Hard Justice by Pamela Clare

Category: Romantic Suspense
Publication date: 12/17/2019
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No

I might’ve mentioned a time or ten how much I love this author, right? Well, her record of never having let me down is still blissfully intact.

via GIPHY

Plot overview: Cobra International security operatives Quinn and Elizabeth team up to catch a killer and make themselves targets in the process.

So, first of all, this book can be read as a standalone. (Although I don’t know why you’d read it as a standalone. The rest of the series is damned delightful)

This book has everything I’ve come to love in Pamela Clare romantic suspense novels:

1. Lots of action. And I’m not just talking about the bedroom kind of action. Ahem. 
2. Strong alpha male heroes who are never alphaholes. In this case, Quinn is a sexy Scotsman who treats Elizabeth (or, Lilibet, as he calls her...how freakin’ cute is that?) like a queen at all times. He’s never anything but sweet and respectful and all kinds of HOT, and still manages to kick ass when necessary. He’s a keeper as far as book boyfriends go. 
3. Strong heroines who are smart, great at their jobs (competence porn at its finest), and never TSTL, which is sometimes a problem in romantic suspense. But Elizabeth plays it smart at all times. She never rushes head-first into danger. She thinks and plots and plans ahead, and it’s super refreshing. 
4. Setting descriptions that make you feel like you’re right alongside the hero and heroine on their journey. This time, Ms. Clare takes us to Glasgow, and I swear to you, I could almost taste the fish and chips and see the castles in the misty distance as I was reading. 
5. Super steamy sexy times that never feel rushed, awkward, or out of place. 
6. Pacing that’s darn-near perfect. The story never lags.         

 
And on a more personal note, I love how Elizabeth didn’t hesitate to get on a plane and go to Quinn when he needed her, even though he never would’ve asked her to do it. Their friendship and their slow build from friends to lovers was awesome. It felt very...real, for lack of a better word. 

So, it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that I enjoyed the crap out of this book. If you aren’t already a Pamela Clare fan, I suggest you start 1-clicking, because you’re REALLY missing out. 

Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author free of charge. 

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It absolutely CRUSHES the stigma.

More 1-clicking advice...

STEM Romance heroines who prove smart is sexy

The ULTIMATE military romance reading list

The ULTIMATE Friends-to-lovers romance reading list (for now)