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Somerton Security #1
Defenseless
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 too-smart-for-his-own-good 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.
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 too-smart-for-his-own-good 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.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2017
731 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
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Elizabeth Dyer
8 books214 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
December 28, 2017
I love man on the run books. Since I am such a romance geek I love man on the run with woman even more. The twist here is the woman, Georgia Bennet, is the close protection agent and the man, Parker Livingston is the client. Even twistier, Parker, is a member of a covert Special Forces group, albeit as a computer nerd. In fact it is his program that determines go/no go status for special operations. But someone is misusing the program for personal gain and has now turned the program against all of the operatives with a kill on sight order.
So the pair, unsuccessfully fighting a hot attraction for one another must go on the run. They have little resources and are rarely able to interact with their comrades who are fighting for their own survival. In bit of irony, a program based on huge amounts of data gives the virtually unknown bodyguard the best bet of beating Livingston's program.
Georgia is tough and snarky, Parker can easily match her snarkiness and finds his own toughness that astounds his covert comrades and forces them to look at him in a new way.
Kudos to Elizabeth Dyer for writing sexy scenes that demonstrates there is a lot more to life than the missionary position. At last, I wasn’t rolling my eyes at the romantic scenes. They were truly hot.
After a betrayal by Parker, meant only to protect Georgia, they must try to find their way back to one another
Well written, at times laugh out funny, other times nail bitingly suspenseful, I think I will really like this new series of the Somerton Security agency.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.
So the pair, unsuccessfully fighting a hot attraction for one another must go on the run. They have little resources and are rarely able to interact with their comrades who are fighting for their own survival. In bit of irony, a program based on huge amounts of data gives the virtually unknown bodyguard the best bet of beating Livingston's program.
Georgia is tough and snarky, Parker can easily match her snarkiness and finds his own toughness that astounds his covert comrades and forces them to look at him in a new way.
Kudos to Elizabeth Dyer for writing sexy scenes that demonstrates there is a lot more to life than the missionary position. At last, I wasn’t rolling my eyes at the romantic scenes. They were truly hot.
After a betrayal by Parker, meant only to protect Georgia, they must try to find their way back to one another
Well written, at times laugh out funny, other times nail bitingly suspenseful, I think I will really like this new series of the Somerton Security agency.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.
June 14, 2018
★ 4 stars!! ★
Enredo bem interessante, personagens cativantes e bem desenvolvidos.
Adorei tanto a Georgia quanto o Parker, os dois juntos resultou em uma combinação perfeita e foi impossível não me conectar e torcer por eles.
O toque de humor que havia em suas interações trouxe uma leveza e acabou quebrando um pouco da tensão.
A trama se desenrolou em um ritmo bacana, apesar de achar desnecessário o fato de algumas informações em relação ao programa desenvolvido pelo Parker, serem detalhadas demais... Isso acabou tornando a leitura um pouco cansativa, acho que um breve resumo seria ideal e não arrastaria tanto.
A história é narrada em terceira pessoa com povs alternados entre os personagens principais. A escrita da autora é muito boa e eu curti bastante. E por esse ser seu primeiro livro, acho que a autora fez um ótimo trabalho.
Defenseless foi uma leitura agradável, com romance, suspense, ação e com certeza pretendo ler o próximo dessa série em breve!
Enredo bem interessante, personagens cativantes e bem desenvolvidos.
Adorei tanto a Georgia quanto o Parker, os dois juntos resultou em uma combinação perfeita e foi impossível não me conectar e torcer por eles.
O toque de humor que havia em suas interações trouxe uma leveza e acabou quebrando um pouco da tensão.
A trama se desenrolou em um ritmo bacana, apesar de achar desnecessário o fato de algumas informações em relação ao programa desenvolvido pelo Parker, serem detalhadas demais... Isso acabou tornando a leitura um pouco cansativa, acho que um breve resumo seria ideal e não arrastaria tanto.
A história é narrada em terceira pessoa com povs alternados entre os personagens principais. A escrita da autora é muito boa e eu curti bastante. E por esse ser seu primeiro livro, acho que a autora fez um ótimo trabalho.
Defenseless foi uma leitura agradável, com romance, suspense, ação e com certeza pretendo ler o próximo dessa série em breve!
November 21, 2017
I love a good romantic suspense. If the plot is twisted enough I’ll get my brains picked at while having the promise and satisfaction of an HEA. These days I’m all about romance, I’m craving that connection between my fictional characters but I’m not against some mystery or suspense added to the blend.
Now, throw into this mix a sexy nerd with an eight pack and the mandatory glasses in the role of the damsel in distress and a badass ex-marine bombshell sent to save his ass and I’m SOLD. Take my moneeey!
This role reversal solely made me pick “Defenseless”, a romantic suspense and debut novel by Elizabeth Dyer. (I was offered an advanced review copy though, but you got my drift.)
"Relax Princess Peach. No one’s raiding your castle."
But what furthermore piqued my interest was the plot.
Think “Person of Interest” (the TV show) but focused on a sexy Finch (the man behind the machine"). I love anything technology based, I can’t help it, I’m a nerd at heart. Well, until some extent it seems. But let’s start with what I liked in “ Defenseless ”.
I was hooked within the first lines and positively convinced this book would be a 5 stars for me all throughout the first third of the book. It had everything to make me happy, entertained and intrigued.
I loved the brand of humor distilled throughout the book, nerd jokes and snarky retorts from both the heroine and the hero had me chuckling out loud and nodding in appreciation, as you do when you feel you’re within your tribe. I loved all the references to the nerd culture! Just for this fact alone Elizabeth Dyer made herself a nice place on my “cool people”’s list (If I ever had such a list at all that is).
I fell in love with the heroine at first sight! Georgia was a great leading character, full on snark, exuding self assurance but still with that lingering trace of fragility.
It was a great experience to walk in her boots, she was fun and strong with a sweet side underneath her badass outershell which was a nice balance. What can I say, I like my heroines a little bitchy and Georgia? Bitchy alright. The nice kind of course.
"…the woman standing in front of him, an odd mix of aggression and unguarded softness, was a mystery."
I really liked the hero, Parker. A sexy nerd? Like I’d ever say no to that!
And I really liked that he was that mix of the ever so cliché fixated nerd about his job, so obsessed with his craft he would forget to even feed himself and at the same time a shameless flirt with a cocksure attitude when it came to seduce Georgia. To be able to get in his head and be rewarded by his dirty thoughts was a nice gift and I’m thankful for that dual POV.
"He was all cocksure arrogance wrapped up in subtle, playful charm, but there was no pretense."
What he lacked in social interactions he made up for them in tenfold when fueled by his desire for Georgia and it showed in the bedroom.
It was fascinating and hot as all get out to see the transformation of ‘ cute-nerdy-Parker ’ into ‘ sexy-jerk-with-a-dominant-vibe-Parker ’.
Between Parker and Georgia it was lust at first glance, their chemistry and common interest undeniable and frenzied. I toroughly enjoyed their banter and every little eccentricities the author forged around such different characters. Against a wall or in a bed it was hot and playful, hard and sweet.
"What will it take, Georgia? What button did he have to push, what switch did he need to flip, to set her alright? To strip her bare and ignite the desire he saw simmering just beneath the surface?"
The plot, originally, had me captivated, the idea of an artificial intelligence rebelling against his creator sounding plenty twisted to get my mind reeling with possibilities of conspiracies and the underlying plot about the heroine’s dead brother added a welcome sub-layer of intrigue.
Until it started to… pace off. Yeah sadly I hit a wall of opaque and stiff inaction block about 50% in the book.
In my experience I felt "Defenseless" gave its best at the beginning, what appeared to be a force during the first 30%, turned out being a weakness later.
I felt I was given too much background or data about Parker’s invention. At some point it just felt like infos and specifics about his technology were thrown in for the sake of filling some space, but it was leading nowhere in term of plot.
All the behavioral explanations about Parker’s app… While I can salute the obvious effort the author put into her research, it felt repetitive, and with the impending death threats hovering above our heroes, it felt counter productive to put all that action to a stand still point and discuss technicalities at lenght. As a result I felt my interest for the main plot barely subsiding.
From this stage things slowly fizzled out, apart from the nerdy come ons, I didn’t much care about the ex coming back all too conveniently to help both the team and the couple’s relationship issues. (major eye roll about this one.)
Any new development wasn’t enough to pull me back in entirely, unfortunately.
I still think this is a nice Romantic Suspense and a good debut novel if you can spare some time to read your share of background intel and data (or if unlike me you have a need to feed your brain tech-y intel instead of going after the bad guys.). For the gift that Parker and Georgia were together and every little nerdy joke, "Defenseless" is definitely worth a try, at least I know I’ll be keeping an eye on Elizabeth Dyer’s next release.
I received an Advanced Review Copy from the author in exchange for my review.
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July 21, 2025
For Georgia, he didn't just want to be a better man. He wanted to be the only man she'd ever need. The one she told her secrets to, the one she let comfort her, challenge her. The one she let hold her--against a wall or against his chest. Both, if he had his way.
5+ stars!
This novel is HANDS DOWN my favorite contemporary read of this year--maybe even ever!! Romantic suspense is a fairly new genre to me but has quickly become one of my go-to genres for something I know I will enjoy, and this one did not disappoint.
This novel had it all for me. The characters were compelling, engaging, relatable, and vulnerable, yet still strong and unyielding. The storyline was nonstop and kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat, desperate for more. The pacing was immaculate; the witty humor and dynamic between Parker and Georgia and the rest of the gang was flawless. I have never read a novel where the heroine is the badass protector while our hero plays the part of the nerdy guy whose life is being threatened, and it was absolute perfection.
Parker and Georgia were exactly what the other needed after their different but equally disastrous childhoods they were forced to endure, and I loved following their journey. There was a perfect balance of sexiness and adrenaline-filled suspense to keep you coming back for more as they slowly learn to trust and have each other's back. The ending of the book left us with plenty of surprises and questions to be answered in the next novel as we get Ethan's story, and I will DEFINITELY be reading it. Well done, Elizabeth Dyer!!
Tropes: opposites attract, love-on-the-run, supergenius yet charming hero, badass yet vulnerable heroine, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, golden retriever x black cat energy, hidden secrets, found family, STEAMY🔥
My Parker, the gorgeous coffee-addict who is capable of hacking your phone and your heart.. :)
December 1, 2017
Defenseless takes the bodyguard trope and twists it a bit with a female bodyguard and a male client. I enjoyed the switch because Georgia isn't some perfect, badass soldier. She is stumbling through this new, post military job, unsure of herself and her purpose in life. It made her much more relatable than I expected because you really get to see her vulnerability. Parker was a great hero as well (again, I was a little nervous that he would be a flat character). He is a genius who does top secret government work...and makes video games! He is also playful, snarky, and flirty. He isn't this dominating alpha male, throwing his weight around and being domineering. Parker is unique and no less manly; he is just different. I appreciated that he didn't want a bodyguard period, but did accept that Georgia was better at tactical strategizing and he wasn't afraid to follow her lead in that area. They balance each other very well.
The action is non stop and Parker and Georgia are, quite literally, on the run from early on in the book! While the plot might seem a bit of a stretch, I didn't think it was implausible! Parker's program would be a huge win for the government and its use could certainly be abused. It doesn't seem impossible to imagine that the government might not use the program with integrity, so the plot that follows is believable. Overall, Defenseless is the type of romantic suspense story I enjoy because its fast, action packed, and remarkably interesting!
POV: 3rd
Tears: no
Trope: bodyguard
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: stand alone
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle, Resurrection by Katie Reus, Fast Kill by Kaylea Cross...then you will probably like Defenseless!
Defenseless
Read
April 6, 2022***Soft DNF***
Time of Death: 80 pages
This is mostly a "it's my mood" thing and not 100% the book. Though, it's some of the book too.
While I love the idea of a female bodyguard . . . and so far Georgia has come off as a total badass . . . I'm not a fan of the romantic suspense cliche of a Danger Bang. Especially not within barely a couple of hours of the hero and heroine meeting.
I'm sorry, but if I got grazed by a bullet, am all bruised from a physical fight and can barely lift my arms above my head from all of the blows . . . the last thing I'm gonna want to do is get it on. Give this bitch a hot bath, some painkillers, and a fucking nap.
Maybe I'll come back to this one day because I do like the chemistry so far between Georgia (our badass ex-Marine bodyguard) and Parker (our sexy tech nerd), but I just need things not to spring into action so soon.
He was lazy Sunday mornings after sex-against-the-wall Saturday nights.
Whew. Nerds. Who knew?
August 17, 2021
Relisten 8/2021
Update 3/24/19: I’m actually bumping this from a 4 to a 5. It’s not all that often that I find myself enjoying a story even more after repeated reading & listening (I tend to pick it apart more), but I think there’s so many layers to this that I’ve found little tidbits I missed the first time around.
While this is insta-love (my pet peeve), Georgia & Parker spend so much time getting to know each other that it feels like a lengthy relationship packed into mere days. And not just the smoking hot sex (which is fantastic!). They talk & talk & talk - but in a meaningful way, not just an info-dump.
I love the mystery & suspense as well as the action scenes. Dyer has built an amazing and intriguing world here. Even after multiple listens I'm gripped every time.
I also originally read this via KU, but the purchase + adding the audiobook was such a great deal - I decided to go for it. Aiden Snow’s narration is spot on (and I usually prefer dual narrators when a book is dual POV). It brings it up another level.
12/12/17: Not a huge fan of “insta-love”, but I liked the banter between the two main characters and enjoyed the inclusion of a strong female lead. Looking forward to the continuation of the series.
Update 3/24/19: I’m actually bumping this from a 4 to a 5. It’s not all that often that I find myself enjoying a story even more after repeated reading & listening (I tend to pick it apart more), but I think there’s so many layers to this that I’ve found little tidbits I missed the first time around.
While this is insta-love (my pet peeve), Georgia & Parker spend so much time getting to know each other that it feels like a lengthy relationship packed into mere days. And not just the smoking hot sex (which is fantastic!). They talk & talk & talk - but in a meaningful way, not just an info-dump.
I love the mystery & suspense as well as the action scenes. Dyer has built an amazing and intriguing world here. Even after multiple listens I'm gripped every time.
I also originally read this via KU, but the purchase + adding the audiobook was such a great deal - I decided to go for it. Aiden Snow’s narration is spot on (and I usually prefer dual narrators when a book is dual POV). It brings it up another level.
12/12/17: Not a huge fan of “insta-love”, but I liked the banter between the two main characters and enjoyed the inclusion of a strong female lead. Looking forward to the continuation of the series.
November 30, 2017
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.
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.
February 16, 2018
Wow, this book was so eye rolling and annoying. Okay narration (audible review)
Seriously, the cheesy dialogue was just too much. The chemistry between Parker and Georgia was no good. It was forced and not believable.
Scene: Georgia is the bodyguard of Parker, she is at his house for a few hours, someone comes in and tries to kill Parker. Georgia gets in a massive fight with this big huge guy who kicks her several times in the back ribs gut with steel toed boots, he slams her into the floor wall and table, chokes her out shoots her once, and is about to shoot her while she is down. Parker shoots him in the back. Parker and Georgia leave and find a roach motel to hide in. Georgia goes into the bathroom. She can barely lift her arms to take her shirt off to see to her bullet wound, in comes Parker, he helps her and guess what happens next??? YEP they start having sex against the wall and finally make it to the bed!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY????????????
So stupid when authors do this..Ruins the story. they have known each other for about 4-5 hours. And by the end of the story they have known each other a week and she is whining about missing him in bed with her. WTH! She has know him a week!.
Needless to say I am so glad this book is over and glad it only cost me 1.99. But it did cost me 11 hours of my time. BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for the narration, it was good. Nothing wrong with that, not the best not the worst.
The only reason this got 1.5 stars is because I did like Parker.
Seriously, the cheesy dialogue was just too much. The chemistry between Parker and Georgia was no good. It was forced and not believable.
Scene: Georgia is the bodyguard of Parker, she is at his house for a few hours, someone comes in and tries to kill Parker. Georgia gets in a massive fight with this big huge guy who kicks her several times in the back ribs gut with steel toed boots, he slams her into the floor wall and table, chokes her out shoots her once, and is about to shoot her while she is down. Parker shoots him in the back. Parker and Georgia leave and find a roach motel to hide in. Georgia goes into the bathroom. She can barely lift her arms to take her shirt off to see to her bullet wound, in comes Parker, he helps her and guess what happens next??? YEP they start having sex against the wall and finally make it to the bed!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY????????????
So stupid when authors do this..Ruins the story. they have known each other for about 4-5 hours. And by the end of the story they have known each other a week and she is whining about missing him in bed with her. WTH! She has know him a week!.
Needless to say I am so glad this book is over and glad it only cost me 1.99. But it did cost me 11 hours of my time. BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for the narration, it was good. Nothing wrong with that, not the best not the worst.
The only reason this got 1.5 stars is because I did like Parker.
June 30, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this a B for narration and a B- for content at Audiogals, so 3.5 stars rounded up.
I recently read Elizabeth Dyer’s, Relentless, which is her second novel and also the second book in her Somerton Security series, which features the exploits of the members of a private-security-firm-cum off-the-book black ops unit headed up by former Delta Force operative, Ethan Somerton. I enjoyed the story and the writing and liked the manly bickering that went on between Ethan and Parker Livingston, his genius tech guru, so I decided to backtrack to the first book in the series, in which Parker is the hero. Given Aiden Snow is a narrator who has been on my radar for a while (but to whom I haven’t yet listened), I opted to pick up the audio of Defenseless rather than to read it. It’s the author’s début novel, but while it’s not without its problems (there are pacing issues and it’s a bit introspection heavy in places) it’s an enjoyable story and I’m going to be keeping an eye out for more of her books.
Former marine and Somerton employee Georgia Bennett isn’t best pleased at the idea of pulling a seventy-two hour babysitting duty for some nerdy app developer. She tries to wriggle out of it by reminding her boss that she only works protection duty for female clients, but Ethan is adamant and won’t let her off the hook. Telling her that Parker Livingston is a difficult client who insists he doesn’t need protection and who has managed to ditch every bodyguard Ethan has assigned him is the last thing Georgia needs to hear, especially as Ethan makes it clear that, given her track record for pissing off clients, this could well be her last chance to retain her job.
Parker is a genius who’s been working for the government in one way or another since he was seventeen and is frequently called upon to advise on issues of technology and national security. As the designer of an incredibly advanced software program that is able to perform complex analytical processes and predict eventual outcomes – and do it in hours rather than the years it would take humans to do the same tasks – Parker is part of the decision-making process surrounding covert military operations but has recently begun to notice some procedural anomalies. He’s taken his concerns to Ethan, and given the nature of the work Parker does, it’s more than possible that someone on the inside is responsible for the inconsistencies – and Ethan is taking no chances. He’s managed to get Parker to agree to a protection detail, but bad weather has delayed the person originally assigned, hence the need for Georgia to step in.
Georgia, stuck with a client who doesn’t want protection and a job she doesn’t want, expects a difficult assignment. What she doesn’t expect is to discover that said client is drop dead gorgeous, funny and oddly yet endearingly charming, in spite of the know-it-all smart-assery and irritation at being saddled with an unwanted bodyguard. She’s starting to think that maybe the next three days might not be so terrible – assuming Parker’s dryly sarcastic manner doesn’t piss her off too much – when the shit hits the fan and she and Parker receive an urgent encoded message from Ethan telling them to run. They’re on their way out of Parker’s loft when they are attacked by a masked assailant clearly intent on murder; and when, after he’s taken down, he’s revealed to be a former colleague of Parker’s, it’s impossible not to make the connection. Someone Parker works with wants him dead.
Elizabeth Dyer writes with a sure hand, creating a couple of engaging, well-rounded central characters, an intriguing, suspenseful plotline, well-written action set-pieces and steamy love scenes. I really liked the role-reversal element of the set-up, with the kick-ass former marine bodyguard being a woman, and the man as the “damsel in distress”; and also enjoyed the way we’re shown that there’s much more to both characters than those assigned roles would suggest. The death of her older brother, Will, has left a huge hole in Georgia’s life and heart, and she’s been retreating emotionally ever since, having decided getting close to anyone is just not worth the potential for pain. Parker is a refreshingly different sort of hero (I’m a goner for a hot nerd in glasses!); highly intelligent, supremely confident and not particularly modest about it, he’s hiding vulnerabilities beneath that egotistical exterior, and is possessed of a quiet inner strength the extent of which even he isn’t fully aware of.
As I said at the outset, though, the book isn’t without its flaws, which are mostly related to the pacing. There are places in the middle where things slow down to the point of stodginess, and there is too much introspection and internal monologuing, sometimes during dialogue – which meant that by the time the conversation resumed, I’d forgotten what it was about – and also during action scenes, which really dispelled the tension and detracted from any sense of urgency the author had created. And while the high-stakes dénouement to the suspense plot is very well done, the resolution of the love story is a bit of a let-down. There’s an HEA, and Parker and Georgia have great chemistry, but I’m not a fan of romances in which it takes a third party to knock some sense into one or both of the characters and throw them together, rather than their coming together on their own.
I haven’t listened to a narration by Aiden Snow before, but I know he’s a very experienced performer and that he’s narrated a lot of fairly gritty contemporary romances. Those aren’t really my thing, which is why I was pleased to see his name associated with this series, as it finally gave me a chance to listen to him. I knew going in that he has a very deep, resonant voice – we’d be talking basso profundo if he were an opera singer! – and I admit I was a bit worried as to how he’d voice the heroine and any other female characters, because to pitch them too high would just sound silly. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen, but it seemed to me that it took him a little while to find his stride with his ‘Georgia’ voice. Early on, there were times there was little differentiation between her and Parker and I had to rely on dialogue tags to work out who was speaking, but this changed as the listen progressed and soon Georgia’s dialogue was more easily discernible. His portrayal of Parker is very good though, expertly capturing his cockiness, his dry humour, his insecurities and his passionate determination to do his very best for the people he works with. There are a handful of secondary characters in the book, but the only one who appears with regularity is Ethan, who is easily distinguishable from Parker, although on the rare occasion there were more than two or three men in a scene, I again found myself reliant on the dialogue tags. That said, these were characters who appeared in only one or two scenes, so it’s perhaps not surprising I wasn’t able to identify them all aurally.
Even though it could have done with a bit of editorial tightening, Defenseless is a well-plotted tale of romantic suspense that gets the balance between those two elements just about right. Parker and Georgia are complex, intriguing characters, and Ms. Dyer clearly knows how to ramp up the tension in terms of romance and plot. I enjoyed the listen on the whole, and certainly plan to pick up more books in this series.
I've given this a B for narration and a B- for content at Audiogals, so 3.5 stars rounded up.
I recently read Elizabeth Dyer’s, Relentless, which is her second novel and also the second book in her Somerton Security series, which features the exploits of the members of a private-security-firm-cum off-the-book black ops unit headed up by former Delta Force operative, Ethan Somerton. I enjoyed the story and the writing and liked the manly bickering that went on between Ethan and Parker Livingston, his genius tech guru, so I decided to backtrack to the first book in the series, in which Parker is the hero. Given Aiden Snow is a narrator who has been on my radar for a while (but to whom I haven’t yet listened), I opted to pick up the audio of Defenseless rather than to read it. It’s the author’s début novel, but while it’s not without its problems (there are pacing issues and it’s a bit introspection heavy in places) it’s an enjoyable story and I’m going to be keeping an eye out for more of her books.
Former marine and Somerton employee Georgia Bennett isn’t best pleased at the idea of pulling a seventy-two hour babysitting duty for some nerdy app developer. She tries to wriggle out of it by reminding her boss that she only works protection duty for female clients, but Ethan is adamant and won’t let her off the hook. Telling her that Parker Livingston is a difficult client who insists he doesn’t need protection and who has managed to ditch every bodyguard Ethan has assigned him is the last thing Georgia needs to hear, especially as Ethan makes it clear that, given her track record for pissing off clients, this could well be her last chance to retain her job.
Parker is a genius who’s been working for the government in one way or another since he was seventeen and is frequently called upon to advise on issues of technology and national security. As the designer of an incredibly advanced software program that is able to perform complex analytical processes and predict eventual outcomes – and do it in hours rather than the years it would take humans to do the same tasks – Parker is part of the decision-making process surrounding covert military operations but has recently begun to notice some procedural anomalies. He’s taken his concerns to Ethan, and given the nature of the work Parker does, it’s more than possible that someone on the inside is responsible for the inconsistencies – and Ethan is taking no chances. He’s managed to get Parker to agree to a protection detail, but bad weather has delayed the person originally assigned, hence the need for Georgia to step in.
Georgia, stuck with a client who doesn’t want protection and a job she doesn’t want, expects a difficult assignment. What she doesn’t expect is to discover that said client is drop dead gorgeous, funny and oddly yet endearingly charming, in spite of the know-it-all smart-assery and irritation at being saddled with an unwanted bodyguard. She’s starting to think that maybe the next three days might not be so terrible – assuming Parker’s dryly sarcastic manner doesn’t piss her off too much – when the shit hits the fan and she and Parker receive an urgent encoded message from Ethan telling them to run. They’re on their way out of Parker’s loft when they are attacked by a masked assailant clearly intent on murder; and when, after he’s taken down, he’s revealed to be a former colleague of Parker’s, it’s impossible not to make the connection. Someone Parker works with wants him dead.
Elizabeth Dyer writes with a sure hand, creating a couple of engaging, well-rounded central characters, an intriguing, suspenseful plotline, well-written action set-pieces and steamy love scenes. I really liked the role-reversal element of the set-up, with the kick-ass former marine bodyguard being a woman, and the man as the “damsel in distress”; and also enjoyed the way we’re shown that there’s much more to both characters than those assigned roles would suggest. The death of her older brother, Will, has left a huge hole in Georgia’s life and heart, and she’s been retreating emotionally ever since, having decided getting close to anyone is just not worth the potential for pain. Parker is a refreshingly different sort of hero (I’m a goner for a hot nerd in glasses!); highly intelligent, supremely confident and not particularly modest about it, he’s hiding vulnerabilities beneath that egotistical exterior, and is possessed of a quiet inner strength the extent of which even he isn’t fully aware of.
As I said at the outset, though, the book isn’t without its flaws, which are mostly related to the pacing. There are places in the middle where things slow down to the point of stodginess, and there is too much introspection and internal monologuing, sometimes during dialogue – which meant that by the time the conversation resumed, I’d forgotten what it was about – and also during action scenes, which really dispelled the tension and detracted from any sense of urgency the author had created. And while the high-stakes dénouement to the suspense plot is very well done, the resolution of the love story is a bit of a let-down. There’s an HEA, and Parker and Georgia have great chemistry, but I’m not a fan of romances in which it takes a third party to knock some sense into one or both of the characters and throw them together, rather than their coming together on their own.
I haven’t listened to a narration by Aiden Snow before, but I know he’s a very experienced performer and that he’s narrated a lot of fairly gritty contemporary romances. Those aren’t really my thing, which is why I was pleased to see his name associated with this series, as it finally gave me a chance to listen to him. I knew going in that he has a very deep, resonant voice – we’d be talking basso profundo if he were an opera singer! – and I admit I was a bit worried as to how he’d voice the heroine and any other female characters, because to pitch them too high would just sound silly. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen, but it seemed to me that it took him a little while to find his stride with his ‘Georgia’ voice. Early on, there were times there was little differentiation between her and Parker and I had to rely on dialogue tags to work out who was speaking, but this changed as the listen progressed and soon Georgia’s dialogue was more easily discernible. His portrayal of Parker is very good though, expertly capturing his cockiness, his dry humour, his insecurities and his passionate determination to do his very best for the people he works with. There are a handful of secondary characters in the book, but the only one who appears with regularity is Ethan, who is easily distinguishable from Parker, although on the rare occasion there were more than two or three men in a scene, I again found myself reliant on the dialogue tags. That said, these were characters who appeared in only one or two scenes, so it’s perhaps not surprising I wasn’t able to identify them all aurally.
Even though it could have done with a bit of editorial tightening, Defenseless is a well-plotted tale of romantic suspense that gets the balance between those two elements just about right. Parker and Georgia are complex, intriguing characters, and Ms. Dyer clearly knows how to ramp up the tension in terms of romance and plot. I enjoyed the listen on the whole, and certainly plan to pick up more books in this series.
December 4, 2017
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!
November 17, 2017
***ARC received in order to provide an honest review***
2.5 stars
GAHHHHHH! I wanted to love this book! If wishes were ponies I'd have a damn fine stable...
We have a bad ass chick and a techie genius and things going boom. Pretty much everything I need in life. But we spend more than half the book in Georgia and Parker's heads - not a place I want to be in an action-romance. When these two were moving and shaking I was in heaven, but there just wasn't enough of that for me.
"'It took a while but I leverage my academic focus - advanced algorithms and predictive analysis - to create a program that could mine through terabytes of date and create a profile for every individual we were tasked with either finding or stopping.'"
Also - as with my last read - there's the tear between wanting the escape of reading fiction and needing something mostly grounded in reality. There was little fallout from all the destruction in this book, things happened either too easily or became ridiculously difficult, and too many coincidences tied everything together. Books about the government and espionage and special ops are difficult because you need a mix of bad ass and realism - this book missed the mark for me. I got frustrated.
All in all, I loved the ideas. And Georgia and Parker were fantastic. This book would be fantastic without about 50% less head-time with the main characters and a dash of fact anchoring all the fiction.
"His scrutiny was as visceral and physical as his hands, as thorough and talented as his tongue."
2.5 stars
GAHHHHHH! I wanted to love this book! If wishes were ponies I'd have a damn fine stable...
We have a bad ass chick and a techie genius and things going boom. Pretty much everything I need in life. But we spend more than half the book in Georgia and Parker's heads - not a place I want to be in an action-romance. When these two were moving and shaking I was in heaven, but there just wasn't enough of that for me.
"'It took a while but I leverage my academic focus - advanced algorithms and predictive analysis - to create a program that could mine through terabytes of date and create a profile for every individual we were tasked with either finding or stopping.'"
Also - as with my last read - there's the tear between wanting the escape of reading fiction and needing something mostly grounded in reality. There was little fallout from all the destruction in this book, things happened either too easily or became ridiculously difficult, and too many coincidences tied everything together. Books about the government and espionage and special ops are difficult because you need a mix of bad ass and realism - this book missed the mark for me. I got frustrated.
All in all, I loved the ideas. And Georgia and Parker were fantastic. This book would be fantastic without about 50% less head-time with the main characters and a dash of fact anchoring all the fiction.
"His scrutiny was as visceral and physical as his hands, as thorough and talented as his tongue."
October 7, 2017
Thrilling suspense mixed with humor. Defenseless kicks off a new series about a covert black ops team who also work for Somerton Security lead by Ethan Somerton.
Georgia Bennett works for Ethan on his security team. She is a former marine who is still grieving for her brother who died on a mission. Ethan, who served with Will, feels a sense of responsibility to make sure Georgia is ok She isn't adapting well to being a body guard to spoiled rich women. Ethan assigns her to be protection for a genius computer nerd or at least that what he wants to her believe. Parker Livingston is a genius but he is also the creator of a special program the military uses for special ops.
After a humorous first meeting between the bodyguard and the nerd things get hairy when the two have to go on the run from assassins sent for Parker.
Along with Ethan and Parker we also meet the rest of the covert team who do double duty at Somerton Security. Great start to a new series. Looking forward to more from this author.
Georgia Bennett works for Ethan on his security team. She is a former marine who is still grieving for her brother who died on a mission. Ethan, who served with Will, feels a sense of responsibility to make sure Georgia is ok She isn't adapting well to being a body guard to spoiled rich women. Ethan assigns her to be protection for a genius computer nerd or at least that what he wants to her believe. Parker Livingston is a genius but he is also the creator of a special program the military uses for special ops.
After a humorous first meeting between the bodyguard and the nerd things get hairy when the two have to go on the run from assassins sent for Parker.
Along with Ethan and Parker we also meet the rest of the covert team who do double duty at Somerton Security. Great start to a new series. Looking forward to more from this author.
February 8, 2018
This is the first book in the Somerton Security series and the debut novel by Elizabeth Dyer.
I was intrigued by the role reversal in this romantic suspense novel. A strong female ex-marine is sent to protect a nerdy tech guy. I liked these two main characters. The author took great care to provide plenty of background information and made them into fully fleshed out characters.
The story started off strong and was moving along at a good pace until it kind of hit a wall for me.
I wasn't interested enough in all the military, government and tech stuff, and so quite honestly, the story started to drag a bit. I was hoping for more suspense but instead there was quite an emphasis on detailed sex scenes. Don't get me wrong. They were well written. In fact, the entire book is well written, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.
I started out listening to this, but the male narrator was too lackluster and too many of the characters sounded the same, so I switched to reading. However, I seem to be completely in the minority on this and everybody else seems to love the narration.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag for me, but if you enjoy special ops plots blended with some steamy romance you'll probably enjoy this.
I was intrigued by the role reversal in this romantic suspense novel. A strong female ex-marine is sent to protect a nerdy tech guy. I liked these two main characters. The author took great care to provide plenty of background information and made them into fully fleshed out characters.
The story started off strong and was moving along at a good pace until it kind of hit a wall for me.
I wasn't interested enough in all the military, government and tech stuff, and so quite honestly, the story started to drag a bit. I was hoping for more suspense but instead there was quite an emphasis on detailed sex scenes. Don't get me wrong. They were well written. In fact, the entire book is well written, but it just wasn't what I was looking for.
I started out listening to this, but the male narrator was too lackluster and too many of the characters sounded the same, so I switched to reading. However, I seem to be completely in the minority on this and everybody else seems to love the narration.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag for me, but if you enjoy special ops plots blended with some steamy romance you'll probably enjoy this.
August 18, 2018
"Defenseless" is book one in the Somerton Security Series by Elizabeth Dyer. Georgia Bennett is on her last leg with her boss Ethan Somerton, so she needs to ensure that she keeps her new assignment with Parker Livingston. However, Parker Livingston does not want a babysitter and is a rude and challenging person for Georgia Bennett to protect. The readers of "Defenseless" will continue to follow the twist and turns to see what happens to Georgia Bennett and Parker Livingston.
"Defenseless" is the first book I have read of Elizabeth Dyer, and I was impressed with the plot of this book. "Defenseless is well written and researched by Elizabeth Dyer. I enjoyed the way Elizabeth Dyer portrayed her characters and how they intertwine with each other. The plot of "Defenseless" engaged me from the beginning of the book. The settings of "Defenseless" done in a way that ensure that I became part of the story.
The readers of "Defenseless" will learn about the role and the consequences of computer programs that get into the wrong hands. Also, the readers of "Defenseless" will see the problems and the role of being a bodyguard to some who someone wants to kill.
I recommend this book.
"Defenseless" is the first book I have read of Elizabeth Dyer, and I was impressed with the plot of this book. "Defenseless is well written and researched by Elizabeth Dyer. I enjoyed the way Elizabeth Dyer portrayed her characters and how they intertwine with each other. The plot of "Defenseless" engaged me from the beginning of the book. The settings of "Defenseless" done in a way that ensure that I became part of the story.
The readers of "Defenseless" will learn about the role and the consequences of computer programs that get into the wrong hands. Also, the readers of "Defenseless" will see the problems and the role of being a bodyguard to some who someone wants to kill.
I recommend this book.
May 14, 2019
An engaging story about a heroine who's the opposite of a damsel in distress and a brainy hero who sort of fills that role instead.
Georgia, an ex-marine who is currently in private security, is tasked with protecting Parker, a tech genius who doesn't want her protection and has a reputation for being difficult with his security.
Georgia is determined to succeed, since failing would result in her being fired, and after proving herself to Parker, he finds that he is not averse to having her around for a while.
Unfortunately for both of them, their time together is anything but quiet as they'd expected, and they have to survive assassination attempts, go in hiding and figure out who they can trust and who wants Parker dead before it's too late.
Fast paced and engaging, with interesting characters and plot. I am looking forward to reading more about Ethan, Georgia's boss, in Relentless next.
Georgia, an ex-marine who is currently in private security, is tasked with protecting Parker, a tech genius who doesn't want her protection and has a reputation for being difficult with his security.
Georgia is determined to succeed, since failing would result in her being fired, and after proving herself to Parker, he finds that he is not averse to having her around for a while.
Unfortunately for both of them, their time together is anything but quiet as they'd expected, and they have to survive assassination attempts, go in hiding and figure out who they can trust and who wants Parker dead before it's too late.
Fast paced and engaging, with interesting characters and plot. I am looking forward to reading more about Ethan, Georgia's boss, in Relentless next.
August 23, 2022
This is undoubtedly the worst book I have read this year. I can't believe the number of gushing reviews.
To start with, the idea of a female bodyguard is far from original - Zoe Sharpe's Charlie Fox has been going for years, and is infinitely superior both as a character and in terms of the writing quality. Secondly, the dialogue here is reminiscent of a string of third rate TV detective series where two opposites supposedly spark off each other. It doesn't work as an action story either - think Jack Reacher retold by Mills and Boon!
If you like light, unrealistic romances you might like it, but if you're looking for fast moving and realistic action I recommend avoiding this like the plague. I persevered up to 20% on the basis it had to get better - it didn't.
To start with, the idea of a female bodyguard is far from original - Zoe Sharpe's Charlie Fox has been going for years, and is infinitely superior both as a character and in terms of the writing quality. Secondly, the dialogue here is reminiscent of a string of third rate TV detective series where two opposites supposedly spark off each other. It doesn't work as an action story either - think Jack Reacher retold by Mills and Boon!
If you like light, unrealistic romances you might like it, but if you're looking for fast moving and realistic action I recommend avoiding this like the plague. I persevered up to 20% on the basis it had to get better - it didn't.
March 20, 2018
Defenseless was a fantastic read with a fast-paced plot and characters I loved from the start.
Ex-marine Georgia Bennett thought a job in private security would be a cake walk compared to life in the military. When she is assigned to cover DOD contractor Parker Livingston as punishment for her abrasive attitude, she assumes protecting a geek will be easy. Parker doesn't think he needs a bodyguard, particularly not one as attractive as Georgia. Parker can't afford to be distracted at a time when he needs to focus on finding out who is using his technology for profit, endangering his teammates. After an assassin nearly kills them, Parker and Georgia must go on the run to try and find out who's behind everything while fighting their increasing attraction every step of the way.
Georgia grew up in an unstable environment and only found stability in life after joining the Marines. After her brother, who was also in the military, is killed in action and Georgia isn't given any details, her life begins to spin out of control. After her tour is up she joins a private security firm founded by one of the men from her brother's unit. Georgia has a hard time adjusting to civilian life and struggles with her more high maintenance clients. Georgia comes across as difficult to like at the start of Defenseless, but over the course of the book you learn why she's had to harden herself and I found myself more understanding of her personality.
Parker is considered to be a genius and found himself in university at a young age. Due to the age gap between Parker and his peers, he had a hard time connecting with people and became a bit of a loner as a result. He has always been fascinated with the way things work and spent his life trying to understand what events can lead to a certain outcome leading to him developing a program that can be used to predict the outcome of any event. Parker struggles with the role he takes on at the DOD as the lives of his teammates are literally in his hands as it is his program that decides what missions the team will go on based on the likelihood of success.
Georgia and Parker's relationship intrigued me from the start. As soon as I saw their relationship was a role reversal with Parker cast as the damsel and Georgia the protector, I was immediately interested. Individually Parker and Georgia are both fairly snarky and sarcastic, but together that increased ten-fold. Their banter was fantastic and their conversations had me laughing out loud at times. Their attraction to one another is immediately obvious and I liked that neither of them tried to pretend otherwise. When their relationship does progress, it's incredibly sexy and the scenes were very well done.
The plot centered around who is using Parker's program was quite interesting and I found myself surprised by who the culprit ended up being. The author gives you a ton of information about Parker's program and it's obvious she's done her research as there are several scenes that go in to detail about what it can do. I wish there had been just a few less scenes focusing on the program as they did get a bit repetitive. Other than the slight repetitiveness surrounding the program itself, I found the rest of the suspense plot to be very well done. It was fast-paced with just the right amount of action and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
Overall, Defenseless ended up being a lot of fun to read and I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a romantic suspense read with great role reversals.
Ex-marine Georgia Bennett thought a job in private security would be a cake walk compared to life in the military. When she is assigned to cover DOD contractor Parker Livingston as punishment for her abrasive attitude, she assumes protecting a geek will be easy. Parker doesn't think he needs a bodyguard, particularly not one as attractive as Georgia. Parker can't afford to be distracted at a time when he needs to focus on finding out who is using his technology for profit, endangering his teammates. After an assassin nearly kills them, Parker and Georgia must go on the run to try and find out who's behind everything while fighting their increasing attraction every step of the way.
Georgia grew up in an unstable environment and only found stability in life after joining the Marines. After her brother, who was also in the military, is killed in action and Georgia isn't given any details, her life begins to spin out of control. After her tour is up she joins a private security firm founded by one of the men from her brother's unit. Georgia has a hard time adjusting to civilian life and struggles with her more high maintenance clients. Georgia comes across as difficult to like at the start of Defenseless, but over the course of the book you learn why she's had to harden herself and I found myself more understanding of her personality.
Parker is considered to be a genius and found himself in university at a young age. Due to the age gap between Parker and his peers, he had a hard time connecting with people and became a bit of a loner as a result. He has always been fascinated with the way things work and spent his life trying to understand what events can lead to a certain outcome leading to him developing a program that can be used to predict the outcome of any event. Parker struggles with the role he takes on at the DOD as the lives of his teammates are literally in his hands as it is his program that decides what missions the team will go on based on the likelihood of success.
Georgia and Parker's relationship intrigued me from the start. As soon as I saw their relationship was a role reversal with Parker cast as the damsel and Georgia the protector, I was immediately interested. Individually Parker and Georgia are both fairly snarky and sarcastic, but together that increased ten-fold. Their banter was fantastic and their conversations had me laughing out loud at times. Their attraction to one another is immediately obvious and I liked that neither of them tried to pretend otherwise. When their relationship does progress, it's incredibly sexy and the scenes were very well done.
The plot centered around who is using Parker's program was quite interesting and I found myself surprised by who the culprit ended up being. The author gives you a ton of information about Parker's program and it's obvious she's done her research as there are several scenes that go in to detail about what it can do. I wish there had been just a few less scenes focusing on the program as they did get a bit repetitive. Other than the slight repetitiveness surrounding the program itself, I found the rest of the suspense plot to be very well done. It was fast-paced with just the right amount of action and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
Overall, Defenseless ended up being a lot of fun to read and I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a romantic suspense read with great role reversals.
December 2, 2017
Defenseless is one of my favorite books of the year. The heroine, Georgia, is simply fantastic. She's sharp, quick witted, and incredibly tough. A Marine who now works in private security, she's been assigned to guard a wealthy tech genius. The guy who created a program plenty of people, most good, some bad, want to get their hands on.
This book starts out intense, and the ride holds your breath with each page you turn. I was incredibly caught up in what was happening. I loved the traditional role reversal of the woman guarding the man. Parker was tough in his own right, but Georgia really ran the show when it came to keeping them safe.
Overall, Defenseless was a MUST READ in my opinion. The writing is smart, its paced quickly, and the characters simply clutch on. I am SO excited to see what comes next in Somerton Security!
*Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*
This book starts out intense, and the ride holds your breath with each page you turn. I was incredibly caught up in what was happening. I loved the traditional role reversal of the woman guarding the man. Parker was tough in his own right, but Georgia really ran the show when it came to keeping them safe.
Overall, Defenseless was a MUST READ in my opinion. The writing is smart, its paced quickly, and the characters simply clutch on. I am SO excited to see what comes next in Somerton Security!
*Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*
July 21, 2018
I enjoyed the story, I felt like it did drag on in some parts but there was a good amount of action and that is what saved it for me.
I also very much loved the banter Georgia and Parker have. Sometimes I felt like that got cut off and I was missing it. Their romance was sweet and I liked that part of the story the most.
Can we just take a minute to acknowledge how kick ass Georgia is, and that she is the one protecting Parker LOVED THAT.
There were parts I didn’t much enjoy but overall I liked the book.
LOVED the narration I think Aiden Snow does a damn great job. Also, kind of love that he DIDN’T have a female voice and that was A-OK!!
I also very much loved the banter Georgia and Parker have. Sometimes I felt like that got cut off and I was missing it. Their romance was sweet and I liked that part of the story the most.
Can we just take a minute to acknowledge how kick ass Georgia is, and that she is the one protecting Parker LOVED THAT.
There were parts I didn’t much enjoy but overall I liked the book.
LOVED the narration I think Aiden Snow does a damn great job. Also, kind of love that he DIDN’T have a female voice and that was A-OK!!
October 25, 2017
Calling all Bloggers & Reviewers!
Defenseless is coming December 1, 2017 and I would love to work with you! I've got several options available, and a limited number of reader ARCs available! Please fill out one of the interest forms below. :)
Pre-Order: https://goo.gl/iyEmzc
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Release Blitz: https://goo.gl/UmMZej
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Reader ARC Request: https://goo.gl/9RNTLZ
December 5, 2017
Defenseless is the first book in Elizabeth Dyer’s Somerton Security Series. It’s the story of private security agent Georgia Bennett and software developer Parker Livingston. After a few missteps, Georgia is assigned to protect Parker from forces unknown. Parker has a reputation for being extremely difficult to work with because he insists upon doing his own thing and has a lot of quirks that most people don’t understand. Things get even more interesting when the threat to Parker’s life becomes very real, very fast. Let’s not ignore the fact that he and Georgia immediately find themselves attracted to each other.
As is typical in all of these types of romances, nothing is what it seems. Georgia may come off to be a bit rough around the edges but she has a sensitive side that she tries to keep hidden away. She also has a lot of baggage due to all of the family that she has lost far too soon. The most impactful loss is of her brother with whom her boss, Ethan Somerton served in the military with. Ethan and her brother were also good friends. There is a lot about her brother’s death that she still doesn’t know and Ethan isn’t at liberty to tell her. Parker isn’t your typical software developer. He not only makes mainstream applications for the general public, he has also created some very dangerous software for the U.S. government that is likely putting many lives in danger. When things intensify, Parker and Georgia go on the run together and they become intimate in every way imaginable. Clearly, they shouldn’t get close but the heart wants what it wants, right? Their relationship gets tested as the secrets and lies pile up but you can’t help but root for their happy ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed Defenseless. It did take some of the usual routes but I was still interested in finding out how things ended. And, there are a few items that did not get resolved so I expect the next book, Relentless, will answer a lot of questions. I look forward to reading it.
**Received a copy from the publisher and reviewed voluntarily.**
As is typical in all of these types of romances, nothing is what it seems. Georgia may come off to be a bit rough around the edges but she has a sensitive side that she tries to keep hidden away. She also has a lot of baggage due to all of the family that she has lost far too soon. The most impactful loss is of her brother with whom her boss, Ethan Somerton served in the military with. Ethan and her brother were also good friends. There is a lot about her brother’s death that she still doesn’t know and Ethan isn’t at liberty to tell her. Parker isn’t your typical software developer. He not only makes mainstream applications for the general public, he has also created some very dangerous software for the U.S. government that is likely putting many lives in danger. When things intensify, Parker and Georgia go on the run together and they become intimate in every way imaginable. Clearly, they shouldn’t get close but the heart wants what it wants, right? Their relationship gets tested as the secrets and lies pile up but you can’t help but root for their happy ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed Defenseless. It did take some of the usual routes but I was still interested in finding out how things ended. And, there are a few items that did not get resolved so I expect the next book, Relentless, will answer a lot of questions. I look forward to reading it.
**Received a copy from the publisher and reviewed voluntarily.**
December 4, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Give Me Books and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Elizabeth Dyer!
OUUU I liked this book. I liked this book a lot. At first, I was afraid I wouldn't like the tone of the book, since I'm kind of particular about my sci-fi-y books, especially romance. I'm gonna say this is sci-fi in a way, because of the tech although I'm sure something like this exists, I just don't know about it.
I thought that perhaps the romance would have felt forced in this book, but it really wasn't. It flowed well with the story and wasn't front and center - which is refreshing. I'm so happy it was about a nerd and an effing badass female main character. Both mentally strong in both different and same ways. They have a great dynamic which makes reading about them fun.
I also really like how the author brought the main character's past into the present, and how she made it work without it being cliché. I'm actually super happy she didn't fall into any clichés.
Overall, I was pleased with this book, and cannot wait to read the rest of the series when it comes out!
OUUU I liked this book. I liked this book a lot. At first, I was afraid I wouldn't like the tone of the book, since I'm kind of particular about my sci-fi-y books, especially romance. I'm gonna say this is sci-fi in a way, because of the tech although I'm sure something like this exists, I just don't know about it.
I thought that perhaps the romance would have felt forced in this book, but it really wasn't. It flowed well with the story and wasn't front and center - which is refreshing. I'm so happy it was about a nerd and an effing badass female main character. Both mentally strong in both different and same ways. They have a great dynamic which makes reading about them fun.
I also really like how the author brought the main character's past into the present, and how she made it work without it being cliché. I'm actually super happy she didn't fall into any clichés.
Overall, I was pleased with this book, and cannot wait to read the rest of the series when it comes out!
August 23, 2019
Not finished.
Tried to read the series from the beginning before the RITA winning one. Did not succeed. Sorry but it’s too law paced and not captivating.
Tried to read the series from the beginning before the RITA winning one. Did not succeed. Sorry but it’s too law paced and not captivating.
October 6, 2019
“Excellent.
Love all the characters, the plot, the action and twists, the deep thoughtful conversations between the characters. I really enjoyed her writing. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Love the audiobook too.”
December 1, 2017
What a refreshing read for me! Normally I don't do romantic suspense, but man am I glad I did! I ADORE Georgia! She is so bad A! And Parker is TO. DIE. FOR. Sexy, sweet and caring! This story kept me on the edge of my seat and the chemistry between these two was so hot I thought I'd combust! The non stop action kept my heart pounding and on the edge of my seat. And can we talk about the cover? So gorgeous! I cannot wait to read more from this author! AMAZING DEBUT!!!
July 1, 2020
I have so much to write about this book but I don't think I can possibly express into words about how amazing this book was.
Apart from the little problem I had about this book in the beginning about insta-love, the rest was amazing.
I LOVE Parker. He was perfect. And so was Georgia.
The plot is possibly the best part about this book.
The book is equally plot driven and is full of romance.
One of the best romantic suspense reads I have read this year.
Apart from the little problem I had about this book in the beginning about insta-love, the rest was amazing.
I LOVE Parker. He was perfect. And so was Georgia.
The plot is possibly the best part about this book.
The book is equally plot driven and is full of romance.
One of the best romantic suspense reads I have read this year.
June 11, 2023
What an amazing first book to what is sure to be a great series. I loved Parker! He was such a sunshine hero. He was such a sweetheart to the Heroine Georgia. The two main characters had amazing chemistry from the very beginning. I loved how much they opened up to one another about their past, which made their intimate moments all the more powerful. I can't wait for the next installment.
November 29, 2017
***4.5 Stars***
A kickass female bodyguard falls in love with the smexy techy geek she is supposed to be protecting?
I say...Uuummm YES Please! I mean, I love kickass women and have a soft spot for techy geeks (even when I may not understand half of what comes out of their mouths...but their minds…) And I must say that Defenseless hit all the right buttons for me. Characters that all peaked my interest in one way or another, a good balance of humor, heat, drama and heart and a storyline, both the of the romance and suspense variety, that kept me turning the pages until the very end.
Georgia is all kinds of kickass goodness and wants to do her job to the best of her ability, especially since all her other options are ones she’d rather not deal with, but the walls she’s built around her and her desire to keep people at arm’s length has her on shaky ground. I actually loved Georgia from first meeting her ~ we have a similar view of snow ~ and found her to be quite compassionate, quick witted and good on her toes.
Parker is quite the mixed bag. He is way too smart for his own good. He gets lost in his work and has a tendency to take on challenges that could have him end up incarcerated. He may be uncomfortable in certain social situations he isn’t socially awkward, in fact he’s acutely aware of people and can read them quite well...at least when he wants to. I found Parker to be charming and adorable, and if anyone needed a coffee IV to become a reality...it’s him. All of this combined with his generous heart and the touch of alpha-ness that comes out in certain situations made him quite lethal.
Georgia and Parker’s journey to their HEA started off as one would expect when you have two seemingly opposites being thrown together ~ rocky with A LOT of one upmanship happening ~ but after participating in a very interesting icebreaker and cool down, things evened out between them. Well, as much as things could considering they were running for their lives, but intense situations tend to remove a lot of B.S. and it definitely did that here. They saw what each other’s strengths as well as vulnerabilities were and respected them for who they were and, in certain situations, helped to strengthen the other more. The chemistry between them was hot and I loved their bantering, even when they did snipe at each other. The bump in the road to their HEA wasn’t unexpected, but how it got worked out was and I really liked how things for them worked out in the end.
Defenseless is Ms. Dyer’s debut novel and I think she did a wonderful job with it. The writing was engaging, the story was well paced, the twists and turns were well thought out and executed. As this is a first in series, it could have turned into a total info dump, but that never happened. I felt as if everything was revealed in a natural was that flowed with the main storyline. We do get to spend a bit of time with some of the other employees of Somerton Security, not a lot, but enough to peak my interest in all of them, though Ethan and, amazingly enough, Isaac, are the two I find I want to know more about...at least for now. So, bring on the next book!
~ Copy provided by the author via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
A kickass female bodyguard falls in love with the smexy techy geek she is supposed to be protecting?
I say...Uuummm YES Please! I mean, I love kickass women and have a soft spot for techy geeks (even when I may not understand half of what comes out of their mouths...but their minds…) And I must say that Defenseless hit all the right buttons for me. Characters that all peaked my interest in one way or another, a good balance of humor, heat, drama and heart and a storyline, both the of the romance and suspense variety, that kept me turning the pages until the very end.
Georgia is all kinds of kickass goodness and wants to do her job to the best of her ability, especially since all her other options are ones she’d rather not deal with, but the walls she’s built around her and her desire to keep people at arm’s length has her on shaky ground. I actually loved Georgia from first meeting her ~ we have a similar view of snow ~ and found her to be quite compassionate, quick witted and good on her toes.
Parker is quite the mixed bag. He is way too smart for his own good. He gets lost in his work and has a tendency to take on challenges that could have him end up incarcerated. He may be uncomfortable in certain social situations he isn’t socially awkward, in fact he’s acutely aware of people and can read them quite well...at least when he wants to. I found Parker to be charming and adorable, and if anyone needed a coffee IV to become a reality...it’s him. All of this combined with his generous heart and the touch of alpha-ness that comes out in certain situations made him quite lethal.
Georgia and Parker’s journey to their HEA started off as one would expect when you have two seemingly opposites being thrown together ~ rocky with A LOT of one upmanship happening ~ but after participating in a very interesting icebreaker and cool down, things evened out between them. Well, as much as things could considering they were running for their lives, but intense situations tend to remove a lot of B.S. and it definitely did that here. They saw what each other’s strengths as well as vulnerabilities were and respected them for who they were and, in certain situations, helped to strengthen the other more. The chemistry between them was hot and I loved their bantering, even when they did snipe at each other. The bump in the road to their HEA wasn’t unexpected, but how it got worked out was and I really liked how things for them worked out in the end.
Defenseless is Ms. Dyer’s debut novel and I think she did a wonderful job with it. The writing was engaging, the story was well paced, the twists and turns were well thought out and executed. As this is a first in series, it could have turned into a total info dump, but that never happened. I felt as if everything was revealed in a natural was that flowed with the main storyline. We do get to spend a bit of time with some of the other employees of Somerton Security, not a lot, but enough to peak my interest in all of them, though Ethan and, amazingly enough, Isaac, are the two I find I want to know more about...at least for now. So, bring on the next book!
~ Copy provided by the author via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
June 12, 2018
Georgia Bennett is an ex-marine who is now working for Somerton Security and has become a babysitter/bodyguard for Parker Livingston, the creator of Jungle Gem.
There is immediate attraction between Georgia and Parker but soon they realize that Parker is a wanted man and the two find themselves on the run from an enemy they don’t know.
But is there more to Parker than what Georgia knows and does he know something about her brother, Will, who was killed overseas? When it’s clear there is a mole somewhere within their group will they find it in time?
This was a great book and introduction to Somerton Security. I look forward to more books in the series.
Georgia is a tough girl but there was another side of her that slowly evolved with Parker. The two had so much attraction and chemistry and truly had to rely on one another as they found safe places to hide.
Parker ended up being so much more than I was expecting and it was no wonder people were after him. I knew the one big secret he was hiding from Georgia would come back to haunt him but I also understood why he was keeping it a secret.
This book had lots of romance but also there was a much larger mystery going on with why people were after Parker and who was involved with it. The book was definitely page-turning and I loved how it kept me involved from start to finish!
The ending was explosive and I was glad with what happened but the ending also led us to the next book as things are not over yet! - By Rebecca
There is immediate attraction between Georgia and Parker but soon they realize that Parker is a wanted man and the two find themselves on the run from an enemy they don’t know.
But is there more to Parker than what Georgia knows and does he know something about her brother, Will, who was killed overseas? When it’s clear there is a mole somewhere within their group will they find it in time?
This was a great book and introduction to Somerton Security. I look forward to more books in the series.
Georgia is a tough girl but there was another side of her that slowly evolved with Parker. The two had so much attraction and chemistry and truly had to rely on one another as they found safe places to hide.
Parker ended up being so much more than I was expecting and it was no wonder people were after him. I knew the one big secret he was hiding from Georgia would come back to haunt him but I also understood why he was keeping it a secret.
This book had lots of romance but also there was a much larger mystery going on with why people were after Parker and who was involved with it. The book was definitely page-turning and I loved how it kept me involved from start to finish!
The ending was explosive and I was glad with what happened but the ending also led us to the next book as things are not over yet! - By Rebecca
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