Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely intense!, April 1, 2008
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!
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The BEST of the series so far! Excitement, Mystery, Burning- Hot Romance, but most of all Emotionally Powerful!, April 9, 2008
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
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!
First in Clare's "The MacKinnon's Rangers Trilogy":
Surrender (Leisure Historical Fiction)
FINALLY! The sequel to "Surrender" is scheduled to be released in November 2008! Here is the link:
Untamed (Leisure Historical Romance)
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!, April 2, 2008
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!
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