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Expected 8 Dec 26HE’S SWORN TO GUARD HER LIFE.
SHE MIGHT BE THE ONE TO SAVE HIS.
Love burned me once. Badly. I married young, believed in forever, and learned the hard way that vows aren’t bulletproof. Now she’s remarried, I’m deployed overseas, and my orders are…humiliating. Protect the Secretary of Defense’s daughter—a stunning, infuriating model whose life is all cameras and curated perfection.
I’m not a bodyguard. I’m a Tier 1 Operator. This assignment should’ve been beneath me.
But Scarlett Thomas isn’t what the headlines say. She’s braver than she should be, lonelier than she lets on, and somehow more dangerous to me than the missions the Army usually sends me on. When her publicist decides the easiest way to explain my presence is to label me her boyfriend, I should object.
But I don’t.
People think my life is charmed—glamorous, effortless, enviable. They don’t see the isolation. The pressure. The father who loves his country more than his daughter.
I’ve learned to keep everyone at arm’s length. Modeling taught me how to maintain a beautiful image, not live a life. I’ve never fallen in love. I never wanted to.
Then Kyler Wade walked in—silent, scarred, impossible to impress—and he looked at me like he could see past every mask I’ve ever worn. I’m not supposed to care what he thinks, or whether he trusts me, or why he stayed on this assignment when he clearly didn’t want it.
But I do.
SHE MIGHT BE THE ONE TO SAVE HIS.
Love burned me once. Badly. I married young, believed in forever, and learned the hard way that vows aren’t bulletproof. Now she’s remarried, I’m deployed overseas, and my orders are…humiliating. Protect the Secretary of Defense’s daughter—a stunning, infuriating model whose life is all cameras and curated perfection.
I’m not a bodyguard. I’m a Tier 1 Operator. This assignment should’ve been beneath me.
But Scarlett Thomas isn’t what the headlines say. She’s braver than she should be, lonelier than she lets on, and somehow more dangerous to me than the missions the Army usually sends me on. When her publicist decides the easiest way to explain my presence is to label me her boyfriend, I should object.
But I don’t.
People think my life is charmed—glamorous, effortless, enviable. They don’t see the isolation. The pressure. The father who loves his country more than his daughter.
I’ve learned to keep everyone at arm’s length. Modeling taught me how to maintain a beautiful image, not live a life. I’ve never fallen in love. I never wanted to.
Then Kyler Wade walked in—silent, scarred, impossible to impress—and he looked at me like he could see past every mask I’ve ever worn. I’m not supposed to care what he thinks, or whether he trusts me, or why he stayed on this assignment when he clearly didn’t want it.
But I do.
Paperback
Expected publication December 8, 2026
About the author
Brilee Scott
7 books50 followersBrilee Scott is a Top 5 Amazon best-selling contemporary military romance author. Her books are filled with swoon-worthy romance, heart stopping action and suspense, and the promise of a hard-fought happily ever after.
Brilee is teacher-turned-author, wife to an aerospace engineer, and mama to the sweetest little boy (plus two very spoiled Australian Shepherds).
She studied education and fiction writing in college before spending several years teaching kindergarten and earning her master’s degree in literacy. Inspired by her husband’s career in military aviation, her deep-rooted patriotism, and her love of happily ever afters, Brilee found her way back to writing.
The idea for Viking, her debut novel, sparked during a family day at an airshow—proof that jet noise and love stories pair surprisingly well. She now writes heartfelt, high-stakes romance featuring elite fighter pilots, fierce heroines, and the kind of chemistry that lingers long after the last page.
Brilee and her family call Florida home, though they’re currently at Edwards AFB in California, where her husband is part of a next-generation fighter program. She’s hard at work on the rest of The Silent Pursuit series—and a few spin-offs about characters she just couldn’t let go of.
Brilee is teacher-turned-author, wife to an aerospace engineer, and mama to the sweetest little boy (plus two very spoiled Australian Shepherds).
She studied education and fiction writing in college before spending several years teaching kindergarten and earning her master’s degree in literacy. Inspired by her husband’s career in military aviation, her deep-rooted patriotism, and her love of happily ever afters, Brilee found her way back to writing.
The idea for Viking, her debut novel, sparked during a family day at an airshow—proof that jet noise and love stories pair surprisingly well. She now writes heartfelt, high-stakes romance featuring elite fighter pilots, fierce heroines, and the kind of chemistry that lingers long after the last page.
Brilee and her family call Florida home, though they’re currently at Edwards AFB in California, where her husband is part of a next-generation fighter program. She’s hard at work on the rest of The Silent Pursuit series—and a few spin-offs about characters she just couldn’t let go of.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 3, 2026
This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain spoilers.
(Once again, my review turned into a novel, but I personally think Cipher deserves it.)
I have been waiting for Kyler Wade's story since he first stepped on the page in Viking, and let me tell you—watching this man meet his match was worth the wait. Brilee Scott has officially given me my favorite leading man of the Silent Pursuit series, and considering the exceptional company he's keeping, that's saying something. With every new installment, Brilee Scott continues to remind me why I fell in love with her storytelling in the first place. Cipher is everything I hoped Kyler's story would be—and then some.
What makes Kyler's story so special is that we've already had the opportunity to fall in love with him once before. In Ghost, we watched his relationship with Ivy blossom in the past, only to slowly unravel as the future they'd envisioned slipped further and further out of reach. At the same time, we experienced the heartbreak of watching the woman he once imagined spending his life with find love and happiness with someone else. We didn't simply hear about Kyler's past or get glimpses of the pain he carried. We lived through it alongside him. We fell in love with him, watched his heart break, and understood why moving forward wouldn't be as simple as turning the page. And I think that's what made stepping into Cipher so incredibly rewarding. We already knew the man beneath the hardened exterior. Now, we finally get to watch him find a love story of his own.
First of all, can we talk about Scarlett Thomas? Because this woman is a FORCE. She's fiery, bold, fiercely independent, and every bit as stubborn as the man assigned to protect her. And thank goodness for that, because Kyler's walls weren't coming down without a fight. Fortunately, Scarlett is exactly the kind of woman who can turn a stiletto into a sledgehammer. What I especially appreciated about Scarlett was the contrast between the woman the world believes her to be and the person she actually is. On the surface, she's a successful model living a glamorous life, but beneath that carefully curated image is someone who has experienced her own kind of loneliness. She's spent so much of her life being seen without necessarily being known, and I loved watching Brilee slowly peel back those layers. Scarlett isn't simply a beautiful woman in need of protection. She's intelligent, capable, determined, and so much more than the world gives her credit for.
And Kyler. Oh, Kyler Wade. I thought Brilee Scott had already set the bar impossibly high with her leading men, but Kyler has officially raised it. He's broody, stubborn, fiercely protective, and carrying more emotional baggage than he'd ever care to unpack. Yet beneath that metaphorical armor is a man with an extraordinary capacity to love. We saw that firsthand in Ghost, and the prologue of Cipher broke my heart all over again. But knowing just how deeply Kyler is capable of loving—and how profoundly that love can hurt—makes watching him fall for Scarlett all the more meaningful. I loved watching her challenge him, frustrate him, and slowly become someone he couldn't imagine walking away from. Their chemistry is electric, and the push and pull between two people who are equally determined to maintain control makes for some absolutely delicious romantic tension.
But one of my favorite aspects of Kyler's character arc is the way his past continues to shape his present. He's undoubtedly the hero of this story, and there's never a question that he'd do absolutely anything to keep Scarlett safe. Yet rather than simply positioning himself as her protector, he spends so much of their time together making sure she's capable of protecting herself. Knowing what we do about his history with Ivy, that distinction carries so much emotional weight. Kyler has spent years carrying the guilt of what happened in his previous relationship, and watching him channel those experiences into preparing Scarlett to stand on her own was incredibly meaningful. He doesn't just want to be the person who saves her. He wants her to have the tools and confidence to save herself if she ever needs to. To me, that's such a powerful expression of love—and an equally powerful testament to his growth.
Speaking of Ivy, I have to take a moment to appreciate the beautifully unconventional family dynamic Brilee has created between her, Dalton, Hadley, Kyler, and now Scarlett. After everything we experienced in Ghost, I wasn't entirely sure what their relationships would look like moving forward. But I absolutely love where they've landed. Kyler and Ivy have a complicated history, and the love they once shared hasn't simply disappeared. It's changed. It's evolved into something different, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful. There's something incredibly mature and refreshing about allowing two people to acknowledge the importance of their past without letting it stand in the way of their futures.
I especially loved that Ivy could still be a source of support for Kyler. Their relationship is no longer romantic, but there's still a tenderness and understanding between them that speaks to everything they've endured together. And some of my favorite moments in the entire book were seeing Ivy and Scarlett begin to build a friendship of their own. It would have been so easy to manufacture unnecessary tension between these women, but Brilee chooses something far more compelling: mutual respect, empathy, and the possibility of genuine friendship. It's another reminder of how much emotional maturity she brings to her characters and their relationships.
And while we're talking about the people who make this series so special, I have to give another shoutout to Hadley. That little girl could have approximately three lines of dialogue and still manage to steal the entire show. She's been one of my favorite characters since Ghost, and every appearance feels like a little gift. Her personality, her sass, and the warmth she brings to the story are absolutely priceless. I will never get tired of seeing her pop up in these books.
One of the things I've consistently praised throughout Brilee's Silent Pursuit series is her ability to create a found family that feels authentic and deeply rooted in the characters' lives. It's one of my favorite elements of her storytelling, and Cipher adds an interesting new dimension to it. While Kyler has existed somewhat on the outskirts of the established group throughout the series, this book gives him an opportunity to find his own sense of camaraderie with the men working alongside him on the assignment. I loved seeing those relationships and watching the dynamics between the guys unfold. There's something so endearing about the loyalty, banter, and unspoken understanding that develops between people who trust one another with their lives. And consider my interest thoroughly piqued with Dallin in particular. I'm already looking forward to getting to know him better!
Of course, I can't write a review of a Brilee Scott novel without talking about the extraordinary amount of research that goes into her stories. From the very beginning of this series, her knowledge of military life has been one of the things that sets her writing apart. But Cipher takes that immersive quality in an entirely new direction with its setting in Turkey. The descriptions are so vivid and atmospheric that I could practically picture myself standing alongside the characters. Brilee has an incredible ability to make a location feel tangible, and the real-world places woven throughout this story give it an added layer of authenticity. It's evident that an enormous amount of care and research went into bringing this setting to life. I was equally impressed by the attention given to Scarlett's modeling career. It's a world that's so different from the military environments we've explored in the previous books, yet Brilee approaches it with the same level of care and specificity. I appreciated the glimpses into the demands of the industry and the contrast between the polished image Scarlett presents to the public and the realities of her life behind the scenes.
And then there's the suspense. MY GOODNESS, THE SUSPENSE. Brilee has always excelled at balancing high-stakes situations with deeply emotional romance, but I think Cipher might contain some of her most nerve-racking moments yet. The anonymous notes Scarlett receives made my stomach turn. There's something particularly unsettling about a threat that remains just out of sight, and the uncertainty surrounding who might be responsible created this constant undercurrent of dread. The romantic moments provide little pockets of warmth and tenderness, but the mystery is always there, quietly building until everything finally comes to a head. And when it does, I was absolutely GLUED to the page. The action sequences had my heart racing, and there were several moments when I simply couldn't put the book down until I knew everyone was going to be okay. It's the kind of storytelling that makes you forget you're reading words on a page because you're too busy experiencing every second alongside the characters.
But beyond the romance, the danger, and the breathtaking setting, I think what makes Cipher so special is the way it explores the idea of healing without erasing the past. Kyler doesn't suddenly become a different person because he falls in love with Scarlett. His experiences with Ivy still matter. His guilt doesn't magically disappear. And the people who helped shape him remain important parts of his life. Instead, he learns that there's room for something new without having to diminish what came before. And Scarlett, in turn, discovers someone who sees her as more than the image she's spent her entire life maintaining. For two people who have become so accustomed to keeping others at a distance, there's something incredibly beautiful about watching them slowly choose to let each other in.
One of the things I appreciate most about Brilee Scott's writing is that she never sacrifices emotional depth for the sake of romance or action. Every relationship feels intentional, every character carries a history, and even the quietest moments have a way of leaving an impression. Cipher delivers all of that alongside an immersive international setting, a gripping mystery, and a love story I've been eagerly anticipating since the previous installment.
If you love military romance, forced proximity, fake dating, protective and broody MMCs, fiercely independent FMCs, found family, and romantic suspense that will have you frantically turning pages, Cipher absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
Four books into this journey, and I'm still in awe of the world Brilee's created and the heart she pours into every story. After everything we've experienced alongside Kyler, watching him finally find happiness with Scarlett was everything I hoped it would be. I can't wait to see what Brilee has in store for the rest of this incredible cast. Congratulations on another stunning installment of the Silent Pursuit series! And for the record, Kyler Wade officially has my whole heart.
(Once again, my review turned into a novel, but I personally think Cipher deserves it.)
I have been waiting for Kyler Wade's story since he first stepped on the page in Viking, and let me tell you—watching this man meet his match was worth the wait. Brilee Scott has officially given me my favorite leading man of the Silent Pursuit series, and considering the exceptional company he's keeping, that's saying something. With every new installment, Brilee Scott continues to remind me why I fell in love with her storytelling in the first place. Cipher is everything I hoped Kyler's story would be—and then some.
What makes Kyler's story so special is that we've already had the opportunity to fall in love with him once before. In Ghost, we watched his relationship with Ivy blossom in the past, only to slowly unravel as the future they'd envisioned slipped further and further out of reach. At the same time, we experienced the heartbreak of watching the woman he once imagined spending his life with find love and happiness with someone else. We didn't simply hear about Kyler's past or get glimpses of the pain he carried. We lived through it alongside him. We fell in love with him, watched his heart break, and understood why moving forward wouldn't be as simple as turning the page. And I think that's what made stepping into Cipher so incredibly rewarding. We already knew the man beneath the hardened exterior. Now, we finally get to watch him find a love story of his own.
First of all, can we talk about Scarlett Thomas? Because this woman is a FORCE. She's fiery, bold, fiercely independent, and every bit as stubborn as the man assigned to protect her. And thank goodness for that, because Kyler's walls weren't coming down without a fight. Fortunately, Scarlett is exactly the kind of woman who can turn a stiletto into a sledgehammer. What I especially appreciated about Scarlett was the contrast between the woman the world believes her to be and the person she actually is. On the surface, she's a successful model living a glamorous life, but beneath that carefully curated image is someone who has experienced her own kind of loneliness. She's spent so much of her life being seen without necessarily being known, and I loved watching Brilee slowly peel back those layers. Scarlett isn't simply a beautiful woman in need of protection. She's intelligent, capable, determined, and so much more than the world gives her credit for.
And Kyler. Oh, Kyler Wade. I thought Brilee Scott had already set the bar impossibly high with her leading men, but Kyler has officially raised it. He's broody, stubborn, fiercely protective, and carrying more emotional baggage than he'd ever care to unpack. Yet beneath that metaphorical armor is a man with an extraordinary capacity to love. We saw that firsthand in Ghost, and the prologue of Cipher broke my heart all over again. But knowing just how deeply Kyler is capable of loving—and how profoundly that love can hurt—makes watching him fall for Scarlett all the more meaningful. I loved watching her challenge him, frustrate him, and slowly become someone he couldn't imagine walking away from. Their chemistry is electric, and the push and pull between two people who are equally determined to maintain control makes for some absolutely delicious romantic tension.
But one of my favorite aspects of Kyler's character arc is the way his past continues to shape his present. He's undoubtedly the hero of this story, and there's never a question that he'd do absolutely anything to keep Scarlett safe. Yet rather than simply positioning himself as her protector, he spends so much of their time together making sure she's capable of protecting herself. Knowing what we do about his history with Ivy, that distinction carries so much emotional weight. Kyler has spent years carrying the guilt of what happened in his previous relationship, and watching him channel those experiences into preparing Scarlett to stand on her own was incredibly meaningful. He doesn't just want to be the person who saves her. He wants her to have the tools and confidence to save herself if she ever needs to. To me, that's such a powerful expression of love—and an equally powerful testament to his growth.
Speaking of Ivy, I have to take a moment to appreciate the beautifully unconventional family dynamic Brilee has created between her, Dalton, Hadley, Kyler, and now Scarlett. After everything we experienced in Ghost, I wasn't entirely sure what their relationships would look like moving forward. But I absolutely love where they've landed. Kyler and Ivy have a complicated history, and the love they once shared hasn't simply disappeared. It's changed. It's evolved into something different, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful. There's something incredibly mature and refreshing about allowing two people to acknowledge the importance of their past without letting it stand in the way of their futures.
I especially loved that Ivy could still be a source of support for Kyler. Their relationship is no longer romantic, but there's still a tenderness and understanding between them that speaks to everything they've endured together. And some of my favorite moments in the entire book were seeing Ivy and Scarlett begin to build a friendship of their own. It would have been so easy to manufacture unnecessary tension between these women, but Brilee chooses something far more compelling: mutual respect, empathy, and the possibility of genuine friendship. It's another reminder of how much emotional maturity she brings to her characters and their relationships.
And while we're talking about the people who make this series so special, I have to give another shoutout to Hadley. That little girl could have approximately three lines of dialogue and still manage to steal the entire show. She's been one of my favorite characters since Ghost, and every appearance feels like a little gift. Her personality, her sass, and the warmth she brings to the story are absolutely priceless. I will never get tired of seeing her pop up in these books.
One of the things I've consistently praised throughout Brilee's Silent Pursuit series is her ability to create a found family that feels authentic and deeply rooted in the characters' lives. It's one of my favorite elements of her storytelling, and Cipher adds an interesting new dimension to it. While Kyler has existed somewhat on the outskirts of the established group throughout the series, this book gives him an opportunity to find his own sense of camaraderie with the men working alongside him on the assignment. I loved seeing those relationships and watching the dynamics between the guys unfold. There's something so endearing about the loyalty, banter, and unspoken understanding that develops between people who trust one another with their lives. And consider my interest thoroughly piqued with Dallin in particular. I'm already looking forward to getting to know him better!
Of course, I can't write a review of a Brilee Scott novel without talking about the extraordinary amount of research that goes into her stories. From the very beginning of this series, her knowledge of military life has been one of the things that sets her writing apart. But Cipher takes that immersive quality in an entirely new direction with its setting in Turkey. The descriptions are so vivid and atmospheric that I could practically picture myself standing alongside the characters. Brilee has an incredible ability to make a location feel tangible, and the real-world places woven throughout this story give it an added layer of authenticity. It's evident that an enormous amount of care and research went into bringing this setting to life. I was equally impressed by the attention given to Scarlett's modeling career. It's a world that's so different from the military environments we've explored in the previous books, yet Brilee approaches it with the same level of care and specificity. I appreciated the glimpses into the demands of the industry and the contrast between the polished image Scarlett presents to the public and the realities of her life behind the scenes.
And then there's the suspense. MY GOODNESS, THE SUSPENSE. Brilee has always excelled at balancing high-stakes situations with deeply emotional romance, but I think Cipher might contain some of her most nerve-racking moments yet. The anonymous notes Scarlett receives made my stomach turn. There's something particularly unsettling about a threat that remains just out of sight, and the uncertainty surrounding who might be responsible created this constant undercurrent of dread. The romantic moments provide little pockets of warmth and tenderness, but the mystery is always there, quietly building until everything finally comes to a head. And when it does, I was absolutely GLUED to the page. The action sequences had my heart racing, and there were several moments when I simply couldn't put the book down until I knew everyone was going to be okay. It's the kind of storytelling that makes you forget you're reading words on a page because you're too busy experiencing every second alongside the characters.
But beyond the romance, the danger, and the breathtaking setting, I think what makes Cipher so special is the way it explores the idea of healing without erasing the past. Kyler doesn't suddenly become a different person because he falls in love with Scarlett. His experiences with Ivy still matter. His guilt doesn't magically disappear. And the people who helped shape him remain important parts of his life. Instead, he learns that there's room for something new without having to diminish what came before. And Scarlett, in turn, discovers someone who sees her as more than the image she's spent her entire life maintaining. For two people who have become so accustomed to keeping others at a distance, there's something incredibly beautiful about watching them slowly choose to let each other in.
One of the things I appreciate most about Brilee Scott's writing is that she never sacrifices emotional depth for the sake of romance or action. Every relationship feels intentional, every character carries a history, and even the quietest moments have a way of leaving an impression. Cipher delivers all of that alongside an immersive international setting, a gripping mystery, and a love story I've been eagerly anticipating since the previous installment.
If you love military romance, forced proximity, fake dating, protective and broody MMCs, fiercely independent FMCs, found family, and romantic suspense that will have you frantically turning pages, Cipher absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
Four books into this journey, and I'm still in awe of the world Brilee's created and the heart she pours into every story. After everything we've experienced alongside Kyler, watching him finally find happiness with Scarlett was everything I hoped it would be. I can't wait to see what Brilee has in store for the rest of this incredible cast. Congratulations on another stunning installment of the Silent Pursuit series! And for the record, Kyler Wade officially has my whole heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 2, 2026Kyler. That man. I hope you enjoy his very hard fought HEA. And if you haven’t read Ghost, I’d read that first!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alpha Read
RTC
Another 10/10 read from Brilee!
RTC
Another 10/10 read from Brilee!
October 6, 2026
Review to come!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews