Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out Today!
How I got this book: from publisher
The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…
Steele, a KGI team leader, is an enigma not even his team mates understand. His emotions are tightly locked down and nothing can break that icy exterior. Nothing except Maren Scofield, a doctor on a mission, a woman who has gotten under Steele’s skin and threatens to crack that unflappable cool he’s legendary for.
Steele is determined not to allow Maren past his carefully guarded defenses, but when she’s in danger, there’s no way he’ll allow anyone else to protect her. She’s hiding something. He’s sure of it. But he isn’t prepared for the shocking discovery her secrets reveal. Or how they will forever alter the course of his destiny. He has a decision to make. Hold tight and shut her out. Or take a chance on something more powerful than he’s ever faced. Love.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
Steele is one of KGI’s team leaders, and the group iceman. He has emotions, but keeps them close to the vest at all times. His attraction to Maren, a doctor the team uses from time to time, can no longer be ignored and he spends a few nights in her bed. When Steele leaves on a mission, he doesn’t know that Maren will be put into a dangerous situation that could keep them apart for ever.
Maren loves her work as a rural, third world country doctor. Never did she expect to be taken hostage by a psycho crime lord who needs a full time doctor. Maren would do anything to get out from under his grasp, especially since she has a secret she desperately needs to tell Steele. But when Steele finally gets her back, he and the KGI team might not be able to protect her when her psycho comes calling once again.
I have a love/hate relationship with the KGI books. I either absolutely love, love, LOVE them, or I get so angry I can’t finish them. I was hoping beyond all hope that Steele’s story would be one that I would love, since I couldn’t wait to find out more about why he was so cold, so stern. I wanted to see what kind of woman could get him to open up, smile more, and start to love life.
Banks did a great job with this story, on both the romance and the action front. Before Maren is taken hostage, we get to really see Steele start to fall head over heels for her. Although he leaves on a mission, he makes it very clear that he is going to come back to her, that they have unfinished business, and that he doesn’t want to leave her. Maren is given the chance to really hold onto that when she is taken, and it’s clear that and her secret are enough to pull her through.
I think that Banks does a great job of balancing out the action and romance in this series. There is always a knuckle-gripping beginning, a sweet middle, and another hectic end. I love the way she keeps the plot moving quickly with plenty of action and suspense, mixed in with the down times every couple needs. The end scene, where Maren and Steele are finally able to face off and fight together for their relationship had me gripping the pages of the book so hard I was worried I was going to accidently rip out pages. It was crazy and intense and had me riveted with every word.
I’m so excited about this series again, given the last two books have really gotten back to the vibe of the first few books. I’m so excited to see that Van is next, and I can not wait to see what kind of heroine is going to win him over, especially since he has been one of my favorite Kelly brothers from the get-go.
I loved getting to see more of the new KGI team, and am so glad that Banks is continuing to expand the cast of characters, so we get the possibility of even more awesome reads in the future. Getting to see Rusty, Sean, and everyone else in the Kelly circle was wonderful, and I’m anxious for Banks to write more and more!
All in all I really liked Steele and Maren, and this book. The suspense and action was so well done, and the romance between these two was incredible. Once Steele decided on Maren, he was 100% devoted to her, and them as a couple. I loved getting to see her melt the ice around his heart. I hope that we get to see more and more of these two in future books.
I give Forged in Steele a B+
Great review, thank you! Only skimming it as I really want to read this myself. I do love this series a lot.
@xaurianx – I’m glad Banks went back to the non-paranormal aspects of this series. So much better now! <3