About the Book
ISBN-139798182766906
Publisher: Taylor S Newport
Publication Date: 11/05/2026
Series: Dauntless Defenders
Pages: 536
Synopsis (from the author’s website, TaylorSNewport.com)
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 unmistakable: 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.
My Thoughts
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.
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.
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