Review: ‘Hard Evidence’ by Pamela Clare
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Hard Evidence
by Pamela ClareSeries: I-Team #2
Published by Berkley on October 3, 2006
SubGenres: Romantic Suspense
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 352
Narrator: Kaleo Griffith
Length: 11 Hours And 34 Minutes
Source: Purchased
Audience: 18+/Adult
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After the murder of a teenage girl, a mysterious man in a black leather jacket was seen lurking near the crime scene. Investigative reporter Tessa Novak has him in her sights as the culprit…
That man was Julian Darcangelo—an undercover FBI agent working with the Denver police. He’s closing in on the trail of a human trafficker and killer. Tessa’s accusations could blow his cover—and he wants her off the investigation.
But just as Tessa has made Julian a target of interest, she is now a target—of the killer. And as they are forced to trust each other, their physical attraction escalates as intensely as the threat from a ruthless murderer who wants to see both of them dead…
Hard Evidence is the second book in Pamela Clare’s I-Team Series, and I’m truly regretting not reading this series sooner. It has me hooked and delivers exactly what I crave in Romantic Suspense. The plotlines keep me guessing and feature a strong cast of relentless, driven characters determined to crack every case/story.
Tessa Novak is an investigative journalist determined to uncover who murdered a teenage girl right in front of her, putting her safety and reputation at risk. The person she suspects, Julian Darcangelo, is an undercover FBI agent whose entire mission could fail if Tessa blows his cover. As Tessa pursues the case and discovers there are more victims, she becomes a target, forcing Julian to protect her from the very person he’s trying to take down and causing his cover to be broken.
One thing stands out in this series, and even though it’s only the second book, it’s how fiercely independent the heroines are, throwing themselves into danger to get the story and learning to fight back. That’s exactly who Tessa Novak is. She’s a fierce heroine, and I loved her. I admired her even more for the way she handled Julian.
Julian is a true alpha hero, relentless in taking down criminals while fiercely protecting the journalist determined to help with his case, though he’s initially reluctant to have her anywhere near it. I loved his protectiveness toward Tessa and his resolve to teach her self-defense if necessary. The chemistry between them sizzles, slow-building, undeniable, and explosive once they give in. I’m definitely craving more slow burn romance lately, and Pamela delivered with Julian and Tessa’s romance.
The storyline is dark, mentioning the trafficking of young women, intense violence, murder, and a mention of SA near the end. There is also a major betrayal involving someone close to the male main character and his case. I never saw it coming until it was too late.
Overall, this was a gripping, dark, adrenaline-filled ride, and I give it five stars. I’m eager to continue the series and delve into more of Pamela Clare’s backlist. She has become a favorite author.
POV: Third Person (Dual POV)
Would I recommend this book/series? Absolutely, if you want Romantic Suspense, this is the series for you. It delivers high-intensity scenes, well-developed characters, and sizzling romance.
Favorite Quotes:
“I’m half Italian.”
“Which half?” the words were out before Tessa could stop them. Was she flirting with him? She never flirted with men.
His lips curved in a slow, sexy smile that made her heart trip. “From the waist down.”
“What you in for baby?” “Castrating some guy because he annoyed me.”
“After you come, I”m going to rip those jeans off your body, wrap your legs around my waist, and fuck you the way you’ve wanted me to since we met.”
What to Expect:
✔️Romantic Suspense
✔️Forbidden Romance
✔️Opposites Attract
✔️Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️Slow Burn
✔️Investigative Journalist Heroine
✔️Undercover FBI Agent Hero
✔️Alpha Hero
About Pamela Clare
USA Today best-selling author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the First Amendment Award and the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, she was honored by the Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists with their Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. A single mother with two grown sons and two cats, she writes historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense within view of Colorado’s beautiful Rocky Mountains. She is a two-time RITA finalist (Surrender, Defiant) and a three-time Daphne du Maurier finalist (I-Team series). She loves history, having studied archaeology in college, and has traveled extensively, living for almost three years in Denmark, which feels like home to her. She attributes her love of historical romance with the years she spent visiting ruins and castles in Europe.
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