A medium paced military romance. It was a little slow at first but the story picked up and fleshed out in the middle. I liked the social aspect of the main female character. She was likable and relatable.

4.25 stars--HARD TARGET is the first instalment in Pamela Clare’s contemporary, adult COBRA ELITE romantic, military suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for the Black Ops Company known as Cobra International Security. This is Cobra owner and Green Beret Derek Tower, and thirty-year old, nurse/midwife Jenna Hamilton’s story line. COBRA ELITE is a spin-off from the author’s I-Team Series. Several characters cross-over for familiarity and back story including Holly and Nick, and Javier’“Cobra’ and Laura.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Derek and Jenna) HARD TARGET followed Cobra International Security owner Derek Tower as he is hired to retrieve US Senator Hamilton’s daughter from a compound in Afghanistan. Jenna Hamilton is a midwife who is contracted to work with, and help the women struggling in the Balkh Province of Afghanistan, which is currently under the protection of a warlord turned politician. What ensue is the battle to protect Jenna from an unknown enemy, and the building relationship between Derek and our story line heroine.

Years earlier Green Beret James Hamilton lost his life protecting our story line hero Derek Tower, now it was his turn to pay back the family by rescuing the woman with whom he would fall in love. Things go from bad to worse when Jenna refuses Derek’s offer to return back to the States, as she struggles with the religious beliefs of a country not known for protecting their own. Several attempts to kidnap our will eventually be successful but in doing so Derek’s man will risk their lives for the woman he loves.

The relationship between Derek and Jenna begins as a forbidden romance in a country where women are treated like trash. As Derek goes undercover as Jenna’s brother, their secret will come to the forefront threatening everyone including our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including numerous men and women who work for Cobra International Security; several midwives in training in the Afghanistan compound, along with the security and soldiers; as well as Jenna’s father Senator Hamilton. The requisite evil has many faces.

HARD TARGET is a fast paced story line with a copious amount of technical detail and military jargon, researched geographical locations and destinations, as well as the threats against the women living and working in the Middle East. The premise is intriguing, engaging and edgy; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are energetic and inspiring. HARD TARGET is an action packed story that pays homage to the women who suffer to protect the lives of others.

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Derek is not exactly happy when he is cornered into taking a job in Afghanistan, babysitting the daughter of a Senator. This stubborn woman has put herself in jeopardy, and now he needs to get her back home.

Jenna loves working as a Midwife but in Afghanistan just getting babies delivered and keeping their mothers alive is dangerous work. Between misogynistic attitudes and poor supplies, she and her small team have their work cut out for them. She does not need her father making her life more difficult and trying to drag her back home. She doesn't care that Derek is a handsome guy...nope, not even a blip on her radar. Damnit she can't even lie to herself!

A brilliant read with a really well-researched story detailing the problems faced by women in the war-torn area and the struggles to even survive pregnancy into motherhood. Derek always finds a way to respect the local cultures but also keep them safe. When you realise that time and time again it is someone close to them who puts a target on Jenna's back, well your blood will boil!

Derek is an ex-military private security operative and Jenna is a midwife aid worker in Afghanistan. Jenna's controlling father, a U.S. senator, hires Derek to get Jenna to leave Afghanistan any way he can, so she will stop risking her life and become a conventional political daighter. .When the two meet, Derek immediately sees how important Jenna's work is and does his best to support her while trying to convince her to go back to the States. Much of the story deals with living among the Afghan people and the tragedies of life for them under the current regime in Afghanistan. The development of the relationship between .Derek and Jenna is moving and I got completely caught up in their story. There are many exciting scenes as well which makes this a real page turner. Recommend.

This story was full of action and suspense, some heartbreak with the conditions in the region, and great chemistry between them. I do have to say, that there was one particular scene I was really annoyed with Jenna. She had been in the area for six months and knew the culture so her actions frustrated me. I loved her passion and dedication to saving lives, but I was still frustrated with her.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Derek Tower is the co-owner of a private security organisation that has links across the world including Afghanistan. He is hired by a US senator to go and extract his daughter from there whether she agrees or not. Derek agrees to talk to her but refuses to take her against her will pointing out his presence may make the situation more dangerous for her. Jenna is working to train midwifes in the country that desperately needs the help and refuses to consider leaving before her contract expires. However, things start to run out of control meaning they are fighting for survival. Face paced and action filled. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Full of suspense with a side of romance, Hard Target is an action-packed adventure that balances some heavy storylines with tender moments. I’ve never read one of Pamela Clare’s books before, so when NetGalley offered me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, I thought I would give the book a try. I’m a fan of well-done romantic suspense, and Hard Target is certainly well written. The story is engrossing, the characters are engaging and likeable, and the action keeps the pages turning. It is perhaps more suspense-focused than the books I normally read, but the story is well developed and poignant.

Hard Target follows Jenna, a midwife who has committed to working in Afghanistan, despite the danger awaiting her there. Derek is the owner of a private military company (and the best friend of Jenna’s deceased brother), who is hired by Jenna’s father to get Jenna back on U.S. soil by any means necessary. When Derek meets Jenna, he realizes that this fiesty and capable woman has no intention of returning home just because her job is dangerous. As the two spend more time together, they begin to connect on a deeper level, and some dangerous situations draw them even closer. But Derek is unsure if he is even capable of having a relationship because he travels so much for work, and Jenna is not sure what awaits her in her future. It’s a complicated romance in a dangerous setting, and makes for an intriguing story.

Pamela Clare launches her Cobra Elite series with “Hard Target,” a thrilling, fast-paced romance between battle-hardened private black-ops company owner and a volunteer midwife.

Watching over a US senator’s daughter in Afghanistan isn’t Derek Tower’s normal job assignment, but Jenna Hamilton is no ordinary aid worker. She’s the younger sister of man who died while saving his life and now he’ll do anything to keep her safe.

Jenna knew the dangers of doing volunteer work in Afghanistan. She doesn’t want or need the bodyguard hired by her controlling father even if he is drop dead gorgeous in a brooding kind of way. But when she finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation, she must trust Derek with her life.

Clare pens a high octane story full of twists highlighted by the sexy romance that feels absolutely real with a well-researched backdrop. Nail biting moments take the reader on a steamy and intensely thrilling ride. Derek and Jenna may seem completely incompatible, but in the spellbinding suspense their romance makes perfect sense.

Derek and Jenna are wonderful characters with an obvious attraction. Derek is the quintessential alpha male. He’s bossy, cocky, protective and loyal while Jenna is passionate and caring. I loved catching up with Laura and Javier from Striking Distance and other couples from Pamela’s I-Team series and can’t wait to read more about the new characters introduced in this hooking page-turner.

Hard Target is book #1 of the Cobra Elite series by Pamela Clare. It is a standalone, romantic suspense, told from both points of view, and has a happy ending.

Amazon -> https://amzn.to/2Va8gTG

An Outstanding Story .
I volunteered to read and review a readers copy thru Netgallery of Hard Target . I really found this story fantastic . It takes off from the beginning and is full of action and suspense . There's danger all around . Derek Tower part owner of Cobra International security is asked to protect and bring home Jenna Hamilton a midwife volunteering in Afghanistan . He cannot turn down the job she happens to be his best friends younger sister ,the same friend that died saving him . The area where Jenna is at is very dangerous but she refuses to leave . She knows the women need her and she will not be controlled by her father the senator that sent Derek there . Derek will protect her with his life if need be . While protecting her their feelings develop and danger comes calling ! I really enjoyed reading this story it's well written and the characters are fabulous . I highly recommend taking the time to read this story . A definite 5 stars .

I so appreciate that Pamela Clare can balance romance, passion and action in her books! Hard Target is the first in a new series, and it launches it fantastically. Hard Target stands alone, but if you have read Ms Clare's I-team series, you might recognize some characters. If this is your first Pamela Clare, buckle up! It's a sexy, action packed read. I found myself drawn in easily, and it's one of those stories i was compelled to read straight through. I appreciated that the dialogue is so suited to the characters and the situations, and that the love scenes actually move the story along!
I look forward to the series.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Great new series- spinoff from the I-Team gang that I loved!

Very action packed and emotional. Jenna's life in Afghanistan is to serve the many pregnant women there and their daily struggles. I found this part of the book very interesting and informative while definitely pulling on the heartstrings. The emotional situation with Derek having served with Jenna's brother and brings even more impact to the story.

Derek is an operative that fills all the blanks: hot, sexy, protective and unknowingly about to fall head over heels for Jenna. The danger they find themselves in is suspenseful and written to keep you captivated. I enjoyed the romance between Jenna and Derek. I did love the attention to detail and events in the majority of the book, but then I felt like at a certain point it was a little bit of rush to get this gang to the US and lacked that previous attention.

Overall good read!

Enjoyable!

Quick paced plot with some very intense moments and one heck of a surprise twist but a very sweet HEA.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the author Pamela Clare for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the first book in a series. I found this book to be complicated and intense, with lots of action. Who are the good guys, the bad guys/ the lines seemed blurred. This is the story of Derek and Jenna. Jenna is a midwife (fascinating) whose brother was Derek's best friend. I enjoyed this book. Rate it 4 stars. I think alot of romance readers will enjoy. Lots of suspense.

I really should read the description of a book before I request on NetGalley but the truth is that I would read anything written by Pamela Clare. I have read historical fiction and romantic suspense written by her, loving them all. Nothing has changed in that department, I loved Hard Target too. It’s just that you could have knocked me over with a feather when I read the author’s notes at the beginning of the novel. I was expecting Colorado for this new series just like the previous but almost all of it happens in war torn Afghanistan. Now I trying to guess where the next book’s setting.

Hard Target is the first book in the new Cobra Elite series. It starts the series with an action packed explosive story that has a strong love story that is just as explosive. This is a story that is not making a political statement but there is politics, along with villains and heroes. Derek Tower and Jenna Hamilton are two of the true heroes. In spite of their parentage, they make us proud. Thrilled to see the way the story concluded for them.

Just as strong is the poignant side to Hard Target. It would be impossible for a woman to read this book without saying a daily prayer for women in countries under political and religious rule where as one character stated, “It is better to be a goat than a woman.” Having been a teacher of ten to twelve year old children, I can’t get past the thought of twelve year old girls being married and having babies. It is a story I will never forget.

I cannot believe that I have not read a Pamela Claire book before! I so enjoyed this book, the slow burn up to the fighting, then simmering to the end. Perfect mix of romance, fighting, suspense. The storyline kept me coming back for more! I’m ready for the next one in this series.

A fabulous romantic suspense to start this new series by Pamela Clare. The characters are well delivered, the support characters engaging, and the story is compelling. I will be recommending Hard Target and looking to read the next book in this series

Hard Target by Pamela Clare is my 2nd book I’ve read from this author and I really enjoyed it. It was action packed and kept me on my toes. Derek Tower, a former Green Beret and now co-owner and CEO of Cobra International Security is pretty much ordered to kidnap the daughter of a US Senator who is volunteering in Afghanistan as a midwife. Reluctantly Derek goes, but insists he will only be a bodyguard and try to persuade Jenna to come back to the states.

Jenna Hamilton is passionate about her work as a mid-wife and educating the woman in the region. So when Derek shows up and she learns her over-bearing father hired him to bring her home, she is furious and refuses to leave. Jenna is not just any assignment to Derek, she is the younger sister of his best friend, who happened to have died saving his life. So if Jenna is not leaving, he needs to make her as safe as possible.

Their story was full of action and suspense, some heartbreak with the conditions in the region, and great chemistry between them. I do have to say, that there was one particular scene I was really annoyed with Jenna. She had been in the area for six months and knew the culture so her actions frustrated me. I loved her passion and dedication to saving lives, but I was still frustrated with her.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Derek's work is often top secret as his government funded missions often take him into war torn countries. When Jenna's father, Senator Hamilton, calls and demands that Derek go to Afghanistan and abduct his daughter who is working as a midwife things go sideways. Although Derek points out that that is illegal, the Senator is not above using his position to threaten the funding of Derek's team. He also uses the death of his son who died saving Derek's life as a bargaining chip. So Derek goes to try to persuade Jenna to come home. When that doesn't work, he vows to keep her safe while he becomes more and more attracted to her. When Jenna is targeted by the local killers, Derek has to do whatever he can to save her. Lots of action and romance make this a great read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this new series!

**I received a copy of Hard Target from Net Galley and the author in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions stated below are mine and not solicited in any way**

Hard Target by Pamela Clare is the first book in her new Cobra Securities series. If you've read any of her I Team series you'll recognize some of the men who now work for Cobra. I loved this book and am so glad to have the author go back to Romance suspense again. The research that Ms. Clare did to write this book is outstanding as it puts you the reader right there with Jenna helping to deliver babies and teaching her students at Kazi Women's hospital in a country that doesn't allow women education.

Jenna Hamilton is in Afghanistan for the next 18 months teaching the local women how to be a midwife. Her meddling senator father has sent her late brother's best friend to bring her home but she has no intention in leaving before her contract is up. Jenna makes one mistake when a young girl is in maternal danger (Not allowed) will have both of them fleeing for their lives. Little does she know that someone close to her will put both Derek and Jenna in danger and taken hostage. Will Cobra find them in time?

Derek Tower grew up in Foster Care after his mother ODs on drugs and joins the military after graduation. His friendship within his Green Beret unit but when his best friend James sacrifices his life to save Derek during a sniper attack now has the Senator demanding he bring his daughter home. He'll help Farzad with new security cameras after an attack and find out who the traitor is when both Jenna and Derek must leave to keep the hospital and the student safe. Derek's Cobra partner Corbray from the I team series will soon have to rescue both of them after being taken hostage.

Awesome book and can't wait to read about some of the other men of Cobra Securities.

Hard Target is the first book in a new series of romantic suspense novels from popular author Pamela Clare featuring the men (and maybe women?) who work for Cobra International Security, the high-end security firm owned and run by Derek Tower, who was a recurring character in the author’s earlier I-Team series.  I confess that I haven’t read any of those books yet, so I was pleased to be able to jump in on the ground floor with this new series. Hard Target is an exciting, fast-paced read set mostly in Afghanistan, a country that is still unstable and tearing itself apart, and the author does a great job of showing just how dangerous it can be and how people like the heroine – who have gone there to help – walk a tightrope every day in order to do their jobs and stay safe.

Derek Tower is furious when he receives a call from Senator Hamilton, demanding Derek personally brings his daughter – currently working as a midwife in Afghanistan – home to the US.  The senator sits on the Armed Services Committee and thus has the ability to make life very difficult for Derek and his company, but even so, Derek refuses to be intimidated.  He can’t just kidnap a US citizen and tells Hamilton so – but he agrees to fly to the hospital Jenna Hamilton works at to see if he can persuade her to come back to the States.  But he doesn’t do it for Hamilton or for Cobra. He does it because Jenna’s brother had been Derek’s best friend when they were both green berets, and had died saving Derek’s life.  He owes it to him to try to keep his little sister safe – although he doesn’t hold out much hope of being able to persuade the young woman to return with him.

And he’s not wrong in that.  Jenna is six months into her two-year contract working  with and helping to train badly needed midwives, as well as running in education and outreach programs to help women to understand more about the changes their bodies undergo during pregnancy.  Jenna is a spirited, independent woman who refuses to let her father dictate her life any more, and is determined to see out her contract and refuses to budge.  She’s doing good, much needed work; she’s saving lives and hopefully more will be saved in the future and she’s not about to give it up because her controlling father insists she should be sitting at home waiting to get married.

When Derek tells Hamilton Jenna refuses to come home, the senator goes ballistic – and then Derek finds out that he’s fired Cobra from the job.  He decides to stay for a while longer – on his own dime – to watch out for Jenna.  Her father wasn’t wrong when he said that extremists had been known to kill midwives, and now he’s got a feel for the situation at the Kazi Women’s Hospital, he’s reluctant to leave.  When Jenna gets herself into hot water by arguing in favour of a life-saving procedure for one of her patients – a girl of twelve whose body isn’t mature enough to be able to bear her child – Derek and the head of hospital security manage to smooth things over… but it’s a close-run thing.

I found the aspect of the story that addresses the situation facing women in Afghanistan really compelling – as well as depressing – as I read about the way women are treated in this once enlightened country, deprived of education, forced to stay indoors, isolated from the world, their lives controlled entirely by men.  When Jenna gets into trouble over the twelve-year-old girl, it’s not because she is rude, but because she dares to speak to another woman – the girl’s mother-in-law – in the presence of a number of men to whom she is not related.  As one of Jenna’s students says, “it is better to be a goat in Afghanistan than a woman.”

I was thoroughly caught up in the plot, in which the author creates an atmosphere of uncertainty with a real sense of imminent danger that kept me invested in the story and wanting to know what was going to happen next.  Unfortunately, however, the romance in the novel is almost non-existent; Derek and Jenna are instantly attracted to one another, and although Derek has to go through all that ‘shagging my best friend’s little sister would be breaking the Man Code’ and ‘I don’t do relationships’ stuff – none of it stops them from getting down to business at the first available opportunity.  It’s clear they like and respect each other – which is as good a basis for a relationship as any – but there’s nothing much beyond that; there’s no real emotional connection between them and not a great deal of chemistry either.

For the first three-quarters of the way through the book, I was confident I’d be awarding Hard Target a solid B grade, due entirely to the well-conceived and executed suspense plot and interesting background.  Ms. Clare is a veteran of the romantic suspense genre and really knows how to write an exciting action sequence, and it’s clear she’s done her homework on current Afghan society and on the science of midwifery. The trouble is, however, that when she turns her focus to the romance in the last quarter of the novel, the pacing collapses faster than an undercooked soufflé.  And because I didn’t feel there was much between Derek and Jenna other than a healthy dose of lust, I wasn’t particularly invested in the outcome of their (not)romance.

So I knocked off half a grade point for the fact that the romance (such as it was) failed to capture my interest.  If you’re a fan of the author, or if you like your romantic suspense much lighter on the romance than the suspense then Hard Target is probably worth a look.

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