Forged in Steele

A KGI Novel, Book 7

By: Maya Banks

Narrated by: Adam Paul

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The next heart pounding novel in the KGI series from Maya Banks, the New York Times best-selling author of Rush, Fever, and Burn, the Breathless trilogy.

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 US government can’t...

Steele, a KGI team leader, is an enigma not even his teammates 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. Maren’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.

©2013 Maya Banks (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Incredibly awesome...I love Maya Banks and I love her books.” (Jaci Burton, New York Times best-selling author)

“[A] one-two punch of entertainment that will leave readers eager for the next book.” (Publishers Weekly)

Very good addition to the series :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a very good story. I loved seeing Steele actually turn away from being the "Ice Man" and showing feelings, he ends up being a very good hero. Maren makes a great match for him and I loved seeing them get together.

Steele is a team leader for KGI. KGI (Kelly Group International) is a private company that performs Ops like hostage/kidnap victim recovery & intelligence gathering among other things. Steele has always been known as the "Ice Man". He's a great leader and his team loves him (and he feels the same about them) but to see him crack a smile or show any kind of emotion is unheard of. He's disturbed to find that Maren (a doctor that helps them out occasionally) keeps going through his mind and he can't forget her.

Maren is a doctor that has a clinic in Central America. She lives in the jungle and treats villagers and at times, KGI members that have been injured on a mission that come in for treatment when they're not in the US. She has a past association with KGI from when they rescued her and some others from a hostage situation so she's always is willing to help them out. She's attracted to Steele but he's always avoided her and wouldn't speak to her. She's shocked when he shows up at her cottage, propositioning her for one night of sex because he needs to get her out of his system.

Maren is attracted to Steele and isn't thrilled to be propositioned for just one night with no option for more. Despite this, Maren really wants Steele so she agrees and they have one hot and steamy night before he has to leave the next morning. After this, Steele is annoyed to find that now he thinks about Maren more than ever. He feels drawn to see her again and decides to take some R&R from work so her can go see her again. When Steele comes back, Maren is very surprised but happy to see him again. They spend a couple days together and they start to form a connection. Steele finds himself relaxing and having fun with Maren and he wants to spend more time together. Maren is enjoying Steele being there is hoping that she's not the only one feeling the deepening connection between them. Unfortunately, before they have too much time, Steele is called away on an emergency mission (but he's shocked to realize that he doesn't want to go). He does promise Maren that he'll come back after his mission.

After Steele leaves on his mission, Maren gets some surprising news she's pregnant with Steele's baby from their first night together. and immediately after, is kidnapped by a psycho that's obsessed with her. Unfortunately, The psycho is a very rich and evil man and he's not easy to track down. Maren is held by him, threatening her and using leverage over her to force her to do what he wants. To hide his identity, he's undergoing surgery on his face to completely change his looks. He forces Maren to care for him while recovering but he also tries to woo her and starts to grow impatient at not to be getting anywhere with her. Just when it seems that Maren's danger level is spiking in her captivity, an unexpected ally helps Maren get out and back to KGI. Steele has been frantically searching for Maren the whole time she was gone and once she's back he's determined to help her recover and do whatever he can to convince her that they should be together, permanently. Maren goes back to Steele's place with him to recover and they talk things out. Although Maren's worried about how Steele will take all of her news she tells him she's pregnant with his baby. She was worried he wouldn't want anything to do with her or the baby but Steele quickly disabuses her of that notion and convinces her that he's happy about the baby and he wants her but he shows her he can be very supportive and unexpectedly sweet.

Steels and Maren spend some time together and start to figure out how they fit together now. Steele (for being such an Ice Man in the past) is so sweet and there are some wonderful moments when he tells Maren how he feels for her and his hopes of them together that just made me melt. They get a few days of peace when the psycho strikes again, kidnapping Maren's parents in order to trade her for them. Maren goes to the meeting with KGI backing her up, attempting to trace where her parents are and saving them and her before she's in too much danger. While ultimately successful, some issues do arise on the mission and both Steele and Maren are injured. They have some tense moments but in the end they all come out of it alright. Steele is determined to keep Maren safe and happy for the rest of their lives and we have some sweet moments at the end, as Steele and Maren start their HEA.

This was a really good story. I loved both Steele and Maren and was gratified to see them get together and be so sweet together. The action/suspense plot was interesting but didn't overshadow the romance, which had some very sweet and poignant moments. This is a great series and I can't wait for Donovan's book to come out. I'd recommend this book. 2 thumbs up. :)

* note - This narrator is the same one from the last book but I think he did much better with Steele's voice in this one, making it kind of deep and growly (which is perfect for him).

Narration ruined this audible book for me!!!

Would you listen to Forged in Steele again? Why?

I thought I would based upon reading the book first, but after listening to the narration by Adam Paul I doubt I will ever listen to this again! I kept thinking he was trying to channel Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry voice and it was grating on my nerves the more I listened so I found it hard to enjoy the story itself!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maren, because she adapts to situations quickly while retaining her own sense of integrity.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As I stated in the earlier question...his voice for Steele was so irritating that it ruined for me a book that I was really looking forward to on audio!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

In the hospital after the crash....when they finally get to see their child.

Any additional comments?

Please go back to original narrator used for this series....it is really amazing how much a narrator can change the enjoyment of a book just be trying to be the wrong voice for a character!!! I love Maya's books as a whole....and enjoy listening to them as well as reading them! I've listened to some of them multiple times....but this won't be one that I will be doing that with unfortunately!

Great story, but reader's voice drove me nuts!

I loved the story, but the voice he used for Steele was so gravelly and raspy that I found it almost painful to listen to. I felt like I needed to cough or clear my own voice whenever Steele spoke. Other than that he did a great job!

Probably best of the KGI stories

I truly enjoyed this book. I found myself rooting for both Steel and Miren. Two strong characters so different but yet very much kindred. I liked that there was "sexual tension" & interest build up. I have trouble with the forever love in just a few hours that is done of the other stories. I like the gravelly voice for Steel. I almost did not listen to it because of the reviews but am glad I followed my instincts because it is a good story and well performed.
Later comments : This is still the best KGI book. I turn it on at night because the story us great and Adam Paul's is so perfect that I can sleep and listen.

Great story, bad narrator.

Adam Paul is a very poor choice for this series. he's so bland and boring, and he makes it sound like the story is being told from the perspective of an emotionless robot. that aside, really great story. Loved it from start to finish.

Needs a New Narrator, but great story

I loved the story, but the narrator 's voice for Steel made him sound like Rambo on crack. not very happy with the audible narration, but the story was excellent

Love Love Love me some KGI.....

Boy this is one family/group that I can't get enough of!! Books are too far apart

Narrator is fabulous and I love the bantering between the team..............

Seriously? Batman?

Others have already said it. I don’t envy a new narrator who comes into a series midway through like this but did this new guy even listen to one of the past books? The Kelley’s are all backwoods rednecks, Marlene is a shrill granny, and Steele is Batman.

That said, the story was mostly good. Until I literally wanted to yell at Stelle to stop talking. Who would think we’d get to that point?

So smokin hot!!

This KGI book is one of my favorites. Seeing Steele, the “iceman” fall in love was amazing. Hearing him in his dry stilted way, ask her for sex was priceless. Highly recommend this series. They have romance, hot sex & lots of alpha action military style.

Great story - Horrible voices in narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Maybe - I'd definitely recommend the book. Not sure about the audiobook. Steele's voice is really bad, and he's one of the main characters, so that might prevent me from recommending it.

What other book might you compare Forged in Steele to and why?

Hidden Away (KGI #3)

Would you be willing to try another one of Adam Paul’s performances?

No.

Any additional comments?

His male voices are HORRIBLE. Females are okay. Rio's is really bad. Steele's voice is completely different as it was in the last novel. It's so bad that it seriously detracts from the overall experience.