Forged in Ember is the fourth title in the Red Hot SEAL series. Out of all the books this was my least favorite. I would rate Forged in Ember a 2.5 stars.

ARC copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was another series ender that was just as fun and exciting as the rest of the series! I was hoping for just one more book in the series though, just to tie up some of the loose ends... especially with Wolf and with Esme. I think there is definitely room for another book, or potentially a spin-off series, so I really hope the author decides to go in that direction.

I really like that we get a lot more in depth view in to Mac for this book. He comes off as abrupt and a bit cold in some of the earlier books, but we are able to see more of his softer side here. I especially love his interactions with Amy's sons. I didn't really feel any surprises with Amy's character, I feel like she was shown pretty fully in the previous books.

All of the other favorite characters are there, though Beth and Faith have very minor, periphery roles in this finale. To an extent, Zane's role is more periphery as well. Kate, Rawls and Cosky are all front and center, and Wolf has a slightly larger role than in some of the other books. I like that we got to see deeper into Wolf's character, but I still want more!

The plot line for this novel continued the thread from the previous books and tied up most of the plot points. I don't want to include any spoilers, but there are just a few things still in question which is why I hope a spin-off series is in the works...

In the last installment of the Red-Hot SEALs series, it is Jace "Mac" Mackenzie's turn to fall in love. For a while now, the attraction and tension between Amy Chastain and Mac have been palpable. And as circumstance throws them together into hiding from a common enemy, sparks fly. Still, the focus has been finding the New Ruling Order (NRO) leaders who have poisoned Amy's kids and who plan to destroy the world. As Mac helps her figure things out, he slowly gives in to the emotions between them. Especially when his love for her kids make him realize that this time he has too much to lose. Fighting for Amy's boys and the world will keep this sexy hero and heroine busy and chasing bad guys for quite a while. Another action-packed suspense romance with a pinch of paranormal activity to match.

This was a great story but I really got lost in the details since I had not read the previous books in the series. The author pulls you into a tangled web of lies and deceit while Amy tries to save the lives of her children. Nothing will stand the way of a mother’s love and protecting her children.

A happy, satisfying ending to the series.
It had been a while since I'd read the other books in the series, so I really appreciated the author going over the backstory and providing a list of characters to help me reacquaint myself with the saga.
It was clever how the owner of the company was alive and able to be healed so he could create an antidote to save the boys. I liked that the author addressed the fact that Amy's husband had not been deceased very long and also didn't forget that she was getting over being held captive and raped.
Ms. McCallan seemed to leave open the possibility for more books. Wolf's relationship with Jillian wasn't completely wrapped up. There was also an unidentified killer written about in the epilogue.

This book finishes the Red Hot Seals series, but it definitely doesnt stand alone. Its been a long time since I read the previous books and there have evidently been some novellas Ive missed, so I absolutely felt a bit lost. Trish writes a good balanced story - there is always a good mix of action/romance/passion/character/story. Oh, did I mention humor? There is humor interspersed in the mix. Forged in Ember was an entertaining action romance, and i think ill go back and read the others again.

Well, this was an interesting ending to the series but it sets up a spin-off well. This needs to be read in order of the series and cannot be read as a standalone since Mac and Amy's story was a long time in coming. It was certainly good to see how they handled their problems and got together but amidst all the issues, I would have liked more romance.

I began reading this series a couple of years ago and have been anxiously awaiting the conclusion. It was definitely worth waiting for! With paranormal and military romance combined, this is definitely a page-turner that leaves you guessing until the end. I'm looking forward to the spin-off series now!

Amy's husband is dead her boys are sick from what ever the NRO injected them with and Mac and his team are wanted for murder. What else can go wrong. Mac is slowly falling for Amy but he needs to find the people who have done this to her children and clear him and his team for murder. Good book just to much time between the last one and this harder to keep interest.

Saving the the best for last isn't even an enough of a statement for this book. This book was the absolute best in the series and trust me, I LOVED all the books, especially book one, Forged in Fire. I honestly couldn't put this book down once I picked it up!

I've been waiting for this book and it did not disappoint in the least. Jace "Mac" Mackenzie and Amy Chastain were truly a dynamic duo. This book has all the drama, action, adventure and mystique the other books in the series had but the ride was even more exhilerating! The story's ending was absolutely perfect!

I was thrilled to find out that a spin-off series based on Shadow Mountain will be available sometime next year because I'm dying to find out where Wolf takes me.

I really liked the first two books in this series and the two novellas. The last one wasn't as good for me and unfortunately I liked this one even less. The suspense part was wrapped up fine (although there was an awful lot going on) but the romance was really lacking imo. I really wanted to epic romance moments for Mac and Amy with all Amy had been through. We didn't get that at all. They're only together in a small percentage of the book.

The epilogue gives us a good wrap up for all four couple's stories and the author's notes states this is the last book in the series. Things are still up in the air for Wolf though so I'm assuming there will be a spin off series. Not sure and tbh I'm too lazy to look it up.

Overall just an ok book. Kind of a let down for a series I have mostly enjoyed a lot.

**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.**

Review: FORGED IN EMBER (A Red-Hot SEALS Novel) by Trish McCallan https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aJa
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 4.5 Stars

This novel had non-stop action bombarding the team and their families. At times it seemed a bit too desperate, full of anxiety and sadness as they combatted the crippling attacks from the NRO. That made the romance between Mac and Amy seem sporadic and strained at times. That being said, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next. The happily-ever-after was satisfying, and left enough hints as to where the next book will go….I can’t wait. I enjoyed it!

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle $4.99 https://amzn.to/2G9n48A | Amazon Series Link http://amzn.to/2hDteqg

✦Red-Hot SEALs Series by Trish McCallan✦
✦Book 1: Forged in Fire ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/2ihcjJ5
✦Book 2: Forged in Ash ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/2ihq6zm | Review 4.5 Stars http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1qo
✦Book 3: Forged in Smoke ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/2in2Aij | Review 5 Stars http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-7vw
✦Book 4: Forged in Ember ➢ Kindle https://amzn.to/2G9n48A
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I mistakenly thought this could be read as a stand alone...it definitely cannot.

DNF 10% having not read any of the previous books I was completely lost.

3.5 stars

Forged in Ember was a thrilling conclusion to the Red-Hot SEALs series! A series full of danger, action, suspense and characters I’ve grown to love and care about.

I have been looking forward to Mac and Amy’s romance since we’ve been building toward it for quite sometime now, and it did not disappoint. Mac, SEAL Team’s leader has been an abrasive, foul-mouth character throughout the series, so I was pleased to get his softer side, and find out what was behind all that edge. Mac had good reason to put up a shield, but Amy and her boys break that barrier and burrow right in!

Amy has been through so much, losing her husband five months earlier when the NRO murdered him. Now finding out her boys were injected with a lethal tracking compound, they’re in a race to find a cure before it’s too late. Yet, with all of that, Amy feels shored up by Mac, and his unwavering support. When he’s near, a calm settles over her, and their attraction heats up to the point of distraction!

There’s a lot going on here, the future of Amy’s children as well as the future of the human race, but the focus is on Amy, Mac and her boys. As a mother, I could easily relate to Amy’s powerful, on-the-edge-emotions and get how she could fall in love again so soon after her husband’s passing.

I’m sad to say goodbye to the series, and I wonder if we’ll get more stories from this world because Wolf and Jillian’s story was left open when I wanted more. I guess we’ll see.

2.5 Stars. Honestly, I wanted so much more from this final book in the series. I struggled through aspects of this book and it just wasn't near as good as the previous books in the series. Honestly, I had forgotten a lot of the previous books since it's been a long time since I read the earlier books. I think the author did a good job either reminding or catching up the reader to what had happened. My biggest issue was with the romance and well quite frankly the hero of this book. Mac was a character I wasn't all that crazy about in earlier books mostly because his attitude about women is awful. I thought he'd grow and change and I'd finally get a Mac I liked but it didn't work out that way. Mac has some serious "mommy" issues and issues with his ex-wife. Not sure why he doesn't have issues about his dad since both his parents were not good people and he had a horrible childhood. So I understand he had some bad experiences but he paints all women with the same brush and that never changes. In fact, at one point in the story when he decides Amy is a good person and courageous along with the other women his men had married he decided that they were an anomaly because most women don't have courage or strong morals. Seriously? I had a hard time getting past this - he's a smart man but instead of growing and coming to the realization that he is wrong about women in general he decides that any good women he knows are an exception. Since I didn't like Mac and Mac didn't have a good opinion of women I had a hard time with him as the hero. Then there is the romance in general. Amy is dealing with the death of her husband and the fact that she was raped all within the last 6 months. However, these issues were not dealt with enough. She seemed to "get over" her husband's death really quickly and we never really see her mourn in this book. She googles how to deal with PTSD from the rape and the next thing you know she's perfectly okay having sex with Mac. I found this ridiculous and unrealistic. So needless to say I didn't buy the connection between these two.

This book actually relied more heavily on the romance with a lot less action then I remember from the previous books which didn't help either since I wasn't a fan of the romance in this particular story. Also the villains who were built up to be strong, incredibly difficult to beat and powerful are taken out in one mission that is over before it really begins. <spoiler>Mac accidentally stopping the device my thinking he wanted it to stop but now even realizing he was doing it was a big let down to me. Mac basically saves the day without even really meaning to.</spoiler>

There are still a lot of open issues with Wolf so maybe there will be a spin off series but Jillian comes across as a very weak character so I'm not sure I'm interested enough to want to read it. I enjoyed the first few books in this series but I can't help but be disappointed in this final book in the series.

Ok, the main basics is there is Amy, whose husband was killed six months ago, and she was raped. Then her children were injected with some kinda virus. On top of that, you have Mac, who is trying to protect them, and of course they have a relationship. Is it just me? Perhaps, but seemed a little rushed here. Also didn't like the idea of the kids being used that way, and her being raped. Naturally it affected her relationship with Mac, but still. A lot of characters and story line floating around the outside story, making it hard to follow at times. First I've read, so if this is part of a series that may be the issue too. Interesting enough to read to the end, so would recommend.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

***WARNING*** Do not read this book unless you have read the other books in this series first. This is not a standalone. This review contains spoilers if you haven't read the other books.

But, if you have read the other books then you know that the New Ruling Order (NRO) mean business and will not stop until they are stopped. This book is seat of your pants exciting and you really care what happens to these characters. The love story is sweet and empowering. The suspense is heart stopping and the ending . . . Well, you'll have to read that for yourself.

Amy Chastain suffered more than anyone else due to the nasty world obliterating agenda of the New Ruling Order (NRO). They kidnapped her and her kids, she was gang raped, they had her husband murdered and they injected her kids with an experimental isotope, which is killing them. Amy has had to draw deep and use her spine of steel just to keep sane for the last five months. All this would have broken a lesser person, but Amy survives.

When the SEAL Team 7 foiled the hijacking of Flight 2077 it set them on a collision course with the NRO. Although Navy SEALs, Jace “Mac” Mackenzie wasn't there, he backed and supported his Team all the way and that landed him square in their crosshairs too. Now, with time running out for Benji Chastain, Mac will do anything, even betray a friend, to find a way to save him. His feelings for Amy have done nothing but grow during this whole ordeal. His initial respect for her guts and attraction for her have given way to the real thing - love. He will fight to his dying breath to end the nightmare that holds them all hostage.

Mac, his Team and the Arapaho Warriors are the only ones standing between the NRO and a global catastrophe. It's a classic Good vs. Evil and the good guys are not going to lose.

This book really grabs your attention from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go till the very last word. There was twist, turns and some unexpected surprises thrown in too to give this book one fantastic story to read. There is plenty of action, adventure, intrigue and suspense that will have you glued to the pages and on the edge of your seat as the intense storyline spins out of control and send you on a rollercoaster ride right till the end. The characters where engaging and had depth and where really well developed. Overall one fantastic book that totally deserves the 5 stars I’ve given and I would definitely recommend this book to all book lovers out there especially ones you love a lot of action

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I have been waiting for this book to come out and see how all the plots in this story will resolved. I was so glad for the summary at the beginning as I did not remember all the details and that really was helpful.

There are so many aspects to this story with the suspense of trying to protect the world from the NRO, the romance that is developing between Mac and Amy, the drama of the two young boys being injected with a tracking solution, and then the sad parts when they lose someone during a mission and Amy trying to overcome her painful memories of being raped.

This book kept me reading non-stop to see how they were going to be able to save the day! Since there was not a conclusion to Wolf's story, I am hoping that there will be a new series based on the Shadow Mountain people. Most everything was resolved except for Jillian not recovering and one evil person is still out there free!

Wish I could give an extra star as I loved reading this concluding book!!

Almost two years ago I read Forged in Smoke, so I had to check back on my review to get my memories back on Mac and Amy. In Forged in Smoke the story ended with Amy and her children seeking refuge from the NRO. While Amy's husband was killed by the NRO, they have also injected her two sons with some kind of chemical to be able to trace them. They serve as experiments for injecting soldiers.
Mac doesn't want to have feelings for anyone, because the last time he got burned badly. But he can't help but admire Amy and the strength she shows, when her children start getting sick. Even after losing her husband, being chased all over the world and being a supermom for her boys, she doesn't waver. But Mac knows she will need someone to help her save her boys. And he knows he will do everything to save her, because he just can't stop thinking about her.
With the NRO closing in, the find help with Wolf and Jude yet again. A wonderful read, with a lot of suspense, paranormal and action. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.