A Steele for Christmas

Forged of Steele #9

by Brenda Jackson

Christmas Romance
Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story! 


After being dumped by her fiancé, Stacy Carlson has no illusions about love. That doesn't stop the Phoenix gift shop owner from harboring hot fantasies about her sexier-than-sin landlord. Major player Eli Steele is a heartbreaker in tailor-made designer duds. But who can resist the sensual seducer who's decking the halls—and her heart—with a passion she's never known?

This Steele brother is no pushover. But it's time to transform his playboy image. And once Eli turns up the heat, Stacy starts getting into the holiday spirit. Only now it's Eli's heart that's on the line. Can he turn their strictly business arrangement into a Christmas filled with pleasure… and lasting love?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary, Audiobook, African American Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 20, 2011

About the author

In 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.

In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.

In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.

Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Steele's are my favorite of BJ's family series, but this storyline did seem a bit recycled with the whole pretend marriage angle. I haven't read the last few BJ books because they all started to look the same, so I'm not all that shocked that this book is along those same lines. The story was ok, could have been better, but I do have to admit that I did like the cat and mouse game Eli played in the beginning. It was cute, and had me smiling throughout the beginning of the book. All in all an OK read, but forgettable and I wouldn't recommend it.

[Angelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a DECENT read...not a GREAT read but DECENT enough...not sure what it was but something was missing for me...Stacey and Eli had great chemistry but didn't spend enough time getting to know each other or interact with other people during the story......Really LOVE the STEELE'S but this one just didn't do it for me....this is just MHO....My rating would be a 2.5

[DeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming book but she took out the anniversary party due to her book needing page shortage. She placed the missing part on her website at www.brendajackson.net.

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! Any book about The Steeles, The Westmorelands and The Outlaws, those delicious, hot men, running all over the place, always creates a great story!
Broken-hearted Stacey Carlson has moved to Phoenix after being betrayed by her fiance and her "best" friend. She has become a very successful business woman with no time or desire for romance.
But Eli Steele needs a "fake" wife to secure a position on the town board. How long before this turns into the real thing?

[Katie Meckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but very predictable. Still, I'll read more by this author

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery Glymph voice was not enough for me to get over the okay offering from one of my favorite authors. I was disappointed in this read from the beginning of the story. There were good points but nothing that had me saying I needed to turn the page after page to get to the end.

I began my reading of Brenda Jackson with the Steele family many years ago. This offering of the Steele's in Phoenix was a let down. It was missing something and was not the page turner that I am use to from BJ.

[Sassafrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, insta-love but was cute nonetheless. I enjoy Brenda Jackson's books and this was no different. You could see them falling for each other from a mile away but they both had to be stubborn. Glad it didn't take them long to see the error of their ways.

[Angel (Bradford) Tweed · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little slow in the beginning. I was going to give up reading it. But after I read a little bit more it did start to get a little interesting. And it got better at the end. Not one of Brenda Jackson's greatest books but I give it five stars.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like I could pass up a title like this! It's the first I've read in this series, but I really enjoyed it and plan to read the rest. Highest recs!

[Alexia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this has very little Christmas but a lot of steamy scenes.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much romance

I was surprised that this book didn't developed the relationship as thoroughly as it has in previous books before introducing all of the sex.

Eli and Stacey were attracted to each other, and listed after each other, but that seemed to be the extent of the relationship for most of the book. A LOT of sex, and not as much romance.

The part were they got to know each other wasn't really laid out. It was mentioned in a few paragraphs. There are a couple of other things I found surprising, but I would have to do spoiler alerts.

I also wish the anniversary party Eli and Stacey were supposed to attend had been fully detailed. I think it would have been an interesting scene.

[SassyMama · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENJOYABLE...but as stated by others it's a bit recycled...felt like I read it before in one of the Westmoreland stories...however it's still a cute and SEXY read...love those Steele's...and the chemistry between Eli and Stacey is off-the-charts.

[Keysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli was hot!!! Loved it and the rest of the series.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Small Town & Rural Fiction, Holiday Romance, African American Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance

Miniseries
Forged of Steele

[sjoyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Steele For Forever!

I forgot how much I loved reading about the Steeles, just as I did the Westmorelands and the Madaris'. It's been years since I've read a book about the Steeles. It seemed this is the year to me to go back several years to pick upon family sagas.

The Steeles are the Phoenix Steeles, family of 6 brothers, six years apart, and their mother and father, Drew and Eden. Drew was a womanizer of the highest order until he met Eden, a gorgeous green-eyed model. Since then, he only had eyes for her.

All six brothers are gorgeous, green-eyed, rich and a womanizer like their father was. They're are referred to as the "Bad News Steeles from Phoenix". They make sure the women understand it's just about sex. Women are so taken with them, they accept exactly what're they're willing to give.

They're enjoying their lives until they began to fall in love. First it was Galen falling for Brittney in " Hidden Pleasures". Now, it's Eli, the lawyer and Stacy Carson, a gift shop owner in the building Eli owns. Eli has sworn off women after his ex-administrative assistant gave him such a hard time when he broke up with her. Stacey moved to Phoenix after her fiance called off their wedding because he fallen for her friend.

Eli and Stacey danced around each other for six months. Finally, they gave in to their desire for each other and the sex was phenomenal for each of them. Galen and Brittney made a deal that ended with them falling in love, so did Eli and Stacey.

It was delightful watching them fall in love and refusing to admit it. They secretly agreed to a fake engagement and marriage that would benefit them both to only admit their love for each other.

It was so much fun watching them fall in love as the other brothers are terrified because they thought they'd never get married, even though their mother had other ideas.

These are easy reading, sensual books with delightful characters whom you've met in other books. I can't wait to see whose next to fall in love and get their HEA!

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A STEELE FOR CHRISTMAS has a somewhat misleading title but for those who like alpha male romances this will suffice. It's a quick, breezy read that has both instalust and fake dating but I found it too dated to really enjoy. A series about siblings in love seems entertaining but for all the Steele brothers to be described as womanizers and seem to have the same personality...I'm not sure how that can make for a strong series. All that to say I found Eli boring. And unfortunately Stacey was bland too, her role is to be pretty, occasionally say something sharp and let Eli teach her about sex. Additionally while I love a quick, low drama romance this one felt too fast. Jackson skips a lot of the details around Stacey and Eli getting to know each other and a few potentially fun scenes occur off page. I'm also not a fan of the "crazy ex" subplot either although again it was 2011 so giving grace. Finally for a book set in Phoenix I was hoping to see more of the city, especially since I don't know much about Black Arizonians, but this could take place anywhere. Also it's not a Christmas romance it's more so Halloween-Thanksgiving with the last three pages taking place on Christmas day.

Personally it's a 2.5 but for the sake of Goodreads discovery rounding up to a 3.

[Vanessa (Bookin.Good) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, this is actually my first Brenda Jackson read! I knew her reputation as a writer and this book definitely lived up to that. The novella follows Stacy who has sworn off of love after her fiancé broke her heart. While she refused to admit how deeply she'd been hurt, Stacy's reluctance to be in a loving relationship made her wounds painfully obvious. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona with her brother, and started over as a gift shop owner. Stacy loved her new life and enjoyed her customers shopping in store--she especially enjoyed when Eli Steele would drop by to buy things. She didn't know it, but he went there only to see her. What becomes a spontaneous moment of weakness between them soon develops into a friends with benefits situation, which then morphs into a whole lot more. Jackson made sure to punctuate Christmas into the novella enough for it to be good Christmas read, and I liked the brothers in the Steele family, I just may read up on all the rest of them!

[Limecello]

It's now 3-14-21 which is a long time after I read the book and despite listening to it twice :X
I don't remember much/believe what I remember might be me conflating it with others

[I for a bit thought it was maybe the one where their kids get them together but ... I don't think this is the one :X]

So ...

Stacy and Eli =>
She's a gift shop owner, he's her land lord...
MAYBE this is the one where he wants to pretend he's about to get married to get a place on some board/committee?

:X
[She moves to Phoenix after her [fiance?] cheats on her with her ~best friend?]

There was some anniversary(?) party they were supposed to go to - someone said Brenda Jackson had to cut the scene to keep in the category word count and posted it on her site and maybe that would've helped/made things more memorable?

As is ... :X

😬🤷🏻‍♀️

seems like this was a low/middling Jackson read for me

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fairly good read; however, I did not feel the Christmas spirit in this story. Stacy became a business owner after relocating to Phoenix when her fiancé and best friend betrayed her by hooking up behind her back and getting married. Then there is Elijah a womanizer that needs a wife to secure his position on the Business council. Although they were in monogamy sex only relationship, but due to Elijah expected title they agreed to an arranged marriage and with that agreement, Stacy gets a chunk of money and will own her part of the building where her store is located inside of the high rise of the building owned by Elijah, along with other fringe benefits. That’s it! Although their relationship develops into a love match, but for me there was not enough character development, it was like they were just married due to a situation, yet it did turn out to be a happily ever after. I give it a 3 out of 5 stars read.

[Keisha Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Brenda Jackson's books always make me want to keep reading. My only problem with this book is that I wish it were longer. There were certain events towards the end that were glossed over and rushed through. Spoiler alert, because the two characters get engaged around Thanksgiving and married by Christmas and they had really only known each other for about a month or two before that, it just all seemed too fast. I think if their interest in each other started earlier it would have been better, or there could have been more detail about the wedding, the party Eli and Stacy went to, to show up her ex and maybe even give Stacy more opportunity to tell Eli how she felt about him or vice versa. I think Possessed by Passion is a slightly better story, but I still enjoyed this one.

[Gladys Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Steele for Christmas. The Steele brothers have a reputation of being playboys. Now that Eli wants to run for president of the Community Council, no one wants to take him seriously because his behavior with women. He decides to find a woman that will be willig to marry him for a year so that he can become the president. He sets his eyes on Stacia. Stacia is a friend of the family so its going to be a little harder to convince everyone that they love each other enough to marry. When approached by Eli, Stacia tells him this is just a business deal and no personal attachments come with this arrangement. At first Eli was okay with that until he realizes he can't live without her and needs her all the time. He becomes the second Steele brother to bite the dust and the other four brothers are mad because they feel Galen and Eli has set them up too. A must read story in the series.

[Mary Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one bites the dust, spectacularly...

I liked Eli and Stacy's story. It was an unconventional love story. Although I expected a happy ending, I was still interested in knowing how the couple would get there. Brenda Jackson is a great storyteller. Her books are hard to put down.

(SPOILER ALERT) There isn't much to dislike, but I wanted to see how others in Memphis reacted when Stacy returned for Dee's parents' party. I would've given it 5 stars just to see Wallace's interaction with Eli. I guess Mrs. Jackson didn't do it because she already did that in Thorn's story; but I still wanted to see Wallace and others shock at the mega watt diamond. Sorry for the spoiler.

I recommend the novel to all Brenda Jackson fans and romance readers.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stacy Carlson knows that love is a crock. She had been in love but then her fiance had dumped her for a so-called-friend. So she moved from Nashville to Phoenix , puring her heart into opening her store. The store is in a building that she is leasing from Eli Steele. Yes, that Eli Steele. One of the six brothers born to a former supermodel. All gorgeous and only one tamed. And that one isn't Eli. But that doesn't mean that she can't enter into a sex only relationship with the man. And then maybe a fake engagement.
I liked the ending. I did not understand what was going on because there was a Big Misunderstanding and Eli actually talked to Stacy rather than perpetuating misunderstandings for "reasons". It was... amazing.

[Helen Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stacy Carlson has an "eyes-wide-open" opinion regarding love after being dumped by her fiance'. But she has some off the chart fantasies about her hot as sin landlord, Eli Steele. There are sparks between the two of them that are hard to resist.

Eli Steele is a playboy who can have any woman he wants. But in order to accomplish one of his goals he needs to transform his playboy image. He convinces Stacey to marry him with the understanding that it's for image only. But what starts out as an agreeable arrangement changes when feelings become involved. What happens when the playboy falls in love?

[Harisa- EsquiredToRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strong okay. This is not my favorite plot line/trope. We have alpha rich brothers who refuse to get married then they all fall in love with the heroine in each book (guessing that from references to other books).

I wish we got more from the fake dating plot line but that didn’t come until way too late then we missed out on seeing how they interact with her family!! That happened off page! Overall, a cute Christmas story that was under 300 pages and a good break from all my thrillers.

[Sayletta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Stacy and Eli. He needs to have a wife to become the president of the business counsel and she wants to own her business which is in his building. He goes in everyday to buy something just to see her and one day he kisses her and its all passion after that. She agrees on his deception agrees to be his wife in the meantime he falls in love with her and the relationship becomes real.

[Turtleberry Turtleberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another wonderful story. Eli and Stacy were attracted to each other. He kept coming to her shop to see her. They ended up hooking up. Then he gets the idea from his best friend to have a marriage of convenience in order to win an election. That was all it was supposed to be. Too bad the two of them were already in love with each other.
I really enjoyed this book. Watching them figure their feelings out was quite entertaining. Another Steele bites the dust and finds happily ever after.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Steele for Christmas (Forged of Steele)

The love story of Stacy and Eli. Seven months Stacy move to Phoenix after her fiance cancel they wedding. Now she is looking for a relationship with no strings. Eli is a playboy and is know for "love them and leave them"? Now he need a wife. Can he find one in Start? Great story.

[Mary Calton Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too remarkable!

I'm enjoying the "Steele" series. The different ways the author keeps introducing characters and having physical interests turn to lust and perhaps a twist then HEA. The author updates the other Steele characters and I like this aspect. I'm looking forward to reading other series. Her writing is entertaining. Up next book #10, "Private Arrangements"

[MILLIE JOHNSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Winner

Brenda Jackson is back on top with this one. This short story was the perfect late night read. It was easy to enjoy both characters from the beginning, especially Levi. And the steam was off the charts. This is just a short good old fashioned love story with a heaping spoonful of sexy days and nights.