As I've learned to expect, a beautifully written and fun read. James writes wonderfully believable stories with flawed but truly good heroes and heroines

This is the series opener for Declan’s Defenders and it features Declan and Grace. He and his team were dishonorably discharged from the Marines for abandoning a mission that required them to shoot through a bridal party, that included the bride, groom, women and children, to kill a Taliban leader. Now he’s trying to figure out what to do with his life when he finds himself in the middle of an attempted abduction of a wealthy older woman, which is where he meets Grace. I can’t say too much about it but I can say that I love how this author weaves all these lives together. The easiness between Grace and Declan was there from their first meeting. The attraction was subtle and their intimacy was smooth, natural and oh so sexy. Charlie is a hoot! We probably would have loved her husband too.

I love how this author ties it all together and gets the story moving. The action and adventure was exciting and I look forward to the next book in this awesome series.

Marine Force Recon by Elle James is the first book in the Declan's Defenders series. This fast paced suspense romance took off from the start. and kept me very entranced. I thoroughly enjoyed Declan and Grace. The Marine who returned home from over seas to find a job as a bodyguard is on a mission to find a strangers roommate. It was such a great read.

I enjoyed this story for several reasons. Declan is one of them! He knew he wanted to continue protecting people, even after leaving the army. Grace was another reason - she had a good head on her shoulders, and she was very clear on how and who to ask for help when she needed it.
There was a lot of action, quite a bit of intrigue, romance, fights, and several strong female characters.

This is the first story in a new series and it certainly has me looking forward to reading more in future. It is an action packed with great characters and plenty of intrigue and romantic suspense. Declan O'Neill has been dishonourably discharged from the US Marines but he's such an honourable man I'm still hoping to find out more about what happened, especially given the respect shown to him by some of his team mates. I'm assuming some of this is going to be a key element as the series develops.

The focus in this story is Declan's first assignment in his new job, endeavouring to discover what has happened to the room mate of Grace Lawrence, an investigation that has them working together to uncover the truth in a story filled with danger, deceit and daring. I was impressed with the characters and how the romantic elements developed within the story. There are plenty of questions still to be answered in future books but I liked how this ended. Definitely a great start to a new series that I want to read more of. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys reading intriguing romantic suspense!

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Marine Force Recon is the first title in Elle James' new Declan's Defenders series, and, since I usually come into a series late, I was thrilled to get in on the ground floor of this one, and not only that, because Ms. James also gives us a cast of characters and their interconnections at the start, which was a huge help. This novel takes off like gangbusters and while the situations in this novel are highly improbable, it was still an action-packed thrill ride, and it gets 4 stars from this reader.

We first meet the hero, Declan O’Neill, who is in Washington, D.C. after being dishonorably discharged from the Marines after 11 years of service, along with his former teammates. He's nearly broke, doesn't want to go home to Wyoming to his military family who he fears will be ashamed of him. With little money and everything he owns in his rucksack, he decides to take in some of the D.C. sites on foot, but while waiting at a traffic light, he witnesses a number of masked and heavily armed mercenaries surround and attempt to abduct an older woman, while killing her own security team, and, as the mercenaries start shooting their automatic weapons into the crowd, Declan pulls the woman standing next to him to the ground and covers her with his body to protect her. Declan only stays with her a short while, because his military training takes over. He instructs the woman, Grace Lawrence, to keep his rucksack, and, risking life and limb, he single-handedly manages to overpower and kill all of the mercenaries, and save the older woman. The older woman, a wealthy widow named Charlotte (Charlie) Halverson, and she is beyond grateful for Declan's intervention, and within minutes of his considering himself a jobless, homeless, near penniless, discgraced former Marine, Charlie, whose cadre of security guards were killed in the melee, offers Declan a job on her security team. Meanwhile, Declan, who was detained by the police and cleared by Ms. Halverson, no longer sees Grace anywhere, and assumes that all he owned is now gone. But he's about to be surprised.

Grace, who's been working as an office temp, was on her way to an job interview with Ms. Halverson, who was seeking a new personal assistant. Charlie missed that meeting because of the shooting, but when she gets the nerve to try to meet with Ms. Halverson again the next day, she's in for a few surprises. It turns out that the Grace's roommate, Riley Lansing, also works at a highly classified job for Ms. Halverson's company, and Riley has gone missing, and the police have been of little help. Grace can barely respond to Charlie's questions and begs to reschedule the interview, but when she gives Ms. Halverson her reasons, Ms. Halverson calls on Declan, for his first assignment, helping Grace locate her missing roommate. He's thrilled to see Grace again and regain his rucksack, and, because he wants his first job assignment from Charlie to be a success, will do all he can to help Grace find her friend and roommate--but tracking down Riley is going to be a lot more complicated than he and Grace could have possibly imagined. It doesn't hurt that both the divorced and disheartened Grace, and the sexy ex-Marine, Declan, are clearly attracted to one another, either.

Their search for Riley, a break-in at Grace and Riley's apartment, their difficulty in getting answers from Riley's superiors, or even being allowed entry into the secure facility where Riley works, ramp up the suspense even more, and step-by-step, Declan and Grace find themselves drawing closer and becoming more and more impressed with one another. Yes, they've only known each other for two days, but their chemistry and mutual attraction to one another is almost instantaneous--something I usually dislike, but which, for some reason, works in this novel. In addition, Declan, with Charlie's approval, calls in the rest of his dishonorably discharged former teammates to help in the search and to also protect Charlie, and they can't show up fast enough.

There's a lot more danger, and sexual heat to come in this novel. Will Declan be able to complete his mission? Will they find and locate Riley? Will another attempt be made to abduct Charlie? Is Riley dead or alive? Why are they after her? Does it have to do with her top secret job? Then, when Grace too is abducted at gunpoint, will Declan and his teammates be able to save her? These questions will all be answered, but not by me.

My only real problems with this novel are how little backstory we have on Grace, who, while being both brave and resourceful, is still very much a mystery. My other issue was how abrupt and incomplete the ending of this novel is. It's barely a few short paragraphs, and if it's supposed to be an HEA ending, there are still too many ifs about Declan and Grace's future relationship, which I sincerely hope will be dealt with in the next installment in this series.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Edge of your seat romantic suspense does not get any better than Elle James’ fabulous new novel for Harlequin Intrigue, Marine Force Recon.

Homeless, unemployed and with his military career in tatters, Declan O’Neill’s future is looking pretty bleak. With no idea about where his next pay check is coming from or where he is going to sleep tonight, Declan had come to Washington, DC to try and figure out what he was going to do next. With his only skills being combat and killing, the job market isn’t exactly full of opportunities for a disgraced marine, however, when he manages to foil a terrorist attack and rescue a woman from certain death, Declan finds himself landing on his feet when he is hired by one of the richest women in the world to help start an organization that aims to help people who do not have the means or the ability to help themselves. This job seems to be tailor-made for Declan, but little does he realize that not even his military training could have prepared him from his toughest assignment yet: falling head over heels in love.

Grace Lawrence was on her way to a job interview when she found herself in the middle of a terror attack. Luckily for her, a dangerously handsome man kept her safe and protected her in her hour of need by diving head first into a perilous stand-off with armed terrorists intent on causing maximum destruction. Grace thought that that had been enough excitement for one day – until she returns home and discovers that her roommate Riley is missing. Frantic with worry and out of her mind with fear, Grace will not rest and she knows just the man to help track down her best friend: fearless soldier, Declan O’Neill.

Declan intends to keep things strictly professional with Grace, even if she has unleashed emotions deep within him which he had thought long-buried. Declan simply cannot afford any distraction and vows to keep his mind on the job and to find Riley. However, despite his best efforts, Declan simply cannot stop himself from thinking about Grace or from wanting to take her in his arms and kiss her.

With enemies determined to keep them from uncovering the truth about Riley’s disappearance, will Declan and Grace manage to track down Riley before it’s too late? As their feelings for one another intensify, the two of them wonder what is the biggest danger they face: mortal jeopardy or losing the love of a lifetime…

Marine Force Recon is an action-packed tale were the pace never flags, the stakes are sky high, the suspense heart-poundingly good and the romance red-hot! Elle James knows how to touch readers’ heart and have them chewing their nails to their elbow with her beguiling blend of romantic suspense and Marine Force Recon is a first class read guaranteed to keep them turning the pages late into the night.

A first class tale from an immensely talented writer, Marine Force Recon is a must-read that should not be missed.

Who is Declan? What is going on that he is whispering? Who are Grace and Riley? How does Grace meet Declan? That is one hell of an interesting read. I think I am in love with Declan myself at just 10% into the book! When the rest of Declan's Force Recon team shows up, life really gets interesting. What happens when Riley disappears? What happens to Grace? Can Riley be found? What hapens in the story during the hunt? Why was she taken? Read and see. Definitely action packed all the way through the story!

Another winner by a marvelous author. Thank you Elle for being a writer that engages with her readers.

This book is filled with action, from start to Finnish. Once you start reading, you will not want to stop till the last page. Declan and Grace, burn up the pages. There is so many sparks between them, then add the suspense and action wow it equals a great read.

After his last mission went sideways US Marine Declan finds himself dishonorably discharged with no place to stay or income. An act of heroism on behalf of Declan results in Charlie, the intended victim, creating a security team and hiring Declan and his team to run it.

Grace was supposed to be interviewing with Charlie when the attempted kidnapping happened, but she now finds herself the teams first job as well. Her roommate is missing, and she believes there is much more to the story than she knows, and she has just become Declan’s first assignment.

Working together to find her roommate and who is behind may be difficult but keeping the relationship between them strictly professional may be the most difficult mission of them all.

This is a great start to a new series and I look forwards to stories of the other members of the team.

5 Stars
Declan’s Defenders book 1
Romantic Suspense
Spicy/slow burn

This book blew me away!

Wow, just wow! I don't read a lot of Harlequin books these days but Elle James is one of my favorite authors so when she has a new one out, I usually read it. Marine Force Recon is part of the Harlequin Intrigue line and it is a great story.

I'm not sure I've ever read a book that started out with so much action and it didn't stop there. There definitely is a romantic element to this story but I'd call it a slow burn and the romance doesn't happen until pretty far into it. When the time came things got pretty sexy. 😊

I'm not going to rehash the blurb as it does a great job of describing the story. For me, this book was so full of heart-pounding action that I couldn't put it down once I'd started. Marine Force Recon is the first book in the Declan's Defenders series and I can't wait to read more.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

The first book in the new Declan’s Defenders series is a non-stop thrilling read that keeps readers on the edge of their seat as Declan O’Neill ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Declan and Grace are strong, bold characters that demand the readers’ attention from the word go and the chemistry between is an electrical force that readers can practically feel leaping from the pages. It’s sweet, it’s passionate and full of intense happenings and emotional turmoil that Declan and Grace handle it all with a strength that readers can’t help but admire.

The starts off with an exhilarating event as Declan steps up and interferes in some bad guys plans and the story only gets more thrilling from there as Declan partners up with Grace to uncover the truth behind her roommate’s disappearance. Lots of intrigue and pulse pounding events take place throughout ensuring that there is never a dull moment and the start of Declan’s new organization that aims to help people who can’t defend themselves ensures that readers are going to come back for more. The author brings this story to vivid exciting life with well written words that make it easy for readers to imagine each and every detail as it happens making it impossible to put this non-stop thrilling story down.

Grace is on her way to a job interview when a shoot out occurs and Declan O'Neill leaves her with his only possessions as he takes care of business. Unable to find him after everything happens shes goes home to find out that her roommate is missing. Strangely enough both manage to meet with a mutual acquaintance and Declan is put on the job to find her mission roommate.

From the moment this book starts there is so much going on leaving you just as confused as Grace but as things go though your in for a ride of mystery. There was just so much going on to keep the readers hooked and I love a good mystery. Then there was the attraction that was brewing between the two and you can't help but root for the MCs to get together. I loved seeing as things progressed in the book seeings things getting deeper and deeper into danger zone and it was just a great book. Overall I really enjoyed this book just couldn't put it down.

Fast, furious, intense action in a story that took me for a wild ride from the very first scene and delivered an entertaining and engaging action thriller type, on edge of your seat suspense with a touch of ardent yet deliciously tender romance on the side like an extra treat to be savored.
I absolutely loved the fact that both hero and heroine, while being strong and capable characters were not perfect, they had faults, they had weaknesses, and they were a bit broken. That brought humbleness and humility into them that was easy to relate to.
Both Declan O’Neill and Grace Lawrence were likable and easy to admire and swoon over when they act upon the sizzling attraction between them. And they had chemistry, the budding feelings towards each other, that they both were hesitant to let grow and linger, yet found it impossible to ignore the more time they spend together.
There was not much time or opportunity for them to build a deep, meaningful relationship, and the author didn't push it to the forever HEA but gave a satisfactory ending and solution that had me beaming, it was so perfect for Declan and Grace and for the beginning of the new series.
All Declan's team members, as well as Charlie, were intriguing secondary characters that I look forward to getting to know better in the future installments of the series. I have a feeling that there is a lot of fast action, severe suspense, and ardent love stories in the store for the readers, so you better buckle your seatbelt and enjoy the ride!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

4 1/2 STARS!

Breathtaking excitement from the start! A marine has been discharged from what he thought would be his life's work because he chose to go with his conscience in a dicey mission and now he's left with nothing ... nothing but the instinct he would bet his life on when something starts going down directly in front of him on the streets of DC. He throws caution to the wind and makes a daring rescue while also instilling the safety of passersby. Elle James is starting us off with a thrilling escapade with the first book in her new DECLAN'S DEFENDERS series. It was fast-paced with just enough romance thrown in to satisfy that quest towards happily ever after. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the next in the series!

Former Marine Declan O'Neill has just about hit rock bottom when he arrives in Washington DC. He's setting out to spend a few days seeing the sights of DC while he decides what to do with himself when all of a sudden he finds himself thrust into the middle of a hostage situation. He lets himself fall back on instinct and ends up rescuing the high powered victim who in turn sets him up with a new job!

Grace Lawrence is one of the bystanders that Declan protected as panic ensued in the street. She wouldn't be standing right now if it wasn't for him, so she's happy to be able to reconnect and thank him for his help. She isn't expecting to be indebted to him again, but that's exactly what happens when she discovers her roommate hasn't made it home and appears to be missing among some shady dealings.

Had an exciting and promising start, but the plot ended up being unbelievable and the characters were one dimensional.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

With a Harlequin Intrigue book there just isn't room for the "extras" that tend to jam up some Romantic-Suspense books and balloon their page count to over 400+ unnecessary pages. In this format the author has to quickly establish a plot, character interaction and romance. Ellie James is one of the best and I love this new series.

Declan O’Neill is a dishonorably discharged US Marine. He is down to his last few dollars when a kidnapping attack takes place right in front of him in Washington, D.C.. The woman he saves is wealthy and grateful and hires him on the spot an her personal security advisor and for a little group she wants to put together.

Grace Lawrence is on her way to a job interview when the attack takes place. The man beside her saves the day and now she finds herself needing his help to find her missing roommate. I call plot devise here, but I'll forgive it. Grace and Declan are thrown into some scary stuff as they search for Grace's roommate, but that just makes their chemistry that much hotter.

Marine Force Recon (Declan's Defenders #1) by Elle James This a great start to a new series ... thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book. This is Declan and Grace's story...he and his team have been dishonorably discharged from the Marines. Grace's roommate is missing. He saved her during an attempted kidnapping. The action starts at the beginning and never stops. We get to met other members of Force Recon...there is laughter, tears, danger, intrigue, steamy sex all leading to a HEA. By the way I can't forget Charlie....and I'm looking forward to Riley and Mack's story.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining Wonderful characters Page-turner Romantic Great world building Witty Steamy Happily Ever After Unpredictable Action-packed Easy-to-read

Marine Force Recon is predictable story with characters that leave readers as they close the book
That being said the story starts off with a exciting kidnapping that will get readers excited for the story but the story starts to slow down as things fall into the place perfectly for Charlie and Declan. The story fall into the typical Harlequin Intrigue romance story that readers were hoping disappeared.
Elle James is a good writer but this story falls flat.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for advance copy of Elle James Marine Force Recon.