, Wolf, Caroline, and Abe in this book. Having Susan Stolker’s men filter into Riley Edwards book made my day. I loved getting to see them all again.
Protecting Olivia is a must read! I couldn’t put the book down. Like I said before from page one I was hooked. Olivia finds herself in an unthinkable situation and she is left to wonder how she could possibly get out of it. But then her savior “Panther” (aka Leo) and his team come to the rescue. What ensues thereafter is a life or death situation of the trying to Protect Olivia and keep her alive. There are bumps along the way with a few shocks and surprises but the book is full of suspense and has you needing to know more. While all the drama is unfolding around Olivia there is a pull between Olivia and Leo that is forming - the attraction that they each feel for one another came on from the first time they made eye contact and continued to grow. I loved watching them fight the attraction. When they finally came together it was explosive.
Riley Edwards, Protecting Olivia was everything and then some. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.
April 2, 2021
Protecting Olivia
Red Team, Book 2
By: Riley Edwards, Operation Alpha
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Carly Robins
Riley Edwards knows how to keep me entertained with her romantic suspense! The Red Team is a series I love to visit and this one is no exception! Leo is off to rescue the daughter of a government aide. When he finds her in conditions of dehydration and squalor, it doesn't stop the instant protectiveness he feels. Olivia is enamored with her hero, but is that the attraction? This good looking, special forces operative is warm and compassionate, but there is more there than meets the eye. Once safe, we are taken into a world of lies and deceit with twists and turns we don't see coming. It's on the edge of your seat thrills, unbridled passion, family, forgiveness, redemption and love all brought to life. Edwards kept me engaged and invested in the outcome and now I can't wait to listen to the next in this series.
Jason Clarke and Carly Robins are a fabulous team. Clarke has that commanding, alpha hero voice and the warmth he adds in when speaking to Olivia is just heart melting. Robins creates Olivia with strength and courage as she comes through tragedy and gives her a personality that is easy to love and relate to. I enjoy this team and will always pick up their narrations!
Red Team, Book 2
By: Riley Edwards, Operation Alpha
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Carly Robins
Riley Edwards knows how to keep me entertained with her romantic suspense! The Red Team is a series I love to visit and this one is no exception! Leo is off to rescue the daughter of a government aide. When he finds her in conditions of dehydration and squalor, it doesn't stop the instant protectiveness he feels. Olivia is enamored with her hero, but is that the attraction? This good looking, special forces operative is warm and compassionate, but there is more there than meets the eye. Once safe, we are taken into a world of lies and deceit with twists and turns we don't see coming. It's on the edge of your seat thrills, unbridled passion, family, forgiveness, redemption and love all brought to life. Edwards kept me engaged and invested in the outcome and now I can't wait to listen to the next in this series.
Jason Clarke and Carly Robins are a fabulous team. Clarke has that commanding, alpha hero voice and the warmth he adds in when speaking to Olivia is just heart melting. Robins creates Olivia with strength and courage as she comes through tragedy and gives her a personality that is easy to love and relate to. I enjoy this team and will always pick up their narrations!
February 4, 2022
and so it begins
I adored this book, a deep rooted instalove romance filled with danger, intrigue, suspense and steam.
The beginning (carried on slightly from the last book but only slightly) throws us right into the thick of it with Leo (Panther) working to find and retrieve the daughter of his AG and a close family friend.
This seemingly trivial case gets immediately turned on its head and the entire team are brought in to solve yet another threat and through this Leo finds his “one”.
From the beginning their interactions were swoon worthy, and I mean total alpha badass protector. Whilst at times you might wonder how far Leo will take his reluctance, it’s once Wolf et al are brought into it that Caroline breaks it down so neatly for Olivia/Us.
Seeing Leo transition from pure operator to giving his heart to Olivia is sheer delight, and boy once that man has made his mind up there is simply no direction but forward, at speed!!
Olivia is such a strong person, much more than she gives herself credit for and whilst having some regrets about her past behaviour, that’s not the persons she wants to be, nor the person she really is and so her transition into belonging to Leo whilst retaining her inner strength and identity makes for a great read.
A fantastic book with a fabulous hea. Highly recommended.
I adored this book, a deep rooted instalove romance filled with danger, intrigue, suspense and steam.
The beginning (carried on slightly from the last book but only slightly) throws us right into the thick of it with Leo (Panther) working to find and retrieve the daughter of his AG and a close family friend.
This seemingly trivial case gets immediately turned on its head and the entire team are brought in to solve yet another threat and through this Leo finds his “one”.
From the beginning their interactions were swoon worthy, and I mean total alpha badass protector. Whilst at times you might wonder how far Leo will take his reluctance, it’s once Wolf et al are brought into it that Caroline breaks it down so neatly for Olivia/Us.
Seeing Leo transition from pure operator to giving his heart to Olivia is sheer delight, and boy once that man has made his mind up there is simply no direction but forward, at speed!!
Olivia is such a strong person, much more than she gives herself credit for and whilst having some regrets about her past behaviour, that’s not the persons she wants to be, nor the person she really is and so her transition into belonging to Leo whilst retaining her inner strength and identity makes for a great read.
A fantastic book with a fabulous hea. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2021
After reading all of Susan Stoker's novels, I needed a new author to follow. I think this was my fourth novel of Riley Edwards and I love the fact that she writes with characters from Susan Stoker's world included in her books. With the Riley Edwards novels I wish I could thank the person who recommended Ms. Edwards to me, but I found the individual on Susan Stokers facebook page when I asked which other authors were peoples favorites. I started with Ms. Riley's Red Team books. This is my favorite book by both authors. I have to admit while reading both authors, in my mind I substitute the actors from "SEAL Team," the popular television show on CBS, as the main characters. In my mind that just enhances the enjoyment of the books, and of course I am always the damsel in distress. This book was almost perfect in desired plot, but I thought that she ended the book rather quickly. Someone please tell me I am not crazy for swapping characters in my mind, and substituting myself as the damsel in distress. Another way to look at it, when SEAL Team goes into reruns, I will have plenty of books to read. I am still new to the world of romance, I've read every suspence and thriller out there, and went looking for something different. I love what I have found so far.
November 8, 2021
I don’t even know what happened. one minute Olivia is in danger the next married and pregnant! What just happened?
That has to be the weirdest book of them all. No answers to the secret mole. The danger wrapped up nicely, they got married and are having a baby and the book ended!
I don’t even know where to start.
Olivia is taken hostage and Panther/Leo and his team rescues her. He doesn’t want to feel attracted to her and wants her to just be a mission. So he’s cold with her. Ignores her, doesn’t speak to her and makes her feel really upset. When she’s just been kidnapped and beaten for weeks! Then all of a sudden Leo decides that he wants her and she’s his. And when she’s safe he takes her to meet his mum and siblings. It’s all a bit bizarre. Way too much too fast!
The sex scenes are awful. Put it in her and instant orgasms type thing.
The plot line was so eerily similar to Jasmine’s story that I wondered if she had just cut and pasted the story with different names! Apart from the amnesia that is.
Aside from the fact that I wanted to read the whole series, I’m seriously questioning myself why I did read this book!
That has to be the weirdest book of them all. No answers to the secret mole. The danger wrapped up nicely, they got married and are having a baby and the book ended!
I don’t even know where to start.
Olivia is taken hostage and Panther/Leo and his team rescues her. He doesn’t want to feel attracted to her and wants her to just be a mission. So he’s cold with her. Ignores her, doesn’t speak to her and makes her feel really upset. When she’s just been kidnapped and beaten for weeks! Then all of a sudden Leo decides that he wants her and she’s his. And when she’s safe he takes her to meet his mum and siblings. It’s all a bit bizarre. Way too much too fast!
The sex scenes are awful. Put it in her and instant orgasms type thing.
The plot line was so eerily similar to Jasmine’s story that I wondered if she had just cut and pasted the story with different names! Apart from the amnesia that is.
Aside from the fact that I wanted to read the whole series, I’m seriously questioning myself why I did read this book!
February 25, 2022
Olivia Cox only had her mom growing up. She didn't know who her father is. Leo " Panther " Gillonardo had 2 loving parents growing up. He went in to the Navy and worked his way up to be on Zane Lewis company. Zane got a call from the President of the United States to find the daughter of a White House aide is missing. Panther and rest of the team find Olivia. Panther gets Olivia and carries her out of the house after the team had opened up the wall cause the room smelled bad. It turned to be a body in the wall. Once Panther had Olivia in his arms, he felt that he had to protect her from everyone and everything. Once the team got back to the " farm " Leo didn't want to leave Olivia side. She didn't want him to leave her either. So, he helped her take a shower, stayed while the doctor examined her. The doctor explained her medicine to him instead of her. Then her mother came in and so did the Attorney General Peter Newton. Who just so happens to be her father. Once that cat is out of the than everything takes a very interesting turn
Such an awesome story & can't wait to see what happens next.
Such an awesome story & can't wait to see what happens next.
November 1, 2022
Leo and Olivia
This was an entertaining read. It was a good follow up to Nightstalker and a good addition to what promises to be a good series. There were a lot of characters from Susan Stokers’ books that I didn’t know because I haven’t read them, but having them added to the cast didn’t take away from Leo and Olivia’s story.
Leo rescues Olivia after she’s kidnapped. She latches onto him immediately and he feels a sense of protectiveness towards her. He helps clean her up and gets her through some panic attacks and nightmares but is determined to keep her at arms length. The longer they spend together, the harder it gets for Leo to push her away.
Olivia experienced quite the journey, a kidnapping, cross-country trip to a safe house, forced proximity, and meeting the Italian family of the alpha male who claimed her. She and Leo had an instant connection and although he tried to push her away, her feelings for him never wavered.
The only thing that would have made this book better is if there had been a little more. It felt like the suspense was wrapped up pretty quickly. Overall, a good read and I can’t wait to start the next chapter in this series.
This was an entertaining read. It was a good follow up to Nightstalker and a good addition to what promises to be a good series. There were a lot of characters from Susan Stokers’ books that I didn’t know because I haven’t read them, but having them added to the cast didn’t take away from Leo and Olivia’s story.
Leo rescues Olivia after she’s kidnapped. She latches onto him immediately and he feels a sense of protectiveness towards her. He helps clean her up and gets her through some panic attacks and nightmares but is determined to keep her at arms length. The longer they spend together, the harder it gets for Leo to push her away.
Olivia experienced quite the journey, a kidnapping, cross-country trip to a safe house, forced proximity, and meeting the Italian family of the alpha male who claimed her. She and Leo had an instant connection and although he tried to push her away, her feelings for him never wavered.
The only thing that would have made this book better is if there had been a little more. It felt like the suspense was wrapped up pretty quickly. Overall, a good read and I can’t wait to start the next chapter in this series.
May 30, 2018
Full of emotions, highs and lows. Terror from being kidnapped and held in bleak conditions but still ready to fight for her life given the chance, it takes a few minutes and some compelling eyes for her to understand help has come. Olivia is internally strong, mentally drained from her ordeal, but she still has some feisty left. Leo just needs to protect the grimy women he has helped rescue. Action and excitement, a few thrills and suspense plus a couple learning to know about each other and her to learn to trust again. Betrayal and lies help to add to this story. I found it addicting not wanting to put it down, it held me gripped from start to finish. Adding in a few members from another group just added to a story that is amazing with just this authors characters. The team are all loyal, focussed and supportive of each other. I am loving this author and will be buying more of her books, I am more than happy to recommend to anyone who likes a Military/PS type romance that contains some violence, lots of action and some sexy bits. Fantastic read.
June 14, 2018
Loved this book
I really loved this book and all of the Red Team members who are finding their soul mates. Finally Leo gets his story although he needs to rescue her first.
Olivia has been kidnapped after being drugged at a nightclub. But whatever information they want she doesn't have it so hopefully help will arrive soon as she's fading fast without food or water. But she now regrets visit to a bar because she ended up with terrorist who are determined to kill her. Will Leo find her in time?
Leo and his Red Team feel like their op is a set up even though POTUS has green lighted their mission something feels off. When they finally are able to rescue Olivia there is a moment when he just knows the she's the one for him. He'll have to go on the run trying to protect her but the best part for the both of them will be meeting his family and trying to reunite Olivia's parents (When revealed who her dad is a shock) and convince her that she's become very important to him.
I really loved this book and all of the Red Team members who are finding their soul mates. Finally Leo gets his story although he needs to rescue her first.
Olivia has been kidnapped after being drugged at a nightclub. But whatever information they want she doesn't have it so hopefully help will arrive soon as she's fading fast without food or water. But she now regrets visit to a bar because she ended up with terrorist who are determined to kill her. Will Leo find her in time?
Leo and his Red Team feel like their op is a set up even though POTUS has green lighted their mission something feels off. When they finally are able to rescue Olivia there is a moment when he just knows the she's the one for him. He'll have to go on the run trying to protect her but the best part for the both of them will be meeting his family and trying to reunite Olivia's parents (When revealed who her dad is a shock) and convince her that she's become very important to him.
April 7, 2021
Leo saves Olivia from a drug cartel, and then is assigned to protect her during the fallout and subsequent events of the kidnapping, but he only finds himself drawn more and more to her. Olivia is immediately taken with the SEAL with green eyes who looks like a black panther when he rescues her. Their love story definitely moves quickly, but to be fair, Leo states that once he decides he want something he moves quickly, and he isn’t kidding. The kidnapping and cartel story that drive their narrative is a bit incomplete, and seems a bit disconnected at times, but it serves their story well enough. The way that Leo protects and cares for Olivia is very charming and sweet, so it’s really no surprise that when she discovers that he feels the same as she does, she wastes no time moving their relationship forward as well. Their chemistry and attraction is strong, and the steam level is pretty high as well, even though there are some things teased at that we unfortunately don’t get more info on. Overall, a quick, passionate love story.
July 25, 2025
The Red Team series is my favorite of all of Riley Edwards books and Protecting Olivia was a good start into the team series. Leo aka Panther and the team have been tasked with rescuing the daughter of a White House staffer. Olivia Cox is in trouble with a capital T! She's been taken hostage and has no clue by whom, the reasons or if she has any chance at survival. When a group of masked gunmen show up to rescue her she doesn't know what to believe. Who are these men? Where did they come from? Where I be any safer? The one thing that she knows for sure is that from the moment the green eyed man picked her up, she's never felt safer. The Red Team is assigned with protecting Olivia until the threat can be contained. Leo knows that he is the man meant to be by her side. This story has a bit of "insta-love" feel to it but it works. I liked Olivia and Leo together and enjoyed their story. It was told from dual POV and had action, twists, angst and heat. Sadly there's a few grammatical errors so be forewarned.
July 20, 2019
Protecting Olivia
Leo/panther is on a special ops team and is charged with rescuing Olivia/hash, it’s a mission so he is in the zone doing what he does of course until their eyes meet. Olivia been kidnapped and locked in a room with hardly anything to eat or drink is in pretty bad shape, never before has panther had the reaction he has to her so he is the only one that he will allow from his whole team to touch or protect her and he does it with his life. On the run constantly of course being together 24/7, you know what happens they fall in love. Of course along the way there’s a lot of conflict fighting they think they find out who’s kidnapped her and take him out, but of course there’s always something else that comes up................Is it over? This book left you really wanting more, not sure if it’ll be solved and another one Of the special forces books or not have to keep reading on
Leo/panther is on a special ops team and is charged with rescuing Olivia/hash, it’s a mission so he is in the zone doing what he does of course until their eyes meet. Olivia been kidnapped and locked in a room with hardly anything to eat or drink is in pretty bad shape, never before has panther had the reaction he has to her so he is the only one that he will allow from his whole team to touch or protect her and he does it with his life. On the run constantly of course being together 24/7, you know what happens they fall in love. Of course along the way there’s a lot of conflict fighting they think they find out who’s kidnapped her and take him out, but of course there’s always something else that comes up................Is it over? This book left you really wanting more, not sure if it’ll be solved and another one Of the special forces books or not have to keep reading on
April 9, 2025
So I'm only two books into this series and so far I'm loving it. I'm a big fan of Susan Stoker's and Riley Edwards hits the mark with her books. Leo (Panther) and Olivia's book was insta attraction but in a good way. Remember these guys never think of finding the one so when it hits them they are unnerved and a little scared at their reaction. I loved it. Without getting into to much of the story Olivia had been lied to most of her life. What she didn't know was her dad was not dead. Her Dad was up there in the Government and the cartel found out Olivia was his daughter and targeted her. The information was being fed to them by a mole in the CIA. Olivia was abducted and beaten over a period of a couple of weeks until the Red Team was dispatched to rescue her. The first to enter where she was being held was Panther and yep it's history from here. I can't wait to dive into the next read since one of the characters is the mole. This should be interesting.
November 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book from the moment I read the "blurb". Although I have not read this author's work in the past, I am certainly going to be reading the other books in this series! Leo (Panther) and Olivia's story is a great fast-paced, exciting and tumultuous adventure. Military Veterans working as a team to address some of the most dangerous situations presented to them. As a kidnapped victim, Olivia is forced to endure challenges that threaten her life and when she is finally saved another challenge presents itself in the fact that Panther and her just "CLICK". This story then takes off as Olivias life is still threatened and it takes a TEAM to save her. The ins and outs make for a great background story that will keep you reading... Now, to get me the rest of the series! I think the other Red Team members will be quite interesting, enthralling and yummy as well.
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