Claimed by a Steele

Good book. Gannon Steele has a ten-year plan for his life. He will grow his trucking business first and then consider the possibility of settling down. Now that his five older brothers are married, he looks forward to having the women of Phoenix all to himself. Gannon was one of several CEOs chosen by Simply Irresistible magazine to be interviewed about their companies. Gannon is well-known for taking care of his drivers and their families. He also regularly gets behind the wheel himself, using those trips to make sure their needs are met.

Delphine Ryland is a freelance journalist working on the story. She started working with the magazine several years earlier while caring for her sick mother. She also wrote men out of her life after her fiancé left her for another woman a month before their wedding. She looks forward to doing the story on Gannon, whose reputation intrigues her.

I loved the first meeting between Gannon and Delphine. Her beauty completely gobsmacked Gannon and it was fun to see the playboy struggle for composure. Delphine was a little better off because she had seen plenty of pictures of him, but the real thing was much better. They met for dinner to discuss the interview, but Gannon spent more time trying to get to know more about her. He was confused about why he was so intrigued by everything about her, but couldn’t deny his interest.

The sparks between Gannon and Delphine were evident from the start, but both are determined to keep things professional. However, Delphine’s effect on him has Gannon second-guessing his ten-year plan. He becomes intent on getting to know her better so that he can decide if she’s The One. To that end, he invites her to go along on his delivery trip. Delphine is very wary of the feelings that Gannon stirs in her. She’s been burned before and has no intention of risking her heart again. As they give in to their attraction, Gannon becomes more convinced that Delphine is meant to be his. Delphine fights hard against her feelings. But just as she realizes that she is in love with him, she overhears a phone call that sends her running. I hurt for Gannon, who saw his chance for happiness disappearing, and for Delphine, who thought that history was repeating itself. I loved the advice Gannon received from his brothers, motivating him not to give up. Delphine was a little harder to get through to, and it took some straight talk from her best friend to make her realize her mistake. Gannon’s heartfelt words to Delphine when he caught up with her were sweet and romantic. There was a neat little twist at the end. I liked the epilogue with their wedding and the presence of all the Steeles.

Brenda Jackson’s books are always big on family, and this one was no different. All of the Steele children had a marvelous example of the power of love in their parents. I loved the scenes with them and their obvious love for each other and their boys. The love and respect Gannon had for both parents was evident in his interactions with them. But it was his time with his brothers that was the most fun. They all teased him about his ten-year plan, especially after he met Delphine. Each of them had advice for Gannon that he first fought against, then realized was needed. They were also there for him when he needed support or a kick in the pants.

Claimed by a Steele by Brenda Jackson is the thirteenth and final book in her Forged of Steele series. This is a contemporary billionaire romance.

Gannon Steele is the youngest and last unmarried of the Steele brothers of Phoenix, and he plans to enjoy having all the beautiful women to himself with his brothers off the market. He’s CEO of his family’s trucking company and is being interviewed by journalist Delphine Ryland for a series on CEOs making a difference in their companies. Gannon is left speechless by Delphine’s beauty and invites her on a road trip to determine if she is his destiny, the one he is meant to claim.

Brenda Jackson is a master of the romance genre and Claimed by a Steele is another of her successful endeavors. She has well researched the trucking industry, which is an integral part of the story. The characters are strong and vibrant. Gannon may just be my favorite of the brothers. The backstory is more than adequate and makes this final book in the series read like a standalone. This is a quick, entertaining read that rates 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys engaging contemporary romance.

My thanks to HARLEQUIN – Romance (US & Canada) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Claimed By a Steele is a slow burn romance that turned around very quickly. Gannon and Delphine do make a good couple once they get out of their own way, and they’re both likable characters. I really liked how this one started and concluded – kind of like it was coming full circle, and of course, there’s lots of this great family to round things out. From the parents down to the last of them, the Steele’s have certainly made for fun reading, and I kind of hate to see them go. I would’ve liked a bit more flair for the finale, but Gannon’s story is still a solid addition to the series. I know this one is titled Claimed By a Steele, and that’s kind of been the theme all the way through, but truly, I think this series is more about the women who claim these alpha males more than the other way round. So, to sum it up, this final book in the series is another curl up on the couch for a couple of hours and escape into a bit of romance story that’s sure to please.