Book Review-Striking Distance by Pamela Clare

Striking Distance
I Team (6)
Pamela Clare
Berkley Sensation
Paperback
Published November 2013
Acquired: Library
374 Pages
Romantic Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-425-25735-7
Authors Website

Her past is a secret—even to her.
Discovering it will be the most dangerous move of her life.

TV reporter Laura Nilsson, known as the “Baghdad Babe,” spent eighteen months in an Al Qaeda compound after being kidnapped live on the air. Two years later, she’s still wondering why.

No rescue mission in Javier Corbray’s fourteen years as a Navy SEAL affected him the way Laura’s rescue did. No woman has stirred his protective instincts the way she has. And he wants her more than he’s ever wanted anyone.

As Laura and Javier’s passion ignites, so does Laura’s need to discover the mystery of her past. Especially when she learns that her abduction was not random—and that she’s still a target for a killer with an impenetrable motive. Now Javier will have to rely on his skills to keep the woman he loves from being struck down before she dares uncover the truth

My Review

For 18 months, Laura Nilsson, was kidnapped and held hostage, raped and humiliated. Then a SEAL team comes to capture the man who has held her captive for almost two years. Laura finds herself rescued, and taken back home. Now its been three years since she was taken, and she is just starting to get her life back together. While at a friend’s barbecue, she comes face to face with Javier Corbray, a man she once shared a passionate night with, a man she fell in love with but she knows her life is different, and she isn’t the same woman now. Javier was the leader of the team that rescued Laura, and when he sees her again, he knows he can’t let her get away from him. When Laura becomes targeted and her life in danger, Javier will do everything in his power to protect her at all costs.

Striking Distance is the sixth and the most latest installment of the I Team series by Pamela Clare. I fell in love with Pamela Clare with some of her historical romances. Her style of writing is just as compelling and intense as when I first read her. In Striking Distance, is a action packed romance, with plenty of tension to keep you on the edge from beginning to end. From the first few pages I was hooked and I just couldn’t put it down!! There is quite a high level of intensity, and we see quite a bit of action and some steamy scenes between Laura and Javier, and what a awesome team they were together. One of my favorite couple to read from.

Javier, is  military man, a navy SEAL, and loves his work. There is one moment he is most proud of, the moment when he was able to save the woman he though was dead. The story begins with seeing Laura being held in captivity, then being rescued, and it skips ahead a year, to where Laura meets Javier again, and wow what a connection they have, even after so much time has passed. Javier, is such a delicious hero. I love the way he is with Laura, so patient and protective, and sexy as sin!! I wouldn’t mind have Javier at my back any day of the week. Laura is a fighter. I was instantly endeared to her. You see how much she has been badly treated from her time in captivity, and then we see how hard she has worked to have a normal life again. She isn’t one to back down from danger, and has such inner courage that you can’t help but admire. Javier and Laura are absolutely perfect for each other, and what a story Striking Distance is!!

Overall I would highly highly recommend Striking Distance to anyone that loves a riveting romance that is a never ending page turner, a story you won’t be able to put down until the very end. One of the best romantic suspense books I have ever read!! Be ready for a wild ride of a adventure. Suspenseful plot, engaging characters, highly sensuality, and compelling on each page!! A FABULOUS READ!!

Favorite Quote

“I couldn’t have gotten through any of this without you. Through all of it, you’ve been my support, my anchor. I don’t know how one man’s shoulders can possibly be so strong.” He tilted her face up to his. “With the love I feel for you, bella, I could lift up the world.”
My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In Series 
Extreme Exposure
Hard Evidence
Unlawful Contact
Naked Edge
Breaking Point

Book Review-Breaking Point

Breaking Point
I Team (5)
Pamela Clare
Berkley Sensation
E Book
Published May 2011
355 Pages
Romantic Suspense Contemporary
ISBN:  9780425240519
Authors Website 

Synopsis
While investigating border violence in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Denver journalist Natalie Benoit is caught in a bloody ambush and taken captive. Alone in the hands of ruthless killers, she will need every ounce of courage she possesses to survive.

Betrayed by another operative, Deputy U.S. Marshal Zach McBride has endured a week of torture and interrogation at the hands of a bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartel. Ready to give his life if he must, he remains unbroken—until he hears the cries of an American woman.

Although Natalie is only a voice in the darkness of their shared prison, her plight brings renewed strength to Zach’s battered body. With her help, he overpowers their captors, and they flee through the desert toward the border, the attraction between them flaring hotter than the Sonoran sun.

But past loss and tragedy leave both of them reluctant to follow their hearts, even when the passion between them reaches its breaking point. Faced with feelings neither expected, they fight to stay ahead of the danger that hunts them as forces more powerful than they can imagine conspire to destroy them both…

My Review 

Natalie a journalist, goes down to Mexico, to investigate issues with a school, but her party is attacked by a drug cartel, and is kidnapped and put in a dark cell with sorts of insects and her fear of small places escalates, but a calm voice in the dark, settles her and she knows she needs to think of a way to escape if she wants to survive. Zach, a SEAL, has been a captive of the Drug Cartel, when he gets betrayed by his informant. For the past six days he has been tortured, and he knows he will soon be killed. But when he hears a woman’s voice in the cell next to his, he stays strong for her sake. Then Natalie and Zach find a way to escape, and they flee the cartel, and Zach uses everything he knows to keep Natalie alive. As they are on the run in the deadly desert, with all manner of dangers, a sizzling chemistry erupts between Zach and Natalie. The enemy that is after Zach and Natalie, will do everything in his power to destroy them, no matter the cost. Will Zach and Natalie be able to survive,,,

I was able to win a copy of Breaking Point in a giveaway, and I was thrilled. It was a while ago, and I can’t believe that its taken me this long to read this. I have read Clare’s historicals (which I recommend), so I have been curious to see how her romantic suspense series would turn out. Even though this is the fifth installment, I never felt lost or out of place too much. Although I do want to read the earlier books now after reading Breaking Point. Breaking Point has a very intense beginning that sweeps you away right from the first moment. There is not one dull moment in this story.  There were so many things that I just adored about this story. It has been quite some time since I enjoyed a contemporary so much. I tend to be a bit picky about them at times. Breaking Point begins with Zach and Natalie being thrown together trying to escape and survive in Mexico, with not knowing who to trust.

Zach has a dark past, one that haunts him, one where he blames himself, and suffers horrible nightmares. Despite the torture he has suffered, Zach is still the strong image of a Navy SEAL, however I loved seeing the vulnerability that we eventually see from him. You feel a kinship to him, and when you learn of his past, your heart just goes out to him instantly. Zach is very Alpha Male if there ever was one, has a commanding presence and takes control of every situation. In the beginning we see Natalie being kidnapped and seeing one of her closest friends being killed, so we see her vulnerability from the beginning. However you see how strong she is, and I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have to courage to do what Natalie did. Even though she is afraid and knows she will probably die, she throws caution to the wind, and just fights back and I loved that about her. She is one of my favorite heroine, she is tenacious, strong willed and passionate about everything she does. Seeing Zach and Natalie together, is such a sweet experience. There is definitely enough desire to go around to put the desert to fire, but I also enjoyed seeing their emotional connection grow as well.

Overall a thrilling romance that will set your teeth on edge in excitement and anticipation. It will rock your socks off!!! I am addicted to this suspense I team series, and I can’t wait to read the others in the series, especially if they are even close to how good this one was!!! A amazing story of danger, adventure, intrigue, and passion and a love story to ignite the flames!!  REMARKABLE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN!!!

First Line 
Natalie Benoit watched the streets of Ciudad Juarez roll by outside the bus window, wishing the driver would turn up the air conditioning.

Favorite Quote 
When I realized I was going to die, the only thing I could think about was you and what an idiot I’d been for not telling you how I felt about you. I think I’ve loved you from the moment you lifted that awful blindfold off my face. I opened my eyes, and there you were, the bravest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. You set me free Natalie. In so many ways, you set me free

My Grade 
5 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In Series 
Extreme Exposure
Hard Evidence
Unlawful Contact
Naked Edge
Skin Deep
First Strike
Striking Distance

Book Review-Ride The Fire

Ride The Fire
Blakewell/Kenleigh Family (3)
Pamela Clare
Leisure
Paperback
356 Pages
Published March 2005
Colonial Romance
ISBN: 0-8439-5487-6

Synopsis
There was only one rule on the frontier — survival. So when a wounded, buckskin-clad stranger appeared at the door of her isolated cabin, Elspeth Stewart felt no qualms about disarming him and then tying him to her bed. Newly widowed and expecting her first child, she had to protect herself at all costs. And Nicholas Kenleigh threatened not only her safety, but her peace of mind. The terrible scars on his body spoke of a tortured past, but his gentle touch and burning gaze awoke longings she had never expected to feel. Bethie had every reason in the world to distrust men; the cruelty she had suffered at their hands had marked her soul, though her blonde beauty showed no sign of it. But little by little she found herself believing in Nicholas, in his honor, his strength. As he brought her baby into the world, then took both mother and daughter into his care, she realized this scarred survivor could heal her wounded spirit, and together they would…

 MY REVIEW 


Summary:
Elspeth Stewart, pregnant and recently widowed, lives alone until a stranger comes to her door, and through a turn of events ends up tied up on her bed, and injured. Bethie knows that she is alone now and pregnant and must do whatever she can to protect herself, especially from a man that points a gun to her head. But Nicholas Kenleigh goes from a stranger, to the man that helps her birth her daughter, and a man that she falls in love with. Nicholas has suffered a painful past and finding Bethie and her daughter has revived him in ways that he never expected. Now as they journey together to escape danger that could put all of their lives in jeapordy, the strength from the newfound love with heal them both of past wounds….

The Hero (Nicholas Kenleigh)
Nicholas, once was close to his family, but now has estranged himself from them as means of protection, because he believes himself a cold and dangerous man after being tortured by indians and seeing things that torment him. Six years have past since he has suffered so, and his heart is like ice, until he comes across Bethie, whose strong spirit melts the ice around him, and makes him believe that he can heal from those tortured wounds.

The Heroine (Elspeth Stewart)
Bethie, has suffered a tormented past, and has learned not to believe in herself or anyone else. As a young girl she was violated by her step brother, and then forced to marry a man twice her age or more so, and one who died and left her alone and pregnant to fend for herself. But when Nicholas comes to her home and ends up tied to her bed she knows that he has made her believe again….

My Thoughts 
Ride The Fire is third in the Blakewell/Kenleigh family series, by Pamela Clare. Ride The Fire was filled with one adventure after another. I had such a fun time reading this one. This was the first book to read by this author, and I just fell in love from the first page. From the heroine tying up the hero…to them journeying together to escape dangerous indians who intent on killing them, and we see a tremendous change from Nicholas who is a renegade and cold inside, turns into a passionate and protective man and a tender love story where two people heal each other through the love they feel. A truly impressive story, one that will have you turning the pages as quickly as you can read them!

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
Carnal Gift
Sweet Release