He’s an off-the-books assassin. She’s his neighbor who stumbles into his deadly world.
Former Navy SEAL Ryland “Rip” Mills is used to pulling the trigger without hesitation. He and his elite team handle black-ops missions for a secret, faceless group known only as The Agency. Questions aren’t part of the job.
Until a covert op explodes in chaos. One teammate is dead. The intel was compromised. And all signs point to a setup.
The Agency has decided his entire team is expendable. The hunters have become the hunted.
Harper Grant only meant to confront her sexy, sun-bronzed neighbor for standing her up. Marching over to demand answers seems like a good idea—until she sees a dead body on the floor.
When bullets start flying, Ryland throws her over his shoulder and rescues her from certain death, invariably drawing her into his dangerous world of intrigue and betrayal.
With enemies closing in and a traitor possibly within his ranks, Ryland has two priorities: uncover the truth and keep Harper alive. But the more danger they face, the harder it is to ignore the heat building between them. Forced into hiding, sharing tight quarters, and trusting only each other, lines blur fast.
Ryland knows getting attached is reckless. But protecting Harper isn’t just a mission anymore.
It’s personal.
And anyone who touches her won’t live long enough to regret it.
Book 1 in the Force Protection Delta series. Each book features a different couple, an overarching storyline and a guaranteed HEA. Tropes: Alpha Protector • Forced Proximity • On-the-Run Romance • Touch Her and Die • Found Family • Assassins • Secret Identity • Former Military • Black-Ops Conspiracy • Steamy Romantic Suspense • Action/Adventure
My intentions were to take notes and highlight my favorite passages while reading Ryland, but I couldn’t be bothered with that because I was living my best life through Ryland and Harper’s story!!! You think I’m exaggerating right? Nope, I kid you not, this was by far, one of the best action packed, hold on to your seat, love stories that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a good long while!
Charissa Gracyk has far surpassed my expectations with the beginning of this new series and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!!
If you’re looking for an exciting, creative, and swoon worthy story, then you’ve got to experience this one! Incredible romantic suspense read and most definitely five stars!!!
What an explosive start to a new series, although I’ve yet to read something by Charissa Gracyk that isn’t darn near perfect and this is no exception.
I was absolutely riveted from the get-go. Most books start at 0 and move up to 60, but Charissa doesn’t do things by halves. She starts at 60 and zooms up to 100 without losing a beat.
I think there’s something special about the first book in the series. The following books follow each character to their own HEA, but the first book introduces you to everyone, it’s a level playing field and you get that important first glimpse into each character and the dynamic they bring to the group.
Ryland is a beautiful man. He’s easy going, yet focussed. Open, yet not completely trusting, initially anyway. He’s a total alpha dominant male, yet he’s also gentle, caring and so protective he entices your ovaries to explode. This man may think he’s not good but I’ve got news for him. He’s a man that most people would aspire to be.
Ryland is a man living the best life he can based on his past. An unorthodox mother, to say the least lol and the emptiness that comes with the loss of a loved one. I think he’s initially happy with his lot in life; living alone, doing his job and random hookups because his past taught him that people leave, when given the choice people don’t choose him.
God did I want to reach through the pages and reassure him that he was good enough, he was special and he damn well did serve to be the centre of someone’s adoration.
Harper is such a beautiful character. She is, without a single doubt, the epitome of everything Ryland deserves.
What I loved the most was, after her initial hesitance based on the negativity from her personal past, she wholeheartedly threw herself body and soul into being there for Ryland.
She may seem gentle and a little shy at first but the way her mama bear comes out to defend her man was so heartwarming and endearing. Without thought she has his back at every turn as they travel on the action packed, suspenseful rollercoaster ride to find the evil that is hunting them.
She never fails to have his back and offer her unconditional support throughout their journey. It’s absolutely awe inspiring.
We all secretly yearn for that perfect alpha man and what we would do if he ever appeared in front of us. Harper was lucky enough to get that chance and it’s beautiful to watch her throw herself into the whirlpool and do everything she can to hold on and enjoy the exhilarating journey.
This is a stunningly addictive read. The first sentence grabbed me, holding me tight and buckling me in as it transported me through the fog and into this magical, action packed world where I was more than happy to walk beside the characters that soon became my friends, even Saint, despite his gruffness lol
This book has amazed me with the emotions that reach out to consume you and the depths embedded into every word and every action. I cannot wait to reading the books that follow and watch all these beautiful characters find their own path.
Cannot recommend highly enough.
50 million+ stars isn’t even enough to portray just how wonderful this read is and how truly talented Charissa is.
Secrets, love and danger! Once again Charissa Gracyk has a winner with her newest book Ryland! Reading the first book in a new series is always a gamble for me because it can make or break my interest in the entire series. Well, I’m interested! Admittedly, I can be picky when it comes to protector/romance stories. Not every author can blend together intense military-style scenes and intimate moments. Ryland balances a well-developed storyline with spice perfectly. The secretive details of the plot give it a twist that I have not encountered in a storyline before. These team members have to trust each other despite knowing nothing about each other, their handler or The Agency. At one point, even I wondered who to trust. In the beginning, Ryland and Harper were hesitant to act on their attraction. Once the action hits the fan, you see what they are capable of as individuals and as a couple. And that steamy ocean scene was like nothing I’ve read before! Their intimacy was definitely a claiming in Ryland’s eyes, while Harper was discovering how a good man can be very good. The Ex Nihilo team members are all different and you want to know their stories. Throwing in the additional character, Demon, was a wildcard. I truly like him, despite his obvious baggage. I’m eager to see how his character develops and how he blends or struggles with the team dynamics. Not going to give away any details, but the ending hooked me! The Force Protection Delta books are going to be like chocolate candy. You know you can’t stop at one and each one is going to be good! Charissa Gracyk is quickly becoming one of my go to authors!
It was so great to start this brand new series along with Charissa Gracyck. I enjoyed this book very much. It is not connected with her prior books so it's a great place to start if you are not familiar with Charissa's earlier books. The MMC Ryland and his team are all hand picked, ex military, working special black ops for The Agency. Their lives are secrets to everyone even each other. I was kind of feeling an Alias vibe. Harper is Ryland's neighbor and after a huge SNAFU on his team's last op; Harper finds herself right in the middle of the team as they try to work out what went wrong. Despite her insecurities, Harper finds that she has what it takes to stand with this crew and help them deal with this clusterf* they are in. Harper is not intimidated by Rylands past or current situation, which he desperately needs. Harper's hidden inner strength impresses Ryland become closer. Ryland and Harper get their HEA in this story. But the underlying ARC will connect with the future books in this series. Each team member will get their own story as they work together to find out who & why someone is trying to eliminate the team. There's action scenes and some suspense. Of course there are those spicy bits too. I can not wait until the next book comes out. Thank you, Charissa for letting me meet Ryland early. 💜💜💜
I’m so excited about this new series featuring more military men. As expected, Gracyk has filled the pages with adventure and romance. I can’t wait to learn more about each member of this elite group of former military!
First book in the new series, and it doesn't disappoint!. Action, romance, team, suspense, steamy smexy times, and a couple that you are rooting for from page one! Reading a Gracyk novel is going to a blockbuster thrilling with romance and steam in the pages of a well written book. Can't wait for the rest of the team to get their HEA and hunt down The Agency that betrayed them!!!
Secrets, lies, intrigue, danger and hot as heck MC’s - this is what Charissa Gracyk delivers and by gosh she does it well.
A series starter there is a lot to get to grips with in this book, a plethora of new characters, a new world being built around us and the storyline of the main characters. Nothing is left behind in the execution though and I feel like I’m going into the rest of this series with a warm sense of familiarity for the remaining team members, I understand the core storyline that will follow through and I got served a wonderfully romantic storyline that developed between Ryland and Harper.
If this is a new to you author, where have you been - devour this book and then whilst eagerly waiting for the next one go back and check out her back catalogue. You won’t be disappointed.
4.5 stars! Fast paced, action packed, slow burn and an interesting spin on the secret ops style former military team story that you might have read before. Right from the beginning the story pulls you in with characters that spark on the page, and we don’t have to wait to long before things kick into high gear, and you’re holding on tight all the way to the end. If you like spicy romantic suspense told in a very cinematic and compelling way, this is gonna be right up your alley!
Ryland and Harper appear on the surface as any neighbor meet-cute relationship in the start. They’ve been a little flirty with each other in passing, until Ryland finally works up the courage to ask her on a date. But his super secret and super dangerous job interferes with a last minute mission that goes horribly wrong, not to mention interferes with their date (read: he essential stands her up). Harper decides to stand up for herself and confront Ryland, but she unwittingly puts herself right in the middle of a dangerous, deadly situation which there is no way out of. Ryland and Harper are forced on the run, close proximity, tons of actions, and plenty of sexual tension abound as they try to figure out who is after them and why exactly. Layer on top of that this dynamic of the rest of Ryland’s team of super assassins, who are all being targeted, and things just keep getting more interesting.
While is a fairly quick read, it most definitely packs a punch. There is little fluff, moving from twist to twist, all the while building a delicious slow burn that is great. And since this is the first book of a series, we are getting a ton of world building happening overall, which is done on the fly as you are along for the ride, which makes it much more palatable within the story.
Ryland and Harper have a very fast, essentially insta-love, whirlwind type of romance, which can be a bit challenging to pull off, but this book does it very well. I loved their story and their dynamic and interactions. Their chemistry and steam was excellent, the slow burn (relatively speaking) worked really well, leading to some great spicy moments. I really love the overall setup that is happening here too, and am very much looking forward to the continuation of the series!
"Ryland" is a stellar start to a promising series about a team of assassins who are as much a mystery to each other as they are to outsiders. Book one follows Ryland “Rip” Mills, a former Navy SEAL and surfing enthusiast who finds out his elusive employer, The Agency, just might be trying to kill him and his team. Not ideal, but they’re trained for danger and are determined to handle the threat. What Ryland didn’t bargain for, however, is his beautiful neighbor, Harper, being dragged into the mix.
I loved watching Ryland and Harper’s interactions as they grew closer while navigating the difficult position they found themselves in. Ryland is a bada$$ at what he does, but Harper is no shrinking violet. She held her own and didn’t sit on the sidelines, and the beautiful thing was, Ryland trusted in her capabilities and didn’t play the macho, I’ll-protect-the-woman card. Instead, they worked side-by-side.
Yes, the book is action-packed and full of intrigue, but hidden beneath is a love story of the deepest kind. It was refreshing to find a romantic inside such a strong, capable, alpha male. It made me want to root for him more.
The other members of Ryland’s team are made up of varied personalities that undoubtedly will be fun to get to know as the series progresses. I can’t wait to read how each one finds their happily ever after. If the rest of the books are like this one, we’re in for a wild, wonderful ride!
There's nothing much better than the anticipation of a new series by an author you love to read. Except for when you get that first book and it's as good as what you were hoping for! Then? It's the Best Thing Ever!!! At least right at that moment when you're on that euphoric high of finishing another awesome story! Then reality crashes and you realize you have to wait for the next one, lol. Ryland and Harper and the rest of the team are great characters rolling with an exciting new storyline that keeps them on their toes. The great writing, the darn near perfect execution of a suspenseful new story line, characters you can't wait to meet, this author delivers! Hands down a wonderful start to a new series!
New Series! Lots of Action! Ryland is the first in Charissa Gracyk's new Force Protection Delta series and for the first book out of the gate it's a great one. Well balanced between introducing new characters and focusing on our main characters Ryland and Harper, their story plays out as the action goes on around them. And what action! Ms. Gracyk always delivers a story full of action and intrigue and this is no different, the team's first mission is early in the book and the action continues at breakneck speed through to the end leaving us with the basis of what is sure to be an adrenaline rush with each book to come. Can't wait for the next!
I was fortunate to be able to receive an ARC, (advanced readers copy). This is an incredible story about a team who is slowly being eliminated by an unknown person or persons only known as The Agency. This is the first book and the main character in this book Ryeland meets the girl he only thought he wanted to date but things change. The twists and turns and classic writing by Charissa makes this story and book and ultimately the series a must read. Don’t just take my word for it, grab the book it’s just that fantastic
Charissa starts her new series with a bang. This book is a non-stop, heart pounding thrill ride with twists you never see coming and a few laugh out loud moments.
These characters are mysterious and intriguing. Only going by codenames and no background info, keeps you hooked, hoping for a little nugget of insight into who they truly are.
The spicy scenes between Harper and Ryland---UGH! The one in the ocean at the resort was intense *fans face*
And the way it ended. Did NOT expect that! It leaves so much in the dark and makes you want to read the next book now.
Former Navy Seal Dylan's "Rip" Mills works for a secret organization that eliminates bad guys. An open goes bad and one of their team gets killed and now they don't know who to trust. Harper Grant is Rips new neighbor and he has been meaning to ask her out, but before he can his team is targeted and Harper is caught in the crossfire! Now they all must try to figure out who is after them before they are all eliminated!!!!!! This is the first book in a new series and it was so good! Can't wait to see what happens next and if they figure out who is targeting them!!!!!! 5 stars!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤
We are off to an exciting start and, if you’re like me, you love the action and adventure this author writes into her novels!
I love that we have a new team to be excited about and enjoy all their stories! This team is a little different and you’ll come away with questions about them for sure! But, the love story is sizzling! Ryland and Harper are a love at first sight situation and it works for them both!
Grab some popcorn, find a comfy place to read and choose free afternoon to enjoy this great start to a new series!
Wow what a great start to a new series! I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down! Action packed, suspenseful and hot romance! I absolutely loved it!! Strong characters and intriguing plot! Highly recommended! I don’t want to give away spoilers so you just have to pick it up and read it, you won’t regret it! I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I received this arc from the author and this review is my honest opinion.
New series equals new adventures and Ms. Gracyk doesnt fail on adventures. One minute your planning a date and the next your in the middle of a car chase. Ryland and Harper were the perfect for each other and im happy they got a HEA. We get introduced to Gray and I can tell his already going to be yummy! I can’t wait to dive into the next adventure Ms. Gracyk has in store for us.
Fantastic read ! Great start to a new series, 5 stars just isn't enough. From start to finish I could not put it down. I loved both Ryland and Harper. So looking forward to Gray's story. Great job Charissa
Another great read! Loved the suspense the military drama and the whole chemistry with characters. Ryland and Harper were amazing. The lay out of the team is great and it sets the scene for future reads. If you enjoy the military romance book this is for you
I didn’t think Charissa could outdo herself, but the start of this series was the best yet. I can’t wait to learn about Gray and read his story. Ryland and Harper’s story was jam packed with action and passion from start to finish.
This is the first book I read from this author and I totally devoured it! Please note though that this book just sets up the next in the series as the entire storyline isn't finished. This is Rylands story and boy is it a good one! I'm already looking forward to the next in the series!
I couldn’t put this book down! I am a slow reader and read this book in 2 days which is quick for me! This book was full of adventure, romance and suspense!!! I can’t wait to read the second book in the new Force Protection Delta series.
I loved this book. All of the team members are great (I hope no one is a mole!). Ryland looks like a typical California surfer but is a former Seal and a member of a group of assassins taking out the scum of the earth employed by The Agency presumably part of the DOD. Harper is Ryland’s new neighbor and working to get her life together after a stint in LA trying to become an actor. The two had an instant chemistry and Ryland finally asked her out but a mission got in the way and when she went to confront him they ended up on the run for their lives. The Agency is now trying to take out the team. As they search for members there are secrets revealed for Ryland and he and Harper grow closer. Will they survive? Grab this one and find out. I’m gonna love this series!
unfortunately, i didn't connect with the book. to me, the connection between the hero and heroine felt rather weak so the "i love you" came out somewhat abrupt.
additionally, it kind of ended in a cliffhanger as the mission wasn't completed though the characters got their hea. not sure if i am continuing the series...
I cannot get enough of Charissa Gracyk’s romantic suspense novels, and diving into a new series with a brand new cast of protectors always gives me new adventure chills. And I do mean the good kind of chills. The ones that tell you something great is on the horizon. The ones that make your spine tingle with excitement. The ones that will follow you through the entire story, making you hold your breath and as you flip pages faster because you have to know what’s coming next. The ones that keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end.
And Charissa does not disappoint in her newest novel, Ryland—Book 1 in her newest series: Force Protection Delta. I fell in love with Ryland and Harper right away. And as their story developed, I loved them so much more. Gracyk builds a whirlwind, fast-paced love story around them that grabs the reader and brings them along for the nail-biting, steamy, often emotionally-charged ride.
As a series starter, Ryland also brings readers into the world of Gracyk’s new team of protectors, an eclectic collection of former military heroes and heroines, plus a few surprises. World building is a complex and often difficult part of creating a series, but Gracyk does it beautifully through authentic dialogue, genuine interactions, perfect pacing, and some seriously emotional scenes and situations.
I know Ryland is just the beginning of this new adventure, and I am already itching to get my hands on Charissa’s next hero and his HEA.
It was very much a steamy protector romantic suspense. Ryland is an ex Military surfer working for a non sanctioned government entity along with others and they're encouraged to not learn much about each other. During a mission, things go terribly wrong and the group of killers get put on the kill list. It just so happens that Ryland had a first planned with his neighbor, Harper, but had to stand her up to go on the last mission, that went wrong. When she shows up at his apartment to confront him, shooting starts so Ryland takes off with Harper to keep her safe. To keep from giving you spoilers, things happen from there and the team meets up but stays together to figure out who they are working for that is trying to eliminate them. It is determined that "The Agency" is after them but they don't know who that consists of. Although Ryland and Harper get their HEA in this book, we pick up new characters and the series continues in subsequent books so there is no conclusion to the suspense story that originates in this book, if that's a problem for you. There are open door love scenes between the two main characters and it is quite a rush to love situation as well.. There is no cheating, no ow\om drama, and some violence but not a lot of descriptive writing about it.
Ryland (Rip) is a professional killer and has absolutely no issues with what he does. That is until one of his team members is killed, and he finds himself on the run. Trying to find out if his team was set up, he doesn't know who he can trust. And then his neighbor Harper, who he finally managed to ask out, storms over after he fails to show on their date, and now she's a part of this unfortunate adventure. But that may not be as bad as he thinks.
The author does military romances very well. I loved her previous books in the Project Phoenix series and knew this one would be just as good. Ryland and Harper start off as neighbors who like each other and finally get to go out, until everything crashes in around them. Their dynamic was fun and I love that Harper kind of rolled with what was happening and it made their romance a little more exciting.
I wasn't sold on the plot as much. The beginning and the set up to having Ryland on the run was good, and then it lulls out. There wasn't as much drama and action as I wanted with this type of story, but overall I'm not disappointed.
This new series by Charissa Gracyk has everything fans love about her books: pulse-pounding action and adventure, steam hot enough to melt your kindle, and an air of mystery and intrigue that keeps you coming back for more!
I fell hard and fast for Harper and Ryland. They’ve both had some tough experiences, but it’s what makes them so perfect for each other. He’s a gentleman alpha protector but she’s just as fierce when it comes to holding onto what she wants. Their adventure is a fast-paced joy ride flitting you across oceans and exploring exotic locales like a swingers’ resort! If that doesn’t promise enough, er, action ;), there’s a speed boat chase and a death-defying plunge into coastal caves that tests their limits and brings them closer together.
I loved meeting this new crew. The characters promise to be scarred and broken and I’m looking forward to their redemptions. Plus, I can’t wait to see what they uncover about the plot to take them out in the next installment in the series!