Forged in Ash (A Red-Hot SEALs Novel Book 2)

Forged In Ash was released on January 28, 2014 and is book two in the A Red Hot Seal series by Trish McCallan. Readers have been waiting for this book for more than two years. The first book in this series, Forged In Fire, had it’s first debut in 2011 when the author self published the book. It was one of the first self published books I purchased. The writing was fantastic, the story was addictive, but the book had some glitches. The story flow had a few bumps but not enough to turn the reader away. The editing and formatting needed a lot of work. Still this book thrived and readers went crazy for it. In 2012 Montlake Publishing picked up Forged In Fire and signed Trish McCallan’s “A Red Hot Seal” series with the promise of at least three books to be released by 2013. They had Trish fix the bumps, re-edited the book, re-formatted the book, and re-released Forged In Fire in paperback, as well as e-book. This new facelift for Forged In Fire was a great success, garnering quite a few awards in 2012 & 2013. It gave this book more exposure and the new readers loved it. The readers were dying for Forged In Ash because Forged In Fire ended on a huge cliffhanger. Readers wanted to know the fate and outcome for these heroic Seals and were excited that this series was going to have more than two books. We marked our calendars for the next release. But for some unseen reason these books were pushed back to January of 2014. Readers that were anxiously awaiting the release of Forged In Ash were greatly disappointed. With the long interval between the two books I think many readers forgot about this exciting series. And for this reason I am going to review both books together. This is a fantastic series that reader’s won’t want to miss out on.A Red Hot Seal series is one of the most exciting, high adrenaline, thrill seeking and sexy romantic suspense series I have read. It is fast paced, action packed, embedded with intrigue, a mystery that will take more than one book to solve, a touch of paranormal (the psychic kind) and finally a sizzling romance that will have the readers hearts racing. These sexy Seals will make you swoon. Everything in this series will have your blood pressure up. I am addicted to this series like a junkie is to drugs. I need another “A Red Hot Seal” fix. Thank goodness, the dealer, author Trish McCallan has two more releases in this series scheduled for October 2014 and January 2015.As the series starts out in Forged In Fire, we meet Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters, Lieutenant Marcus Simcosky and Lieutenant Seth Rawlings when they are about to take a flight to Hawaii for a friend’s wedding. While awaiting to board flight 2077. They are approached by a young woman, Beth Brown. Beth Brown is there to warn someone, anyone, about flight 2077. She has had a dream about flight 2077 being hijacked and seen the deaths of all who are on that flight. When she sees the three men from her dream that look to be warriors she approaches them to give them the warning. Navy Seal Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters trusts her premonitions because, like her, he has the gift of sight. When he relays that premonition to his fellow teammates he gets the same premonition that Beth has relayed. He even sees the death of one of his teammates he is traveling with. They will have to make a decision on how to approach this attempted hijacking. When they contact their commanding officer, Commander Jace MacKenzie, it becomes clear that this hijacking conspiracy goes much deeper than some terrorist group. Several federal agencies have been compromised, including the FBI. Their highest commanding officer has been murdered. This team will have to make the decision to either wait for orders, or act on their own to save flight 2077. They have now gone rogue with the permission of their immediate commanding officer, Commander Jace MacKenzie. What unfolds in a two-day period is much more than a hijacking. Certain scientists are targeted and they don’t know why. Other flights have been hijacked, with all the passengers murdered, throughout the world. Innocent people, including women and children are being kidnapped and murdered. They cannot find out who is behind this plot. They have no clue on exactly what the plot is and why these people are being targeted. They cannot trust the FBI or other federal agencies. They do not know who has been compromised. The only thing they do know is that they are not going down without a fight. They will do everything in their power to stop whatever is behind these brutal massacres. What happens in two days may cost them their careers and their lives. It will be a bloody battle and hopefully they will be able to uncover the enemy.Although this is the most terrifying enemy these Seals have faced, they will be rewarded for their service in a more gratifying way. They will be rewarded in finding their once in a lifetime love. These women will stand by them in life. These women will stand by them in battle. These women will enhance their lives and strengthen their resolve. They will bring out the best of these brave warriors, including the psychic gifts they possess.In Forged In Ash, the book begins a few months after the flight 2077 incident. This Seal team is facing the ramifications of going rogue in order to save flight 2077 from the hijacking. Not only are they facing hearings that may cost them their military career, but they are also facing the fallout from the unknown enemy that they stopped. They know they have to discover who is behind this conspiracy, draw them out of hiding, strike, and expose them. They are not doing it to save their careers. They are doing it to save lives. The incident of flight 2077 is just the tip of the iceberg in what is to come.Lieutenant Marcus Simcosky almost lost his life in the battle of flight 2077. His leg and knee have been brutally damaged. This damage can be the end of his career. His only hope is Kait, the woman he has steered clear of for five years. She is his teammate’s sister and the one woman who can be his undoing. As the ramifications of the flight 2077 incident unfold, new players come into the picture, new enemies that also suffered from the flight 2077 incident, and of course the unknown enemy that can destroy them all. Now Kait is on their radar and Cosky will do anything to keep the woman he loves safe. More of the plot will be uncovered, new threats will surface, and new warriors will join the battle. The connection that Cosky and Kait have goes deeper than love, it is a metaphysical connection that will connect these two for a lifetime.This series is thrilling and intense, it is sexy and romantic, it is addicting and a must read!

I really enjoyed the premise and the inclusion of the Arapaho Indian culture. The characters are well written, the military jargon is extremely precise and the steam is hot!

4-4.5 starsThis was a really good story. I really liked both Kait and Marcus. The romance part of the story ends in a happy ending but the action plot is still ongoing and it looks like it wont be concluded until the end of the series. I will say that it's been 9+ months since I read the first book and I barely remembered it...this book does good at reminding the readers of what happened previously For people that haven't read book #1 I think there could be some confusion but it wouldn't be too bad.Kait is half Arrapaho and is the sister and daughter of special forces men. She grew up with one brother (Aidan) and recently discovered a half-brother (Wolf). Kait has also discovered a healing power in her. It only works part of the time but she was able to use to to heal Aidan when he was seriously injured and looking at the possibility of no longer walking.Marcus is special forces and lives for his job. His teammates are his brothers and he'd do anything for them. He' swore off anything serious with women because he can't see any woman wanting to deal with the risk and worry that comes with being involved with someone in special forces. Marcus met Kait 5 years ago (when Aidan was in the hospital) and knew from the first instant that the strong attraction between them was his kryptonite...because of this he's made a noticeable effort to stay far away from Kait.Marcus was hurt in book #1, Forged in Fire and the gunshot wound to his knee isn't healing well at all. The doctors aren't happy about it and think he will need more surgeries and even then won't be fit enough to rejoin his team. Aidan approaches Marcus and tells him about how Kait has a healing power that was what healed his horrible damaged spine years before. Marcus isn't sure if he believes Aidan but ends up being desperate enough to call Kait to see if her healing can work. While this is going on, Marcus and his team are being questioned about the events in Forged in Fire but since much of what happened has been covered up and seems to be the stuff of conspiracy theorists wet dreams, things aren't going too well for them.Marcus goes to Kait's place for the healing but the major attraction between them causes some issues and things go too far. Marcus freaks and therefore has a big bout of relationship dumbassedness, hurting Kait in the process. Unknown to him, Marcus had a tail when he went to Kait's place and it ends up bringing Kait into their issues....putting her in the line of sight of a crazy woman and the men trying to keep the conspiracy quiet. Things between Kait and Marcus get worked out along the way and there's a lot of action to keep things interesting. The story actually began focusing on the romance but as the action started, the plot seemed to focus more on the action than the romance. Not in a bad way though...there was still attention to the romance, it just was done in a way that worked with the action (and not in a way that makes you wonder how the couple found time to have sex in the middle of a firefight or some crap like that). Things work out so that Marcus and Kait are happily together at the end (and I Liked how Marcus connected with her powers).This was a really enjoyable story. I really liked Kait and Marcus. Thier story was very good and I liked the characters and the way things played out. The romance did get concluded by the end but the action plot looks like it'll continue through the whole series. That's cool though because I'm planning to read more of the series. Overall, this was a really good story and I'd recommend it (after book #1). :)* note - I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator did a very good job.

Another exceptionally we ll written book that kept me riveted. Your story telling is unique filled with just the right amount of mystery, love, loyalty, suspense, and action, trust to name a few.

Picking up from book one, we see how all the SEALs are doing and meet a new character who also has a special gift. We also meet one of the bad guys sister who is in a mission of vengeance and several other special ops and family members. The hijacking from book one is still being investigated and so far nothing and many of the people are not what they seem. The story is fast paced and a great blend of action, intrigue and romance. The chemistry is hot and not just between Kait and Marcus. I loved meeting Wolf and want to know more about him! The story does have a happy ending for the couple, but also a cliffhanger for the overarching story of who was behind the hijacking of the plane in book one and now bombing of their condo and a lab in book two!

This book was downloaded after the first chapter of Forged in Fire. If you haven't read that you will really lose the beginning and basis for yet another amazing book from this author with a fantastic imagination with an exceptional way of keeping you riveted for the next page.This is Cosky's book and you follow and get involved with his need to get back to full fitness with a lot of help from a very unconventional method.This is a very detailed book both in the storyline and the sex which is included. Very descriptive in many ways but written in a way that really captivated the imagination, it will make you groan at points for all the right reasons but you will keep reading to find out what the story holds for all the characters, whose personalities get stronger as the book continues. The storyline strengthens along with the characters as you read on. If you're like me the pages keep turn ok my because you need to know the next turn or twist.Just in case you like audibles, this is read to perfection. The variety of characters have been given their own voice and the suspense just builds. It never hurts if you're a woman listen ok by to a lovely deep silky voice either. Truly brings a fantastic book to life andThe next book is already downloaded and I am enjoying it as much as this book. The biggest downfall of this series is, I read them too quickly and I know they will be read over and over.Much more needed please!!!!

This continues with the same cast of characters as book 1 but with new ones added for romance and conspiracy reasons.Yes, we begin to learn why the plane was to be hijacked but not for ransom for the passengers as originally thought. The terrorists were only interested in 7 first class passengers, who were all scientists, working for the same company and on the same project.Then the scientists’ lab blows up and 7 bodies are found – all are declared dead. And so the bodies pile up in this conspiracy.A strange woman begins to follow ST7 and there are other people also following them about – are they the police – who don’t seem to believe the stories about how they knew about the terror plot – well you could hardly saw ‘I saw it in a dream’; or the FBI or indeed, people pretending to be police or FBI. No-one quite knows.And meanwhile the Department of Justice is also examining just how ST7 knew about the plot. And is this an end to their careers if they find their stories unbelievable?As the story unfolds we have another romance and another person with powers beyond the norm.The story is told at the same breathless pace as book 1 but somehow just falls a little sort but still a 4 – just.

So the first book was good, really good. This one was just wow! Right up there on the suspense, action, romance, well-researched plot, and skillfully-written scales. I understood the need to show the brutality of the villains and Ms McCallan does manage the write violent scenes without being nauseatingly graphic BUT, and this is just me, the children... I struggled everytime the children were mentioned. They are the reason for so much that occurs but it is still heart wrenching to read/listen to.By the time the start to truly uncover the real reason behind all this murder and mayhem, I was left thinking how absolutely feasible this is in this screwed up world we live in... and that frankly is just too scary.So I'm eager for the happily ever after at the end of this series because this author has done too good a job of weaving a disturbing scenario where my belief doesn't need to suspend very much and I need me some HEA to relax again.In short, amazing book! Stellar narration!

I absolutely loved the first book and was frustrated that I had to wait so long for the story to be continued. But boy was it worth it. I could not put it down and read it in a day. Each individual character grows as the story develops and I cannot wait for their individual stories to emerge. I believe Rawls is next then Mac. Now he is one I can't wait to learn more about. Will Wolf get a book?There is a good balance of action, romance and story progression and the sex is hot and relevant to the story unlike some books where the story gets in the way of the sex. As with Forged in Fire I am impressed with the excellent editing of the book. So many ebooks are poorly edited with typos which affect the flow of the story; no such problems here.If I could give 6 stars I would. Now I just have to wish time could fly until October to find out what happens next. Too long!!

This is the second book in this series and is as good as the first, "forged in fire" , the team are accused of the hostage rescue "in the 1st book" that went wrong and are not getting a lot of help from the various authorities they only have each other to rely on. In the 1st book seal "Cosky" suffered a lot of injuries, In this book he is in danger of being axed from the team, Kate his teammates sister can heal with her touch, but Cosky tries to keep away from her because of the attraction between them.There is more going on in this 2nd book and we meet new team members as well as the old.The ending leaves the book open for the next one, "I hope its not going to be another year"This is a book for lovers of Seal teams and Special opps, get both and you have a good continuing story, and with the new team members this could be a long series, " I hope".Looking forward to more of the same.Marrianna