Books & Spoons Review: AVENGED by Kaylea Cross

When the past and present collide…
Taya Kostas is a survivor. She’s clawed her way back from the hell she was subjected to at the hands of an undercover agent working for the U.S. government. Since then she’s dedicated her life to preventing the same from happening to anyone else. Now her story has come full circle. She’s about to take the stand as the key federal witness in the biggest terrorist case the country has seen in years. But even though the man responsible for her nightmares is behind bars, the evil she escaped is still hunting her. When fate places her safety in the hands of the man who saved her life once before, together they race to stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy.
He’ll risk it all to save her.
For five years Special Agent Nathan Schroder has been battling his inner demons, but lately it seems like he’s on the verge of losing that fight. Then Taya is suddenly thrust back into his life and in imminent danger, so he steps in to protect her. He’s never forgotten her or the way she held up under fire, and this time he’s not letting her walk away. The terrorists determined to prevent her from testifying will stop at nothing to silence her forever. She might be in official protective custody, but she’s way more than a job to Nate. When the enemy finally strikes and her life hangs in the balance, he’ll do anything to keep her safe.

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Kaylea Cross' military books are some of my all time favorite, I love her style of writing, the rhythm of the stories, and how they flow. The characters are strong, capable, and fierce, yes, the female leads, and the heroes are completely swoon worthy.
In Avenged, Nathan isn't doing well. He is part of the elite HRT team, performing his job, but his mental state of mind is crumbling. The nightmares are constant, he is sleep deprived, and to feel something, anything, he is using one night stands for sex.
If he can't pull himself together, he will soon lose all that is important to him, his job and team mates.
And then he meets Taya again. The connection between them is amazing. It was formed under the most difficult times, but it is real, honest, and pure. Taya is a true survivor, she worked with herself, until the nightmare of her past was just that, in her past. I admire her character, and all that she stood for, was capable of.
Taya presence alone, calms Nathan and his nightmares. There's a scene in the book, where Taya helps Nathan to start to deal with the mental wounds, let's him cry in his arms, face his demons, grieve for his friend,  and feel her acceptance of him as he is. A very powerful scene!
The romance between Nathan and Taya is hot, passionate, and sweet. Taya surely brings the best out of Nathan, his tender, caring, protective, romantic side, as he is willing to do anything and give up everything, to take care of Taya.
The fear and danger are constantly present, but the true action comes at the end of the story, and it is brutal, bloody, and deadly.
The characters are deep and complex, very likable, easy to understand. The action and danger elements were intense, and the events from five years ago, when Nathan and Taya met are lived through flashbacks, and nightmares. Overall Avenged is a great romantic suspense, but I admit, not my favorite in the series. And couple grammar mistakes in the story really took me by surprise.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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