Margo Connelly only did her civic duty to serve on a jury, now along with many others she is on a hit list. An evil villain decided they must all die.
Lamar Striker Jennings is given the job of protecting the niece of his boss. The rest of the team will back him up.
Like anyone who has their life disrupted our heroine is not happy. Handing control over to someone else is not easy.
Our hero is determined to protect her whether she likes it or not, and it will be done his way.
A real nail biter. The assassin is ruthless and exceptionally good, especially because he has inside knowledge.
Lots of very sexy scenes that nearly melted my kindle,a marvellous story line and lots if danger.
This is the start of a new series and I definitely want to read them all. A very exciting read, I loved it.

Brenda Jackson is back with a new series featuring the sexy and sinful protectors. For those of us who have read the Granger series and are familiar with Sheppard’s story, we will recognize these protectors who grace the pages of Jackson’s latest novel.

In this first book, we get to know Striker Jennings. He agrees to protect Margo Connelly, a person very important to his boss Roland. Margo served as a juror on a high-profile case for six weeks.When the defendant became incensed at the ruling, he promised revenge on everyone in the courtroom. While Margo is concerned, she isn’t really terrified until he makes good on his promise and members of the jury, press, and prosecution turns up dead. Margo must be protected and that is how Striker enters the picture.

What is supposed to be just another job slowly turns into more for both characters. No one is more surprised than Striker who has long vowed not to get into any serious entanglement because of his fear of not being able to protect the person he loves. He believes he failed before, and he’s determined not to fail again. What Striker comes to realize is that true love doesn’t care about past feelings.

Margo and Striker soon find that they are both in over their heads. Striker makes Margo feel things as she never had before. Striker knows that he can’t have his cake and eat it too but he can’t seem to keep his mind and hands off of Margo.

The stakes are raised as the body count is higher and soon Margo finds herself the next prime target. A chain of events brings the danger a little closer than Striker would like and he’s faced with the possibility that he failed another person he loved.

Forged in Desire lived true to its name as desire is what brought these two together. We’re reminded of their constant need for one another. While it was evident to both of them and Striker’s friends, I needed a bit more convincing at times. There was more telling than showing, and it left me a longing for a bit more between these two. Luckily, the first two chapters had just enough intrigue that kept me entertained even when it fizzled out towards the end of the book. You all know that I love romantic suspense, and with so much suspense surrounding this case and the attempt on Margo’s life, I had hoped that there would be a little bit more at the end. The case and their relationship were tied up neatly with a little bow. I like a bit of conflict between my two main characters and these two really didn’t have any. The case doesn’t count because that was the main plot point for the book and what brought them together.

While I had hoped for a bit more for the start of the Protector series, I received just enough that will keep me reading. Forged in Desire had a promising storyline and was a good set up for what is to the follow for the remainder of the series. Fans of Brenda Jackson’s previous series will appreciate the start to this new one.

***ARC Provided by NetGalley and Social Butterfly PR***

Margo and Striker were an interesting couple. I was interested in their story and I liked it for the most part, but with some reservations.

There was an appeal in the idea that she was strong and independent, but needed to rely on Striker to keep her safe, although I found myself slightly annoyed with her at the beginning with the way she treated him. This resolves quickly, for the most part and I am not even totally able to say that her reaction is not normal for someone in her position...but it still annoyed me about her.

That said, I thought the balance with the romance and the suspense story was a little off, and I thought there were some additional characters who were a little too present in the narrative, so I was not able to fully engage with the events in the story, both the romance and the suspense aspect.

I think, for me, there was too much going on within the story...there was a romance, and the bodyguard idea, and family drama, and ex drama...there was just too much and I felt like I was bouncing from plot point to plot point in a few places.

Again, not badly enough that I did not enjoy it...but enough that it did alter my ability to really engage with the narrative.

I do recommend this book.

I read a free copy of this book. I really liked the book. Even though it is part of a series you don't really need to read them in order to understand the books. A great read about Margo being protected by Stryker when her life is in danger due to serving on a jury.

@ 47% I’m tapping out.
#TooManyBooks you feel?
I was intrigued by the blurb and thought why not? Big mistake on my part.
Although I liked that ex-cons were trained to become protectors
To the actual plot of the book I really do not know how likely that would actually happen. I guess that is someone as coldblooded as the villain in the book it is possible.
The main characters were there but for all that I cared they could have been replaced with any Tom, Dick or Henrietta. There was a lot of head butting which I don’t mind and then caving into the instant desire that they felt. Too many extremes in a time span

I wanted to love this book but Brenda Jackson fell on the Romantic Suspense sword and made the book about 80% sex and 10% Story. The sex was fueled by lust making the story unbelievable even for this girl.
Between the random thoughts they thought or the random tangent the characters would go off on I soon found the story to be long winded. Not to mention the long winded dialogue that would slow the story to a snails pace. causing me to put the book down debating whether to finish it or not.

A lot of part of the story left forced and the author struggled to find her voice in this story.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy

Margo knew trouble was headed her way, she just had no idea how much. With danger on her heels and a man named Striker by her side, she's in way over her head. Forged In Desire is full of edge of your seat danger and scorching heat, but for me it fell short of the magnetism I've come to expect. What I did love is she stayed true to her roots by creating strong family ties between a close knit group of friends. Hidden agendas, secret revelations and fierce friendships made for an exciting journey.

Intriguing cover? Yep. Riveting story line? Oh yeah. Character appreciation? Sure. Execution? Eh...could have been better....

Margo has been sequestered for the last 6 weeks while on jury duty. As the sentence is read, everything in her life and around her changes when her life is threatened. In order to protect her, her uncle hires a security firm for around the clock protection. And of course, what kind of story would it be if the protector and protectee didn't have some kind of chemistry, right? But that's just it. Besides the physical chemistry, I can honestly say that I didn't get "it" between the two. But that could just be me.

Striker is the protector. He's also an ex-con, ex-convict and still dealing with personal issues from his past. He's extremely attracted to his client, and can't seem to keep himself from her. Not like he's really trying though. When the poo hits the fan and Margo REALLY needs protection, I'll give him credit. He's the man!

First few chapters had me intrigued and ready to dive in to the story. But then between the random thoughts each character would go off on a tangent with and then trying to get back in to the story, I found myself actually skimming to get to the good part(s) or at least to something other than the written mumbling. Although this story had some pretty cool moments, it wasn't enough for me to "love" it.

reviewed by Chris

Margo Connelly need’s protection from a man who has threaten everyone that was not only on the jury but in the court room the day of his conviction. She first of course thought this just to be an idle threat. Then the first person was killed. Now her uncle has hired a protection service. Lamar “Striker” Jennings has been assigned as here body guard. She turns out to be someone that he was not expecting to get to him, to make him start giving up personal feelings that he has told no one. Now this assignment has just become more. She can’t believe that she is not only attracted to him but wants to spend time with him. Though she still does not believe that she is in any danger. They are both in danger of losing themselves to the other one, plus there are some other twists added to this story who is after her that will surprise you when you get to the end. This makes for a very sexy, and suspenseful book. Wanting to find out who is after her plus their attraction makes for a fantastic story. Wonderful characters help build for a good read.

The minute I saw the synopsis and cover of Forged In Desire I was immediately intrigued so when I was able to get an ARC of this book I was thrilled and I dived into this story as soon as I could and I loved it !

In this book we follow Margo and Striker and I just loved these two together, every minute we spend with them was wonderful these two people that are used to doing things there way, so seeing them work with there current situation was definitely something lol . The sexual chemistry between these two was just insane the closer these two got was steamier the romance got . I love watching there relationship evolve from where it was in the beginning to where we leave them in the end . While we are reading about Margo and Striker's relationship so much other things were happening at the same time. When I say that there was never a dull moment in this story I mean it . The minute I thought I knew everything and that I had all the information I got a new perspective that made me see things differently and just when I thought okay nothing else can happen I was wrong, this story was constantly surprising me and keeping me on my toes and I just loved that . I loved everything about this book.

Forged in Desire is a sexy , addictive , thrilling , story and I cannot wait to get my hands on Brenda Jackson next book .

This is the first book in this series. We get introduced to all the characters for the coming books. This book focuses on Lamar “Striker” Jennings and Margo Connelly.

Striker is pulled in to protect Margo after the criminal she convicts during jury duty threatens everyone in the room with death and people actually start dying. Margo and Striker are instantly attracted but wait a few weeks before acting on it. In the mean time, we get ALL their thoughts along the way. I am all for getting a little bit of what’s going on in a character’s head, but this was thought overload, and repetitive. And this continues throughout the book. We also get what’s going on in the heads of all the other characters. And it whips back and forth between them all. Too much in their heads and not enough action. I just couldn’t feel the chemistry. And it moves so slowly.

And how many people does the main character need to be trying to kill her?! We have the criminal, her uncle’s ex and some crazy chick with a grudge against her family. Too much going on and the flow of things is not good.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Jackson crosses sub-genres with such fabulous storytelling and continues to prove that she is core collection material.

It just didn't keep my attention. I tried and tried to keep reading it but I just couldn't do it. Halfway through I gave up.

No big surprise that Brenda Jackson has hit it out of the park with her latest
romance. And I can add this to her long list of must buy, must read offerings.
Striker Jennings is an ex-con first mentioned in the Granger trilogy who has
given up on permanent relationships due to past events. We meet him again
while he is protecting Margo Connelly from defendant in a murder case where
she was on the jury. The murderer pledged to kill everyone who was in the
courtroom the day of the verdict.

You can feel the sizzling chemistry between Striker and Margo as soon as they
saw each other. Striker holds out for as long as he can but guarding Margo
closely is making it hard for him to distance himself from his feelings. Margo
eventually wears him down with her love and trust but he still has to accept the
gift.

Ms. Jackson has also given us a suspenseful romance with some surprising
twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just sit back and enjoy the
ride. I give this book an enthusiastic 5 star, thumbs up review.