With no identity, memory or past… She must trust a stranger in order to survive. When a woman is caught shadowing the team leader of Declan’s Defenders, she slams right into the man’s protection detail–and a former elite Force Recon marine. Gus Walsh’s instincts tell him she is dangerous in more ways than one. Yet when he discovers that she is a Jane Doe with no memory of who she is or why … who she is or why someone is hunting her, the pair must team up to find answers. But there’s no guarantee they will survive the truth once the dust settles…
more
Terrific book that sucked me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages until the end. Jane woke in a small, cell-like room in Syria, beaten severely, and with no memory of who she is or why she is being tortured. An explosion enables her escape from the building. She believes she is an American, and using abilities she doesn’t know the source of, makes her way back to the States. A tattoo on her wrist gives her hope that someone knows who she is.
Gus is one of Declan’s Defenders, detailed to guard their benefactress at a charity gala. He is suspicious of a beautiful woman who then tries to take Charlotte “Charlie” Halverson away from her protectors. Though Jane gets away, she shows up again a short time later, this time lending a hand in saving Charlie from an attempted abduction. Grateful for the assistance, Charlie is intrigued by Jane’s story and determined to help her. Gus isn’t so sure and is determined to keep an eye on Jane.
I loved the blend of suspense and romance. There are sparks between Gus and Jane from the start. Gus isn’t happy about it, as his suspicions war with his attraction. As the team looks into Jane’s past, it becomes clear that someone is hunting her, and Gus finds his protective instincts kicking into high gear. Jane may be quite capable of taking care of herself, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to keep her safe. I liked seeing Gus’s feelings about Jane change as he spent more time with her and got to know the woman beneath the kick-ass surface. I ached for Jane as her story unfolded, and for her horror at what she learned. I loved seeing how Gus and the others showed her that she was more than her past. I liked the twist at the end that allowed Gus and Jane to hope for a future together.
The suspense of the story was outstanding. There are two layers to the book. The first is discovering who Jane is, who is hunting her and why, and stopping them. The tattoo that sent her looking for Charlie showed that there was some connection with Charlie’s late husband. There were some exciting twists and turns as more of John Halverson’s secrets come to light. The intensity goes through the roof as the team learns of a planned attack on a preliminary hearing and races to stop it. I was on the edge of my seat as they faced off against the attackers. Jane and Gus had a final hurdle to overcome as they confronted a man whose voice she knew all too well. They got some unexpected help, and the revelation of the bad guy’s identity answered a couple of questions. It also showed that there are more things to be discovered.
I loved Charlie’s determination to continue John’s work, and that Declan’s Defenders will be right there with her. I can’t wait to see what is next.
I really enjoyed Driving Force by Elle James. It is the perfect romantic suspense story that keeps your interest the whole time you are reading it and wanting to get back to it when you’re not.
When a woman is caught shadowing the team Declan’s Defenders one night when they are on protection detail and all of Gus Walsh’s instincts go on high alert. His concerns are valid because Jane Doe has skills that no ordinary person would have along with no memory. Their lives are in danger when they team up to find out the missing pieces to her memory and past that they all want answers to.
I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series!
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
Wow, this book just opened with a bang. She wakes up in a smelly cell. She can’t remember anything but she has been badly beaten. She manages to escape and make her way back to the US by hiding in a cargo ship. The symbol on her wrist gives her a clue as to her identity. She needs to speak with Charlotte (Charlie) Halverson. Yep, this is how the story just grabbed me in and wouldn’t let go until I finished.
Charlie gives the woman the name of Jane Doe. Gus is tasked with protecting her (he doesn’t trust her and is trying to protect the others by staying close to her.) Jane and Gus grow closer as the danger closes in. Can Gus and the Declan Defenders protect Jane? Who is Jane really? That and more questions seem to arise. Then the Trinity symbol tattooed on Jane’s wrist matches the other Trinity symbols that have been appearing throughout the series. Will we finely find out what John Halverson (Charlie’s deceased husband) was involved with?
This book was written in my favorite dual POV format. It was wonderful to see inside the characters’ mind as they were going through and trying to unravel the tangled mess that they had fallen into. When Jane’s identity was finally revealed, we see Jane struggle with the true as to who she really is. Gus also has some really great internal struggle when it happens as well.
This is slightly steamy but nothing in great detail. Still that may offend some so on that note I highly recommend to anyone over the age of 18. If you love romance with mystery and intrigue then this one is for you. I would also suggest to start at the beginning of the series to get a more thoroughly understanding of the plot in the series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but the other are great books as well.
Who is Jane Doe? Is she good or bad? Jane wakes up in a prison in Syria with no memories, tortured she must escape. Circumstances bring her to a particular person in the US, Gus is intrigued by her but not sure he can trust her. I enjoyed the mystery of this book and the way the author unraveled the tale bit by bit. I was glued to my kindle throughout this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I believe this is the fourth book in the series and I found it to be the best so far. I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue. It dealt with a topic that is prevalent today and is not talked about enough. I love Declan’s Defenders and they are all falling one by one. I can’t wait for the next book to see whose heart will be claimed and what adventure they will go on.
For honest review 10 stars for great writing this story pulls you in from the first page having been kidnapped, beaten and with amnesia she find herself in Latakia Syria escaping an on the move ,she follows the GPS coordinates on her wrist that takes her to Charlotte halverson and the Declan defenders. who helps her find out who she is and her part in the trinity syndicate.Awesome story
Driving Force, book #4 in Declan’s Defenders, is action packed, suspenseful, and full of mystery. The story keeps you intrigued from the first page to the last. Declan’s Defenders is a great group of guys who are heroic, brave, and loyal. This is Gus and Jane’s story and I loved these two together. A great read and a great series!
I love the books Elle James writes, especially the Declan’s Defenders series, and Driving Force is right up there as one of my favorites. Gus was joined the Defenders after being dishonorably discharged from the Marines for his units disobeying an order that would have killed many civilians and had a lot of collateral damage. “Jane Doe” escaped from a Syrian prison, has no memory at all, and only knows she needs to get to Charlotte Halverson in DC to help her find out her identity. This book has action, romance, mystery and is a totally page turner. I could not put it down! It’s a total must read!!
I have loved this entire series and this fourth book is no different each story is self contained but to get the full impact I would recommend that you read them, all in order You won’t be sorry that you did
Charlie Halverston is the benefactor of Declan’s Defenders she is the one that pays their bills allowing them to do there work so when she has to attend a gala you can bet at least one of them attends as a bodyguard and this time it is Augustus “Gus” Walsh to do the honours. So when he sees a stunning woman in a black dress watching Charlie he is instantly alert and when that woman tries to get Charlie away from the gala yes well that isn’t happening. When they discover that the woman has escaped from a Syria and has no memory of who she is but may know something about the death of Charlie husband they will endeavour to get to the truth Meanwhile Gus is fighting an attraction to the Jane Doe even if he thinks she can’t be trusted Will they get answers will they find out who she is and will her an Gus get a HEA You will need to read to see
This is book 4 in the Declan’s Defenders series and it features Gus and Jane. The team is trying to dig deeper into what Charlie’s husband was involved in. There’s a new player on the board but she has amnesia. They named her Jane Doe and Gus is assigned to watch her. Friend or foe, nobody knows…yet. Jane is pretty bad a&& and has a heart of gold. Their attraction is slow burning until they can’t resist any longer. Charlie seems to be the one person in each book that knows deep in her heart who is good and who isn’t.
The Trinity Syndicate is now the main focus of Charlie and Declan‘s Defenders. The story line is fantastic and the characters are amazing! This book is full of action, adventure, romance and intrigue. The twists and turns are shocking and totally unexpected. The plot twists just keep outdoing the previous ones. The series gets better and more exciting as each book is completed. BRAVO!
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book from Prolific Works and I chose to review it. I am a big Elle James fan and I have been reading her books for years, she has never failed to give me a great story. This one holds true to that saying. This a story that you need to take your time with, you don’t want to miss a thing. This is a well written book and the characters are awesome. Once again the secondary characters help make the book, They are from earlier books. I encourage everyone to get this book it is worth your time and effort.
DRIVING FORCE is the fourth book in the Declan’s Defenders series by Elle James, and I was enthralled in the mystery of Jane Doe from the first page!
Suspense is at a high as the team tries to figure out what her back story is without bringing danger to their doorstep. We find out more than we bargained for when secrets are uncovered and allies are questioned.
This series has been action packed and I highly recommend it as a whole. I’m looking forward to what’s left to come in the next couple of books. Great action, intriguing mysteries and a great group of heroes to fall in love with!
Another edge-of-your-seat book in this series!
Driving Force is the fourth book in the Declan’s Defenders series but you can read it as a standalone with no problem. For best enjoyment of this book, though, I recommend reading the series in order.
“Jane Doe” is captured by Declan’s Defenders after she is caught stalking the group’s wealthy benefactor, Charlie Halverson. Jane has no memory of who she is and it’s up to the DD’s to help find out who she is and until they do, they are not going to trust her.
Gus is assigned to Jane to make sure she doesn’t bolt and run away from them. The more time they spend together the more he begins to trust her and, of course, fall for her.
Like the other books in this series, it starts off full of action and doesn’t stop until the end. The ongoing mystery that’s been woven throughout this series is revealed more and more in this book. While the romantic arc for Gus and Jane has an HFN, there are still unanswered questions concerning the mystery.
Driving Force kept me engaged from start to finish. I’m not sure how many others are planned for the series but I hope this one is not the last.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
Book 4 of the Declan’s Defenders series is another action packed, can’t put it down, page turning romance. Jane Doe finds herself beaten up in a Syrian jail. She has total amnesia about herself, but realizes that she understands Russian, Arabic and speaks with an American accent. On her wrist, she finds a peculiar tattoo of a trident, below which are Hebrew letters that she deducts are being used as numbers to give longitude and latitude. She doesn’t know why, but she has kickass skills and when an explosion knocks down a wall, escapes from the jail and manages to make her way to a port city, stowaway on a container ship back to America, and get to a library to use a computer to figure out the location shown on the tattoo. The location is the home of Charlotte Halverson, who is protected by Declan’s Defenders. So Jane then figures out a way to get into a gala that Charlotte is attending, and tries to find out some answers, but is stopped by Gus Walsh, who had had his eyes on her from the minute he saw her. But Charlotte believes her and takes her into her home to help her find out the truth. Another attack, but is it Charlotte or Jane that is the target?
I read a free ARC. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
I thought this was a terrific read . The story is very suspenseful and really keeps you guessing. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding Jane and getting those answers takes the reader one epic thrill ride! I loved the cat and mouse feel to Gus and Jane’s romance. I felt that their slowly simmering attraction that eventually exploded into sizzling chemistry added a wonderful feeling of tension and anticipation to the book. A cleverly crafted tale of mystery, action, drama, danger, twists, adventure, intrigue, excitement, surprises and romance.
Grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. So many twists, turns and surprises. Jane doesn’t know who she is and finds her way to Declan’s Defenders and maybe her past and future. I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a review
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from Prolific Works
Driving Force is book 4 in Declan’s Defenders series by Elle James, a standalone but reading the prior books gives you a better understanding of the series!
Augustus “Gus” Walsh, former elite Force Recon marine and part of Declan’s Defenders are attending a gala with Charlotte “Charlie” Halverson, their boss when he sees a beautiful, sexy woman in a black dress watching Charlie. Something tells him she is trouble and when she approaches Charlie and tries to usher Charlie out of the gala Gus is determined that is not going to happen…
A woman wakes up with no memory, been severely beaten, locked in a cell and in Syria but not knowing how or why…after an explosion takes down a wall in her cell she escapes and makes her way back to the US with her wits and a tattoo on her wrist leading her to Charlotte Halverson…name…Jane Doe…
What happens next will keep you on the edge of your seat, humorous, drama, action, suspense and will Gus and the team get to the bottom of who Jane really is??
Jane is one kickass, sexy & scarily capable female! I wanna be her when I grow up.
All Jane can remember is the torture she was subjected too. She has a ream of “talents”, all of the spy type. She makes it back to the US and seeks out the one person she thinks can help her. Charlie. Yes, our Charlie is about to find out a whole lot more about her husbands off-book adventures.
Gus has a hard time accepting Jane’s story. Anyone can pretend to have amnesia and Jane is a deadly asset, even without any weapons. He is not about to trust Charlie’s safety around her. Pity Charlie didn’t get the same memo!
I loved finding out more about Charlie and John’s life before he passed away. Secret units, secret missions, a cabal looking for world domination. There is plenty here to keep you occupied. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jane and Gus, even when they are denying it to themselves!
Once again Elle James has kept me anchored to my seat, held hostage by one of her books. Driving Force is a phenomenal romantic suspense. I love the characters in this well-written book. Jane can’t remember why she’s being beaten or how she knows different languages, she just knows she has to find her way back to the United States. When Jane approaches Charlotte, Declan’s Defenders move in to protect Charlotte. Gus appoints himself Janes guard until they know she doesn’t plan to harm Charlie. Gus and Jane’s story is fast-paced and loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. This is a fairly quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. Driving Force is book 4 of the Declan’s Defenders Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Prolific Works. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found this book to be very interesting. It had all the elements of a great story but most of all the book just made you feel. It made you feel what the characters were feeling and also how you would feel if you were in the situation that Jane was in.
Jane is a woman who can’t remember anything about her life. She wakes up in a cage, not knowing how she got there or who she is. All she knows is she has to survive. Reading about the things that she does and how she starts to put pieces together about who she is was amazing to read. It was like watching a puzzle come together.
Gus has very strong feelings towards Jane when he first meets her and its not all the good kind. He doesn’t trust her at all and goes out of his way to show this. While I understood his reasoning, this made my heart hurt. However once they start to learn about each other and begin to trust each other, Gus’s feelings change.
The suspense was on point!! The twists and turns were amazing. I hope there will be more in this series!!