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Crimson Crows #1
Forged in the Fire
It was a terrible idea to agree to protect my enemy’s sister…
The second she stepped out of her brother’s car, I knew she was a wildfire.
Spitting mad and so stunning she stole my breath.
She thinks her brother made a deal with the devil, and by working for me, she’s paying off his debt.
She doesn’t know the real reason she’s here.
Doesn’t know the danger that surrounds her.
Soon, she realizes there is something sinister lurking in the shadows.
She hates me for keeping her in the dark.
I want to hate her back, but with every sassy thing that fires from her mouth, she gets deeper under my skin.
With each heated glance, I feel myself losing control.
And when I crawl into bed with her, I combust.
I know better than thinking I can keep her. My life is nothing but secrets and peril.
But as outside threats begin to infiltrate, I’ll do anything to keep the oath I made to keep her safe.
Even expose her to the monster that I am…
604 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
A.L. Jackson
84 books15.2k followersA.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, REDEMPTION HILLS, TIME RIVER, and MOONLIT RIDGE novels. Start your binge with the first book in her latest series, Forged in the Fire! An enemies to lovers, single dad romantic suspense!
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
GET TO KNOW ME EVERYWHERE
Website: www.aljacksonauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
Tiktok: @aljacksonauthor
Newsletter: https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClub
Reader Group: https://geni.us/AmysAngelsOP
Want to know what music inspires my books?
I have book specific playlists on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/user/1255231879
Represented by Georgana at The Seymour Agency
Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, REDEMPTION HILLS, TIME RIVER, and MOONLIT RIDGE novels. Start your binge with the first book in her latest series, Forged in the Fire! An enemies to lovers, single dad romantic suspense!
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
GET TO KNOW ME EVERYWHERE
Website: www.aljacksonauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
Tiktok: @aljacksonauthor
Newsletter: https://geni.us/ALJacksonBookClub
Reader Group: https://geni.us/AmysAngelsOP
Want to know what music inspires my books?
I have book specific playlists on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/user/1255231879
Represented by Georgana at The Seymour Agency
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,185 reviews
June 25, 2026
3⭐️
🌪️ tortured hero
🌪️ “I’m not worthy of you”
🌪️ 47 metaphors per chapter
🌪️ emotional damage
and I ate it up. Again.
At this point I’ve read enough A.L. Jackson to know exactly what’s coming. The hero will spend 300 pages convincing himself he doesn’t deserve love, the heroine will patiently wait, and every touch will trigger a full environmental disaster.
Example:
“Wildfire. I touched her cheek. I was scorched. Charred. Ash.”
Sir, you held her face for 0.3 seconds.
The writing is so purple it loops back around to being entertaining. Every few pages someone is burning, drowning, shattering, falling off a cliff, or being pulled by the gravity of destiny.
I cringed, got a second hand embarrassment and still kept turning pages 👌.
My biggest issue was the pacing. It felt like not much actually happened for long stretches. And don’t even get me started on the one-bed trope showing up that early. I’m a certified one-bed enthusiast, but let the tension marinate a little first.
All that said… this was a solid start to the series and I’ll definitely be reading the next book👌.
🌪️ tortured hero
🌪️ “I’m not worthy of you”
🌪️ 47 metaphors per chapter
🌪️ emotional damage
and I ate it up. Again.
At this point I’ve read enough A.L. Jackson to know exactly what’s coming. The hero will spend 300 pages convincing himself he doesn’t deserve love, the heroine will patiently wait, and every touch will trigger a full environmental disaster.
Example:
“Wildfire. I touched her cheek. I was scorched. Charred. Ash.”
Sir, you held her face for 0.3 seconds.
The writing is so purple it loops back around to being entertaining. Every few pages someone is burning, drowning, shattering, falling off a cliff, or being pulled by the gravity of destiny.
I cringed, got a second hand embarrassment and still kept turning pages 👌.
My biggest issue was the pacing. It felt like not much actually happened for long stretches. And don’t even get me started on the one-bed trope showing up that early. I’m a certified one-bed enthusiast, but let the tension marinate a little first.
All that said… this was a solid start to the series and I’ll definitely be reading the next book👌.
June 17, 2026
Forged in the Fire by A.L. Jackson
5/5 stars
A.L. Jackson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors and she delivered another stunning and brilliant book with Forged in the Fire. I was surprised by how sweet and gentle the relationship was between Sila and Brinley. And I love how their relationship evolved and grew throughout the entire book.
The book starts with Brinley taking care of her brother Dereck. He is always in trouble and she always cleans up his messes. Meanwhile Silas and his best friend Trevan deal with MC related business. And before she knows it, her brother drops her off at Silas' compound to settle some business he has with them. He doesn't give her any information and Brinley is pissed off.
The second Brinley and Silas meet sparks fly. She is defiant and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. They push each other's buttons every single second. And I just loved their banter and bickering. I love how they provoked each other and I love how both desperately try to keep their distance and not give into their raging feelings.
Things change the second an intruder comes onto the compound and nearly takes Brinley. Silas takes her to his home where he lives with his sister, grandmother and sweet little Kai. All in order to truly keep her safe. They share the same bed and I really expected the book to burn from that point onwards. But this story was such a sweet slowburn that focussed on their bond tightening and not on the lust that they feel.
It is also the story of Kai becoming part of Silas and Brinley. That little boy isn't in the book much but he stole every scene he was in. And I love him to pieces.
And Brinley's bond with Elena, Silas' sister, was also a pure joy to read!
This book is truly about trust and how much do you tell the other one in order to keep them safe? How do you react to surprising knowledge and how far are you willing to let that information cloud your judgement?
The kindness and fierce loyalty between Silas and Brinley is what fuels this story and what gives the story depth and character growth. It's a brilliant read and I absolutely cannot wait to read the second book in this series!
5 huge stars from me for Forged in the Fire! And definitely for my sweet little Kai. ♥
5/5 stars
A.L. Jackson has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors and she delivered another stunning and brilliant book with Forged in the Fire. I was surprised by how sweet and gentle the relationship was between Sila and Brinley. And I love how their relationship evolved and grew throughout the entire book.
The book starts with Brinley taking care of her brother Dereck. He is always in trouble and she always cleans up his messes. Meanwhile Silas and his best friend Trevan deal with MC related business. And before she knows it, her brother drops her off at Silas' compound to settle some business he has with them. He doesn't give her any information and Brinley is pissed off.
The second Brinley and Silas meet sparks fly. She is defiant and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. They push each other's buttons every single second. And I just loved their banter and bickering. I love how they provoked each other and I love how both desperately try to keep their distance and not give into their raging feelings.
Things change the second an intruder comes onto the compound and nearly takes Brinley. Silas takes her to his home where he lives with his sister, grandmother and sweet little Kai. All in order to truly keep her safe. They share the same bed and I really expected the book to burn from that point onwards. But this story was such a sweet slowburn that focussed on their bond tightening and not on the lust that they feel.
It is also the story of Kai becoming part of Silas and Brinley. That little boy isn't in the book much but he stole every scene he was in. And I love him to pieces.
And Brinley's bond with Elena, Silas' sister, was also a pure joy to read!
This book is truly about trust and how much do you tell the other one in order to keep them safe? How do you react to surprising knowledge and how far are you willing to let that information cloud your judgement?
The kindness and fierce loyalty between Silas and Brinley is what fuels this story and what gives the story depth and character growth. It's a brilliant read and I absolutely cannot wait to read the second book in this series!
5 huge stars from me for Forged in the Fire! And definitely for my sweet little Kai. ♥
June 19, 2026
3 ⭐
Silas Mercer is proof that you can be emotionally devoted and emotionally exhausting at the exact same time.
If "I would die for you" was a person but "I should tell you what's going on" was a foreign language, you'd get Silas.
He'll protect you with his life, worship the ground you walk on and absolutely refuse to explain a single thing that's happening.
What worked for me
(aka: why I'm rounding up instead of down)
Brinley Webber, patron saint of patience.
Brinley is resilient without being reckless, vulnerable without losing her backbone and endlessly compassionate without feeling like a doormat. Even after life repeatedly knocks her down, she still chooses kindness and still fights for the people she loves.
She's also refreshingly emotionally intelligent. While everyone else is busy brooding and keeping secrets, she's the one asking the obvious questions and trying to have actual conversations.
Found family stays undefeated.
Forget the biker politics. Give me Meems, Elena, Kai and Brinley making dinner, arguing over bottles and becoming a family.
Kai stole every single scene he appeared in and by the end I was significantly more invested in his bedtime routine than the criminal conspiracy.
The domestic moments were genuinely the strongest part of the book. Watching Brinley slowly find a home and a family after spending so much of her life taking care of everyone else was incredibly satisfying.
Caretaker Silas > Brooding Silas
When Silas stopped fighting himself and simply took care of Brinley, I completely understood why she fell for him.
The quiet moments - sleeping wrapped around her, remembering the little things, making her feel safe, putting everyone else first - worked far better for me than the endless internal battles about whether he deserved happiness.
Where it lost me
(aka: somebody please confiscate this man's internal monologue)
The Secret That Wasn't Secret
This entire book hinges on Silas refusing to tell Brinley what's happening.
For. So. Long.
The problem is....the "big reveal" never felt big enough to justify the amount of secrecy surrounding it.
By the time the truth finally came out, Brinley pieced most of it together herself anyway which only reinforced my feeling that she could have handled the truth much earlier.
Instead, we spent chapter after chapter watching everyone insist she couldn't possibly know anything while I sat there wondering if a 15 minute conversation could have solved 80% of the conflict.
Biker by day, tortured poet by night
Silas would casually threaten violence one minute and then start delivering declarations that sounded like they belonged in an epic fantasy romance.
The sentiment absolutely worked for me.
The voice didn't always.
Sometimes I wanted fewer shooting stars and souls written across eternity and more "Yeah, I'm an idiot and I'm in love with you"
Third Act Déjà Vu
By the time the inevitable misunderstanding happened, I wasn't devastated.
I was tired.
The story kept revisiting the same emotional conflict - Silas pushing Brinley away because he thought he wasn't good enough - and eventually it started feeling repetitive rather than angsty.
And while Brinley repeatedly reflected on her mistakes and took accountability, I kept waiting for Silas to give her a genuine apology for all the secrecy and decisions he made on her behalf.
My imaginary grovel meter remained tragically underfed.
Final Thoughts
This was one of those books where I loved the characters more than I loved the plot.
I loved Brinley. Kai owns my entire heart. The found family was warm, emotional and genuinely beautiful and the forced proximity/domestic moments were exactly the kind of romance catnip I signed up for.
Unfortunately, the pacing dragged, the endless withholding of information frustrated me and the central conflict started repeating itself long before the story reached the finish line.
Somehow, I'm already more excited for Elena and Trevan than I was for the last twenty percent of this book.
Final Verdict
3 ⭐️ - This felt like a group project where Brinley did 80% of the work, Kai provided emotional support, Meems brought snacks and Silas kept insisting he had a really important reason for not showing his notes.
Anyway, I'll be first in line for Elena's book.
Tropes and Vibes:
• MC Romance
• Enemy's sister
• Forced proximity
• One bed
• Possessive MMC
• Protection trope
• Found family
• Adorable toddler side character
• Caretaker x caretaker energy
• Domestic intimacy
• "Touch her and die" vibes
• Chronic lack of communication
• Could-have-been-a-novella pacing
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
POV: a grumpy biker with too many secrets and a protection complex just got assigned his enemy's sister.
Manifesting maximum possessiveness, minimum third-act stupidity 🤞🏻✨️
Silas Mercer is proof that you can be emotionally devoted and emotionally exhausting at the exact same time.
If "I would die for you" was a person but "I should tell you what's going on" was a foreign language, you'd get Silas.
He'll protect you with his life, worship the ground you walk on and absolutely refuse to explain a single thing that's happening.
What worked for me
(aka: why I'm rounding up instead of down)
Brinley Webber, patron saint of patience.
Brinley is resilient without being reckless, vulnerable without losing her backbone and endlessly compassionate without feeling like a doormat. Even after life repeatedly knocks her down, she still chooses kindness and still fights for the people she loves.
She's also refreshingly emotionally intelligent. While everyone else is busy brooding and keeping secrets, she's the one asking the obvious questions and trying to have actual conversations.
Found family stays undefeated.
Forget the biker politics. Give me Meems, Elena, Kai and Brinley making dinner, arguing over bottles and becoming a family.
Kai stole every single scene he appeared in and by the end I was significantly more invested in his bedtime routine than the criminal conspiracy.
The domestic moments were genuinely the strongest part of the book. Watching Brinley slowly find a home and a family after spending so much of her life taking care of everyone else was incredibly satisfying.
Caretaker Silas > Brooding Silas
When Silas stopped fighting himself and simply took care of Brinley, I completely understood why she fell for him.
The quiet moments - sleeping wrapped around her, remembering the little things, making her feel safe, putting everyone else first - worked far better for me than the endless internal battles about whether he deserved happiness.
Where it lost me
(aka: somebody please confiscate this man's internal monologue)
The Secret That Wasn't Secret
This entire book hinges on Silas refusing to tell Brinley what's happening.
For. So. Long.
The problem is....the "big reveal" never felt big enough to justify the amount of secrecy surrounding it.
By the time the truth finally came out, Brinley pieced most of it together herself anyway which only reinforced my feeling that she could have handled the truth much earlier.
Instead, we spent chapter after chapter watching everyone insist she couldn't possibly know anything while I sat there wondering if a 15 minute conversation could have solved 80% of the conflict.
Biker by day, tortured poet by night
Silas would casually threaten violence one minute and then start delivering declarations that sounded like they belonged in an epic fantasy romance.
The sentiment absolutely worked for me.
The voice didn't always.
Sometimes I wanted fewer shooting stars and souls written across eternity and more "Yeah, I'm an idiot and I'm in love with you"
Third Act Déjà Vu
By the time the inevitable misunderstanding happened, I wasn't devastated.
I was tired.
The story kept revisiting the same emotional conflict - Silas pushing Brinley away because he thought he wasn't good enough - and eventually it started feeling repetitive rather than angsty.
And while Brinley repeatedly reflected on her mistakes and took accountability, I kept waiting for Silas to give her a genuine apology for all the secrecy and decisions he made on her behalf.
My imaginary grovel meter remained tragically underfed.
Final Thoughts
This was one of those books where I loved the characters more than I loved the plot.
I loved Brinley. Kai owns my entire heart. The found family was warm, emotional and genuinely beautiful and the forced proximity/domestic moments were exactly the kind of romance catnip I signed up for.
Unfortunately, the pacing dragged, the endless withholding of information frustrated me and the central conflict started repeating itself long before the story reached the finish line.
Somehow, I'm already more excited for Elena and Trevan than I was for the last twenty percent of this book.
Final Verdict
3 ⭐️ - This felt like a group project where Brinley did 80% of the work, Kai provided emotional support, Meems brought snacks and Silas kept insisting he had a really important reason for not showing his notes.
Anyway, I'll be first in line for Elena's book.
Tropes and Vibes:
• MC Romance
• Enemy's sister
• Forced proximity
• One bed
• Possessive MMC
• Protection trope
• Found family
• Adorable toddler side character
• Caretaker x caretaker energy
• Domestic intimacy
• "Touch her and die" vibes
• Chronic lack of communication
• Could-have-been-a-novella pacing
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
POV: a grumpy biker with too many secrets and a protection complex just got assigned his enemy's sister.
Manifesting maximum possessiveness, minimum third-act stupidity 🤞🏻✨️
June 29, 2026
3.27
“Want to do a thousand different things to you, Brinley Webber, but hurting you isn’t one of them.”
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I usually love the way A.L. Jackson writes romantic suspense, but the tortured MMC angle felt a little repetitive this time around. After a while I found myself thinking… okay, we get it, you don’t think you deserve her 😅
That said, I really enjoyed the motorcycle club atmosphere and I’m always a sucker for forced proximity. Brinley definitely kept things interesting, especially when she was trying to escape, but the insta-lust in this one was a hard pass for me.
Unexpectedly, my favorite character ended up being Elena…and she’s a side character. Now I’m completely invested in her and Trevan’s story and crossing my fingers book two delivers because my expectations are HIGH 🙏
Overall, I still enjoyed this one and I’m excited to continue the series..
“Want to do a thousand different things to you, Brinley Webber, but hurting you isn’t one of them.”
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I usually love the way A.L. Jackson writes romantic suspense, but the tortured MMC angle felt a little repetitive this time around. After a while I found myself thinking… okay, we get it, you don’t think you deserve her 😅
That said, I really enjoyed the motorcycle club atmosphere and I’m always a sucker for forced proximity. Brinley definitely kept things interesting, especially when she was trying to escape, but the insta-lust in this one was a hard pass for me.
Unexpectedly, my favorite character ended up being Elena…and she’s a side character. Now I’m completely invested in her and Trevan’s story and crossing my fingers book two delivers because my expectations are HIGH 🙏
Overall, I still enjoyed this one and I’m excited to continue the series..
Read
June 16, 2026🩷🐦⬛ 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑫 𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑰𝑹𝑬 𝑹𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑺𝑬 + 𝑮𝑰𝑭𝑻𝑨𝑾𝑨𝒀 🐦⬛🩷
My loves!! It’s time! Forged in the Fire is HERE, and I cannot wait for you to sink your teeth into it! Get ready for a thrill ride of banter, tension, steam, and suspense - every delicious thing I love in a romance! I could not be more in love with these two, and I know you’re going to FALL SO HARD!
What to expect:
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🏍️ Brother's Nemesis
🩷 Single Dad
🏍️ Morally Gray Hero
🩷 Motorcycle Club
🏍️ Protective Grump x Black Cat
🩷 Band of Brothers
🏍️ Found Family
🩷 Small Town
🏍️ Secret Society
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! ⬇️
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/FITFAmznOP
Audio: https://geni.us/FITFAudio
Deluxe Edition Paperback: https://geni.us/FITFDlxPprbck
Premium Bundle: https://geni.us/FITFSignedCopies
"𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐀.𝐋. 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐂 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲." - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝟔𝟓
🖤 Release Giftaways 🖤
Win a Falling Stars bundle ➡️ https://geni.us/FITFRlsGvwy
Here's to the beginning of your Crimson Crows era!!
Xoxo ~ Amy
My loves!! It’s time! Forged in the Fire is HERE, and I cannot wait for you to sink your teeth into it! Get ready for a thrill ride of banter, tension, steam, and suspense - every delicious thing I love in a romance! I could not be more in love with these two, and I know you’re going to FALL SO HARD!
What to expect:
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🏍️ Brother's Nemesis
🩷 Single Dad
🏍️ Morally Gray Hero
🩷 Motorcycle Club
🏍️ Protective Grump x Black Cat
🩷 Band of Brothers
🏍️ Found Family
🩷 Small Town
🏍️ Secret Society
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! ⬇️
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/FITFAmznOP
Audio: https://geni.us/FITFAudio
Deluxe Edition Paperback: https://geni.us/FITFDlxPprbck
Premium Bundle: https://geni.us/FITFSignedCopies
"𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐀.𝐋. 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐂 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲." - 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝟔𝟓
🖤 Release Giftaways 🖤
Win a Falling Stars bundle ➡️ https://geni.us/FITFRlsGvwy
Here's to the beginning of your Crimson Crows era!!
Xoxo ~ Amy
June 18, 2026
Okay, this was hella fun! 🔥 I definitely need to read more motorcycle clubs 🥵
The story started freaking amazing with Brinley, just a girl forced to live with Silas due to her brother's situation that she knows nothing about. Easy peasy, no need for her to panic about basically being kidnapped until further notice. Silas is the president of his motorcycle club and offers protection to his enemy's sister. What I find hilarious is how this firecracker woman and grumpy af man slowly but surely fall in love with each other.
If you like slow burn, trust me that you will adore this book. Obviously you do have to question how can Brinley fall in love with basically her captor? So watching the whole thing unfold was super interesting for me as a reader. Not only that, but the plot thickens because it's not only about protection. Brinley wants to know what her brother did and why (curiosity killed the cat lmao), so this book is definitely entertaining.
I loved the pace, banter, and snarky comments they had between them. It is so obvious the chemistry they have and once they both gave in HEHEHE it was delicious and spicy ‼️
It was a fun read!! Thank you, AL Jackson, for my eARC
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 ᯓ★ motocycle bad boy say less :)
The story started freaking amazing with Brinley, just a girl forced to live with Silas due to her brother's situation that she knows nothing about. Easy peasy, no need for her to panic about basically being kidnapped until further notice. Silas is the president of his motorcycle club and offers protection to his enemy's sister. What I find hilarious is how this firecracker woman and grumpy af man slowly but surely fall in love with each other.
If you like slow burn, trust me that you will adore this book. Obviously you do have to question how can Brinley fall in love with basically her captor? So watching the whole thing unfold was super interesting for me as a reader. Not only that, but the plot thickens because it's not only about protection. Brinley wants to know what her brother did and why (curiosity killed the cat lmao), so this book is definitely entertaining.
I loved the pace, banter, and snarky comments they had between them. It is so obvious the chemistry they have and once they both gave in HEHEHE it was delicious and spicy ‼️
It was a fun read!! Thank you, AL Jackson, for my eARC
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 ᯓ★ motocycle bad boy say less :)
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
With no explanation, Brinley Webber is dropped at the Crimson Crows’ clubhouse, by her brother, for her protection.
Less than thrilled to be saddled with the responsibility of watching over the sassy stunner, club president Silas Mercer immediately declares her off-limits. Problem solved, right? Wrong.
Unable to sit still, Brinley starts working in the office at Torque & Talon Autobody Shop, the club’s legitimate business. Between her growing friendships with Elena and Kai and her refusal to be intimidated by anyone, he begins to realize she’s nothing like he thought she was. Unfortunately, that realization turns their constant proximity into a form of exquisite torture neither of them is equipped to resist. Each stolen glance, accidental touch, and lingering moment making it harder to remember why she’s off-limits in the first place.
The storyline is layered, and the characters are beautifully flawed. They’re scarred, broken in places, and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill the clubhouse garage. For much of the book, it genuinely feels like their explosive chemistry might not be enough to overcome the feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt that keep getting in the way.
The angst? Borderline psychological warfare. From chapter one, I was sporting the female equivalent of blue balls. When they finally gave in, the devil danced, angels sang, and my vagina wept.
This was the perfect combination of emotional depth, tension, and chemistry, and I devoured every second of it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark-ish, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
Emotions: 😬🥺🫠😳😍
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Heroine in Danger, Lie for Reasons, Motorcycle Club, One Bed, Opposites Attract
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Growly, Pet Name (Wildfire), Pierced 🐓, Sassy FMC, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Used as Pawn/Leverage, “Who Hurt You?”
🔆 Character: Accountant, Mechanic
💋 Kinks: Praise
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Small Town, Oregon 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Forged in the Fire is the first book in the Crimson Crows series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and and sticky thighs
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Less than thrilled to be saddled with the responsibility of watching over the sassy stunner, club president Silas Mercer immediately declares her off-limits. Problem solved, right? Wrong.
Unable to sit still, Brinley starts working in the office at Torque & Talon Autobody Shop, the club’s legitimate business. Between her growing friendships with Elena and Kai and her refusal to be intimidated by anyone, he begins to realize she’s nothing like he thought she was. Unfortunately, that realization turns their constant proximity into a form of exquisite torture neither of them is equipped to resist. Each stolen glance, accidental touch, and lingering moment making it harder to remember why she’s off-limits in the first place.
The storyline is layered, and the characters are beautifully flawed. They’re scarred, broken in places, and carrying enough emotional baggage to fill the clubhouse garage. For much of the book, it genuinely feels like their explosive chemistry might not be enough to overcome the feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt that keep getting in the way.
The angst? Borderline psychological warfare. From chapter one, I was sporting the female equivalent of blue balls. When they finally gave in, the devil danced, angels sang, and my vagina wept.
This was the perfect combination of emotional depth, tension, and chemistry, and I devoured every second of it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark-ish, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
Emotions: 😬🥺🫠😳😍
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥1/2
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Heroine in Danger, Lie for Reasons, Motorcycle Club, One Bed, Opposites Attract
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Growly, Pet Name (Wildfire), Pierced 🐓, Sassy FMC, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Used as Pawn/Leverage, “Who Hurt You?”
🔆 Character: Accountant, Mechanic
💋 Kinks: Praise
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Touch-Her-and-💀
⛔️ Safety Squad: Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Small Town, Oregon 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Forged in the Fire is the first book in the Crimson Crows series of interconnected standalones.
⚠️ Warning: The hate-to-want-you in this one will give you whiplash and and sticky thighs
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
June 7, 2026
AL Jackson is quite literally the queen of romantic suspense and she only further proved that point with this book. If you read the Moonlit Ridge series then Silas Mercer is a name that you are familiar with. Now you do not need to read that series to pick. up this book, but just know if you did read that series, then you will see some of your favorite band of brothers and get to know a while new MC crew to fall in love with.
Just like all of AL Jackson's other books, I straight devoured this book. Her storytelling is so beautiful and really sucks you in from page one and this one is no different. I was fully invested in Silas and Brinley's story right away. I was so intrigued to see how their pasts were linked because I sensed that their pasts would be the reason why they were in their lives currently. SO with that being said, I loved the plot of this one. I loved the suspense, swoony moments, the spice and Silas being such a protector. All around this book was perfection.
The tension Silas and Brinley was palpable on page. And boy did Silas try real hard to not cross this invisible line he drew. But the moment he said "fuck it" it was all down hill from there. That man could try to deny his feelings and thoughts of not being good enough for the happiness he deserves but in the end he folded like a lawn chair. And he was going to stop at nothing to make sure his whole crew knew who she belonged to 🫠
Now I did have the pleasure to receive an ALC of Forged in the Fire and it was narrated beautifully. Forged in the Fire is Dual Narration by Connor Crais and Desiree Ketchum. Now I will be honest, I do prefer duet narration. I think duet narration truly brings the story to life. Sometimes I feel like dual narration can take me out of the story but I gobbled this audio up and I think it has everything to do with the narrators themselves. Both Connor and Desiree did an absolutely amazing job. Connor, well he's Connor and will always be a top narrator. But Desiree really did a fabulous job. I think her narration of a man voice as well as narrating a toddler was top notch!
I am so excited for this new series and this new band of brothers. The little bread crumbs that we received in this book is making me so excited for what is to come!
You should read this book if you like:
- Romantic Suspense
- MC Romance
- Secret Society
- Brother's Nemsis
- Single Guardian/Dad
- Grumpy MMC x Black Cat
- Protective Hero
- Meddling Family Members
- Found Family
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to AL Jackson and Valentine PR for allowing me to read Forged in the Fire as an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
Just like all of AL Jackson's other books, I straight devoured this book. Her storytelling is so beautiful and really sucks you in from page one and this one is no different. I was fully invested in Silas and Brinley's story right away. I was so intrigued to see how their pasts were linked because I sensed that their pasts would be the reason why they were in their lives currently. SO with that being said, I loved the plot of this one. I loved the suspense, swoony moments, the spice and Silas being such a protector. All around this book was perfection.
The tension Silas and Brinley was palpable on page. And boy did Silas try real hard to not cross this invisible line he drew. But the moment he said "fuck it" it was all down hill from there. That man could try to deny his feelings and thoughts of not being good enough for the happiness he deserves but in the end he folded like a lawn chair. And he was going to stop at nothing to make sure his whole crew knew who she belonged to 🫠
Now I did have the pleasure to receive an ALC of Forged in the Fire and it was narrated beautifully. Forged in the Fire is Dual Narration by Connor Crais and Desiree Ketchum. Now I will be honest, I do prefer duet narration. I think duet narration truly brings the story to life. Sometimes I feel like dual narration can take me out of the story but I gobbled this audio up and I think it has everything to do with the narrators themselves. Both Connor and Desiree did an absolutely amazing job. Connor, well he's Connor and will always be a top narrator. But Desiree really did a fabulous job. I think her narration of a man voice as well as narrating a toddler was top notch!
I am so excited for this new series and this new band of brothers. The little bread crumbs that we received in this book is making me so excited for what is to come!
You should read this book if you like:
- Romantic Suspense
- MC Romance
- Secret Society
- Brother's Nemsis
- Single Guardian/Dad
- Grumpy MMC x Black Cat
- Protective Hero
- Meddling Family Members
- Found Family
* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to AL Jackson and Valentine PR for allowing me to read Forged in the Fire as an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
June 25, 2026
I don’t enjoy speaking negatively about books, but I hated this :(
At 30% through I decided to DNF it. But later that week I had a long car ride and no other audiobooks— so I gave it more of a chance. There were some good attributes, but overall I would not recommend it.
I don’t think I’ve ever said a book was “too well written” but it seemed like everything was said so eloquently, and it seemed out of place. It also felt like every other sentence was a metaphor or hyperbole/ exaggeration. It just happened so much that it irritated me and made me roll my eyes.
Also apparently I have a strong ick of a woman calling a man “King”… which made me gag at least 5 times throughout the story.
Also it felt very Insta-love, and the MMC was immediately overprotective (which typically doesn’t bother me, but this time it did). This was also my first MC book, so maybe that has to do with it…?
I thought the plot twists and character backstories were interesting, and I loved the side characters! The MMC’s siblings were my favorites.
I listened to an ALC, and I wonder if I would’ve read it instead of listening… if it would’ve been less cringey? This was my first read by A L Jackson, and I really hope this was a one off for me, because I own like 5 more of her books that are waiting on my TBR
At 30% through I decided to DNF it. But later that week I had a long car ride and no other audiobooks— so I gave it more of a chance. There were some good attributes, but overall I would not recommend it.
I don’t think I’ve ever said a book was “too well written” but it seemed like everything was said so eloquently, and it seemed out of place. It also felt like every other sentence was a metaphor or hyperbole/ exaggeration. It just happened so much that it irritated me and made me roll my eyes.
Also apparently I have a strong ick of a woman calling a man “King”… which made me gag at least 5 times throughout the story.
Also it felt very Insta-love, and the MMC was immediately overprotective (which typically doesn’t bother me, but this time it did). This was also my first MC book, so maybe that has to do with it…?
I thought the plot twists and character backstories were interesting, and I loved the side characters! The MMC’s siblings were my favorites.
I listened to an ALC, and I wonder if I would’ve read it instead of listening… if it would’ve been less cringey? This was my first read by A L Jackson, and I really hope this was a one off for me, because I own like 5 more of her books that are waiting on my TBR
June 9, 2026
Reader of Advanced Reader Copy
4.5⭐️
What a way to kick off the Crimson Crow Series! This book completely pulled me in from the start, and I could not put it down. I didn’t realize how much I needed a motorcycle club romance until now!🤭
Brinley has spent her life cleaning up after her brother Derek’s mistakes. As her only remaining family and because of a promise she made to her mother, she always comes to his rescue. When Derek makes a deal with Silas, everything changes. Silas needs information to help bring down the man responsible for destroying so much of his life, while Derek believes he’s keeping his sister safe. What he doesn’t expect is Brinley the firecracker ready to light up his world!👏🏼
The chemistry between Brinley and Silas was absolutely electric, and their banter was perfection. Brinley is so strong and refuses to back down, and Silas quickly realizes he’s finally met someone who can challenge him. But at the same time their bonding and understanding of each other’s trauma was done BEAUTIFULLY! Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Amy created such a lovable cast of characters. I ADORED Silas’s sister, and Meems!? Totally Grandma Baddie! AND the cutest little man Kai🥹 my heart instantly fell in love with this little boy! The way Brinley is welcomed into the family gave me all the found family feels that I love so much.
And Silas’s crew? Morally gray, dangerous, tattooed biker men? Sign me up. I was invested in every single one of them.
The romantic suspense elements were fantastic, and those plot twists completely caught me off guard. That jaw-dropping reveal was exactly the kind of moment I LIVE for! (Forever a Romance Suspense Lover🤭)
Amy has started this series in the best possible way, and I’m already counting down the days until the next book. If it’s anything like this one, I know it’s going to be incredible! 🤭👏🏼💕
4.5⭐️
What a way to kick off the Crimson Crow Series! This book completely pulled me in from the start, and I could not put it down. I didn’t realize how much I needed a motorcycle club romance until now!🤭
Brinley has spent her life cleaning up after her brother Derek’s mistakes. As her only remaining family and because of a promise she made to her mother, she always comes to his rescue. When Derek makes a deal with Silas, everything changes. Silas needs information to help bring down the man responsible for destroying so much of his life, while Derek believes he’s keeping his sister safe. What he doesn’t expect is Brinley the firecracker ready to light up his world!👏🏼
The chemistry between Brinley and Silas was absolutely electric, and their banter was perfection. Brinley is so strong and refuses to back down, and Silas quickly realizes he’s finally met someone who can challenge him. But at the same time their bonding and understanding of each other’s trauma was done BEAUTIFULLY! Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Amy created such a lovable cast of characters. I ADORED Silas’s sister, and Meems!? Totally Grandma Baddie! AND the cutest little man Kai🥹 my heart instantly fell in love with this little boy! The way Brinley is welcomed into the family gave me all the found family feels that I love so much.
And Silas’s crew? Morally gray, dangerous, tattooed biker men? Sign me up. I was invested in every single one of them.
The romantic suspense elements were fantastic, and those plot twists completely caught me off guard. That jaw-dropping reveal was exactly the kind of moment I LIVE for! (Forever a Romance Suspense Lover🤭)
Amy has started this series in the best possible way, and I’m already counting down the days until the next book. If it’s anything like this one, I know it’s going to be incredible! 🤭👏🏼💕
June 21, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
I honestly couldn’t put this one down.
It started off with that classic forced proximity trope I love, but it turned into so much more than I expected. I was completely hooked on Silas and Brinley’s journey—they’re one of those couples you find yourself rooting for from the very first chapter.
The slow burn? Perfection. Every single interaction was packed with so much tension and chemistry that I was genuinely hanging on every word. But beyond the sparks, it was the way they built trust and leaned on each other that really got me. Silas’s protective streak and Brinley’s fire were just the perfect match.
I went through the whole emotional wringer with this one—I laughed, I stressed, and I definitely swooned. It had everything: high-stakes suspense, that warm found-family vibe, and a romance that actually felt earned.
By the time I hit the final page, I was obsessed.
I’m already dying for more from this world!
~~~~
Huge thank you to A.L Jackson & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I honestly couldn’t put this one down.
It started off with that classic forced proximity trope I love, but it turned into so much more than I expected. I was completely hooked on Silas and Brinley’s journey—they’re one of those couples you find yourself rooting for from the very first chapter.
The slow burn? Perfection. Every single interaction was packed with so much tension and chemistry that I was genuinely hanging on every word. But beyond the sparks, it was the way they built trust and leaned on each other that really got me. Silas’s protective streak and Brinley’s fire were just the perfect match.
I went through the whole emotional wringer with this one—I laughed, I stressed, and I definitely swooned. It had everything: high-stakes suspense, that warm found-family vibe, and a romance that actually felt earned.
By the time I hit the final page, I was obsessed.
I’m already dying for more from this world!
~~~~
Huge thank you to A.L Jackson & Valentine PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 7, 2026
I flew through this one. The combination of romance, suspense, and found family kept me hooked from the beginning. I kept trying to piece together what was really going on, and I loved how everything came together in the end.
The chemistry between the main characters was fantastic, but the relationships surrounding them were just as memorable. The friendships, family bonds, and motorcycle club dynamic gave the story so much heart. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where this series goes next. I loved Silas he was such a great MMC. The way he cared for the FMC had me swooning. I am so excited to read the rest of this series I can’t wait for the next book if you read this you know who it is!! I highly recommend this series!
The chemistry between the main characters was fantastic, but the relationships surrounding them were just as memorable. The friendships, family bonds, and motorcycle club dynamic gave the story so much heart. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where this series goes next. I loved Silas he was such a great MMC. The way he cared for the FMC had me swooning. I am so excited to read the rest of this series I can’t wait for the next book if you read this you know who it is!! I highly recommend this series!
July 1, 2026
Silas and Brinley's story will pull you in from the very beginning and keep you hooked until the end. The forced proximity in this one was so good, bringing together danger, suspense, high stakes emotions, and undeniable chemistry.
Both Silas and Brinley are fierce, strong, and fiercely loyal to their families. Brinley is stubborn, fearless, and refuses to back down even when Silas is being his intimidating, grumpy self. And Silas? He's protective, obsessive, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep his people safe.
A huge thank you to Valentine PR for the early access with both an eARC and ALC. I was able to experience this one through immersive reading, and the narration amplified all the tension, danger, and emotional depth.
Both Silas and Brinley are fierce, strong, and fiercely loyal to their families. Brinley is stubborn, fearless, and refuses to back down even when Silas is being his intimidating, grumpy self. And Silas? He's protective, obsessive, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep his people safe.
A huge thank you to Valentine PR for the early access with both an eARC and ALC. I was able to experience this one through immersive reading, and the narration amplified all the tension, danger, and emotional depth.
June 12, 2026
Well.. A.L. Jackson has managed to create another epic book one in her new series titled Crimson Crows. “Forged in the Fire” is Silas & Brinley’s story and we are starting this journey with incredible world building, dynamic and exciting characters, passionate and inspiring relationships and tension between the pages of the book that will make you feel like you are there! 😮💨
Brinley comes to live with Silas as part of an arrangement that Silas has with her brother. Brinley immediately surprises us by not taking Silas’ silence as an acceptable response when she demands answers for the who, what, when and why she is faced with this new living situation. Her character is bold, courageous and intelligent in her new reality while Silas remains intensely protective and secretive of how much she is in danger.
“But that seemed to be exactly what this woman was doing to me. Making me reckless. Angling toward things I shouldn’t touch. Wanting things that I sure as hell couldn’t keep.” -Silas, Forged in the Fire by A.L. Jackson 👀👀
As a huge fan and supporter of A.L. Jackson I knew I’d love this book but I didn’t anticipate the twists and turns, or the outcome of the story being the most compelling story of hers yet! At times I had goosebumps and was staying up late to see what was going to happen, flipping the pages of past and present trying to solve a mystery! If you love enemies to lovers, secret society, found family, single dad, and mystery suspense you will love this one! ❤️🔥
Brinley comes to live with Silas as part of an arrangement that Silas has with her brother. Brinley immediately surprises us by not taking Silas’ silence as an acceptable response when she demands answers for the who, what, when and why she is faced with this new living situation. Her character is bold, courageous and intelligent in her new reality while Silas remains intensely protective and secretive of how much she is in danger.
“But that seemed to be exactly what this woman was doing to me. Making me reckless. Angling toward things I shouldn’t touch. Wanting things that I sure as hell couldn’t keep.” -Silas, Forged in the Fire by A.L. Jackson 👀👀
As a huge fan and supporter of A.L. Jackson I knew I’d love this book but I didn’t anticipate the twists and turns, or the outcome of the story being the most compelling story of hers yet! At times I had goosebumps and was staying up late to see what was going to happen, flipping the pages of past and present trying to solve a mystery! If you love enemies to lovers, secret society, found family, single dad, and mystery suspense you will love this one! ❤️🔥
July 3, 2026
Get ready to head to Crimson Creek, Oregon. Silas Mercer is the President of the Crimson Crows, a motorcycle club. If you have read The Moonlit Ridge series by A.L. Jackson, then you already know of Silas. If this is your first time reading A.L. Jackson, welcome and get ready for a ride!
Silas does have some dark in him but there are so many moments where you see his heart. From his interactions with his family, especially his sister, grandma “Meems,” and baby Kai. That baby is just so adorable and will melt your heart. How does A.L. Jackson write such adorable children?! The meeting / introduction between Silas and Brinley just has you shaking your head and almost cackling. This intro really sets up how they interact in the beginning. You know these two will have such chemistry that will smolder the pages. The nicknames they give each other in spite?! King and Wildfire. These two are just oozing in chemistry and tension.
Brinley has every right to be scared of the situation her brother, Dereck, has landed her in. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first jam Brinley has had to help Dereck clean up. She is a good sister with heart of gold. She wouldn’t admit it but she is a lot like Silas. Silas would do anything for his family. IYKYK. Brinley has such a strong spirit even when she thinks she doesn’t.
Like many books by A.L. Jackson there is a mystery you are trying to figure out while reading. Each visit into the past reveals a little more of the mystery until you pieced up the clues at the end. I was still genuinely surprised at the end when everything revealed itself. A.L. Jackson really knows how to keep you on your toes and at the edge of your seat.
Forged in the Fire introduces this new series, The Crimson Crows, so superbly. All the characters are complex and I’m excited to read more about them in the upcoming books. By the end of Forged in the Fire, you just want more.
Thank you Valentine PR for the advance reader copy. I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily. I received no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
Silas does have some dark in him but there are so many moments where you see his heart. From his interactions with his family, especially his sister, grandma “Meems,” and baby Kai. That baby is just so adorable and will melt your heart. How does A.L. Jackson write such adorable children?! The meeting / introduction between Silas and Brinley just has you shaking your head and almost cackling. This intro really sets up how they interact in the beginning. You know these two will have such chemistry that will smolder the pages. The nicknames they give each other in spite?! King and Wildfire. These two are just oozing in chemistry and tension.
Brinley has every right to be scared of the situation her brother, Dereck, has landed her in. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first jam Brinley has had to help Dereck clean up. She is a good sister with heart of gold. She wouldn’t admit it but she is a lot like Silas. Silas would do anything for his family. IYKYK. Brinley has such a strong spirit even when she thinks she doesn’t.
Like many books by A.L. Jackson there is a mystery you are trying to figure out while reading. Each visit into the past reveals a little more of the mystery until you pieced up the clues at the end. I was still genuinely surprised at the end when everything revealed itself. A.L. Jackson really knows how to keep you on your toes and at the edge of your seat.
Forged in the Fire introduces this new series, The Crimson Crows, so superbly. All the characters are complex and I’m excited to read more about them in the upcoming books. By the end of Forged in the Fire, you just want more.
Thank you Valentine PR for the advance reader copy. I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily. I received no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
June 25, 2026
Just finished listening to an advanced copy of a book that was just released called, Forged in the Fire. This is about Brinley, after making a promise to her mother to always take care of her brother, she finds herself always cleaning up his messes. So when he drops her off at a motorcycle club compound, tells her nothing, and just leaves she assumes she is there to work off a debt for her brother and then she'll be able to leave. But Silas, the man who runs the place, has other plans. Silas is to keep Brinley safe but he can't tell her what's going on, despite all the questions she has and doesn't give up on asking. He told his club she is off limits but he is struggling with his own rule, so he tries to just avoid her as much as possible but he is drawn to her fierce and confident personality. These two are like fire and gasoline, and the sparks absolutely fly between them. But he can't get involved with her, she is a part of a bigger plan she knows nothing about and he needs to keep it that way. But when her life is threatened, Silas realizes he would burn the world down to keep her safe, finally deciding to give in to his feelings, even if having her wrecks everything.
Wow, this was so good! This motorcycle romance had suspense, banter, spice, twists, strong main characters, loveable side characters (especially Kai!), a beautiful found family, a happy ending, and a great set up for the next book! This was my first book by this author and I need to read more asap! The audio for this was really good, the dual narrators did a great job with the voices and bringing these characters to life. Between the writing and the narrators I could easily picture this story in my head, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I definitely need this now as a book trophy for my bookshelf and I'm soo eager and excited for the next book in this series! 💜📚
Thank you to A.L. Jackson, Valentine PR, and Entangled Publishing for this ALC of Forged in the Fire, in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this was so good! This motorcycle romance had suspense, banter, spice, twists, strong main characters, loveable side characters (especially Kai!), a beautiful found family, a happy ending, and a great set up for the next book! This was my first book by this author and I need to read more asap! The audio for this was really good, the dual narrators did a great job with the voices and bringing these characters to life. Between the writing and the narrators I could easily picture this story in my head, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I definitely need this now as a book trophy for my bookshelf and I'm soo eager and excited for the next book in this series! 💜📚
Thank you to A.L. Jackson, Valentine PR, and Entangled Publishing for this ALC of Forged in the Fire, in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2026
Wildfire for the King
Silas (King) Mercer and Brinley (Wildfire) Webber are fantastic!
I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I raged. I guess you can say this brought out all the emotions.
This woman was a wildfire. And standing there, maybe I somehow knew she was going to burn the whole place down.
-- Silas Mercer
The balance between light and dark is terrific. For the light, we have Kai. His pure love and adorable ways are scene stealers. Elena fighting for her independence is amazing. Meems? I mean, she's the heart of it all in so many ways.
For the dark, we have the loss of loved ones in different ways. There's DV, group SA, child abuse, and more. Most of it is off-screen, but you may want to check the triggers.
I love the little crossovers. I haven't read all of Moonlit Ridge, but this reinforces how I want to. It's not because this book necessitates it. Instead, it's because what I have read here and in that series is well-written and engaging, leaving me with the sheer desire to know them better.
I read along the audio book. The narrators are Desiree Ketchum and Connor Crais. I love them for these characters. I definitely wish they're in duet, but I love how they really bring the emotions - for good or sad - out in full force. 🎧💖🎧
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
H = 29; h = 26
TROPES & TRIGGERS:
🖤 Dark romance
🩷 Found family
💔 Kidnapping
🧡 MC romance
🖤 (Domestic) Violence
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
💔 Loss of loved ones
🧡 Small town Romance
🖤 Child abuse - past, near & far
🩷 Funishment
💔 Gang 🍇
🧡 Single parent / guardian
June 7, 2026
Silas is the kind of hero who would burn the world down for the people he loves, and I was completely obsessed with him. 🔥🖤
Forged In The Fire was everything I love in a romance: emotional, intense, and impossible to put down.
Silas is gruff, guarded, and fiercely protective, while Brinley is strong, determined, and the perfect match for him. Their enemies-to-lovers romance was packed with tension, chemistry, and emotional depth that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The secret society intrigue, found-family bonds, and motorcycle club background added the perfect amount of suspense, but at its heart, this is a story about trust, healing, and finding home in the person you least expect.
And the audiobook? Absolutely fantastic. Connor Crais perfectly captured Silas’s brooding intensity, while Desireé Ketchum brought Brinley’s strength, vulnerability, and fire to life. Together, they made an already powerful story even more immersive. 🎧🔥🖤
A.L. Jackson delivered an unforgettable romance, and Silas and Brinley will be staying with me for a long time. ✨🖤 Now I’m ready for book two! 🤭
Forged In The Fire was everything I love in a romance: emotional, intense, and impossible to put down.
Silas is gruff, guarded, and fiercely protective, while Brinley is strong, determined, and the perfect match for him. Their enemies-to-lovers romance was packed with tension, chemistry, and emotional depth that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The secret society intrigue, found-family bonds, and motorcycle club background added the perfect amount of suspense, but at its heart, this is a story about trust, healing, and finding home in the person you least expect.
And the audiobook? Absolutely fantastic. Connor Crais perfectly captured Silas’s brooding intensity, while Desireé Ketchum brought Brinley’s strength, vulnerability, and fire to life. Together, they made an already powerful story even more immersive. 🎧🔥🖤
A.L. Jackson delivered an unforgettable romance, and Silas and Brinley will be staying with me for a long time. ✨🖤 Now I’m ready for book two! 🤭
June 16, 2026
OMG!! Amy starts her newest series off with a bang!!
The blurb is all you need going into this one. If it hooks you, this story absolutely will.
Amy really knows how to layer a romantic suspense with the perfect balance of tension, chemistry and lots of secrets and twists.
Add into that this blend of family and their bonds - this story has so many different layers to it. I love that this story is guided by not only the plot but the characters. Amy is able to write a very multi-faceted story line and it kept turning the pages.
Highly recommended read!! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for readers in the next book.
The blurb is all you need going into this one. If it hooks you, this story absolutely will.
Amy really knows how to layer a romantic suspense with the perfect balance of tension, chemistry and lots of secrets and twists.
Add into that this blend of family and their bonds - this story has so many different layers to it. I love that this story is guided by not only the plot but the characters. Amy is able to write a very multi-faceted story line and it kept turning the pages.
Highly recommended read!! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for readers in the next book.
July 17, 2026
forbidden love x rescue mission x dark romance
Our book club pick for July and it was SO GOOD!! I’m a big fan of romantic suspense and I loved the dark elements of this book and how much it added to the suspense. Count me in for more MC romances and for more AL Jackson.
Read when you’re in the mood for…
- forbidden love
- rescue mission
- “good girl”
- guardianship
- dark romance
- possessive MMC
- morally grey MMC
Would recommend!!
Our book club pick for July and it was SO GOOD!! I’m a big fan of romantic suspense and I loved the dark elements of this book and how much it added to the suspense. Count me in for more MC romances and for more AL Jackson.
Read when you’re in the mood for…
- forbidden love
- rescue mission
- “good girl”
- guardianship
- dark romance
- possessive MMC
- morally grey MMC
Would recommend!!
June 4, 2026
I’ve been in a bit of a book slump the last couple weeks but this book pulled me right out of it! I devoured every word! I loved every part of it! Silas and his protective energy was a chefs kiss. Brinley was a fighter, she was fierce and so strong! I loved both main characters so much! I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to read this book as an ARC! Definitely 5 ⭐️
June 18, 2026
Now THISSSSS is how we do forced proximity👏🏼👏🏼
And with enemies to lovers, chefs freaking kiss🤌🏼🤌🏼
I love the way this whole world was set up, the world building was done so well & made the experience x1000 better than if we didn’t have it.
The secret society vibes were so much. The whole time you’re wondering why our FMC was just randomly dropped into her brother’s rivals arms. It had so many high stakes & was SO suspenseful!!!
The tension & angst in this bookkkk😩 SO GOOD.
Silas was so protective, obsessive, & possessive over Brinley. The perfect morally grey biker man🥵
The little boy in this book was SO CUTE😭 I loved his relationship with all the people in this family, it was so sweet to see. And of course, Silas would go to the ends of the earth to protect him too🥹
This was such a fun read! I’m gonna need to read more motorcycle club books STAT
And with enemies to lovers, chefs freaking kiss🤌🏼🤌🏼
I love the way this whole world was set up, the world building was done so well & made the experience x1000 better than if we didn’t have it.
The secret society vibes were so much. The whole time you’re wondering why our FMC was just randomly dropped into her brother’s rivals arms. It had so many high stakes & was SO suspenseful!!!
The tension & angst in this bookkkk😩 SO GOOD.
Silas was so protective, obsessive, & possessive over Brinley. The perfect morally grey biker man🥵
The little boy in this book was SO CUTE😭 I loved his relationship with all the people in this family, it was so sweet to see. And of course, Silas would go to the ends of the earth to protect him too🥹
This was such a fun read! I’m gonna need to read more motorcycle club books STAT
June 11, 2026
Forged in the Fire a new MC series
If you are looking for a morally grey motorcycle club MMC, Silas Mercer is your guy. He is broody, possessive, and just what FMC Brinley didn't know she was looking for. These two are basically made for each other, except that Brinley hates Silas the second she is dropped off at his compound. I don't blame her for a second, she has no idea what or why she is there, but her brother has dropped her off without an explanation and left. Brinley finding herself in the Crimson Crows compound, expects the worse, but what she gets is far more than she ever expected.
This story is chock full of angsty, close proximity scenes between Silas and Brinley. While Brinley is quite literally forbidden, rules Silas made for the entire MC, he is drawn to her in a way he has never been drawn to anyone before. Brinley on the other hand, can't wait to find a way to escape her new prison. Although, technically not a prisoner, she is allowed to move about freely. But, I cannot imagine how she would feel, being dumped with strangers who may or may not be a danger to her. It would be nerve wracking, and anger inducing at the least!
I love Brinley's fire, or "wildfire" as Silas calls her. She truly is a wildfire, and will not be taking orders from anybody, especially the "king" or MC president Silas. After an incident outside the complex, Silas moves Brinley right into his home with his family, where Brinley starts to get a true taste of who Silas is. Brinley and Elena become immediate besties, and Brinley is worried leaving may be harder than she thought.
The slow burn between Brinley and Silas comes to a crescendo and Silas makes his claim, consequences be damned.
This was a 5 star for me, but as with all of A. L. Jackson's books, my only complaint is the length. The amount of soliloquy by the main characters is just wonderful, at first, but by middle to end of the story, it gets a bit much. I feel like the actual story itself is maybe a 200 page book, but with all the pages and pages of inner thoughts from the main characters, it stretches to 400 pages. Also, the end events I felt should have had more time in the story, more info on the prep and everything that the MC went through to get to that point, but again, with the extensive inner monologues from Brinley and Silas, we get less story. The chapters where we go back to when Silas or Brinley are younger, those are perfect! If the larger story was written a little more like that, I think we would get a lot more "story" out of the book.
Overall, this is a 5 star for me, length could be less, or story given more depth, but loved it anyway!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"She looked like autumn riding in on a hurricane."
"The low voice that had tormented me all night rumbled in my ear, “Thought I told you to be a good girl?”"
"Heat blistered in the space between us. A fine line between loathing and desire."
"Did she feel it? The attraction that buzzed across my flesh? Funny how you always wanted the things you couldn’t have."
"The man was so viciously beautiful it was unreal. Dark and delicious and looking at me in a way that sent my pulse crashing through my woefully deprived body."
"A good man would tear himself away. Get the fuck out of there before he crossed a line he couldn’t undo. But I wasn’t close to one of those, and with her, I’d been crossing them all along."
"Sadness and devotion and something that looked like his own terror poured out. It turned out he was right all along. I was looking for trouble. I was in so much of it. Because I knew right then he would destroy me."
"Depravity dripped from the demons that crawled across his flesh. A warning of who he really was and what he was capable of. And I knew what I was asking for. What I was surrendering to. Offering this wickedly dangerous man my body and soul."
If you are looking for a morally grey motorcycle club MMC, Silas Mercer is your guy. He is broody, possessive, and just what FMC Brinley didn't know she was looking for. These two are basically made for each other, except that Brinley hates Silas the second she is dropped off at his compound. I don't blame her for a second, she has no idea what or why she is there, but her brother has dropped her off without an explanation and left. Brinley finding herself in the Crimson Crows compound, expects the worse, but what she gets is far more than she ever expected.
This story is chock full of angsty, close proximity scenes between Silas and Brinley. While Brinley is quite literally forbidden, rules Silas made for the entire MC, he is drawn to her in a way he has never been drawn to anyone before. Brinley on the other hand, can't wait to find a way to escape her new prison. Although, technically not a prisoner, she is allowed to move about freely. But, I cannot imagine how she would feel, being dumped with strangers who may or may not be a danger to her. It would be nerve wracking, and anger inducing at the least!
I love Brinley's fire, or "wildfire" as Silas calls her. She truly is a wildfire, and will not be taking orders from anybody, especially the "king" or MC president Silas. After an incident outside the complex, Silas moves Brinley right into his home with his family, where Brinley starts to get a true taste of who Silas is. Brinley and Elena become immediate besties, and Brinley is worried leaving may be harder than she thought.
The slow burn between Brinley and Silas comes to a crescendo and Silas makes his claim, consequences be damned.
This was a 5 star for me, but as with all of A. L. Jackson's books, my only complaint is the length. The amount of soliloquy by the main characters is just wonderful, at first, but by middle to end of the story, it gets a bit much. I feel like the actual story itself is maybe a 200 page book, but with all the pages and pages of inner thoughts from the main characters, it stretches to 400 pages. Also, the end events I felt should have had more time in the story, more info on the prep and everything that the MC went through to get to that point, but again, with the extensive inner monologues from Brinley and Silas, we get less story. The chapters where we go back to when Silas or Brinley are younger, those are perfect! If the larger story was written a little more like that, I think we would get a lot more "story" out of the book.
Overall, this is a 5 star for me, length could be less, or story given more depth, but loved it anyway!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"She looked like autumn riding in on a hurricane."
"The low voice that had tormented me all night rumbled in my ear, “Thought I told you to be a good girl?”"
"Heat blistered in the space between us. A fine line between loathing and desire."
"Did she feel it? The attraction that buzzed across my flesh? Funny how you always wanted the things you couldn’t have."
"The man was so viciously beautiful it was unreal. Dark and delicious and looking at me in a way that sent my pulse crashing through my woefully deprived body."
"A good man would tear himself away. Get the fuck out of there before he crossed a line he couldn’t undo. But I wasn’t close to one of those, and with her, I’d been crossing them all along."
"Sadness and devotion and something that looked like his own terror poured out. It turned out he was right all along. I was looking for trouble. I was in so much of it. Because I knew right then he would destroy me."
"Depravity dripped from the demons that crawled across his flesh. A warning of who he really was and what he was capable of. And I knew what I was asking for. What I was surrendering to. Offering this wickedly dangerous man my body and soul."
Review of advance copy received from Author
What to Expect:
Small Town Suspense
Motorcycle Club
Forced Proximity
Secret Society
Single Parent
Found Family
Once I started Forged in the Fire, I did not want to put this story down. Once again, Amy continues to show why she is one of my favorite romantic suspense writers. The combination of suspense, romance and banter had me glued to the pages, and just when I thought I had all the answers ALJ delivers a plot twist that had me gasping.
Silas might be a familiar name. He briefly cameoed in the Moonlit Ridge series and now is front and center. This time around, he is looking to take down the man who tried to kidnap his sister. To do so, he needs the help of some unsavory characters, which means he finds himself on protective detail for that man's sister. But Brinley has no clue what her brother got himself into and when she finds herself dropped off at Silas's clubhouse with no explanation, she turns all her feisty fury on Silas.
Full of Amy's lyrical storytelling, Silas and Brinley begin their dance, first as enemies and then slowly as moths drawn to each others flames. Even knowing the risks of what a relationship between each other might entail, they fall for each other hard. The slow burn and the tug/pull of their relationship was intoxicating. But once they hit the point of no return, the pages felt like they were going to combust with the amount of heat Amy threw into the story.
I also loved the found family, both with Silas's sister, brothers and grandmother as well as his chosen brothers in the Crimson Crows. I loved seeing the family's relationship with Brinley and how they opened their arms for her. She became very much an important part of their lives.
At it's core, this story had everything I wanted from ALJ: a secret society with suspense, found family vibes that I could feel to my core and a romance that was spicy enough to need a fan. But underneath the surface, this story is also about healing and trust and finding a home with a person who accepts you for all your faults. I am so excited to see where the series will go next.
Thank you so much to AL Jackson and Valentine PR for the early copy of Forged in the Fire!
Small Town Suspense
Motorcycle Club
Forced Proximity
Secret Society
Single Parent
Found Family
Once I started Forged in the Fire, I did not want to put this story down. Once again, Amy continues to show why she is one of my favorite romantic suspense writers. The combination of suspense, romance and banter had me glued to the pages, and just when I thought I had all the answers ALJ delivers a plot twist that had me gasping.
Silas might be a familiar name. He briefly cameoed in the Moonlit Ridge series and now is front and center. This time around, he is looking to take down the man who tried to kidnap his sister. To do so, he needs the help of some unsavory characters, which means he finds himself on protective detail for that man's sister. But Brinley has no clue what her brother got himself into and when she finds herself dropped off at Silas's clubhouse with no explanation, she turns all her feisty fury on Silas.
Full of Amy's lyrical storytelling, Silas and Brinley begin their dance, first as enemies and then slowly as moths drawn to each others flames. Even knowing the risks of what a relationship between each other might entail, they fall for each other hard. The slow burn and the tug/pull of their relationship was intoxicating. But once they hit the point of no return, the pages felt like they were going to combust with the amount of heat Amy threw into the story.
I also loved the found family, both with Silas's sister, brothers and grandmother as well as his chosen brothers in the Crimson Crows. I loved seeing the family's relationship with Brinley and how they opened their arms for her. She became very much an important part of their lives.
At it's core, this story had everything I wanted from ALJ: a secret society with suspense, found family vibes that I could feel to my core and a romance that was spicy enough to need a fan. But underneath the surface, this story is also about healing and trust and finding a home with a person who accepts you for all your faults. I am so excited to see where the series will go next.
Thank you so much to AL Jackson and Valentine PR for the early copy of Forged in the Fire!
June 17, 2026
Crimson Crows • Book 1
New town... new MMC'S to fall for
"You're a force. A storm. A wildfire. And I want to burn."
A.L Jackson just has a way with words the way she blends the heartbreak, love and chaos together throughout the story is remarkable.
Brinley is placed in the care of the Crimson Crows by her brother with no explanation. This woman is a force sassy, smart and isn't afraid to back down from anything, including Silas. I just loved her!
Silas is the broody president of the Crimson Crows and a protector, it's what he knows, it's what he does. What he doesn't expect is the wildfire he's protecting to ingrave herself right into his heart. I'm obsessed with him!
Silas and Brinley both have huge hearts and fierce loyalty, especially for those they love. They've both been through heartbreaking loss and betrayal. Through it all, they broke down each other's walls and found comfort and love in each other. And I loved every minute of it the banter, action, twists and turns of suspense, the heartfelt moments, the chemistry, the TENSION it was electric and I was ready for it to spark to life and when it did oh my was it hot 🔥
I can't leave out the found family in Amy's books are always fantastic. I loved how his family took Brinley right into their fold and made her feel so loved, like she'd been apart of it all along. I loved Brinley and Elena's friendship and little Kia is the absolute cutest thing I adore him!
Forged in the Fire was a great introduction to the Crimson Crows can't see what's to come with the rest of the series. Especially this next one I love a brother's best friend romance 😍
New town... new MMC'S to fall for
"You're a force. A storm. A wildfire. And I want to burn."
A.L Jackson just has a way with words the way she blends the heartbreak, love and chaos together throughout the story is remarkable.
Brinley is placed in the care of the Crimson Crows by her brother with no explanation. This woman is a force sassy, smart and isn't afraid to back down from anything, including Silas. I just loved her!
Silas is the broody president of the Crimson Crows and a protector, it's what he knows, it's what he does. What he doesn't expect is the wildfire he's protecting to ingrave herself right into his heart. I'm obsessed with him!
Silas and Brinley both have huge hearts and fierce loyalty, especially for those they love. They've both been through heartbreaking loss and betrayal. Through it all, they broke down each other's walls and found comfort and love in each other. And I loved every minute of it the banter, action, twists and turns of suspense, the heartfelt moments, the chemistry, the TENSION it was electric and I was ready for it to spark to life and when it did oh my was it hot 🔥
I can't leave out the found family in Amy's books are always fantastic. I loved how his family took Brinley right into their fold and made her feel so loved, like she'd been apart of it all along. I loved Brinley and Elena's friendship and little Kia is the absolute cutest thing I adore him!
Forged in the Fire was a great introduction to the Crimson Crows can't see what's to come with the rest of the series. Especially this next one I love a brother's best friend romance 😍
July 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ -
*I’ve been busy and struggling to pick up anything so that could have affected my rating*
I really liked the characters for the most part. I loved Meems and Kai the most! Some of the Kai scenes had me tearing up 🥺 but I’m a sucker for a little kid scene. I think the writing was good and easy to follow.
I really loved the building up and tension, but the romance happening at 50% was eh for me. I’m a slow burn girl, so I just wish it would’ve taken a tad longer. I guessed everything about this plot and what would happen, but I still think it was a good read. My only issue with the ending was it never cleared up what happened to her brother after the big scene went down. Like he just disappeared? 👻
This is definitely a book for those that love spice 🌶️ which is not for me. It was too much and I had to skip so many scenes that I was annoyed by it. I don’t mind it so much if the plot is good enough, but I already seen where the book was headed by a mile. 🤷🏼♀️
It’s worth a read because I know a lot of people who would really like this one though! I did like the characters and do want to see what happens to Elena and Taven.
I did listen to the audio which is the first time I didn’t really care for the male narrator.
*I’ve been busy and struggling to pick up anything so that could have affected my rating*
I really liked the characters for the most part. I loved Meems and Kai the most! Some of the Kai scenes had me tearing up 🥺 but I’m a sucker for a little kid scene. I think the writing was good and easy to follow.
I really loved the building up and tension, but the romance happening at 50% was eh for me. I’m a slow burn girl, so I just wish it would’ve taken a tad longer. I guessed everything about this plot and what would happen, but I still think it was a good read. My only issue with the ending was it never cleared up what happened to her brother after the big scene went down. Like he just disappeared? 👻
This is definitely a book for those that love spice 🌶️ which is not for me. It was too much and I had to skip so many scenes that I was annoyed by it. I don’t mind it so much if the plot is good enough, but I already seen where the book was headed by a mile. 🤷🏼♀️
It’s worth a read because I know a lot of people who would really like this one though! I did like the characters and do want to see what happens to Elena and Taven.
I did listen to the audio which is the first time I didn’t really care for the male narrator.
June 16, 2026
SILAS & BRINLEY OMGGGG! This book literally had me on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. I hated having to stop! I’m a sucker for a good romantic suspense anyway, but add in a possessive, morally grey, motorcycle club mmc and a secret society to boot? CHOKEHOLD ALERT! I loved Silas so much, & Brinley too! This was literally so well written & I cannot wait for more books in this series. The way it’s being set up has the potential to become my very favorite series by Amy, I was stunned! If you love a little darker themes & suspense with your romance, you’re gonna eat this one up! I HIGHLY recommend it! It has so much depth to it, the way Amy weaved the story was just brilliant.
🔥𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚂:
➤ motorcycle club
➤ romantic suspense
➤ single dad
➤ enemies to lovers
➤ secret society
➤ brother’s nemesis
➤ protective, grumpy mmc
➤ black cat fmc
➤ found family
➤ slow burn
➤ small town
➤ forced proximity
➤ morally grey
➤ duet narration
4.5⭐️
4🌶️
🫶🏼 thank you so much, @aljacksonauthor for the #gifted audiobook!
🔥𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚂:
➤ motorcycle club
➤ romantic suspense
➤ single dad
➤ enemies to lovers
➤ secret society
➤ brother’s nemesis
➤ protective, grumpy mmc
➤ black cat fmc
➤ found family
➤ slow burn
➤ small town
➤ forced proximity
➤ morally grey
➤ duet narration
4.5⭐️
4🌶️
🫶🏼 thank you so much, @aljacksonauthor for the #gifted audiobook!
June 17, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
🩷Forged In The Fire by A.L. Jackson
🔥Crimson Crows: Book 1
🖤Brinley + Silas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to A.L. Jackson for the ARC of Forged In The Fire. This was such a great read. There was emotion, suspense,spice, and everything we love in a book. The characters were truly amazing and the story had us hooked. Did the romance have us swooning? Yes absolutely but is that what stole our hearts? No that was thanks to the found family. We knew immediately that we were going to love his family. The way that Elena welcomed Brinley before she even got there by making sure she had a safe space. And sweet Meems with all of the love had us in tears. But we especially loved the relationship with Brinley and Kai. Not only did this family immediately bring her in and treat her as one of theirs but she gave as much as she got and was insanely protective of them. But nobody was as protective as Silas. He was the perfect morally grey cinnamon roll. The connection Brinley and Silas had was epic, the way they were so aware of each other plus how their story came full circle was so well done. We are so excited for the rest of the Crimson Crows series and will definitely get caught up with the rest of her books.
🩷Forged In The Fire by A.L. Jackson
🔥Crimson Crows: Book 1
🖤Brinley + Silas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to A.L. Jackson for the ARC of Forged In The Fire. This was such a great read. There was emotion, suspense,spice, and everything we love in a book. The characters were truly amazing and the story had us hooked. Did the romance have us swooning? Yes absolutely but is that what stole our hearts? No that was thanks to the found family. We knew immediately that we were going to love his family. The way that Elena welcomed Brinley before she even got there by making sure she had a safe space. And sweet Meems with all of the love had us in tears. But we especially loved the relationship with Brinley and Kai. Not only did this family immediately bring her in and treat her as one of theirs but she gave as much as she got and was insanely protective of them. But nobody was as protective as Silas. He was the perfect morally grey cinnamon roll. The connection Brinley and Silas had was epic, the way they were so aware of each other plus how their story came full circle was so well done. We are so excited for the rest of the Crimson Crows series and will definitely get caught up with the rest of her books.
June 16, 2026
Forged in the Fire was an angsty, suspenseful and steamy romance that kept me captivated from start to finish. It was so beautifully written with A.L. Jackson signature heartfelt writing style!
I’m obsessed with this story and these characters! Silas and Brinley are everything! Their tension filled chemistry was electric! They had such an intense romantic push and pull dynamic that I couldn’t get enough of! This is first book in the Crimson Crows series, and I can’t wait to see what A.L. Jackson has in store for us for the rest of the series! So excited!
The audiobook was amazing! Connor Crais and Desireé Ketchum did a brilliant job at brining this story to life. I was fully immersed in the story!
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🐦⬛ Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Single Dad
🐦⬛ Protective Grump x Black Cat
🔥 Motorcycle Club
🐦⬛ Brother’s Nemesis
🔥 Morally Gray Hero
🐦⬛ Band of Brothers
🔥 Small Town
🐦⬛ Found Family
🔥 Secret Society
Thank you to A.L. Jackson and Valentine PR for the ALC!
I’m obsessed with this story and these characters! Silas and Brinley are everything! Their tension filled chemistry was electric! They had such an intense romantic push and pull dynamic that I couldn’t get enough of! This is first book in the Crimson Crows series, and I can’t wait to see what A.L. Jackson has in store for us for the rest of the series! So excited!
The audiobook was amazing! Connor Crais and Desireé Ketchum did a brilliant job at brining this story to life. I was fully immersed in the story!
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🐦⬛ Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Single Dad
🐦⬛ Protective Grump x Black Cat
🔥 Motorcycle Club
🐦⬛ Brother’s Nemesis
🔥 Morally Gray Hero
🐦⬛ Band of Brothers
🔥 Small Town
🐦⬛ Found Family
🔥 Secret Society
Thank you to A.L. Jackson and Valentine PR for the ALC!
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