This is a fast past romantic suspense with quirky characters. This is the first book that I have read by this author.

Montlake Romance and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Defenseless. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Georgia Bennett is an ex-Marine with a short fuse, working for a private security firm. When her boss hands her a protection assignment that quickly becomes complicated, will Georgia be able to separate herself from her feelings and do the job as required?

I am not a big fan of romantic suspense, especially when the main character is doing a job that requires total professionalism. Georgia's strength and determination are cheapened by the fact that she is taken in by the personal attributes of the man she has sworn to protect. I would have liked Defenseless a lot more had the novel stayed strictly on point, with its fast paced and thrilling plot line that is the backbone of the story. Readers who like the genre may enjoy Defenseless for the suspense and the romantic aspects.

Georgia Bennett is an ex-marine who is now in private security and is tasked with protecting a tech genius named Parker. When someone attempts to assassinate Parker it's up to Georgia to protect him at all costs. Tension is strong and emotions are high. Can they survive to find out who's out to get them?

This was a good book very deep. [I liked Georgia she was so complex because of her past and her brother and she's really good at suppressing her emotions even the good ones. Parker is quirky and at first I didn't like him much but near the end of the book he really became a great character his determination to protect his program and Georgia even if it could cost him his life made me want to hug him. I liked PITA that was really cute, finding out about Georgia's childhood and all the difficult things she had to experience. Issac although he is only present for a short time is a jerk at first then turns it around and become a really great guy for getting Georgia together with Parker even though he still has feelings for her. There are still unanswered questions: is Will alive? If he is that'd be a very interesting story to read about. I'd also love to learn more about Ethan and the other guys of the unit. (hide spoiler)]This was a good book with many great characters. I can't wait to read the next book.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: The story grabs you from page one, throws you around, and spits you out at the end. It is the perfect mix of sexy, suspense, and action.

It is no secret that I haven't been reading a lot of traditional romance novels lately. I don't know why, but they just don't pull me in like they use to. What I have been reading a lot of suspense and a few that have had romantic elements. So...when Elizabeth mentioned that she was sending out ARCs for her new romantic suspense series, I was intrigued. Boy am I glad that I did.

DEFENSELESS effortlessly combines the action of a thriller and the sexiness of a romance without loosing steam or becoming trite. I loved the snarky, witty banter of the characters as well as the emotion each brings to the story. I couldn't have asked for a better pairing than Georgia and Parker.

This is the first book by Dyer that I have read and let me tell you all...I am ready for more!

Georgia had been in the Marine Corp. when she og tout she had planned on getting a tiny apartment in San Diego and enjoy the sun while she figured out what to do with her life but she hadn’t done that. Ethan had offered her a job in the private security sector and she had taken it. A job she liked and one she was in risk of losing. Georgia doubted she had the patience for one more posh D C assignment. Kidnappers, stalkers, and political plots she could handle. Yappy dogs, Shopping trips to the Circle, and the carefully pinned and tucked exteriors of DC’s political housewives made her twitchy. According to ethan it wasn’t enough for Georgia to keep her clients alive and well. She needs them to like her. Ethan made it clear if she couldn’t make a personal connection with her next assignment she’d be looking for a new job. Georgia used to feel like her job mattered, like the people she worked with made a difference in the world.or Ethan could put her in the office but Georgia didn’t want that. Georgia hoped Ethan would tell her how will died. There is so much she didn’t know and the Department Of Defense wouldn’t say. So much Ethan wouldn’t tell her. Georgia wasn’t so sure she liked her job now but she needed it.Ethan said they both knew she was an asset to the firm in terms of technical skills she was one of his best operatives.Georgia knew Ethan had been hired because of her dead brother Will. Ethan and will had served together and Ethan had been one of the men to carry will’s flag draped coffin. The last nine months had been a revolving door of uninvited change. She didn’t think she had it in her to start a new career as well. What was she qualified for ? She had no college education She doubted “ excellent marksmanship” and “ experience with explosives” rounded out a resume. She be lucky if she got a job flipping burgers. Ethan had called , instructed when and where to meet him and hung up. Ethan said she wasn’t his first call or hardly his first choice. He had no one else and had been desperate.. Parker Livingston had made millions on a game he invented called Jungle Jem. but he also had a reputation for being difficult to work with. Unknown to many Parker was also considered a person of high value by the U S government. Parker was the creator of a special app the military used for special ops and was a member of a Special forces group but only as a computer nerd. Due to Parker’s work he is carefully monitored. So Ethan is giving her a seventy two hour assignment. Maybe less if Ryan made it back form NY. withholding facts in this line of work is not only dangerous but criminally stupid yet Ethan gave her as little information as possible. Usually ethan sent her a dossier : photos, addresses, schedules and contacts- details about the job. This time she was given she was babysitting a nerd who wasn’t exactly housebroken” whatever that meant. Ethan also said Parker was a little.. Different. Had his own schedule, his own method of doing things. He was also adamant he didn’t need private security. Ethan also said he was limited to what he could say. Ethan said he didn’t want to have to worry about the safety of a high valued citizen with Parker’s capabilities and clearance. Georgia asked how she was supposed to be successful when Parker had ditched every detail every operative. Someone is misusing the program of Parkers against operatives with a kill on sight order. Parker and Georgia have hot chemistry. Than an assassin tries to kill Parker and Georgia and they must go on the run with few resources and they have to figure out who they can trust. But they are rarely able to ito interact with others as they fighting for their own survival. Than Parker betrays parker even though it was only ,want to protect her.
I loved this book. I felt it was well written. I was drawn in by the first few pages and stayed that way until the end of this book. I laughed at times while reading this book. I loved the plot and pace. Georgia and Parker definitely had hot chemistry. I loved Georgia and parker together and how they interacted. I loved the role reversal also- a female protecting the male. I did feel we were given too much information on Parker’s invention yet this was still a five rating for me. I loved the action, action and suspense in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

Wowza - what a great romantic suspense this was! I’m very impressed that it’s Ms. Dyer’s debut!

The talented writing of this author easily sucked me into the story, making me feel everything. Especially the nail-biting scenes that had my heart racing.

With characters so well-developed, it was easy for me to fall in love with them. I’m a sucker for the quirky, nerdy types, so it’s no wonder Parker stole my heart. He’s a techy genius, and he definitely knows how to make a woman happy. *swoon* Georgia is a strong, BA heroine who kicks ass - sometimes literally. The witty banter between the two of them was highly entertaining. I laughed out loud a lot. They kinda stole my heart.

Tons of suspense , plenty of humor, and the right amount of sexy kept me turning the pages of this well-written story. Loved it!

Can’t wait for more in this series! (Dibs on Ethan) Elizabeth Dyer is definitely an author to watch!

I absolutely loved this book!!!!! As a reader of military romances, I am used to the ALPHA man being the military hero, but, Defenseless has opened my eyes to an ALPHA female being the hero of the story!! And I loved it!!!!

Georgia was such an amazingly strong woman and her role in the book was absolute perfection!!!! Parker, oh Parker!!! He may be a genius, but he is perfect book boyfriend material!!!!

I can not wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
6 likes

Elizabeth Dyer is a welcome debut author! She quickly grabs the reader for an often wild and thrilling ride. Her bio says she likes her heroines snarky, and Georgia Bennett fits that description and then some. I like strong, independent heroines, and Georgia gives new meaning to those descriptors. The rather mundane details of her turning her military experience into a career as a bodyguard with which the story opens are soon forgotten when she meets new client Parker Livingston. Dyer skillfully balances the story as she moves between Georgia's and Parker's points of view. She also provides just enough character development for their colleagues at Somerton Security to make one want to learn more about them. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book in the series!

How far will she go to protect the sexiest guy in tech?

When ex-marine Georgia Bennett left the military for high-end private security, it was supposed to soften her snarky attitude. Instead, her short fuse just earned her a punishment of an assignment: protect smart-ass tech genius and Department of Defense contractor Parker Livingston. It should have been easy—only no one warned Georgia that Parker was one seriously drop-dead-gorgeous geek.

The last thing Parker needs is a bodyguard, especially not one with killer curves and a sassy mouth who tempts him to do something incredibly stupid. He’s too busy investigating whoever is turning his technology against him and threatening his team of covert operatives. But when an assassin sends Georgia and Parker running for their lives, it might just be the explosive sexual chemistry and the trust that’s building between them that saves their necks. Because the only thing more dangerous than the combination of Parker’s intellect and Georgia’s aim is their steadfast desire to protect each other, no matter the cost.



* * * * *



Wow! This is my first book by Ms. Dyer but it will be far from my last. She has a gift for creating both believable characters and realistic scenarios. All to often I find that the 'love' is rushed but in this case, I could easily see it happening. Very nicely done.



The plot was nicely paced with the sense of danger and tension throughout. The dialogue was on point with both witty and snarky finding their places. And the villain, well those reasons were understandable while being unacceptable.


If you enjoy romantic suspense, I would recommend picking up DEFENSELESS. It's the first book in a series where I can hardly wait for the next installment. There is definitely sex but it doesn't get explicit and of course, there is violence.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

*4.5 stars*
Fantastic romantic suspense…
“There’s more here than just puzzles, programs, and pelvic perfection.”
So much more – and all of it fantastic!
Georgia’s world had shattered again. As she picked up the pieces she had a dilemma - a job she wasn’t sure she wanted but, at the same time, knew she couldn’t afford to lose. And that was not the hardest thing she was dealing with. She was down but not out as she faced her latest challenge – her newest charge – with sass and attitude in line with her kick-butt style.
Parker was this incredibly sensitive, geeky wunderkind who ticked all the boxes. ALL THE BOXES! He was sexy in a way that bucked the computer nerd persona with wit, humour – and abs - to spare. There was also a vulnerable side that made him even more endearing. His way with Georgia – how he admired her for everything she was – made my heart flutter… Swoon…
“And yet here you are, a regular Professor X.”
“Comic-book references from that full, feisty mouth? He was so screwed.”
“At least the last thing I see before I die will be the toned perfection of your butt. What is it? Pilates? Tennis? Cruising the mall with the geriatric brigade?”
“Pillow fights in high heels…”
There were so many layers to both Georgia and Parker and it was a treat to watch as each nuance was uncovered as they battled each other and enemies they were trying to stay one step ahead. There was action to spare – in and out of the bedroom – and all of it contributing to a roller coaster ride of emotion and suspense. I want – no need – more of the feels and banter that filled this story plus more time with all the characters. There is more to come – not everything was resolved neatly at the end – and I cannot wait! Stalking mode engaged!
~Diane

Review by Amanda for Love Romance Books Blog
Rating: 5

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

I would have liked to give Defenseless 4.5 stars. This was the first book I've read by Elizabeth Dyer and I loved the premise of a female bodyguard. I also liked the characters and technology elements and I'm interested to read other books in the series. While the story had some bery typical romantic suspense elements, there was enough other complexity to the plot that made it seem less typical and more enjoyable. The epilogue gets a little close to "cliffhanger" in it's set up for what I assumer will be the next book in the Somerton Security series.

When I first read of Parker's peanut allergy, I was hoping for a more positive portrayal of food allergies or at the very least consistency with how someone deals with a life threatening allergy (the mantra should be "read every label, every time"). Kissing someone who just ate a Snickers bar could have killed him. It seemed like the food allergy was incorporated just to explain the nickname and wasn't actually consistent with his actions.

This book is fantastic and I loved it so much. It has action, danger, romance, and so much more. Parker is a genius and created a program to use to assess government ops. Now someone is using his program to make money. Georgia is sent to protect Parker only she doesn’t have any idea why Parker needs a bodyguard or what he does. Things get interesting really quickly. Someone wants to end Parker. Georgia and Parker find themselves on the run. They don’t know who they can trust or who is using Parker’s program against them. Parker and Georgia and very attracted to each other. The find a comfort in each other that they have never found in anyone else before. Neither of them have had an easy life and find that they aren’t judged by the other. For the first time someone is just happy to be with them for the way they are. I can’t say enough about this book or how good it is. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Georgia and Parker face danger at every turn.
I was given this book in return for an honest review.

DEFENSELESS started out with what I thought was info dumping about Georgia's life, but I'm glad I didn't give up because the story picked up when she met Parker at the end of Chapter One. Oooh, Parker!! Parker is a geek, and he's super brilliant, but he doesn't have the typical geek profile. He's charming and can communicate like a normal human being. I find him refreshing due to the role reversal here, where Georgia (the bodyguard) is the badass and Parker (the tech guy) the damsel. It's also the first time where I read how the hero is "intimidated" and "deferred" to someone else, because he's not "physical" as the rest of the spec ops guys and also because his expertise is based on his brain. While it's disconcerting to read, we also really see Parker's growth here, both in his relationship with Georgia and individually as a person.

Georgia has been dealt a bad hand all her life and I find it admirable that she still came out of it with fists swinging and fighting for something better. She didn't give up, and she's so selfless, like when she turned back to go with Parker because she couldn't find it in her to leave someone (even knowing the danger she's putting herself in), the way she felt everyone in her life has left her. Her chemistry with Parker was off the charts; their intimate scenes (not necessarily of sex) were some of the best scenes in the book.

There was an equal mix of romance and high-octane action here, balanced with suspense and mystery and heart-pounding revelation. Would Georgia ever be the same when she found out the truth? I love Parker's care of her, even as he felt he would be jeopardizing whatever it was between them.

While Parker and Georgia's story is contained here, we see some threads for future stories and I can't wait to read them! It's a testament to the author's skill and storytelling that she can make me go from wanting to put the book down to finding it compelling to wanting the rest of the series on my hands now! In fact, book 2, Relentless, is out in June 2018 and I'll be first in line to get it.

Unforgettable characters, fast-moving, twisty plot, the beginnings of what promises to be an awesome series! You're missing out a lot if you don't pick this one up now. So make sure you get yourself a gift this holiday season. Highly recommended.

Very good romantic suspense, fast-paced with excitement at every corner. Parker and Georgia are great together, smart, funny and totally bad ass.

Georgia Bennett is the perfect combination of strength and sassy for a leading lady. She's the alpha and it suits her to a T.

Parker Livingston is the perfect hot nerd. He's charming, a bit shy, and comfortable with letting Georgia take the lead.

I loved this book so much. I've been wanting an alpha female lead. There are so many alpha makes in the romance world and not nearly enough women who kick butt and take names.

ElIzabeth Dyer has done a beautiful job and I really hope there are more books to follow the Somerton Security team. I really want to know what happens next!

A good romantic, on the run, plot twisting, humorous, and suspenseful book! What more can you ask for?? Elizabeth Dyer gives us all these things and much more in Defenseless.

Georgia goes to work for Ethan at Somerton Security after her stint in the military. Ethan is her brother's best friend and feels a need to watch over Georgia since her brother died. She's having a hard time adjusting to the work, and even more to the clientele. Cow-towing to rich celebrities just isn't her bag. Ethan sees her struggles and reassigns her to a tech nerd, Parker. And she sure wasn't expecting him to be so dazzling in those glasses!

Parker is literally a genius and developed special software for the military to use for their covert operations. He's dumbfounded by the new security detail for him. So attractive, snarky, and so self aware, she could pummel anything that crosses her path! Parker is fascinated with Georgia and I loved all their banter! Snarky, sexy and funny-quite a few times I was chuckling! I liked them together! They made a good team in trying to discover who is using Parker's program against them.

I enjoyed the whole mystery surrounding Parker and his enemies! It did get a bit wordy with the nerdy stuff, but I am sure some loved all that! Georgia was a take no prisoners heroine and I liked her from the beginning. You knew there was so much more to Parker than just a nerd doing nerd stuff in the basement stereotype too!

Entirely an intriguing book from start to finish! A good intro to the Somerton Security series!

4 Stars/3 Flames

This book was gifted to me for a voluntary review. The review and ratings are solely my opinions.


reviewedby Deb

Very good romantic suspense, fast-paced with excitement at every corner. Parker and Georgia are great together, smart, funny and totally bad ass.

Review: Defenseless (Somerton Security Book 1) by Elizabeth Dyer https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-avL
Publication Date: December 1, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4.5 Stars

Wow, what an exhilarating ride! I loved that Georgia was smart and tough without straying into bitch-mode. She was easy to like and pulled the reader into her life and death situations. Parker was a technology expert and a bit nerdy – I loved him. He managed to remain sexy and manly while deferring to Georgia’s plans when in over his head. Nicely done. Fast paced, dangerous action blending with a sexy romance – a fun read.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle http://amzn.to/2BoFyzM

This is book #1 in the Somerton Security series.  Georgia works for Ethan, who wants her to protect Parker, a tech genius.  She is given one last chance to be more a people person, but she is grieving for her brother, who died.

I loved this book.  It had me glued to the pages.  The suspense of who tried to kill Parker and take down Georgia, too.  Their chemistry was hot.  Georgia is a strong, who is having issues with life after being a Marine.  I love how Parker and her were total opposites.

I can not wait to read the other books in this series.

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book. The fast-paced, high energy heroine who's tasked with protecting the geeky guy. Except, he's not all that geeky, and when push comes to shove, Parker shows what he's made of.

Both Parker and Georgia had rough childhoods and neither one of them wants to revisit the past. Except that Georgia has no choice when it comes to protecting Parker but to take them back to the place she hates the most.

As the dust settles and more secrets come to light, Georgia will have to learn to let go of the past hurts to embrace the man standing in front of her.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Thriller Romance
Triggers: Torture, Kidnapping.

Georgia is a take no prisoners, tough woman who can do it just as well as anyone out there. She has had a somewhat tough life and is just trying to move forward. However, she's finding that following rules outside of the military can be just as tough. When she wants answers about her brother, she's just going to have to accept that sometimes, people do things for the right reasons.

Parker is a computer nerd who shows he's more than just a numbers guy. He is tough when necessary, protective always, and loves deeply. He is also fairly selfless and wants people around him to be secure and safe.

This is a fast-paced story about greed, hate, and family. I can't wait to see what happens next because this is, hopefully, going to be an awesome series!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of suspense

This is the first in a new series, and is really rather good. A group of off-the-books agents who have an interesting mix of abilities finds themselves in a bind (to say the least) and new recruit Georgia is thrown in at the deep end. For that, read babysitting Parker – their first meeting is just a brilliant indication of how these two will get on.

I love strong, feisty female characters in books, and Georgie is a great example. She is also willing to acknowledge that Parker is irresistible and act on the attraction, repeatedly. Luckily, he is just as besotted, which makes for a mainly drama-free romance, even if everything else is going crazy for them and the team.

Decent plot, which remains unresolved, guaranteeing an exciting next installment – I cannot wait!