Hard Asset (Cobra Elite #2)
by Pamela Clare
Blurb:
Shanti Lahiri’s
tragic family history inspired her to fight for justice. Now a prosecutor with
the International Criminal Court, she doesn’t have time for dating or
relationships. When an investigation takes her to the Rohingya refugee camps in
her father’s homeland of Bangladesh, the last thing she wants is an armed
security team following her everywhere and frightening her already traumatized
witnesses. But others who’ve tried to investigate these crimes have gone
missing, and Shanti doesn’t want to be the next one to disappear. Despite her
misgivings, she has no choice but to accept their protection. And, no, the fact
that the team’s leader is lethally sexy has nothing to do with her decision.
An undeniable attraction…
Connor O’Neal
left the Unit—Delta Force—after a decade of war, scarred both inside and out.
Now an operative with Cobra International Security, he’s been tasked with
protecting Shanti in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. He can
handle anything the bad guys throw at him, but nothing prepares him for the
instant attraction he feels to Shanti. From the first moment he sees her, he
wants her. Too bad, because clients are strictly off-limits, and he’s a man who
follows the rules—most of the time. Besides, he can’t afford any distractions
when Shanti’s life is on the line.
A merciless enemy…
But something
about Shanti breaks through Connor’s defenses, forcing him to confront his
demons. As their mutual desire transforms into reckless passion, Shanti
discovers evidence crucial to putting a mastermind of genocide behind bars.
Connor knows her life is in immediate danger, but his plan to get her out of
the country comes crashing down when a traitor strikes, leaving the two of them
stranded in the jungles of Myanmar. Now on the run from a ruthless killer and
his army, Connor and Shanti are fighting for survival—and a chance at the love
of a lifetime.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
Well
Pamela Clare never ceases to amaze and intrigue her readers with her ability to
bring out the darker sides of humanity and the sadness of the world while at
the same time giving us hope that there are those still willing to fight
against it. I have enjoyed this new independently published series, Cobra
Elite, she began a little while ago and as time goes on I enjoy it more and
more. This installment has us traveling
with two characters that has series trauma in their pasts but they refuse to
let it beat them down and keep them from fighting the injustices in the world.
Shanti is a prosecutor determined to bring a seriously bad guy to justice and
while she understands the danger of her job she doesn’t feel that bringing a
bunch of alpha males, armed to the teeth, along with her on her quest is the
best idea. Connor is just trying to get
through each day, but when he is given a task he executes it to the best of his
abilities and his current task is making sure that Shanti survives to bring her
case to fruition. As they work together to gather evidence and testimony from survivors,
each of them comes to see another, deeper side of the other and the attraction
is irresistible, despite Connor knowing that he can’t have a relationship with
a protectee. When they find themselves stranded in the wilderness, running for
their lives, their survival depends on one another and their wits, leaving the
connection becoming stronger and stronger.
Once they find a way to safety will they break all the rules and find a
way to be together or walk away from a chance at a love that could last a
lifetime and become the foundation for a life they both need more than they
ever imagined. Shanti is truly a brave
woman—she is venturing into territory where not only her safety but her life is
on the line to gather evidence in order to bring a dictator and mass murderer
to justice. She is noble, sweet,
dedicated and sexy so who could blame Connor for losing his head and heart to
her. She has her hang-ups to work
through to be sure, but one she begins to see more in Connor than the surface
he presents to the world, to see the wounded and needy man underneath, she
knows she can be what he needs to be whole again. Her determination to survive and thrive in a
world that is against her every step of the way makes her a wonderful and
amazing character to get to know. Connor
was a man that I would love to have for myself.
While he certainly wasn’t perfect by any stretch, he was a good man
through and through, completely incorruptible and sweet at the most unexpected
moments. He was strong and sensual of
course but he was also damaged and needed to find his center in order to be
whole again and he found that with Shanti.
I loved seeing these two interacting each and every moment, whether they
were clashing or coming together to survive or simply falling in love, the heat
between them was enough to singe the world.
I am dying to read the next story in the series and see which Cobra
operative loses his (or her) heart and meet the amazing person that manages to
steal it. Another great addition for my
Clare bookshelf to be sure.
*ebook provided by publisher (via
NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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