3.75 stars

Hard Asset is the second book in Pamela Clare's Cobra Elite series, but it can be read as a standalone. This is actually my first Pamela Clare book and I really enjoyed it. I'm even more excited to dive into her backlist now.

Hard Asset is a fast-paced survival romance. Shanti is an attorney working for the International Criminal Court. She has to go to Bangladesh, the country where she was born, to investigate war crimes committed against the Rohingya refugees. Others who tried to investigate these war crimes have been captured by the Myanmar army, so the Cobra Elite team is hired to accompany and protect her. Shanti and the head of her security, Connor, have this instant connection that is tested to the limits when they become stranded in the jungles of Myanmar. They are forced to rely on each other to survive and to make it to the border to Bangladesh all while escaping the Myanmar soldiers who are after them.  

The plot was thrilling and exciting, often leaving me at the edge of my seat. The romance was pretty good as well, though I will confess that I was more into the whole survival aspect than the romance itself. My favourite thing about the romance is how the hero and heroine are both so mature, but disagree on a moralistic stance regarding the use of violence and weapons. This disagreement led to some level of tension between them, but not too much. I think sexual tension was definitely missing for me. There was sexual attraction, but not too much sexual tension because the characters seem to get along for the most part. There was also not much resistance, even though the hero constantly emphasized he could get fired for sleeping with the heroine.

Some of the chapters ended rather abruptly. The writing is crisp and sharp, perfect for the action and survival part of the story, but Clare's prose is not emotive enough for me. There is significant emotional development, but not too deep or detailed. The emotional depth only seemed to shine through in the last 20% and I think that's the main thing that's off about the book. I wanted to feel the love between Shanti and Connor a lot more than I did. I think Clare nailed the emotionality when it came to describing the struggles and trauma of the Rohingya refugees. But when it came to the romance, the emotionality was basically bland, except for the very last part of the book.
 
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, even if I did enjoy the action more than the romancr. I'm a little anxious to read the first book in the series because Afghanistan is such a controversial setting...we'll see. But I'm definitely psyched to read the I-Team series!

P.S. I love how much Connor loves elephants

Hard Asset is the second book in Pamela Clare's Cobra Elite series and can definitely be read as a standalone.

This book follows the Cobra Elite team as they work as security for a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court. Connor O'Neal is the lead on this security mission - protecting ICC prosecutor Shanti Lahiri at all costs. On a dangerous mission in Bangladesh, Shanti and Connor find themselves attracted to one another but decide not to act on that until the assignment is over. Fate has other ideas, however, and the two get stranded in the jungles of Myanmar and are chased by the enemy.

I don't read a ton of romantic suspense but I love Pamela Clare's books and Hard Asset is no exception. I can't wait for the next Cobra Elite novel! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I read a book by this author I've come to expect some hard hitting realism's about the world today, things that make this book stand out for me against other run of the mill romantic suspense.

The case that Shanti was working on was brutal, hearing the testimony from the women made me cry in how horrible it was and knowing that while this book is fiction this happens to real people every day. I found myself cheering Shanti on, wanting her to get the "bad" general, to make him pay, although it wouldn't be enough. Having the Cobra team along to keep her safe went a long way in helping keep Shanti focused on her job.

Quickly though it went to crap in a big way and it seemed like we had the Shanti and Connor show, fighting their way across a hostile country with limited resources. I admired Shani during their run, she kept up good and didn't complain. All I could think during the action was there is no way I'd have been half as good, nor thought on my toes like that. Along the way they had to make some tough choices, choices that could've cost them their lives, but luck seemed to be on their side as they made it through.

You would have thought that it would be all rainbows and puppy dogs for the couple from here, but Connor was too much in his head, the old "I'm not good for her". It took a while, time to think and his dad's sage advice before Connor really sought what he wanted in Shanti.

And as good as the whole book was, for me the best part was the end, Connor having to submit to such a common ritual, an odd thing for a grown man, even odder considering the things he'd done in his life, but something he very much needed.

ARC received for review

Connor and Shanti...war and peace...warrior and angel. They shouldn't have worked together, but they did. Man, Shanti kicked butt in the jungle, and showed she was made for Connor. Connor was strong, but gentle when she needed it. Of course, once they're out of the jungle, he gets stupid man disease, but eventually gets it right. A sex porn temple in the middle of the jungle..lol

Shanti is a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court, who is trying to get evidence against a corrupt leader who's perpetuating mass genocide including horrible violence against women and children. To do so, Shanti has to travel to Bangladesh, her father's homeland, to talk to and record information from traumatized witnesses. It's extremely dangerous and so an armed security team has to go along to protect her.

Connor is the leader of the Delta Force team. He's as tough as they come having seen and been through a lot in the Service. He realizes that Shanti's focus is on peace and she doesn't like soldiers and guns but sometimes they are necessary. Connor is attracted to Shanti but it's forbidden for operatives to have relations with clients. Of course when their helicopter crashes and they are in survival mode lines get blurred. Excellent romantic suspense.

Hard Asset by Pamela Clare is the second book in the Cobra Elite series. This book will appeal to anyone who loves Military Romance. Shanti Lahiri is a prosecutor for International Criminal Court sent to investigate war crimes in Bangladesh. Her fathers home country.
Conner O’Neal is leading the Cobra Team sent to protect Shanti. You can tell by the subject of this book that Ms. Clare was a investigating reporter. As soon as you start reading this book you know something crazy is going to happen. Midway into the book the action starts and didn’t stop until almost the end.
A couple from two different worlds come together to find love.
I love all the I team book and look forward to what comes next.

I’ve been hooked by Pamela since the first book I read from her I team series. Full of action and sexy times this book did not disappoint. Loving this spin off series and can’t wait until the next one is out. Keep them coming 😊

I'm seriously loving this new series by Pamela Clare. There were so many good things in Connor and Shanti's story. They're an opposites attract couple, one's a fighter and the other's a peace-seeker.

Hard Asset gives you a good look at both sides of the coin. There was no right or wrong, just different ways to work together to accomplish true unity.

Things get extremely dangerous when Shanti's efforts to bring down a very, bad man strands her in the middle of a jungle with just Connor to save her from an army of bad men.

For a peace loving woman, Shanti was every bit the fighter to stay alive. Their time in the jungle gives her a good look at why men like Connor are necessary. It also showed Connor that he isn't just a soldier.

This story was incredibly detailed in a way that fascinated me as I followed their journey through the jungle. Shanti is a better woman than me. I don't think I could have handled half of what she experienced. However, I sure would love to try it with Connor!

Shanti and Connor had a very hard time of it in, Hard Asset. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? I enjoyed the fact that even though they were running for their lives, they still were able to appreciate their surroundings.

It took me a little bit to warm up to this, but once I got further into the story it was non-stop suspense and romance all rolled into one. Hard Asset is deep and emotional, taking you on a journey and showcasing a romance between two very different people who turn out to complement each other perfectly.

The story follows Shanti, a prosecutor gathering evidence for a human rights trial. She’s all about peace and doesn’t think highly of soldiers now that she’s seen some of the atrocities they’ve perpetrated during war. When her safety becomes a concern, Connor is tasked with watching over her. An operative and solider for more than a decade, Connor has seen his fair share of war - and done plenty of dark things in the name of keeping the peace. Fundamentally, these two couldn’t be more different, but attraction sparks between them from the very beginning. When things go awry and this pair spend time in seclusion, their beliefs are put to the test and they find they might not be so different after all.

The writing is great throughout, and these two characters are so complex that it’s easy to get drawn into the story. I will admit that the beginning of the book felt a little bleak for me - the author lays out the realities of war in black and white (triggers galore), but it’s all done in the name of understanding where Connor and Shanti stand on things. Once the book moves into the second act, I was totally immersed in the story and the beginning just laid the foundation for the things explored later in the book. This is true romantic suspense - both elements are explored throughout the book in equal measure. I received an ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review about this sexy and suspenseful book.