Customer Reviews

Unlawful Contact (I-Team Series, Book 3)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one rollercoaster ride of a book; I ran an entire gauntlet of emotions while reading it. I loved the chemistry between Marc and Sophie; and the storyline was just plain scary with seemingly impossible odds for them to overcome. Pamela Clare once again uses her incredible talent and real-life experience to thrust the reader into a world that is all too real, and a plot that could be ripped from the headlines. All wrapped in a disturbing and absorbing story that takes you deep into the realm of desperation, betrayal and the abuse of power... And out the other side.
Sophie isn't your typical simpering heroine, she's a fascinating blend of innocence and passion, strength and weakness; and while I was upset by some of her choices, I could still understand them. I totally adored Marc; he's all male, exuding masculine strength and sensuality.
He's no-nonsense tough, sexy as ALL get-out, and 100% devoted to his woman and his family.

Pamela steams it up with very hot, passionate love scenes, and you'll want to swear, cry, laugh, and cheer. Don't miss this latest, highly intense installment in the fabulous I-team series!

The Investigative Reporter Series:

Extreme Exposure

Hard Evidence

Unlawful Contact


Pamela Clare is a favorite author for me because of her historicals. Her previous two reporter contemporaries were good, but could not touch the emotional draw of her historicals. With "Unlawful Contact", she has done it. I was totally swept up in this story. Holding my breath through some scenes, laughing through others, and saturated in sorrowful compassion through others. One thing I never felt was bored. Each time I thought that the problems could easily be solved, Clare threw me for another loop. I was constantly guessing, but she stayed several steps ahead of my predictions. Clare's magic is back in full scale!


Sophie has dated plenty, but no man can compare with the one who took her virginity at 16. He was the school bad boy. The one she had a huge crush on, but was sure would never notice her. At a graduation party for his senior class, Hunt shocked her when he appeared to stop some guys who were threatening to harm her. He protectively put her in his car and drove them away from party. That night, under the stars, Sophie offered her innocence to the one man she wanted most. After their single special night, Hunt left to report for duty with the army. Neither would ever forget. Both would dream of one another for years to come.

12 Years Later:


Sophie has met her goal of becoming a successful investigative reporter. For the past several months, she has followed the story of a young woman trying to start a new life after years of drug addiction. Sophie was there for the birth of the Megan's daughter, her struggles with rehab, and her triumphant release from prison. Now Megan is entering a half- way house to finish her rehabilitation. If she can stay clean, she will soon win custody of her daughter. When Sophie goes to visit Megan in her new home, she is shocked to learn that Megan has taken her daughter and fled. Worse, drugs were found in Megan's room. After so much hard work to get clean, it appears Megan has relapsed.

Hunt's life has been a waking nightmare for the past 6 years. He had everything... multiple metals of honor from the army, a great career as a sniper for the DEA, a nice home, and he had finally located his long- lost little sister. When he found Megan, she was a junky. He managed to help her straighten herself out, until one fateful day when Hunt's partner from the DEA showed up at his home. Megan became hysterical at the sight of the man. She claimed he had raped her multiple times while she lived in a juvenile corrections facility. In blind rage, Hunt shot his partner to death. Days later, a large amount of drugs were found in the crawlspace under Hunt's home. The DA then accused Hunt of killing his partner to hide Hunt's involvement in drugs. With so much evidence against Hunt, the DA quickly won a conviction for first- degree murder. Hunt is now serving life, without the possibility of parole. To Hunt, it is all worthwhile because his sister never has to be threatened by his ex- partner again.

When Hunt learns that Megan has disappeared, he knows she must be in danger. Being locked up, Hunt can do nothing to help her. His only choice is to escape and search for Megan before the predators who are chasing her find her. In all of his years in the army and prison, memories of a sweet girl named Sophie have pulled him through. Now he must use her to make his escape. Setting up an interview with her, Hunt plays out his plan to use her as a hostage. His face covered in a beard, his hair grown out long, Sophie doesn't recognize him. Fighting his own conscience, Hunt must ignore her terror as he leaves the prison with a gun pointed at her head.

Now free, Hunt leaves Sophie in a safe place and calls police to give them her location. Knowing they will find her and take her to safety, he sets out on his quest to find Megan. A big piece of his heart is left with Sophie, just like it was 12 years ago.

Sophie is devastated. The man of her dreams has turned out to be a cold- blooded murderer, drug dealer, and now kidnapper. She doesn't believe his story about the drugs be planted in his home 6 years ago. She also can't believe that the drugs found in Megan's room may have been planted. With determination in every step, Sophie launches her own investigation to find Megan. The deeper she digs, the more she begins to wonder if Hunt and Megan really were innocent. Reality hits her in the gut when drugs are found in her own car. She now knows that the plants are real. She is going to jail herself.

When Hunt learns that Sophie has been targeted, he immediately sets plans in motion to save her from being convicted falsely. Once he gets Sophie under his protection, he can keep her safe while continuing to search for his sister. Working as a team, Hunt and Sophie will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth. As Sophie's eyes are opened to the torment that has been Hunt's life during 6 years in prison, she makes it her goal to reveal the real criminals and see both Megan and Hunt freed from the threat of returning to prison.

Hunt has no hope for his own future, but he knows he can save Megan's. He will cherish the few days he has with Sophie until Megan is found. Then he will race his sister across the border to start a new life... One he must live without Sophie. No matter what happens, Hunt would rather be shot down than returned to prison. Sophie is desperate to save the man she has loved since she was a teen. Enemies and friends alike are hunting the lovers down. The question becomes "Which friends are actually enemies?" Who can they trust? Sophie has faith in her friends. Hunt trusts only himself and Sophie. Death stocks Hunt, but he will never allow it to touch Sophie or Megan.


Believe it or not, this is only the first half of the story. "Fast- paced" doesn't even begin to describe how this story unfolds.

During their time together, Hunt will open up to Sophie about his life in prison. As a former drug agent, other inmates hate him. As a "cop- killer", many of the prison guards hate him. For six years, he has survived constant rape and murder attempts. His body and soul bare the scars.

Sophie and Hunt know the time they have together is very short. They make it a point to treasure every moment. Ultra- scorching love scenes and powerfully emotional bonding lock you to the pages of this book. Add adrenaline- pounding action and a constantly twisting mystery and you've got a terrific story. Just awesome!

If you've been following the series, you'll also get updates on all of the characters from the previous books. Super- hot cop, Julian from "Hard Evidence", plays a major role in "Unlawful Contact".



If you want to read the whole series, here are the links to the first two:

Extreme Exposure

Hard Evidence

...and the next in the series: Naked Edge (I-Team, Book 4)


If you'd like to read Clare's historicals, here are the links:

Three Part Series:
Sweet Release
Carnal Gift
Ride The Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) --One of my personal all- time favorite historicals!

"The MacKinnon's Rangers Trilogy":
Surrender (Leisure Historical Fiction)
Untamed (Leisure Historical Romance)
Book 3 is yet to be announced

This is the latest book in Pamela Clare's I-Team series it's book three (if you don't count the short story from the series as well in Catch of the Day). In this one the main character is Sophie Alton a top-notch investigative reporter for the Denver Independent and has never had a problem putting her neck or her heart on the line for her story, but this time it just might be fatal to both...

While Sophie is doing an expose on a young mother in a corrections facility she uncovers much more than she bargained for, but ever the trooper Sophie does all she can to help the young woman get her life together and her story out. Suddenly the young woman (Megan) disappears and Sophie is more than a little worried about her and her now missing child as well. She is surprised when she is asked to come to visit the brother of Megan who is also in prison (for murder without parole). Sophie readily agrees wanting to find out anything she can to help Megan, but when she gets there Megan's brother Marc Hunter pulls a gun on her and takes her hostage in his escape.

Marc Hunter is desperate man and desperate times call for desperate actions, and to save his sister and her baby girl from the men trying to kill them he will do anything. And that includes kidnapping the beautiful lady reporter that has been trying to help his sister. It has been many years since the last time that he saw Sophie Alton and so many things have changed in both of their lives, its no small wonder that she doesn't recognize him.

Can Marc convince Sophie to believe him and help him find and save his sister and her child? Can Sophie look past the man he has become and the sins of his past? And will the passion that sparks between them be the very thing that could save them both or will it be the thing that destroys them all?

This is one book that is truly one thrill ride after another. It's not your average contemporary suspense. The story is both thought provoking, sexy as all heck, and touching beyond belief (I will admit it had me crying more than once and in a good way!) It's been a long time since a book touched me this deeply and actually made me take a look at some real issues that I'd never even considered before. Add to that many twists and turns that will have you guessing to the very end. And if you are like me and have enjoyed the others in the series you get to catch up with many of your favorite characters from the other books!

If you love a good story with heart, sex appeal, and suspense I cannot recommend this one highly enough. And while it is part of the I-team series it can stand-alone and it is well worth the time! Pamela Clare is a master at putting you in the story and in the eyes and hearts of her characters. Get this one you will be so glad you did!

Pamela Clare has always written stories that stay in your head and heart long after the last page is turned,and this book is no exception.Her writing is crisp and clear enough to keep things moving steadily forward,yet rich in the kind of detail that pulls you into the story and makes you savor every moment you will spend with Marc and Sophie.I loved reading this book,it is utterly engrossing and has so many wonderful moments between the main characters.From heartwarming and tender to steamy and sexy,as well as fantastic suspense,mystery,and drama.Pamela writes in a way that lets you truly understand the characters and their motivation,that brings them to life.Whether it's a sexy hero,smart,sassy heroine,or a villain that you just love to hate,she creates some of the most memorable characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.Finding a great read that has so many wonderful elements that work together can be tough sometimes,but Pamela Clare's writing is balanced and superb,as usual.She has great talent in her historicals as well as the romantic suspense genre,which is a rare thing to find in an author.Pamela never disappoints!

During high school Marc and Sophie share one night of passion under the stars.Both go their seperate way. Years later they meet again when Sophie interviews Marc in prison.Marc takes Sophie hostage and breaks out of prison.He goes on the run to stop those who would kill his sister and Sophie. This is one great read.The cat and mouse suspense is intense. The love scenes hot. The love that rekindles between them is poigant.You will root for them to have a happy ever after.

Man oh Man! What a Man!! I really loved Marc/Hunt and Sophie's romance-suspense story. This story is so very exciting and touching. I was sometimes crying and laughing at the same time. The most wonderful thing about Pamela Clare is that she completely ties up all loose ends. Marc literally survived living in hell. Sophie was his perfect antidote and gift after having such a brutal life. And, when Julian (my still favorite hero) walked into the Pastor's house I thought I would scream my lungs out. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. If you are not reading the I-Team series you guys are missing a true joy. Actually, every single series she has is so heart tugging and wonderful you cannot put a book down.

I read Extreme Exposure and was very disappointed with the book. I had no hope that things would get better but am happy to say that Unlawful Contact was sooooo much better than EE. First off, Ms. Clare did not bog the pace down with over explaining every little detail an I-Team investigative reporter would do. That little foul up is what I hated most about EE. So much so I was bored to tears.

Sophie and Marc had great chemistry from the get-go and their personal history served well in developing the plot and making their characters believable. The horrors of imprisonment as told through Marc's experience made me feel like I was in the cell with him and the Sophie showed just enough bravery, uncertainty and normal woman behavior that I felt right in tune with her as well. The romance aspect of the plot was (in a word) HOT. the author wrapped up the crossing plots nicely but coud have done just a bit more with Meagans trials and tribulations but since this was not her story I was fine with it. I have Hard Evidence to still read and now have high hopes that the quality of writing will continue.

Pamela Clare has written the most wonderful book. It is passionate, gritty and realistic. You can almost feel the effort and care that has gone into writing this. I have spent an entire day just glued and could barely tear myself away to go and pick up the dh from the train. I did not really want it to finish! There were surprises even at the end and it was so nice to see previous characters make an appearance. Marc has to be one of my fav heros in an age. He is raw, sexy and unapologetically tough. I also really liked Sophie, she was no ones fool and was willing to go after the truth. Both characters were very human also and accessible. Fab reading, thank you Miss Claire!

The characters in UNLAWFUL CONTACT, the latest in Pamela Clare's romantic suspense series, have backgrounds that couldn't be more diverse. The intensity of their love brings them back together after a decade apart. Now they must stay one step ahead of the good guys, because in reality some of them aren't so good, in order to stay alive. Romantic suspense lovers shouldn't miss this book.

Newspaper journalist Sophie Alton's investigative reporting on women in prison introduced her to Megan Rawlings, a young woman convicted on drug charges who hasn't seen her baby since giving birth to her in prison seven months prior. Sophie has followed Megan's story closely and intends to be present when mother and child are reunited. She is shocked to learn that Megan has fled with her baby and that drugs were found in her room. Soon after, Sophie receives a request from Megan's brother, also in prison for murder, to visit him for information about Megan. It isn't until after she is taken hostage by the brother that she learns he is Marc "Hunt" Hunter, the same guy that she fell hard for in high school. The bad boy that Sophie loved back then pales in comparison to the man Hunt has become, except for the underlying tenderness and genuine caring that unmistakably remain a part of his personality.

Hunt has resigned himself to the fact that he will be in prison for the rest of his life, using inside connections to provide extras for his sister's comfort and care, until he learns that his sister and her baby have disappeared. He's determined to find Megan, feeling certain that there are details about her incarceration and disappearance that the authorities are hiding. Sheer desperation is the driving force behind his abduction of Sophie and escape from prison. And while he is full of guilt over taking her, Sophie's sweet softness is something Hunt has thought about every single night in prison; the attraction between them is undeniable. It isn't long before Sophie and Hunt are on the run, fighting to stay alive while they search for Megan and her baby, and rediscovering a burning passion that never died.

This book literally took my breath away. Pamela Clare has done a brilliant job of interweaving characters, emotions, and has written spine-tingling twists and turns in the plot while maintaining rich intrigue and clarity, making the many layers of this book that much more incredible. Sophie and Hunt are intelligent, extremely likable characters who never forgot each other despite having lost touch. Not only does this book have intriguing suspense, but it smolders with intense sensuality and passion. The romance between Sophie and Hunt is deeply touching.

And for Ms. Clare's readers who fell in love with Julian in HARD EVIDENCE? You only thought you loved him before - I guarantee that you will be head over heels by the end of UNLAWFUL CONTACT! Characters from EXTREME EXPOSURE and HARD EVIDENCE return to play an integral part in this story and catching up with them is a sweet bonus. I cannot give this series a high enough recommendation, and while you can read and enjoy each book on its own, my suggestion would be to read them in order.

I laughed, I cried(get tissues out for the ending)I sighed- I bit my lips till they bled-what more could you ask of a romantic suspense novel.

I absolutely loved Marc (Hunt) as the high school "bad-boy"--and fell more in love with his character as the story unfolded.
sophie-what can you say about this strong-smart character-she absolutely completed Hunter...And all the other characters from the previous books---GOTTA LOVE JULIAN (HOT) ---although.....Hunter gives him a run for #1 hottie in this series.....................
Pamela you are now one of my favorite authors-Im saving that cover in my laptop......ahhh