This was such a great start to a new series! Both Jenna and Derek were likeable, strong characters that develop throughout the book. Action and suspense weave together with backstory, drama, and romance to produce a page-turning story that you will want to read all in one setting. If you are familiar with Pamela Clare’s writing, you will not be disappointed; if you are new to her, you will not regret reading this book.

Seriously? How on earth are you supposed to "not judge a book by its cover" when the cover looks so good?
Hard Target by Pamela Clare is a romantic suspense. Derek (hero) is part owner of a private security company and is hired to extract a midwife from Afghanistan where she's working. Jenna (midwife/heroine) is also the younger sister of Derek's best friend. A best friend who saved Derek's life at the expense of his own. Derek and Jenna have a shared history and an attractionwhich they explore while he's keeping her safe from terrorism.
I enjoyed Hard Target. The characters are likable ... even the secondary characters. This isn't my first book by Pamela Clare. She's one of my go to authors and has been for a while. Hard Target is one of her best.

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!