How to Read the Elite Guardians Series
Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians universe is a powerhouse of Christian romantic suspense, focusing on an all-female bodyguard agency whose members are as skilled at protection as they are at navigating their own complex pasts. To get the absolute most out of the characters' relationships, agency dynamics, and overlapping story arcs, we highly recommend reading the books in their publication order.
The franchise is divided into three distinct segments: the original series written solely by Lynette Eason, the co-authored continuation under the Elite Guardians Collection banner, and the Elite Guardians: Savannah spin-off series. Here is the recommended reading path through the entire universe.
1. The Original Elite Guardians Series
This is where it all begins. Set primarily in South Carolina, these four novels and one novella establish the Elite Guardians agency and follow the original core group of protectors.
- Always Watching (2016): The debut book introduces agency owner Olivia Edwards as she is hired to protect radio host Wade Savage from a relentless stalker.
- Without Warning (2016): Bodyguard Katie Singleton is assigned to protect restaurant owner Daniel Matthews, leading to a high-stakes investigation into a deadly threat.
- Moving Target (2017): Maddy Holcomb is tasked with guarding a client carrying a dark past, forcing her to confront danger at every turn.
- Chasing Secrets (2017): Bodyguard Haley Callaghan must protect a client while unravelling secrets from her own hidden family history.
- Dark Prophecy (2019): A companion novella (often numbered as Book 4.5) that provides a quick, suspenseful transition story for fans of the original crew.
2. The Elite Guardians Collection
Starting in 2022, Lynette Eason teamed up with other romantic suspense authors under Sunrise Publishing to expand the agency's universe. While these books introduce new characters and storylines, they maintain the same high-octane formula of faith, romance, and danger.
- Driving Force (2022) by Lynette Eason and Kate Angelo: Elite Guardian bodyguard Jillian Bennett is hired to protect a forensic artist and his daughter after they are targeted by a killer.
- Impending Strike (2022) by Lynette Eason and Sami A. Abrams: Elite Guardian Lizzie Howard is assigned to guard a man who has lost his memory but is targeted by someone who wants him dead.
- Defending Honor (2022) by Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood: Bodyguard Laila Vance protects a client who is trying to uncover a conspiracy that threatens both their lives.
3. Elite Guardians: Savannah
This spin-off series, launched in 2024, moves the action to Savannah, Georgia. It follows a new branch of the bodyguard agency and is fully co-authored with Eason's select pool of talented writers.
- Vanishing Legacy (2024) by Lynette Eason and Kate Angelo: A high-stakes mystery involving family secrets, long-lost legacies, and deadly pursuit.
- Hunting Justice (2024) by Lynette Eason and Sami A. Abrams: A gripping race against time to bring fugitives to justice while protecting innocent lives.
- Guarding Truth (2024) by Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood: Former Army Ranger turned elite bodyguard Juliette Montgomery must protect cyber-security expert Caleb Styles and his niece Ivy from dangerous hackers.
What to Know Before You Start
Eason’s books are famous for their rapid pacing, clean and faith-filled romance, and strong female protagonists who excel in male-dominated fields. The series is set against vivid Southern backdrops—initially coastal South Carolina, and later transitioning to the historic streets of Savannah, Georgia. Each book resolves its central romantic and mystery plotline, meaning they can technically be read as standalones. However, the background characters interact frequently, and reading them in order prevents spoilers regarding who ends up with whom from previous entries.