Falling in love with my target isn’t part of the assignment.
Yet nothing about Connor is average.
Not his looks, or kisses, or spine tingling touches.
But I shatter his heart and mine when he discovers my secret.
My actions are unforgivable.
I’ve crossed the line of no return. The only way to keep going is to dive further into my secret life.
So I order my boss to assign me to the most dangerous men.
Until every Twisted Heart ceases to exist, I won’t stop.
Time drags me deep into the underworld.
I can't pull myself out.
Then Connor reappears.
No matter what has happened, our fire is hotter than ever.
He begs me to choose him and get out while I can.
How can I when I’ve already sunk too far?
Roots of Vengeance is the sixth installment of the Brooks Family Saga. This second chance, enemies to lovers, dark romance is an epic journey of one family's struggle of forgiveness, hope, and new beginnings amidst dangerous situations. Each story intertwines and focuses on a new sibling trying to find their Happily Ever After. Please note: This series was previously called Together We Stand.
Maggie Cole is committed to bringing her readers alphalicious book boyfriends and fiercely strong heroines.
She’s been called the literary master of steamy romance. Her books are full of raw emotion, suspense, and will always keep you wanting more. She is a masterful storyteller of contemporary romance and loves writing about broken people who rise above the ashes. Her books can often be found hanging out in the top 100, even years after publication.
Maggie lives in Florida with her son. She loves tennis, yoga, paddleboarding, boating, other water activities, and everything naughty.
Her current series were written in the order below: All In (Stand alones with entwined characters) It's Complicated (Stand alones with entwined characters) Together We Stand (Brooks Family Saga - read in order) Behind Closed Doors (Read in order) Mafia Wars Mafia Wars New York Club Indulgence Duet Mafia Wars Ireland Wilted Kingdom Duet The Underworld The Cartwright Family (Holiday Romance)
Connor Brooks is youngest of the Brooks siblings. He's young, hot and can sling a drink better than anyone. He's quick with a joke and unashamed to place a good natured bet with a friend. On the surface he appears carefree and completely happy. The many layers of this man begin to reveal themselves as the reader realizes looks can be deceiving. He sees more than anyone in his family gives him credit for. He makes decisions based on the well-being of others. And he's nursing a broken heart. The woman he thought would be his lied to him and left him feeling used and abused. He never thought he would see Gia again after he discovered her deception and she disappeared. Suddenly, she literally drops out of the sky and every fiber of his being longs to hold her and never let her go. However, he still feels betrayed and has questions that demand to be answered. Gia watched as her family was murdered in front of her, she, herself, left for dead. She vowed to see the member of the Twisted Hearts gang responsible for her loss destroyed and everything the gang stands for completely annihilated. She is recruited by Interpol to do just that. She is single minded and determined. No sacrifice is too great. Then she meets Connor Brooks. Sent to decide the extent of his involvement in the gang, she does the unthinkable. She falls in love with him. When Connor finds out she has not been honest with him, she does what she must and leaves him behind. Once she's standing in front of him again, all the feelings she's repressed come flooding back. But they can't be together. There's still work to be done. Information the Twisted Hearts have that must be uncovered. There are no easy answers to Connor's questions . After all Connor's family has been through in the recent past, he wants to protect those he loves, including Gia. So close to seeing her family's killer taken down, Gia cannot give up her quest now. Even if it means losing Connor and her own life. I went into this book expecting to have all my questions answered, my mind to be filled with beautiful pictures of the beach, family and unconditional love, my heart to be ripped out one vessel at a time, to have my toes curl at least a dozen times, to need a full box of tissue at my side the entire day. I got everything I anticipated and more. I couldn't put it down once I opened the first page of the first chapter. When I turned the last page of the last chapter, I didn't want it to end. It's over? Beautifully written by a master of the genre. The finale of the Together We Stand series is everything a lover of a good climax could desire.
This final story was all about the cocky youngest member of the Brooks family, Connor. He may be the youngest but he's got the smartest brain and a huge heart to match. He's 22 when he meets Gia. She is beautiful and she comes to a local bar that he is working at and he proceeds to make her a drink. They visit as he works the bar. He flirts mercilessly with her and he asks her out. She says she must leave and he goes home thinking he will never see her again.
Gia has her secrets and is actually trying to find out if Connor is part of the Twisted Hearts gang. He hangs out a lot with Fisher who is also dating Conners sister Gracie. But Fisher is a leader in the Twisted Hearts gang. Gia is a spy who is working to put an end to all in the gang. When Conner starts going out with Gia things get Hot very quickly. There are some things about Gia that just don't make sense though. Like how others seem to recognize her but she claims mistaken identity. They grow really close when Gia has to disappear for her job. It almost kills Conner when he finds out about her. They break up and don't see each other for 3 years.
When Kade comes after Gracie in the last story he brings Gia with him. Connor finds out she is a spy and has worked last 3 years with Kade. He is still so angry with her. She tries to talk to him but he is not interested.
I loved how these two come together. I don't want to ruin their story so please just read this. Lots of intrigue and sitting on the edge of my seat. Loads of love from the entire Brooks family in here too. See how they finally take down the Twisted Hearts gang. Way to go Maggie Cole on a riveting series!!
Each time I finish a book in this series, I'm ready to kick myself all over again for coming so late to the brilliant Maggie Cole party. I really do tell myself better late than never, but seriously, don't be me by waiting especially since this series is AMAZING so I can only imagine what she comes up with next! Connor is the baby of the Brooks' family, and from the outside, he looks to be immature, but there's more than meets the eye. He meets Gia, and falls for her, but Gia was hiding something big and when he learned what it was, it destroyed them. Gia's family had fallen victim to Twisted Hearts (pure evil), so after things went south with Connor, she decided to go to new levels of danger to get justice. It really broke my heart for her to be honest. Neither stopped thinking of the other, and luckily, they had fate on their side so they came face to face again. This series, HOLY HELL THIS SERIES is EPIC! Maggie Cole gave us an explosive conclusion & even gave some bonus content to boot. Anyway, I've decided to go back & read them all in order again and HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
This is the book six and the final book in the Together We Stand series. This book follows the youngest Brooks, Conner. Three years ago, he meets a woman, and instantly is attracted. Gia wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met. But Gia was who she seems. Conner was her target, in order to find out if he was a Twisted Heart. A member of the fans that killed her family. She’s on a mission to destroy the man that murdered her family and take the whole organization down. She didn’t plan on falling for Conner. But she did. And it destroyed both of them when she left. But she’s back in Conners life, and the danger is even greater.
All I can say is OMG, Maggie Cole, this book has me all kinds of tore up. I was laughing , crying, and everything in between. I was on the edge of my seat from page one. I was so ready to see this family find their happily ever after, but so sad to see this series end. I loved everything about this book. The wonderful writing, the amazing characters, the beautiful island. And all the incredible steamy bits. Conner seemed like the slacker of the Brooks family, but you see a whole new side to him in this book. He loves his family deeply and will sacrifice for them. And Gia, going through what she does at a young age, she’s strong, and wants justice for her family. I’m so sad to see this series end, I might have even cried the last few pages when we learned what became of all the siblings. I was happy and sad at the same time. Maggie Cole, you have a fan for life.. I definitely recommend this book and series, and every book written by this author.
I am so sad to say goodbye to the Brooks Family but I have a feeling we will be seeing some of them very soon!
I feel like there is one line in this book that really feels like a Brooks family motto “Stop thinking you have to do this on your own” this family really just takes care of each other and everyone that they bring into their family gets taken care of as well. I know that they have another family motto but this one seems like it is for EVERYONE!
I love books that really make me think and this one made me get in the zone and honestly I couldn’t put it down until I finished the series.
Conner and Gia had so many sweet moments in this book to go along with all the adrenaline pumping moments. He held her when she was sad, kissed her when she cried, made her laugh when she was down, and will love her until they part. It made my heart happy that he loved that she was older then him, his puma. Loved that line!
Gia was a badass and she would stop at nothing to take care of what she always set out to do. As Conner would say “If you’re going to hell, I’m going with you, Gia, so move over and save me a seat”. They did not spend a lot of time together before she left him but that time they did spend together was all consuming for them.
All in all The Together We Stand series made me laugh, made me cry and made me believe that no matter the circumstances true love does win out in the end. Thank you Maggie Cole for bringing it yet again. I look forward to the next series.
This book left me at a loss for words, that's how good it was. Conner is the youngest sibling in the Brooks family. Throughout the other books you see him as a guy who is fun loving, laid back, and just wants to have a good time. As the stories progress you see a more serious and selfless side of him. We get all of that and more in Roots of Vengeance. Conner is devoted to his family and the sacrifices he makes without regret or resentment are astounding. Gia is strong and has to overcome obstacles that have happened to her that I am not sure I would. The two of them together are like Fireworks! I love vanilla, but neapolitan is my favorite! I cried often, laughed, and raged while reading this book in one sitting! I could not put it down. I love that Maggie Cole saved the best for last in this series!! She also gave us an amazing epilogue that gives us closure on the entire family. Thank you Maggie Cole for another amazing book that I will cherish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Connor had always loved for fun. Never getting attached, partying, but when he met Gia everything changed. For the first time ever he had wanted more. This woman was everything he could ever want and more. But none of it was real. It was all a lie. And he vowed never to be hurt again. As the years pass she is the one he could never forget, and suddenly she's back in his life with a different name, but the feelings were all too familiar, and she's involved in something she can't turn her back on, not even for him, but none of them realise how close their worlds pass.
Roots of Vengeance is the final book in Maggie Cole's Together We Stand series. I really loved this series and seeing the final Brooks seeking his happy every after was one hell of an adventure, one which answers every question left unanswered by the series so far. An amazing conclusion to a fantastic series, filled with emotion, complexities, and the end of secrets. An amazing read, and I've already got another Maggie Cole book on my read list.
Roots of Vengeance is the final book in the Together We Stand series, and what a roller coaster of an book it is.
Wow talk about a couple who literally fights to have their HEA. Gia works for Interpol and is on a mission to take down the Twisted Hearts, that where things get complicated as she didn’t expect to fall in love with Connor Brooks.
To be honest I wasn’t sure how I felt about this one, as Connor to me always seemed to be a little immature at times, I’m sure it is more of his age in the series then anything. I know he was fighting for the love of his life and the secrets that his family and Gia held from him over the years. He wanted what was best for her and them, but he had a hard time dealing with Gia needing to do what she had to which was take down the Twisted Hearts.
The ending though you really do feel their love and it was heartfelt and touching. I’m so glad that everyone in the Brooks family got their HEA and get to live free from the holds of the Twisted Hearts
Maggie Cole has done it again. What a great story with Connor and Gia. Connor surprised me, he’s a little kinky, cocky, suave, sure of himself and goes after what he wants. Gia and Connor take us on a whirlwind ride of emotions, heartbreak, suspense and the yearning to be together. The Twisted Hearts are always one step ahead and the deeper Gia goes undercover to infiltrate them the more she’s going to lose herself and possibly Connor, and she may not ever be able to make it back to the woman she used to be. You will get a glimpse of all members of the Brooks family and I have to say Ryland never disappoints with his candor and humor. I’ve loved every book in this series and I am sad that it’s over, hopefully you will get all the answers you are looking for, but I have to say that Connor and Gia’s story is of epic proportions and brings this series to a close. I’m so excited to see what’s next from this author as she never disappoints. I found this book on BookSprout.
Connor Brooks is a mini Ryland. He is strong, protective, loving, caring and a great lover! When he finds out about what really happened with his brother Beckett and what Ryland did he felt hurt because the brooks family is very close and he couldn't understand why they didn't trust him enough to tell him. Connor finds out why they didn't want to tell him and it almost costed him his life when he tried to protect Gracie. When Connor meets Gia he felt like all was going great again. Gia was everything he wanted and more. then secrets start to be revealed and he feels hurt again. But Gia does everything she can to finish taking the twisted hearts down so she can be with Connor and the brooks family and others will be safe. Connor and Gia's story will have your feelings everywhere and alot of questions that you have throughout this series will be answered. Maggie Cole did an outstanding job on this series, characters and story line.
Going in we thought we knew Connor —the baby of the family, immature, self-centered, and only looking for a good time. Get ready to be surprised.
We meet Gia, learning she and her family have also been victims of Twisted Hearts. The depths she feels she must reach to met out justice are heartbreaking.
You will hold your breath discovering how high a level Twisted Hearts will reach in order to earn money and control people (the whole world if they have their way).
Roots of Vengeance gives us the Perfect wrap up as we see Twisted Hearts receive their (absolutely) due punishment and destruction. Plus we are able to bear witness to the wonderful Brook’s family celebration of freedom from fear and family itself.
You will want to tap your heart three times as you celebrate how Standing Together defeated evil.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Connor Brooks' book is the 6th book in the Together we Stand Series. Connor is the baby of the family and while from the outside looking in, it looks like Connor just wants to hang out at home and work as an easy going bartender and not work for his brother's construction company.....remember that looks can be deceiving. Connor is very protective of his sisters and puts his family before himself and his opportunities. Connor cannot seem to catch a break when it comes to a serious relationship...Connor meets Gia and really falls hard for her, but she has a secret and he discovers it.....it breaks them both! He tries to forget her and she tries to move on with her job, but they really can't forget each other.....As fate would have it, their paths cross again and this time Connor realizes he cannot let her go. However, Gia will not give herself fully to him till she finishes what she started.....will they make to the end or will the Twisted Hearts ruin them both for good this time?
Roots of Vengeance is the sixth and currently the last book of the Together We Stand series. This book revolves around Connor Brooks, the youngest in the Brooks family. While we’ve gotten to see Connor in the previous books, you get to really know Conner now. Not at all what you were thinking he was going to be, but a wonderful sexy surprise! Gia is the newest to come into the picture and we get to see her and Connor grow together and their characters flourish.
Throughout the entire series the Brooks have been at war with the Twisted Hearts gang and we finally get to see them get taken down and a celebration to the entire Brooks family. This was a great story/series and I’m sad to see it come to and end. If you’re wanting a Hallmark movie series this is definitely not it as this has a lot more heat, passion, crime, and punishment of two variations. But overall an A+++++ series!!!
I’m looking forward to Maggie Cole’s next series Behind Closed Doors coming in January 2021!!
Maggie Cole has outdone herself with the Together We Stand Series. She saved the best for last! Throughout the series, Connor was looked at as the young kid who was just hitching a ride on the coat tails of his family. It seems that they didn't find him trustworthy, but he gave up everything for his family. He fell in love with the wrong people, and the one person he gave himself completely betrayed him. How he continued on without self destructing is a question that may never be answered. He would give anything and everything to protect those that he loves, and he extends the same to the love of his life Gia. The chemistry and passion is explosive! He knows exactly what she needs, but she's on a mission to destroy those who hurt her and her family. Can Connor pull her back and ground her in reality before she destroys them both? This series is a must read! The Brooks family are family goals! Together We Stand, Alone We Fall.
Gia is a smart determined operative whose goal is to infiltrate and destroy The Twisted Hearts. She must determine if Connor Brooks is on the gang's payroll. The Brooks family has been targeted by the gang and Gia must find answers before the Brooks' family is ultimately destroyed. Connor is the youngest of the Brooks, whose fiercely loyalty to his family comes before his own happiness. Can he have Gia and save his family too? Gia and Connor are two determined passionate lovers who must overcome heartache, secrets and misunderstandings to persevere and find their happily ever after. The depth of the story and character development will make this book difficult to put down. In the end, Maggie Cole proves that with love all can be forgiven, understood and lives changed. This is a must read!
Roots of Vengeance is the final installment in the Together We Stand series and I'm stuck between being in awe over this fantastic book and being devastated that the series is over. In this amazing book, we meet Connor, the youngest Brooks brother who lets everyone around him believe he's just living to have a good time. But Connor has many layers, including one he keeps locked away. The one that involves a fierce protectiveness and a heart-wrenching untrustworthiness toward Gia, the only woman he's ever truly loved. After a whirlwind love, Connor turns away from her. Because Gia has a secret. She works for the government and has made it her life's mission to take down the Twisted Hearts gang. Be prepared for one of the best endings to a mind-blowing series. Have the tissues ready, because you're going to need them for each tear of sorrow and happiness.
2:06 AM I closed the last chapter of a family saga that I have loved from the start. My plan was to drag this one out... to savor every last bit... but as with the rest of the series I was pulled in deep and determined to know what happened next.
From the beginning, I just knew Connor was going to be special, and I was not wrong nor disappointed. In some ways, he was everything I expected, more even. Yet, he was still full of surprises.
Gia’s story is poignant and tragic. She’s a complex character, and while I felt for her and understood her reasoning, there were times I wanted to throttle her! However, she is the perfect match for Connor.
The heat between the two is absolutely explosive. This story had me laughing, screaming, crying... and craving ice cream- it’s anything but vanilla.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Vortex that is Author Maggie Cole has once again captured my soul. The to & fro tug-of-war between Connor and Gia captured me. Loved the constant angst in this novel. And Vengeance takes on a whole new meaning in this final book of the series. I was so satisfied with the completeness of how things were wrapped up in the end. I loved Gia as a force to be reckoned with while at the same time being vulnerable and very human. Connor’s devotion, commitment and persistence to her in typical Brook’s bothers fashion was so powerful! Their brotherly creed “Together We Stand, Alone We Fall” was demonstrated so beautifully in this conclusion. This series will remain in my heart forever and will definitely be re-read many times. Thanks Maggie for bringing us the entire Brooks family. 💖💖💖
This series has been amazing. I must say this is probably one of my favorite series I’ve read to date. Book 6 is all about Connor and what he’s been through during the series. I honestly liked Connor the least of those brooks family but this book won me back! More of the usual characters were in this book with a few more. Gia is one crazy girl who will stop at nothing to finish what she has started. She could’ve been done when Kade walked away but, she must see this to the end. Will Gia and Connor be able to have their happily ever after or will Gia get caught in the Twisted Hearts mess? This book has a lot of heat and so much suspense. Both make for a great series. I hate to see this series end but, the epilogue was amazing! Another great series by this talented author. Cannot wait to read more. About to start another series of hers!
Connor & Gia Wauw. Now this is a way to finish a series. Pff the anticipation, the fear, the hurt, the pain, the way things came together. It’s crazy. Finally we get the answer to the why and the answer is crazy and childish even, but hey isn’t that normal with gangs? They will find anything to justify their actions even if it makes no sense at all. This last story was wild, it was so emotional. There’s only one thing I don’t get/ miss and that’s their parents' involvement. I mean we see them in the first one and then all this crazy stuff happens and we don’t see or hear them in any of these books. I mean they couldn’t have been kept out of everything so why weren’t they more included and why did they never appear again in conversations and meetings? That’s the only thing I missed other than that I really loved this series.
Roots of Vengeance is a perfect ending to the Brooks families quest to end the Twisted Hearts Gang. This is Connor and Gia's story. Throughout the series I thought that Connor was the typical baby of the family, irresponsible, only looking for a good time and carefree. This book showed the real Connor Brooks. He loving, fiercely protective of his family and a great guy. Gia has her own demons that see has to overcome. But, together they can fix everything.
All the pieces of the Together We Stand series come together in this book. I have fallen in love with the Brooks family! In the end will the Brooks family with live in peace and get the happily ever they all have fought so hard for??? Read to find out! Once you start you won;t be able to put it down.
The final book in the Together We Stand Series brings the youngest Brooks brother , Conner and Gia Garmani, an undercover operative, together. Can they bring the Twisted Hearts gang down once and for all? Delivering vengeance is a high priority for Gia but can she and Conner survive the road to achieve it. Years of being targeted by this ruthless gang must come to an end and all the emotional baggage accumulated released. In true Brooks brothers fashion, Conner doesn’t disappoint! Love him and his unique characteristics.. Gia doesn’t disappoint either. What a great wrap for this series! Maggie Cole continues to amaze me with her writing skills In each book she pens!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh damn! This is a better conclusion then I imagined!! I am so so amazed at this whole series! Maggie Cole sucked me in from book 1 and kept me hooked right till the very end!! Roots of Vengeance is book 6 in the series and was perfection, from the alpha men, Siren women and even the intricate betrayals and inner workings of the Twisted Hearts.
Conner, being the baby, was obviously going to be carefree and selfish but when got challenged, we learned he’s been holding himself back for his family and the women that’s held his heart for years! Gia kicked butt and took names after being a victim to the Twisted Hearts when she was young, and turned out to truly be the perfect women for Conner.
This book is so hot it will melt your ice cream weather it's vanilla or neapolitan!
Connor Brooks may be the baby of the family but he is all man! After being betrayed by the only woman he had ever loved he unknowingly finds himself slowly getting involved with twisted hearts gang. Years later Mia comes back trying to explain her part with twisted hearts. Even though they never stopped loving each other they have to find a way to stop the gang before they can be together. The Brooks family will never be at peace until twisted hearts are no more.
This book brings an amazing end to the Brooks family surviving their entanglement with the gang twisted hearts. This family survived because of their moto. Together we stand, alone we fall. Amazing series, thank you Maggie Cole.
Connor and Gia’s story was the last of the Together we Stand series and it didn’t disappoint. The plot deepens with each of the 6 siblings in the Brooks family. Each couple is instrumental in revealing and overcoming a darker and deeper evil in their midst. At last it’s Connor’s turn, the youngest and it’s up to Gia and Connor to topple the entire Twisted Hearts organization, uncover why the Brooks family was targeted and ensure the entire family is safe to live out the HEA’s. The epilogue of this one was especially nice as it took place five yrs later and we got a glimpse of all of the siblings living their domestic bliss crawling with babies, toddlers and pregnant wives.
This is the first time I read the whole series and I have to say Maggie is now one of my favorite authors. Connor is seen as really crabby through the other books always complaining about how he is not told any and treated like the younger sibling, that he cannot be trusted. You see there is more going on with him than just feeling left in the dark, as he meets Gia before his brother is released from prison, which is the start of the first book. His early interaction with her and their break up has colored his life and how he acts when he feels he is being lied to.
I love how this book ties all the other stories together and brings the problems with the Twisted Hearts finally to a conclusion, you find our why they targeted this family.
This series entwines the stories of each of the Brooks siblings as they struggle to find their true love while dodging the various attacks against their family by the Twisted Hearts gang. In each story the various couples are instrumental in taking down a section of the Twisted Hearts but the gang is bigger and more terrifying than they know and this final book with Conor and Gia’s story brings everything to a conclusion and the gang is toppled once and for all and the Brooks siblings finally get their happily-ever-after! Impressive style of writing, characters you can enjoy and a storyline to keep you reading, what more can you ask of any book or series?! Well done Maggie Cole!
Maggie Cole outdid herself with this series. The way the wrote the storyline for the Brooks family in each of the books was amazing. I think this was my favorite one of the whole series. What made this book do great was how Maggie answered all your questions and tied everything all together, but still left you wanting more or feeling like something else was going to happen (which boy did it happen!!??!!) The ending was well written and happy that everything worked out well for everyone (as you can tell!!) Maggie wrote this series a year ago and I can’t believe it took me this long it read this series!!! I have read many of her more recent, but not this. I wish I would have read it sooner!!!
Finally, we find out why the twisted Hearts have targeted the Brooks family. This story is about Connor the youngest Brooks kid and Gia a spy and is the last book in the series.
The story is ok, but it drags on and on and finally almost to the end it picks up and gets exciting then ends. Then the Epilogue is 5 years later and brings all the Brooks kids and their family together and ends with Gia saying "remember the time you..."
This series is an ok series - it has more weak sex then a story and all of the books are basically the same and end with cliffhangers, but in the following book it will briefly tell you some of what happened in the book before.
Roots of Vengeance wraps up the Together We Stand series with a bang! Just because Connor Brooks’ story is last, doesn’t mean that it is any less pulse-racing than that of his older siblings. We finally get an inside view of Connor’s mind... and his bedroom! What a view it is! Any lingering questions you might have are resolved as the Brooks family finally breaks free from the Twisted Hearts gang. The family dynamic that Maggie Cole created is a thing of beauty that I will want to relive again and again!