Edge of Control

Edge Ops #2

by Tonya Burrows

EVELYN

I thought I’d finally found peace.

A small town. A new name. A quiet life for my daughter and me.

But lately, the town feels… off. Neighbors I barely know greet me like an old friend, then say the exact same words the next day. Conversations loop, rehearsed and hollow. And sometimes… I swear I hear thoughts that aren’t my own.

The past I ran from is coming.

And there’s only one person I can call—
The man who saved us once.
The man who took my heart with him when he walked away.
The man I swore I’d never need again.

TRENT

All I know how to be is a shield. A protector. A man who lives in the shadows so others can stay safe in the light. And for years, that was enough...

But then Evelyn Phillips and her little girl broke through my defenses.
I thought giving them a new life would be enough. Thought walking away was the best thing I could do for them.
I was wrong.

When her ex resurfaces, he doesn’t just want revenge—he wants control. And he’s using the most dangerous tech Edge Ops has ever faced to get it.

I’ll burn every bridge and break every law to protect them.

Because she’s not just my mission.
She’s the one thing in this world I can’t lose.

Live on the edge. Love at your own risk.

Genres: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance at age thirteen and hasn't put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and is still searching for a place to call home. She shares her adventures with her husband, two adorable doodles, and Scribble the Writer Cat.

When she's not writing about hunky military heroes and their courageous K9s, Tonya can be found watching either true crime or baking shows while snuggled up on the couch with her furbabies. She also enjoys traveling—especially long road trips to see the National Parks.

To learn more about Tonya and her books, please visit her website. She's also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @authortonyaburrows.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this book took me on a journey.

From Evelyn and Sophia's supposedly peaceful life in small-town Montana, to finding out that that same small town had been turned into a weapon pointed straight at them, to the absolute edge-of-your-seat page turner that the rest of the book was, it was so hard to put this down and do anything else! I loved Evie and Sophia and Trent--and the rest of Trent's team--and I was stressed out to the max while all of their lives were in danger. Tears were threatening to fall more than once here, but I couldn't let them because I didn't want to stop reading even long enough to wipe my eyes, gosh darn it.

And that ending--GAH! Ms Burrows keeps giving us these absolute impossible situations at the end of each book that will lead us into the next and then makes us wait. It's cruel, I tell you. But I love it <3

Edge of Control has so many connections to previous books--especially Searching for Hope , where the MCs first made an appearance (and of course it follows soon after the first book in this series, Over the Edge )--but still, it probably *could* be read as a standalone if you had to, since past events that effect what happen here are (lightly, there isn't total detail given) explained. Longtime readers of her books, though, will see how many familiar people and events have helped to bring these characters to the events that happen here.

Either way--whether you're a years-long fan or a Tonya Burrows newbie--good luck putting this one down once you've started reading! You have been warned ;)

Rating: 5 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Woodatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book 1 of this series the suspense was great but here in Edge of Control Tonya amps it up even more. While each book can be read as a standalone I'd still recommend starting with Over the Edge as there's a connection in a small part to things happening in this story.

We met both Trent and Eveline in Searching for Hope were they had a strong connection already. After escaping the cult, Trent basicly dropped Eveline and her daughter Sophia in a little town called Garnett and left them thinking he was doing the right thing by keeping them away from his dangerous work but mostly because he was scared of what he felt for both. He's always kept an eye on them however and when her name shows up in some file as a main contender in an auction, he amps up his surveillance.

As soon as weird things start to happen and Eveline and Sophia come under attack, Trent rushes to meet up with them to get them to safety. From that moment on we get non stop action, twists and turns left and right that have your head spinning and turning your pages - or swiping in my case - to see what's happening next and if they get things solved quick enough to get their happy ending.

The attraction between Trent and Eveline is deep, forged during their time in the cult and has only grown over time. Seeing the connection he has with Sophia is so heartwarming, this grumpy man turns into mush when he spends time with the little girl. Of course there's also the team with their banter but also their fierce protectiveness for one of their own.

I absolutely loved this one, even more than the first one and has kept me glued to my Kindle. What I especially love is that Tonya already gives us a glimpse into the next story which will be Gage's and I can't tell you how much I want this man to have a happy ending!

*ARC kindly received from the author via Bookfunnel. I'm voluntary leaving an honest review.**

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved the first book in this series but this one is on another level! Talk about a heart pounding, blood pumping, edge of your seat action packed book! I only put this down because I had to sleep and work. It has an amazingly complex storyline but is easy to understand, that sucks you in from the get-go and is just such a crazy concept to think about so you can’t stop reading. I loved it and was highly entertained by this story and these characters. I love Trent and Evelyn so much and the way he is with Sophia melts my heart. He tried to stay away thinking it would protect them but that didn’t work. I love the direction Evelyn’s character arch is going! They definitely have a future together side by side. And now he will never let them go again!
What a great team of people, all with particular skills that together make them a force to be reckoned with. I love these characters. Gage has definitely stolen a piece of my heart and I can’t wait to see what happens in his book that’s up next!

[Emma (thecaffeinatedbookaholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I’ve been waiting for this one!! We met Trent & Evelyn back in the Redwood Coast Rescue series, and their story is even more wild than I could’ve expected!! Trent is protective and determined to keep Evelyn and her daughter safe at any cost. Evelyn is fierce and refuses to let her past have anymore control over her life. Trent might’ve thought he was doing what was best by walking away from her once before, but these two are so much better together. From the moment Trent & Evelyn finally come face-to-face again, they’re on the go, fighting against Evelyn’s past that won’t seem to leave her alone—the twists?! I couldn’t put it down. My jaw was on the floor. It’s fast-paced and full of action, and I absolutely devoured Trent & Evelyn’s story!! I cannot wait for what’s next!!

[ARC review]

[Arlene M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn (Winslow) Philips is witness protection with her daughter Sophia.
Sophia Philips is Evelyn’s daughter.
Dutch Henderson is the owner of the General store where Evelyn works.
Trent Dalton is an Edge Op Operative.

Evelyn and her daughter, Sophia are on the run from here ex husband.
Trent helped them relocate in a small town in Montana.
Strange things start happening with the towns people.
Can Trent and The Edge Ops team help keep Evelyn and Sophia safe as well as deal with the threat and danger
to the town.

This book has edge of your seat suspense, dark danger with evil intent.

Great Job. Tonya Borrows !!!!

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn is a fierce mother who charges headfirst into danger to save her daughter—fearless and unstoppable. Trent is the alpha whose walls come crashing down the moment he steps into their lives, protective to his core and impossible not to love. Their daughter steals every scene with her charm, adding heart to every moment.

The danger is dark, relentless, and closing in from all sides, and the team—family beyond blood—shows up with loyalty, strength, banter, and unwavering support. This story hits every note: fast-paced, emotional, thrilling, and explosively heartfelt.

[YvonneReadsRomance · Rating 2 out of 5]

A promising premise that fell apart

Edge of Control, book two in Tonya Burrows’s Edge Ops series, was a far cry from the first installment. Yes, the first one had issues, but it was still enjoyable. This one? Not so much.

Six months ago, Trent Dalton saved Evelyn Phillips (also known as Marlow) and her daughter, Sophia, from a cult. Despite promising to check in on them, he disappeared. Now, strange things start happening in the small town where Evelyn and Sophia have tried to build a new life. At the same time, Evelyn learns that a mysterious man has checked into the local hotel. Turns out her abusive ex-husband has tracked her down and unleashed a scheme that threatens the entire town. Trent, of course, is the mysterious man and he’s there to keep Evelyn and her daughter safe.

The premise was intriguing—almost like a modern spin on zombies—but whereas the first book kept me hooked, this one fell apart as the story progressed.

The past relationship between Trent and Evelyn was never clear. They spent two years together in a cult but were not in a relationship if I understood it correctly. They did get intimate once, two weeks prior to the escape, but Evelyn decreed that it would never happen again. So, not a relationship. However, for the six months they were living in the small town, Sophia asked about Trent every night, and Evelyn kept on reflecting how they were a family when they were in the cult. How could that be if there was no relationship? Then, when Trent made a reappearance, Evelyn was angry at him for “deserting” them. This was confusing, to say the least.

The story leaned heavily on their supposed past connection, but there was no real relationship arc, resulting in their current relationship feeling premature or forced. Their “romance” if you can call it that, took off immediately following an earlier sex scene, with Trent pouring his heart out about abandoning them because he was afraid of caring too much. All was forgiven, and then the action took over. No further time was spent on relationship development, and, in fact, Trent and Evelyn did not even share the page from the half-way mark onwards. They only got together again at the end. But throughout, the reader was told how worried they were about each other’s safety. I don’t know if I can even call this a romance because the two never professed their love for each other, not even at the end.

The suspense and action were okay, but the tendency to go into detailed descriptions about who was doing what and when made me skim from the 80% onward. It would have helped if more time was spent on developing the relationship instead of unnecessary tactical details. In one scene, Trent and Evelyn were hiding behind the bathroom door and Trent wedged the trash can under the doorknob… I had to wonder how big/high this trash can was. In the same scene, Evelyn’s hips were caught in the window frame while she was trying to escape, and she struggled to get through. Trent, with a built much bigger than hers, had no problem getting his hips through the same window frame.

Evelyn was supposedly this “strong” woman who had survived an abusive marriage and a cult, but honestly? I never saw that. Details surrounding the marriage and what she endured were almost non-existent. Even information about the two years she spent in the cult was flimsy. But because she had to be shown to have strength, there’s a scene where Trent—a hardcore, trained operative—gives up on a rescue mission, and Evelyn was the one pushing for it to go ahead. This went against every other behavior I’d seen from Trent and only came across as a ploy to show Evelyn’s “strength.” In the one-and-a-half love scenes we saw, Evelyn was the aggressor, and truthfully, this similarly looked like an attempt to show that same “strength” when, in reality it just felt off. Evelyn also had her TSTL moments, insisting on going along on missions and then being totally useless when things went sideways.

The number of times I read the phrase “punched into/through” was unreal. The other one was “voice cutting through.” There were lots of inconsistences as well, for example, Evelyn reflecting that Sophia had stopped asking about Trent altogether when she (Sophia) asked about him the night before he came back into their lives. Then there was Trent telling Evelyn that he stayed away because he was afraid of caring too much, just for her to—a few pages later—challenge him with her “epiphany” that he stayed away because he cared too much. No background information was given about what Trent did in the six months he was gone. Were there other women? Evelyn, of course, and as these things go, would’ve remained as pure as the driven snow during that time, but during the first sex scene, they didn’t even use protection. Evie miraculously knew about Maya when she shouldn’t have. The same with Gage—he knew about Beth Morris down to what she looked like when he wasn’t involved in the scenes featuring Beth.

There were more, much more, but I’ve said enough. This one, unfortunately, was a far cry from the solid story and characters of book one. So, for me, this is a 2 and that’s being generous.

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so, so good and it works as a standalone since everything important is summarized really i loved it and i really felt bad for the team and Gage.

When Trent saw Evelyn name in some files he act to stop protect by distance and he is rushing to her help....he did not want to make his team intervene first but when the situation get worse he had to make his two " families" meet...Edge Ops had a lot a loss and because of that Trent is even more protective of his team....Gage health is getting worse and the missing members still hurt as yesterday. However Trent never had something as strong as what he had with Evelyn -Evie- and little sophia.

Evie as her new name, is fleeing her abusing husband and hiding in Garnet with her daughter Sophia after Trent, Vigi saved them....before disappearing causing some hurt and angry in his trail. She is adjusting in the little town and suddenly her paranoia is rokecting...people repeting themselves, putting the same clothes....and then Trent reappear because situation is even more dire. It's also an occasion for her to mee the team and understand Trent better as well as what happened.

Really it was fantastic and so well written to keep us on edge until the last page ( with a cliffhanger to make you crazy) really this is so good!!! And at the same time so moving, we get attached to some secondary characters and we are behind the team and the injustice it faces.....then Gage i really want him happy with Kate and get revenge.....

arf hard not to spoil and still tell you how much you have to read this! Because it's really a great story and an great series you can't miss

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trent aka Bricks, left Evelyn and her daughter Sophia in a small town and hasn’t had contact with them in months, thinking he was protecting them. Evelyn has been running for years, first from her abusive ex and then she got pulled into a cult for years to hide, where she met Trent, who was undercover in the commune. He saves the two when the cult decides no one is to live and they ran. Now months later Evelyn is building her life again with Sophia until strange happenings start with the small town. Trent is back watching over them, new intel has Evelyn and Sophia right in the middle of an experiment with most of the town affected and this time he is not leaving them, he will do whatever it takes to protect them.
A great read with fast paced action, suspense, surprises, twists and turns I didn’t see coming and amazing characters. Trent, Evelyn and especially Sophia stole my heart, they were a family before Trent left and now they are back together. I loved how Mama Bear comes out, Evelyn is done running and becomes part of the team and Trent, all his gruffness disappears with the two females who mean more to him that anything.
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy and expressed my honest opinion*

[SassyCM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so badly. I really did. But I couldn't.

After reading Over the Edge, the first book in Tonya Burrows new Edge Ops series, I had HIGH expectations for any following books. That's how obsessed I was with the brilliance of OtE.

To me Edge of Control seems like it could belong to a very different kind of series. Of course it's got the same team we met in earlier books and the story has some action and a beautiful HEA ... BUT ...

I was missing (for lack of better words) the same edge I felt while reading book number 1. Over the Edge had so much passion, so much energie, so much action. Every page, every chapter had me at the edge of my seat.
After a long time we were finally back in Tonya Burrow's world of spies, agents and black ops teams, where everything goes and nothing is impossible for our favorite heroes and heroines.

In comparison Edge of Control felt so much tamer and lacked a lot of the drive and pace that I love about TBs books.

Trent, Evelyn and Sophie got their well deserved happy ending but I can't keep myself from hoping that EoC was only a necessary step that needed to be taken for our favorite new hardcore black ops team to get back to the same level of kick-assery that I am used to.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one had me turning the pages wondering where we were headed. It was thought provoking in that it made wonder is stuff like this already happening? If not, its probably not that far in the future. Seeing Evelyn still dealing with the aftermath of her ex husband, and more while staying strong for her daughter was inspiring and moving. When Trent speaks his truth, my heart turned a little mushy. Edge of Control had me caring for so many characters, not just Trent, Evelyn and the team but others as well which made this a huge win. Yes, fellow readers there is steam for you, open door, or in my case flip the page. I can already tell book 3 is going to rip my heart. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #EdgeofControl #EdgeOps #TonyaBurrow #Bookfunnel

[Ric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of Control by Tonya Burrows is the second one in her series Edge Ops. And what an explosive and suspense filled action packed story it is!! With the story of Trent ‘Vigil’ Dalton and Evelyn ‘Evie’ Phillips; we are taken on a wild ride of escaping from one danger to next, dealing with one betrayal after another, and learning about the full scope of depravity that some people possess. In the middle of all that, is the sweetness of little Sophia, the love between Trent and Evelyn, and the trust between the team at Edge that keeps everyone safe. A mind blowing, action packed, suspense filled adventure that only a talented mastermind like Tonya Burrows can create.

[Carina Hales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book had me on the edge of my seat all the way through! I really loved it.

This story wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It was so intriguing and nail biting! I loved all of the Edge team, their whole characters came alive in this story. We met them in book 1, but this book made me fall for them all!

Trent and Evelyn were a perfect pair, the twist with Sophia was so unexpected! I loved how the whole team treated her.

I hope each team member gets her own book. I’ve fallen for them all! I sense the next book is going to be intense and heart wrenching though! I can’t wait.

[Tonya Burrows]

We first met Trent and Evelyn back in Searching for Hope (Redwood Coast Rescue, Book 6), and I always knew they were headed for a story of their own. This book had been living in my head for a long time, so it was incredibly satisfying to finally sit down and write it.

Edge of Control ended up being one of those rare books that just flowed. The characters took the lead, the story unfolded exactly how it wanted to, and I had an absolute blast writing it. Hands down one of the fastest—and most enjoyable—books I’ve ever written.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Trent and Evelyn haven’t seen or heard of one another for six months- since he took her out of the cult and left her and her daughter at a safe place. Or so he thought. When coincidences sim up, he’s all for saving her again. The thread is there and coming out of a corner, neither of them thought of. Truths are revealed, a trip against the clock arises, careers are to be doomed and not everyone might be able to be saved after all. Great story.

[Debbie Tinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story! Evelyn has been through SO much already. She's doing everything she can to keep Sophia safe. Just when she thinks she has finally found a safe place to land and build a life, the past comes roaring back to threaten them again. Trent and the team will do everything they can help them. What a curve ball thrown in there with the truth about Sophia's father. Never saw that coming. Engaging, page-turning story. Loved every page. Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

[janelle beaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book Tonya kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. Trent has put Evelyn and her daughter in a small town for safe keeping. When strange things start to happen Trent is there to help. There's plenty of action, danger, suspense and secrets are uncovered that I never saw coming and a team that will follow their teammate and show support no matter what. It's fast paced, emotional, and I can't wait to get Gage and Kate's story

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tonya Burrows has yet to let me down. This book was filled with everything I expect from her, suspense, big emotions, romance, action. She is one of my favourite authors for a reason!

Second in the series, but I think can easily be read as a standalone. I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. Edge of Control started strong and never let you go. Evelyn and Trent had such a connection that jumped off the pages at you.

[Debbie Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book could have been “Edge of Suspense”. If you crave a good book with lots of suspense, hot alpha heroes, and over the top attraction, you will be hooked. I can’t ever get enough of this author. Trent and his team risk everything to protect Evelyn and her daughter. Lots of twists and turns you don’t see coming that brings you a HEA. Can’t wait to read the stories of the other guys in Edge Ops.

[Monique Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second book in the Edge Ops series, and it was fantastic! It had it all: a team that is like family, action, crazy scientists, single mom with adorable child, and love. Trent and Evelyn are exactly what each other needs. Sophia is a sweet addition. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Beckie Johnson Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Trent & Evelyn 's story, and so will you. The amazing things people will do to each other, and the love of a couple and their team going to save them. Thanks, Tonya for writing an amazing book. I can't wait for Gage.

[Tom Prejsner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance

Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you