Steele

Black and Blue #2

by Erin Bevan

He's used to putting out fires, not starting them.

Firefighter, Blake Steele, is living day-by-day, desperately trying to escape his haunted past. When the gorgeous Mary Franks moves in next-door, the conflict between what Blake knows in his head and what he feels in his heart just adds fuel to the fire.

For Mary, living next door to a firefighter should be comforting, except her handsome new neighbor insists on making a nuisance of himself. And though she can't deny her attraction, love isn't something Mary has time for. She has one goal: keeping her son safe, at any cost.

When Mary's ex is granted parole and fights to get his son back, she relies on Blake for support. But as Blake uncovers all of Mary's secrets, he is forced to face his own troubled past before both of their lives go up in flames.

Return to Black Widow with this smoldering, standalone romance from award winning author Erin Bevan.

Genres: Firefighters, Suspense, Romance, Contemporary Romance

373 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 14, 2018

About the author

Award winning author, Erin Bevan writes small town Americana romances straight from the heart. Born and raised in rural South Arkansas, she uses her past experiences to enrich her stories while infusing the right amount of heartache and humor to see her readers through until the end. With the perfect blend of sweet to steamy, Erin Bevan has something for every romance reader.

Erin loves to hear from her readers at erinbevanwrites@gmail.com, or visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorerinbevan.

Reviews

[Andrea Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Stars for Blake Steele!

Sometimes in life you never feel you can be a hero even though everyone you are surrounded by says you are. Blake Steele is a firefighter and a protector for The Blue Guardians. Last summer he had helped a mother and son get away from an abusive husband/father. It just happens that those two are now his new neighbors. And his whole world changes.

Mary Franks is trying to start over after having had a chance to break free from her abusive husband. Trying to protect Nathaniel aka Bear, she doesn’t want to depend on anyone but it’s hard when a handsome neighbor wants nothing more than to help protect them.

We follow these two as they maneuver life and everything that comes with it. We follow as Blake starts caring more and more for Mary and Bear. We watch as secrets are exposed and a life they both want is in touching distance.

Sometimes life throws you a curveball. And even as you don’t think you can be happy, happiness comes in the most unlikely way.

This is a great book and well developed characters. Enjoyable for any romance reader.

Andrea B
Reviewer for Everything Marie Book Blog

*I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

[Renee Entress · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has suspense, secrets, guilt, pain, and heartbreak.

This is Mary and Blake‘s story. Blake is a firefighter dealing with guilt that stems from his past. When Mary moves next store to him he struggles with feelings he knows he should not have. He does not want to feel. Mary is trying to fly under the radar as she does not want any trouble finding her. But the lies and secrets she is keeping are about to catch up with her. He ex is coming for her and wants his son back. She will have to uncover all her lies and secrets to Blake and then hope he helps her when she needs him the most or she might just lose everything.

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

[Renee Entress · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has suspense, secrets, guilt, pain, and heartbreak.

This is Mary and Blake‘s story. Blake is a firefighter dealing with guilt that stems from his past. When Mary moves next store to him he struggles with feelings he knows he should not have. He does not want to feel. Mary is trying to fly under the radar as she does not want any trouble finding her. But the lies and secrets she is keeping are about to catch up with her. He ex is coming for her and wants his son back. She will have to uncover all her lies and secrets to Blake and then hope he helps her when she needs him the most or she might just lose everything.

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by Ms. Bevan, and I have to say that I think she is one of the best indie authors that I have read. Her stories are poignant, emotional and sometimes heart wrenching. Steele is no less. Her heroes are book boyfriend worthy, and while I prefer Tank over Steele, they are both admirable and worthy to be book boyfriends. While Mary's wishy washy feelings for Steele grate on the nerves a bit, she does redeem herself and their love is something worth rooting for. I will mention because of the abuse that is a part of this series, that the reader goes in with open eyes because these are highly emotional issues that could cause triggers. Having said that, this series is worthy every minute invested, and the characters become beloved. Kudos Ms. Bevan!!!

I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

STEELE (Black and Blue Series Book 2) by Erin Bevan  
 
The best characters are the one's who are flawed, because only by confronting the imperfections can there be true manifestations of our best self. Steele is both the best and worst of what life has to offer. Bevan lends an empathetic ear to hard truths, painful pasts and a web of lies. Blake and Mary are runners too afraid to stop and face the reality their working to outrun. Until fate gives each a reality check in the worst way. To find the pretty, we have to rise above the ugly.

[Lene Norway · Rating 5 out of 5]

May we all be as strong as Mary and have our own HEA with a humble Hero like Blake Steele.

Erin Bevan story takes the readers on an emotional rollercoster and a great escape. Her writing captivates you from the very beginning and makes you read in suspens of what will happen next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Bevan has written an amazing contemporary romance with thrilling and suspenseful scenarios.

Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really found it interesting the way that the extremely talented Erin Bevan started the story Steele out, and let me tell you why without giving too much away. See, I hadn't read Tank (Book 1) yet, so I wasn't clear how these books went, so I my head was clearly going in a different direction at first which made me want to kick my own behind honestly, so kudos Ms. Bevan, as not many people get the drop on me. Anyway, Steele has some serious demons from his past that drive him, making him the hero fireman that he is today, and also the man who doesn't do commitment as well. Mary also has demons, which makes her a proud woman who doesn't accept help for her or her son, though The Blue Guardians MC, which Steele belongs to, has helped her in the past. She moves in next door to Steele, and this is a new journey for both of them, as he has been attracted to her since he met her, but she can't do anything to jeopardize losing her son to her abusive husband who she's trying to divorce. Let me tell you, there's chemistry in spades, but it is a slow burn to get those sparks to ignite. Mary puts her son first, not to mention her trust issues are shot, so it comes off incredibly realistic in my eyes. And Steele, he's suffering so much from the baggage he carries, so he needs to heal from that as well. But I do so love all the interactions between him, and Mary's son Bear, which I think goes a long way to helping him. Plus the cast of secondaries added a ton of more depth to this story as well. And yeah, there's already hints of twists of what I've alluded to between Steele & Mary's pasts, but OMG there's more that came out of nowhere, so my f-bombs rained down like crazy! This story was intense, angst filled, had humorous moments, & heat filled sexy times to boot, so yeah it ticked off all my boxes, and I couldn't get enough! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[NICUnurse Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was quite intriguing to me. The hero is a firefighter that happens to be in a motorcycle club. But this isn’t your typical MC book or your typical MC. These guys rescue battered women and children and help them recover and move on with their lives. And they keep protecting them. I’m not a fan of MC books (kudos to you guys that are, it’s just not MY thing). But when I read the blurb, I was intrigued enough about this MC because they aren’t your typical antihero club. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book. It didn’t grab my interest until about halfway through, and even then, it was easy to put down. I felt like there were places that really could have been fleshed out better to make this a great story. I expected more emotion and more angst, too. And the end felt rushed. But if you like a true hero who’s in an MC and something that isn’t too angsty, this book may just be for you. I kind of hate that I didn’t love it. So with that said, I’m giving this one 3.5 stars, mostly because I expected the writing to be a bit better coming from an award-winning author. I hate ending a review on a bad note, so I do want to tell you what I liked about the book before I finish up here. I liked Steele’s character. He’s young, and he’s not dealt with something that happened when he was much younger and feels great guilt for. But he’s doing his best to make up for that mistake. He’s also extremely loyal to his family in the MC. And he’s great with kids, and the kids love him back. I also love that Mary is facing her fears and trying to make a life for herself and her son, despite their past. And I loved that the bad guys got what was coming to them in the end. So they do get their HEA.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be reading more. I am already wanting to go back and read the book Tank because I loved him in this book. I got a copy to read from the author/promotional tour company and I chose to review it.

This book story had me hooked with the great writing that took us through so much emotion through the grittiness of the criminal activity that goes on. This book was one of my top reads this year.

The two main characters Blake "Steele" and Mary are both damaged for lack of a better word. Blake is a firefighter and protector though The Blue Guardians. I loved his character so much. He goes through so much before this story actually happens but we get the background of it and He is a guy I would love to have in my life. Mary is a great mom who will do whatever it takes to protect her son. She has been through a lot but its still not over, maybe it never will be but she is strong enough to work through it all.

Nathaniel "Bear" was my favorite character in this story, He stole my heart. He is such a strong kid, he has been through a lot in his little life. I really hope we get a story of him when he is all grown up.

Will Steele forgive himself for what happened when he was younger or will he keep suffering because of it. Will Mary be able to trust a man again and let him into her life? Will the chemistry between the two be enough to see them together or will it just be there leaving them wanting each other but not working out? One click this one! Its is great!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read from Erin Bevan, the more I fall in love with her writing and her storytelling. In this second book with the Blue Guardians, we get to hang out with Blake Steele - the hunky fireman with a seemingly dark past to haunt him. From the moment this book got rolling, I knew I wanted Steele and Mary to find love with each other. But I spent much of the book wondering if that would ever really happen.

I loved the ups and downs of this story, the drama that unfolded with each and every chapter, and the family that continued to mold through the Blue Guardians and the people in their lives. I fell in love with little Nathanial (aka Bear) as his personality progressed from a timid little boy in book one to a spirited and fun-loving kid in this book. My soft spot for both Bear and Steele only deepened as their relationship grew throughout the story.

Last, but not least, is the amazing character of Mary. This woman has been through the wringer just to hold on to a little boy that belongs to her only through love. Her strength as she stands up against her ex-husband provides for the son she desperately wants to keep and tries to make a life for herself shows just how strong a woman she is. I could not wait for her to let down her guard and allow Steele fully into her life to love and protect her.

This book is a perfect addition to this series, and I am hoping to see more of the Blue Guardians in the very near future. Put this book on your reading list.

*I am proud to be a member of this author's reader club and received an advanced copy of this book*

[Sheila Schoenauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted a second chance in life but didn't think you deserved it? That is what this book is about. It's about starting over and finding a way to heal yourself. While this book is the second book in the series it is a standalone. I didn't read the first book Tank and I wish that I had as it seems that we get more of Mary, Nathaniel (Bear), and Steele's (Blake) beginning in that book. However I did feel comfortable reading this book missing those few details. Mary has gotten out of an abusive relationship with her husband Craig. She's trying to prove to everyone that she is an amazing mother to Nathaniel (a child who she didn't give birth to but who she has raised from toddler up). Steele is a man with a painful past who doesn't think he's worthy of love from an amazing woman like Mary. I enjoyed watching this little family find love and happiness. I enjoyed Steele's strength no matter how often Mary tried to push him away and I was thrilled when Mary finally was willing to take all the help that was offered to her and Bear. What I didn't care for was the sections from Craig's POV. I get we needed his POV to better understand what was going on and to rile us up. I however, seriously wanted to strangle him. I'm very glad that this book ended the way it did. I didn't think I could have handled it any other way. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.*

[Cee Cee Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love second chance stories, and that’s what Steele by author Erin Bevan is all about. Getting a fresh start, whether it’s somewhere new, or just in your way of thinking. I haven’t read the first book in this series yet, as these are standalones, but they are connected by characters so maybe for anyone thinking about grabbing the first one, I’d read it Tank, then Steele.
In Steele, Mary has gotten away from her abusive husband and is doing her best to be a single mom and to show everyone that she can go it alone. Nathaniel isn’t hers through birth, but she’s still his mom in her heart. She’s flawed in many ways but still finds her strength when she needs it most.
Blake’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage and doesn’t think he deserves a woman like Mary, he’s to broken for her. But this man has hidden depths that Mary brings to the surface. Being a firefighter and a member of the Blue Guardians, he knows who to take care of himself and those he loves.
This was quite an emotional, suspenseful story. I enjoyed the characters, although I didn’t like Mary’s ex, and getting to hear his POV didn’t endear him to me.
At all.
I wanted to bash him with a frying pan. But, at least the ending was well played out.

[Amy Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read Erin Bevan!

There's nothing better than finding a story that grabs you from the first couple pages and doesn't let go. That's exactly what Erin Bevan did with Steele. Having never read anything by her before, I decided to give the story a try because the blurb...oh my, sounded soooo good. I was immediately drawn to Mary and Blake. Both had their issues, but it's okay for characters to be a little flawed. It just makes them more realistic. While there is some delicate subject matter at times, the author does a good job presenting it to the reader. And since the story is somewhat fast-paced, she doesn't spend any more time than what is necessary with it.

I was just blown away with Bevan's style of writing. She puts her characters out there for us to accept just as real-life humans and isn't afraid to tackle situations head on. The story flowed very well and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.

Second-chance romances are some of my favorites and Steele is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The only thing I regret is not having read anything by this author sooner.

[Britt Chaotic Creatives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully sweet and full of nail biting suspense! Steele quickly had me hooked. Between the swoony romance and the need to know what was going to happen next this book is pretty dang addictive. While I loved the steamy and sweet love with Steele and Mary along with the precious relationship between Steele and her son and the twists and turns kept me intrigued there were some moments when things dragged a bit for me.
Both Mary and Steele have quite the heartbreaking past, with Mary’s being very recent. After all she and her son suffered at the hands of her soon to be ex husband she’s very reluctant to even look at a man, but Steele is rather irresistible. Sweet, gentle, and protective, he’s absolutely devoted to her and her son even when she’s reluctant to be even friends with him. While understandable, the back and forth she had with her feelings toward Steele did eventually get a bit repetitive and cause me to lose interest occasionally, but once she finally let those walls down these two became a couple that you can’t help but love!

[Wall to Wall Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steele by Erin Bevan is the second book in the Black and Blue series, but my first read by this author.


Blake Steele is a firefighter and a biker with the Blue Guardians. When Steele gets new neighbours in the shape of Mary and Nate, a mother and son who the Blue Guardians helped, he has to help them, whether they want it or not. Mary wants do prove she can do things on her own. Steele won't take no for an answer. They have chemistry but it's not the right time for either of them. 

Will the right time present itself? Or will the things they keep secret destroy what could be? 


Steele is a fantastic read. All of the characters have a part to play. The friendships and chemistry are evident in the writing. I was pulled in from the start, wanting to know what both Mary and Blake were hiding. Action, mystery, criminal activities and romance make Steele a read that I would definitely recommend.

[Jackie Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blake Steele hot sexy firefighter and biker. His life has not been easy and he shuts everyone out until Mary.. Mary came into his life a year ago when she needed protection and the Guardians gave it to her ( I didnt read Tank book so was confused on somethings here) now a year later she is moving in next door and Steele can't get his mind off her..

Mary is just trying to protect her boy and escape the abuse of her husband. The husband is in jail and she filed for divorce but he is getting out soon and is not wiling to give a divorce. Mary knows things that could endanger everyone so she tries to stay away from Steele but .. :)

When all hell breaks loose can Steele protect the people he loves or will he be heartbroken all over again

Good read, good story line just seemed to take too long to get to all the meat and bones. This was my first read by this author and will read again

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After escaping her ex all Mary wants is a new beginning for her and her son Nathanial (Bear). She is determined to show that she is a good mother and that she doesn’t need any help however her sexy neighbor Blake doesn’t seem to be getting the message.

Blake is a protector at heart which is evidenced by his career as a fireman and that he is a member of the Blue Guardians. He has a painful past of his own so even though she rebuffs she doesn’t want any help he isn’t going to stop.

With her ex being released from prison both she and her son are in danger and Blake is determined to keep them safe but will the secrets between them destroy everything?

I really enjoyed these two characters as they have both endured so much and it has made them stronger and Bear is a scene stealer. Neither was looking for a relationship but sometimes fate has other plans. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action, betrayal, lies, loss, healing, intrigue yup there it is all that and more. This author writes a story that takes you from one spectrum to the other then wraps it up in a nice little package. Mary has her problems and although she can't just come out with it all because of the connections she's doing the best she can. I may not agree with everything she does but hey it's easy for me to say. Steele is a hunky mess but hell who doesn't love a broken man in uniform with the heart he has. These two are smack in the middle of a mess they will need plenty of help to make it out of. The supporting characters are awesome and there is plenty to enjoy and keep you turning pages to the very end of the book. I haven't read this author before and I have to admit I have no idea why. I love the blend of romance and intrigue, the supporting characters that round out the story, and this authors style make me want more.

[Tracie Simister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this Book a rating of 5 ✩’s
Title: STEELE
Series: Black and Blue Series Book 2
Genre: Firefighter Romance
Author: Erin Bevan
Format: Kindle Edition
Published on: Nov 14, 2018

I voluntarily received a Courtesy Copy of this book from L. Woods PR and am choosing to leave a review.
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Character’s Descriptions:
Blake Steele is a firefighter with a haunting past that won’t let him go.
Mary is a single mother with a ex that just won’t leave her alone
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What I liked/Didn’t Like: Sexy Romance story with enough drama to keep you reeled in and wondering what will happen next. The storyline was smooth and fun to read. The characters both have pasts that could have made the story messy but the author handled them beautifully.

[Becky Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this one, Blake Steele is so far my favorite of the Blue Guardians and not just because he is a firefighter either. You need to read this to find our truly why. So if you've read the first book Tank then you know what the Blue Guardians are. These biker good guys are all about helping the abused. You meet Mary and her son Nathaniel (Bear) first in Tank. You really get to know them in Steele. And you start to wonder as Blake gets closer to Mary what she is hiding. I love how Blake falls with this mother and son and fights to protect them. Mary is trying to do what she thinks is the right thing. Danger may follow but the Blue Guardians are there when needed. This is a sweet romance filled with plenty of heat that will keep you glued to the pages. I can't wait for more to come.

[Catty Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***

4 stars

This one will grab you quickly. But be prepared, although it is a standalone, and I had no trouble following the story line and prior backstories, you might want to read these in order. There is so much I wish I could go back and read first. Like the first meeting between Steele and Mary. He had eyes from her on first sight. But poor Mary had a lot on her plate with a child she was trying to raise and protect from her abusive husband.

This is one of those good guys finish first kind of books. If you like a hot alpha male, with his own personal demons to work through, and strong female who doesn't need saving, but is smart enough to take help when it comes, this is a one-click for you. (Review by Terri "Jane')

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving the Black and Blue series. The growth of the characters, the awareness it brings to domestic violence, the steamy love story all draw in the reader. Steele is the 2nd in the series and follows up on Mary, Steele, and Nate, all of whom we met in Tank. The Guardian Angels continue their philanthropic work in this new novel and we get an update on all the couples from the first. No spoilers on this review, but this novel can be read independently, however I think it would be more enjoyable if you read Tank first! Can’t wait for #3 in the series!
I received a copy of Steele in exchange for an honest review. I would have read it regardless though, to find out what happened after how much I enjoyed Tank!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a author I had not read before but I find it called to me. For a moment the book world was saturated with firefighters and having read a couple have not read any for a minute. He is a combo the character is so that is why I took a chance because he seems and was so much more. Blake will capture you for sure but so will Mary in this story. The author gives a great foundation then spirals in with us going in and staying for awhile. The wrap themselves around you with also the tension and the drama pulling on us. The twists and turns and the healing takes you through with soaking it all up until the last word.

[Jodi Bird (Ruby Red Romance Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STAR Review by Jodi for Ruby Red Romance Review

I have to be honest...this is my first book by Erin Bevan. With that being said, I'm a huge fan. I loved every second of Blake and Mary's story. It's about secrets, heartbreak, guilt, and love.

The last thing Blake wants is to fall for his neighbor. He's dealing with his past and not so well. Mary just wants to live a quiet life, flying under the radar. She knows her past is coming back and sooner rather than later.

I loved every second of this book. I can't wait to see what's to come from Erin in the future. Please check out this great book.

[Allison Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I generally prefer the mystery/thriller genre, this is the 3rd book I've read by Mrs Bevan. Even though they are considered "romance" stories, there is enough meat in the book to add a little bit of mystery to the characters. While you don't have to read the series in order, it was nice to have the background from Tank to build on. Being from the south, I find the characters in Steele easy to relate to and very realistic. I love the easy, light style of the book and found this a nice warm read for the cold, wintery nights we've had here lately! I certainly hope to see a third Black & Blue....JoJo's story is waiting to be told!

[Tara Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake and Mary stole my heart. Each was broken in their own way and tried to fight the attraction they felt for the other. Mary was trying to start over after her husband (who I assume we met in the first book) goes to prison. Blake is living with regret over what happened with his sister. He wants to protect her and love her almost from the beginning. She doesn’t want to jeopardize her chances with the custody hearing. When her husband gets out early, he wants his family back and will stop at nothing to get them back. Will Blake be able to stop him in time? Will Mary be able to be strong enough and put her trust in Blake after the abusive relationship she was in? A great read.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I was given a copy of this book by the Author/Publisher in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book from this author.

Well, what to say... This book is such a great read from beginning to end. And everyone loves HEA's right??

The chemistry Blake & Mary have throughout the whole book evident. The up and down emotions and curve-ball/criminal events keep you wanting to know what happens next. Definitely a must read book!!

This book really hit home for me (1st marriage) regarding the abuse and how a lot me women feel they need to deal with abuse by themselves.

[Jennifer Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next book in the Black and Blue series! This series is about a group of men committed to protecting women and children from abusive situations. It closely examines why each one has chosen this as their passion. In Steele, the main character is a handsome fireman with a dark past. Blake Steele meets a woman escaping an abusive relationship, who is also devoted to protecting her step-child at all costs. Steele the story of two wounded souls falling in love and conquering all obstacles in their way. Highly recommend!

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance, mystery, suspense all rolled into a spellbinding story I could not put down. I especially liked Blake Steele, who was trying to overcome demons that had plagued him ever since his sister Peaches had died in a house fire ten years ago. He has always blamed himself for her death and even became a firefighter. The story will keep you on pins and needles as you try to figure out what will happen next. The story does evolve around topics of domestic abuse and dog fighting. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.