Ground Zero

Dauntless Defenders #5

by Taylor S. Newport

The grave was a lie. The silence was a trap. Now, the past has come to collect.

Following the death of her grandfather, Alexandra “Alex” Romanova steps into the weight of Veritek, the global cybersecurity empire her family built. Taking a brief breather in the States to grieve, she believes distance will help—until a violent attack on their lake house proves otherwise. The message is the Russian mafia has come for her and for the company she now controls. But when Alex uncovers a Bratva trafficking ring targeting young girls, protecting her inheritance becomes secondary. She refuses to stand by while innocent lives are sold.

Life hasn’t slowed down for Tyler Reid—only grown more dangerous. The Bratva isn’t just after Veritek; they’re watching Alex, waiting for the moment she slips. His new mission is to keep Alex out of the mafia’s hands. But stopping the trafficking network means stepping into the path of one of the most ruthless criminal organizations in the world.

When the Bratva makes their move, everything changes. Saving the trafficked girls could cost Alex everything she inherited—and Tyler may be the only one who can stop it. Every choice carries immense consequences, and the secret Alex holds could change everything between them. Survival will demand all they have—and force them to confront how far they are willing to go to protect each other.

537 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 5, 2026

About the author

Taylor S Newport is a 2024 ACFW Genesis Contest Finalist and the author of high-octane Christian fiction. Known for blending heart-pounding action with deeply complex, unforgettable characters, she crafts fast-paced adventures that keep readers hooked from the first page to the last. Off the page, Taylor’s happy place is anywhere with mountain views, surrounded by her family and a good dog.

Connect with Taylor, explore her books, and catch her latest releases on Instagram, Facebook, and her website.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I pick up a Taylor S. Newport book, I know that I’m going to have a pulse-pounding narrative with clear conflict, high stakes, and within pages, I’ll know who to root for. I’ve come to love her stories that remind me that life is all about resilience, resourcefulness and choice.

The theme of survival is woven into every choice Alexandra Romanova and Tyler Reid make. Alex’s journey so far has been one of constant sacrifice and we see here that every decision she makes has a price, whether she’s the one killing or fleeing a killer. This story showcases her adaptability; sometimes she’s spotlighted as a Russian heiress, others as the head of a cybersecurity empire and others as a former Bratva member with a target on her back. Newport also examines Alex’s boldness and I loved seeing her humanity; setting aside her grief to protect those who can’t help themselves.

You’ll turn over the last page convinced that survival depends on having the right resources and allies…something we can all learn from.

One small thing but it makes a big difference to me: Alex has been crafted as authentically Russian, speaking English on the page with Russian grammar and syntax. She’s direct and I was convinced she had Russian heritage, I didn’t have to be told. Newport excelled in showing not telling!

I can’t wait for the next installment.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am almost speechless when it comes to reviewing this book. It is so intense, so emotional and so relevant that I cannot say how much I enjoyed it without also pointing out that I cried during much of the novel and have to be careful to tiptoe around possible spoilers. This book finds Alexandra (Andra) and Tyler dedicated to rescuing victims of human trafficking from the Russian Mafia, the Bratva. In their quest to free the young girls and women, Tyler and Andra get captured and the book revolves around their attempts to survive and, if possible, to escape. There are some wildly imaginative adventures in these pages that had me holding my breath as the battles are fast-moving and realistically portrayed. The brothers of the Bratva are pure evil, so the underlying theme is good versus evil, but there is so much more happening in this novel. There is romance, family dynamics, a lot of revealed secrets and great character development, even with the secondary characters. The good guys are all likable and relatable while the villains are pure evil and easy to hate. Andra has to face her past with Arkadi who had imprisoned her when she was a young teen and she had to call on all of her faith and training as a warrior to try to overcome the mind games and physical challenges he presented to her. Tyler faces demons from the past as well as new regrets for the present and his character changes a lot as the story in this book progresses. All of the main characters are dynamic and magnetically appealing. The plot is fast-paced with the chapters flowing into each other as the different characters become the main focus. I liked the timeline and location that the author provided for each chapter because it helped me track how much “real time” had passed in the story. With torture, cage fighting, revenge and the quest for justice all happening at the same time, this was a head-spinning and complex story that was terrifyingly brilliant as well as thought provoking. There is relentless tension throughout the novel that escalates at times during some of the fight scenes. The details are dramatic and brutal with strong imagery while at the same time maintaining a sensitivity towards the horror of the captivity and the darkness of the members of the Bratva. The foundation of faith underlies the story as Andra relies on her belief in God’s love and encourages Tyler to believe. This novel is a well-crafted and multi-layered strong addition to the Dauntless Defenders Series and I highly recommend reading the series in order, although I do think this book could be read and enjoyed as a standalone. This edgy and cleverly written page turner goes to the top of my list of books that are must-reads for 2026. The sadness in the book is profound but the message of hope resounds with the heroes who respond to the call to bring justice to those who cannot fight for themselves.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in the Dauntless Defenders Series just gets better and better. This book is no exception. Newport continues to grow and excel as an author.
Ground Zero is an intense, emotional, raw, and heart wrenching, action/spy adventure. It's one you won't want to put down. It's clean read with faith threads, yet
weighty topics make this a read for 18 year old and up.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ground Zero was intense and amazing and literally had me on the edge of my seat! (I think I was holding my breath for like three chapters towards the end!) This is probably the hardest "chapter" in Tyler and Alex's story and my heart broke so many times in this story (I know they aren't real, but I think I've grown emotionally attached to them) Alex is captured by the Bratva and more of her past is revealed and Tyler and his friend Ed, have to infiltrate the Bratva to attempt to rescue her and a group of Trafficked girls. Hard is an understatement, and we see Tyler struggle both mentally and physically during his time with the Bratva (which we normally don't see much of because Tyler is such a strong character). There is a lot of darkness in this book and because of the Bratva, there is also a lot more violence, but nothing is graphic and I promise you, there is a good, happy ending. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars!

I was given this book by the author - all thoughts are my own.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newport amped the stakes, tension, and action in Ground Zero. This novel also includes hard, sensitive topics for readers 18+. The entire team is involved in this latest mission, and Alex has so much from her past she has to overcome while protecting her grandfather's company. I enjoyed Ed's point of view besides Tyler's and Alex's point of view and the faith elements woven into Ground Zero.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Renee Helton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book and my opinions are entirely my own.
The book deals with human trafficking from the victims side and the trafficking side. I thought that it was full of action and plot twists. Definitely suspenseful.
Looking forward to reading the next book of the series.

[Tina Lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ground Zero, by Taylor S. Newport, was intense, extremely well-written and would definitely fit in with an over 18+ crowd. It was an emotionally gripping book that was action-packed and just wouldn't let me go. This book was filled with challenging topics, all past events that Alex had to overcome. With Tyler Reid's assistance, she was ensured that she could change the future, since she couldn't turn back time. One step a a time, though, maybe it was possible that the door to her heart that she kept a heavy lock on could be opened. This book shares heavy topics with class, as much truth as possible and grace. It was imperative that it took an entire team effort to complete the narrative. I really loved the energy of this book -- even after all the tormented thoughts, nightmarish realities and genuine love between Tyler and Alex. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, even with the harsh realities impressed upon the reader. I received an ARC from the Author, but all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ground Zero by Taylor S Newport is the next book in Dauntless Defenders releasing this summer. It was intense, action-packed, emotionally charged book. This series is intense and intended for 18+ due to themes that can be a little more haunting and serious. Alex is now taken over Veritec, her grandfather’s company in her homeland of Russia. Shes in the fight for her life now trying to protect her home and people from Bratva taking over. I loved this whole series so far but feel like GZ is really taking it up to the next level. We can see the developing slow burn relationship between Alex & Tyler. There is just so so much depth to this book I cant wait for the world of readers to get their hands on this book.

I received an ARC from the author, all thoughts and opinions are my own.