Hard Line

This is a fast moving story that had me turning pages just as quickly as possible.  I loved the story and the way the environment almost became a character as it was so integral to the story.    In addition to being an engrossing story, it was fascinating to read about such an unusual environment.

If you enjoy romantic suspense at its best, you will love this book.  I stayed up way too late reading it as I couldn't put it down.  This one is a must read for fans of the genre.  The author is on my must read authors' list.

This was a solid 4 star read for me.  It makes me wonder why I haven't read Pamela Clare's books in a while.  I loved to I-Team series when I was first getting into reading years ago.  But for someone reason, I haven't picked up one of her books in forever.  

So I was so happy to get an ARC of this series.  Sadly I haven't read the first few, but it did not hinder this book at all.  I never felt lost or confused.  But it definitely made me want to go back and start with book one to get to know all these characters better.  

Thor was such a great character.  He is Danish, an extreme badass, and has done it all.  While he loves what he does he is feeling like he can't find the right woman who can tolerate him and his job.  He definitely wanted to fight his draw to Samantha, but he just couldn't do it.  I loved all the times he tried to say English words, but was just a hair off on the pronunciation.  Then his witty sayings like "Don't paint the devil on the wall".  

Samantha was a great heroine.  Even though she had some insecurities because of past bastard boyfriends she was so level headed and great.  It is truly refreshing to read about what I would believe is a normal chick.  Don't get me wrong, she had some time locked in her head, but she figured her shit out and got on it with.  She had a lot of shit thrown at her, but she still didn't take any shit from Thor.

I truly forgot how much I loved reading suspense/mystery style romances.  Where the angst is about who did it and not just drama between the couple.  Super refreshing. 

I'm curious if Jones and Kristi will meet back up later in this series.  

ARC kindly provided by NetGallery and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for an honest review.

The Viking has arrived!!
Thor Isaksen is a loner. He spent 2 years in the Artic with a did sled team. So when the mission comes up to the South Pole he’s all in.

Thor smiled up at the sky, the aurora blazing around them, the Milky Way stretching into the distance overhead. 
Dr.Samantha Park’s is a scientist. When her research partner and best friend is killed she is devastate.

“Look at these guys.” A kid filmed them with his smartphone. “We’re screwed. They’re going to take all the women.”

Ms.Claire’s books are torn from the headlines. Full of suspense, romance and intrigue. This fifth book in the Cobra Elite series is the best yet. Maybe had to do with a sexy Dane!!

I read Hard Line, while it has been over 90 degrees outside. I can't believe that people can work in that environment. Brrrrr! Thor falls fast for Samantha. She is so shy, it was cute watching her come out of her shell. An excellent book that I would like to reread.

Once again this author gives us a riveting , edge of your seat story from the first page to the last, in her latest book in this series.
This time the story centers around Dr. Samantha Park and Thor Isaksen.
Samantha is a scientist working in the South Pole. A woman who has just lost her research partner. She is still dealing with that loss when Cobra Int’l comes to her station with orders to recover a crashed satellite. The team leader is Thor, a Danish Special Ops and a man determined to keep her safe.
But the danger lurks around every corner. Will they be able to save the day, and stay alive and maybe find their HEA, or will the enemy win  after all?
A story well worth your time.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Great book!! Great series! I'm loving this series! There's just so much suspense, intrigue, and heart pounding moments! Definitely don't miss out on this book and series!! It's well worth the read!Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

I really enjoy Pamela Clare’s romantic suspense books, especially Hard Justice, which I loved. Give me (alpha) men and women saving the world any day, particularly when the books are so sweet & so steamy. But Hard Line, her latest release, falls flat for me.

The premise is that relatively new Cobra recruit Thor Isaksen is sent to Antarctica to retrieve parts of a satellite that was hacked & destroyed by an as-yet unknown entity.

The researcher asked to help him & his team is astrophysicist Dr. Samantha Park, who’s still reeling from the death of her best friend & fellow researcher.

But of course nothing is what it seems with her friend’s murder & Thor & his team have to solve the mysteries before lots of innocent people are hurt.

As always, it feels like Clare’s done the research & the plot moves quickly & with skill. The Antarctica setting added a lot to the mystery, providing many possible new challenges for the MCs to overcome. I always appreciate the steam Clare brings & enjoyed the dynamic between the sensitive alpha Thor & the brilliant but insecure Samantha.

But I have two big issues with this read. First, Samantha’s lack of confidence, which is pervasive & includes her appearance & even how she talks about her astronomy work with Thor. I didn’t see much evidence of growth in this until the end of the book & even then, as she notes in one instance, it seems largely more attributable to how Thor has made her feel instead of her own conclusions about herself.

& speaking about Thor, his efforts to show Samantha how sexy she was by using his arousal as “proof” kinda make me roll my eyes.

My other issue with this romance is how the lines are so blurred between Thor’s professional demands & his relationship with Samantha with very little introspection or deliberation about how he is blurring them. His actions & his teammate Jones’ actions make me doubt their qualifications as operatives—maybe because so much of those scenes feels surface-level to me.

I look forward to reading a future Pamela Clare book but this one just didn’t really work for me.




CW: pretty gruesome story about Thor’s wartime experience including murder. Other on-page murders.


3⭐️. Hard Line is available now. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

What starts out as sabotage - with vague implications for world security that's not brought any further than that - turns into a murder mystery in the brutal cold. Set mostly in the deep, chilly region of Antarctica, 'Hard Line' was interest-grabbing from the start--but then again, I tend to gravitate towards extreme environments and an author's ability to make use of such settings to craft a tale.

It's the big Dane Thor Isaksen's turn here (complete with the endearing foreign-language mistranslations from time to time) as the Antarctic environment makes the most use of his skills and his growing attraction to Dr. Samantha Park. Thor and Samantha are generally likeable good guys who are dedicated to their own fields of work: both genuinely care about each other after a short time together, are straight with each other and don't take each other for a ride like many romantic pairings are wont to do.

Pamela Clare's Cobra Elite series continues its run as books that that focus equally on romance and straightforward suspense plot-lines, as elite operatives from Cobra International fall one by one, into their HEAs in diverse contexts and wildly different environments.

And like most RS books, there's always a part that demands the suspension of belief and it wasn't surprising that there were a few moments here as well, where I had to shut an eye to several unlikely situations. Still, 'Hard Line' was an easy read and an engaging one: I liked it for the setting mostly and didn't have too many issues at all with the characters, but it did in the end, lack some kind of chutzpah that would propel a book to a 5-star rating.

This romantic suspense was a heavier on the suspense, lighter on the romance, but an overall fun read!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.
 
Hard Line by Pamela Clara was a definitely a thriller that kept me on my toes. Dr Samantha Park is a scientist working in Antarctica when something unexpected happens, her friend and fellow scientist dies. At the same time a team of security specialist from Cobra Security arrive to retrieve a fallen satellite component that other countries want to get their hands on. On this team is Thor Isaksen a Dane who had spent two years on Sirius Dogsled Patrol and who knows a thing or two about cold places. This story had it all mystery, suspense, and romance, I found the story about scientist and a security team down in Antarctica intriguing because there is no way I would want to go anywhere that cold but still so interesting to read about. I like the development of Samantha and Thor's relationship, it wasn't too quick and it wasn't slow, I just wish I felt more chemistry between these two. This story kept me engaged and interested in more stories about Cobra Security.

Full blog review online in September.

HARD LINE is the 5th book in Pamela Clare's "Cobra Elite/Cobra International Security" series, this time featuring Dr. Samantha Park and Thor Isaksen. Samantha is a scientist working in the South Pole. A woman who has just lost her research partner. She is still dealing with that loss when Cobra International comes to her station with orders to recover a crashed satellite. The team leader is Thor, a Danish Special Ops and a man determined to keep her safe when danger comes to call. But the danger lurks around every corner. Will they be able to save the day, and stay alive and maybe find their HEA, or will the enemy win after all? A story well worth your time. Good RS by one of the best in the genre.

This book is set at a research station at the South Pole.   A member of the research team has died, and a satellite  has crashed with critical components that have to be kept out of enemy hands.  A top notch security team has been sent to recover the components and try to figure out who hacked the satellite.  The author sets the atmosphere well, you feel like you are there, at the South Pole.  There is suspense and danger, both from people trying to recover the satellite and the weather.  This book is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone.  Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Once again Pamela Clare has brought us on an exciting adventure of romance and intrigue!  I almost feel like I have traveled the globe with this series.  These Cobra Elite men are going from one country to another, out to save and protect a wide variety of people.  

I feel like this author has done such a great job of research to accommodate each individual story and where it's based off of. In Hard Line we get to travel to the Antartica. I was so intrigued by this new environment and the researchers on the assignment that I pretty much devoured the book.  

I read for the romance but I can honestly say I would have enjoyed this just as much even if there was no romance in it.  I don't get to travel much in my life so when an author can take me with her in a book, I'm deeply grateful.

I am glad there was romance because we got Thor.  I'm pretty sure I drooled over this fictional character.  I loved is physical description, his honorable character and I especially loved how tough he was. This guy could endure extreme temperatures and was so level headed in very dangerous situations.  He's exactly what I think a guy in a Danish Special Forces would be.

Samantha was another positive to the story.  I really like smart heroines.  Frankly, you don't get a lot of heroines in romance books who are highly successfully in either business or in a specialized field like Samantha is.  In fact that has been the case in every book of this series.  It's why I'm such a fan and will keep reading them until the end.

Pamela Clare books just keep getting better! I couldn’t put this down once I started - murder, secret technology, an astrophysicist and all at the South Pole! You can’t get much cooler (ha!) than that. Clare has the steamy scenes I love in romance with a smart and capable heroine along with an alpha hero.

Thor and his Cobra colleagues are sent to Antarctica when a US satellite is hacked and they are to collect secret tech on board. They aren’t exactly welcomed by the scientists who don’t want to deal with politics.

Samantha is an astrophysicist researching galaxies. Her best friend is found dead and she has to help Thor get the tech recovered.

When the death becomes murder, the Cobra guys are deputized to find the murderer along with finding out who the hacker is. There’s danger from within the South Pole Base and from the dangerous weather outside.

This was my favorite book in the series so far!

I have read many of Pamela Clare books and this one did not disappoint.   It had both suspence and romance. The story is about Thor and Samantha who are braving the elements together in the south pole while Thor is trying to keep Samantha safe.  I cant wait to read the next one in the series.

Hard Line was a pretty suspenseful read! I loved the setting-Antarctica seemed appropriate for Thor, Danish Cobra operative and cold climate survival guru- to work his skills. Samantha was also a treat with her intelligence and Astrophysicist job. Jones and Malik were great sidekicks too. I loved seeing previous characters pop up from the series to lend a helping hand. The suspense and mystery with the satellite crash left me curious to how everything would play out. My only hiccup was that Thor and Samantha’s hook ups didn’t always hit the mark in terms of timing, but I was too engrossed in the mystery to let that ruin things for me. 

I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I love, love, love this series!  The men may be Alpha but they are not a$$es.  They straddle the line between protector and partner quite well and more than happy to bow down to their female when they are the ones with the skills required.

Case in point Thor.  He may be badass, former Danish Special Forces, and survivor of all things Arctic but Samantha is the Astrophysicist and Antarctic Survivor and the closest they get to a rocket scientist.  Her skills at times are the clear winner and he readily becomes her assistant.

Crashed satellites, murder at the South Pole, traitorous selling of secrets, and red-hot romance.  This book has everything.  Even the chance to learn some Danish!! Samantha may be a bit of a social introvert, Nerd Girl but that seems to be just the kind of female that Thor needs!  I swear these two could cause a few icebergs to melt!

Thor's backstory is heartbreaking and Samantha's self-esteem took a walloping from her odious exes.  They weave themselves together and become the glue that the other needs.  Loved it!

ARC received for review

Another great book by Ms. Clare. I've never read a book written in this locale. It was amazing and fascinating. There was intrigue, action, freezing cold, romance, and lots of sexy times. Loved see lots of the previous peeps again. I can't wait to see who falls next.

Hard Line may be the fifth book in the Cobra Elite Series but it is the best of the best by Pamela Clare. I enjoyed the Colorado High Country but love the exotic settings that each story has taken in this series. However, I never would have thought that the South Pole would be the number one location but it is. Dr. Samantha Park’s and Thor Isaksen’s story is exciting, thrilling, dangerous and romantic. Still without a doubt the setting takes on a life of its own. I would swear after reading this that Ms. Clare must have spent a winter at the South Pole because it was all so believable. The research needed to convey this must have been deep and detailed. Kudos for making me feel the bone freezing cold, experience the too familiar enclosure that also seem isolated, then feeling as if I was seeing the night sky at the end of the world right along with Samantha and Thor. 

The book has it all emotional. The emotional turmoil of losing a friend, the adrenaline rush of a new mission, the challenge of surviving against the elements, the horror of thinking that there is a killer in your mist are all there for the reader to experience along with the characters. Then there is the high of a new intense romance Who would have thought some place so cold could be so hot!

Easy to read so that I stayed up way to late to finish the book last night. Not just to see who the killer was but to see how the romance would pan out because these two lead quite different lives. Cobra Security Agents came in person and remotely to help solve this case. I always enjoy seeing glimpses of the previous book characters. Then I liked the teaser of what could be the next Cobra Security Agent’s book. If so it will be off to somewhere vastly different from the South Pole. I can hardly wait. Keep writing, Pamela Clare.  

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy through Netgalley of Hard Line . This story is Outstanding from start to finish . This story is definitely a pulse pounding thrilling ride of suspense romance . I could not put this story down . Thor Isaken leads a small Cobra team to the North Pole . Their mission to retrieve and keep a dangerous weapon from enemy hands . Upon arrival to the station there they find the scientist that was to help has mysteriously died . Dr. Samatha Parks will be with them instead . As they struggle with the hundred below tempitures and Thor and Samathas attraction to each other a killer is lurking . It may cost Thor and Samatha their lives before its over . This story keeps you turning the pages . I love the Cobra Elite series this is book five . I highly recommend taking the time to read

Nail biting, edge of seat read. I enjoyed Thor and Samantha'ss tory. IT sucks you in from the beingging and takes off from there. I really enjoyed this world and characters. I have to go back a read the first few in the series!

A really nice romantic suspense set in an unusual setting – in Antarctica.

Every so often I like to read a book set in an unusual place. There aren't that many romantic suspense books set in Antarctica, at the research station at the South Pole. And that was the first thing that interested me in this book. I sincerely wish I had started reading this book the week before, during the heatwave. In such weather, I like to read stories that happen during a cold winter or at the Pole. And here the weather and climate of Antarctica play a significant role in the story.

The characters are well-written. Both Samantha and Thor are intelligent and behave rationally. I would prefer Samantha to be a little more confident and different from the stereotypical nerdy heroine, but she is okay. Her insecurity and low self-esteem are well explained by her past experiences, so in the end it wasn't that much of a problem for me. Thor is fine too, he is a capable and determined man, but he doesn't have to display his alpha and macho nature. Which I really appreciate.

The plot is also fine. The beginning definitely got me hooked. Then the story slowed down a bit, but luckily in the second half it speeds up again and a lot is happening. I really appreciate that I did not predict who would turn out to be the villain. Reasonable suspicions were distributed very well between the different people.

The only thing I don't like is that Thor does something rather foolish and utterly unprofessional when confronted with the villain. But luckily at the end of the story this gets addressed and pointed out and Thor has to explain himself for his decisions. And although I am not convinced that he did the right thing, I am glad that it was emphasized in the book.

I definitely recommend this to all who like romantic suspense in an unusual settings or looking for a book in a frosty climate during a heatwave.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is a mystery with a finite suspect list (about 50 people) in a place no one can leave. Should be a piece of cake, right? Well, it gets complicated and when you have former Spec Ops operators acting as detectives, it can make the whole deal more complicated. When messy emotions get involved, it is even more complicated. I really like books set in unusual locations. They have a whole different feel and character.

Cobra is called to recover components from a downed satellite. At the South Pole, in the middle of the Antarctic winter with temperatures dropping to minus 100 degrees and below. The mission is extremely dangerous, but the recovery is vital to national security. The skill set needed for this mission is specialized and Cobra just happens to have the operator who is best suited to this mission. Thor Isaksen, is the human embodiment of his Norse god name. Tall, rugged and off the charts hot. He is a former spec ops operator for the Danish military with experience in both Afghanistan and in the harshest of frigid climates. This tall, handsome Dane is just the man to lead the Cobra team.

The day Dr. Samantha Park finds her best friend and research partner at the Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica unresponsive in her room, her life changes. When Patty dies, Samantha grieves deeply. As an outgoing personality, Patty was not only Samantha's best friend, she was the one who dragged Samantha out of her shell and encouraged her to experience life. Now, she is being drafted to assist the Cobra Team in the high risk recovery of sensitive satellite components. Not a fan of the military to begin with, Samantha is even more unsure of the hot team leader. Her experience with the jock type has been nothing less than abysmal, but Thor soon shows her that her prejudices are wrong when it comes to him.

Working to recovering and secure the top secret military components from the satellite is just the beginning. Thor finds Samantha's mind just as sexy as her body. Their forbidden passion is as hot as the artic clime is cold. When Patty's death is found to be murder, Thor will not stop until they find the murderer. With a multimillion dollar payday in jeopardy, the killer will stop at nothing, even more murder, to escape with the secret components. It will take every ounce of Thor's mighty strength to stop that and keep Samantha alive.

I am a huge fan of the romantic suspense genre and I have always loved Pamela Clare’s I-Team series. She is a phenomenal writer, who’s story telling ability keeps you hanging as you go page by page. 

Hard line is the fifth book in Pamela Clare’s Cobra Elite Series.  This is the first book from this series that I have read and I can’t wait to go back and read the earlier books from this series. It was action packed, had well developed characters and a fantastic storyline.

Dr. Samantha Park is devastated when her best friend and research partner dies suddenly while conducting research in the South Pole. She is still struggling when she is asked to help Cobra International Security recover sensitive military components from a crashed satellite. Thor Isaksen has been asked to lead the mission- no problem, but he didn’t expect to been drawn into a mystery or his attraction to Samantha. Danger surrounds them and it will take all of Thor’s skill and strength to keep himself and the woman he loves alive.

I love Samantha and Thor, both individually and together. They had great chemistry and an instant and deep connection and understanding of one another that added to the depth of the storyline.

All the books in Clare’s Cobra Elite Series contain a happily ever after and can be read as a standalone, however, reading it in order will give you a better appreciation for the characters and the series itself. I can’t wait for the next book!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy received from Netgalley.

I like this series and this has to be one of my favorites in the Cobra Elite series.   The beginning of the book had me on edge.   The setting was so different and unique that I couldn't imagine anyone would want to work there.  By the time my fear abated the sparks were flying between Thor and Samantha.    
They are so different but they worked.   I love the  strong Alpha males Pamela writes.  They are protective yet loving.  They are also paired with an equally strong, smart female lead. 
This book brought out a full range of emotions.  I was need for the group,  laughing at their shenanigans and she'd a few tears.  
I was sad to see this end but looking forward to more I'm the series! 

I was provided a copy of this book for a honest review..

If there's one thing I know for sure about Pamela Clare, it's that she has no problem writing a steamy romance!  This book dragged me in within the first few pages, and I never stopped turning until I hit the end of the book, around 1am to be precise.  I am jumping into this series 5 books in, and what I always love about doing that is there are already a lot of books written.  If I like the book, I can read all the other books before the next one in the series is released.  I liked how I could read this book with no background on Cobra Elite and still completely understand the character dynamics.  I am looking forward to reading more about them.

Thor Isaksen grew up in the Danish countryside and spent a lot of time in the Danish special forces patrolling the ice-covered lands of Greenland, so he is no stranger to the cold.  When he is called to a mission in Antarctica, he jumps at the chance to explore a place that he'd wanted to go to for years.  When he arrives, however, the landscape soon takes a back seat to the seriousness of what has occurred, and the woman he is obliged to protect.  Dr. Samantha Park has just lost her research partner when she dies suddenly during the night, only shortly after a US military satellite fell to the earth only 350 miles from the Amundsen-Scott Station.  Devastated by her loss, she is even more alarmed to see a mercenary group show up to retrieve the satellite.  When her partner's death is revealed to be a murder, the mission commander, Thor, makes it a priority to be sure she doesn't die as well.  As they spend more time together, they quickly become more than just guard and scientist, but in the South Pole, relationships don't last long.

With a hero like Thor, I knew without a doubt things were going to get steamy.  And, of course, they did!  Thor had a really interesting background, and it was a great contrast to Samantha's experiences growing up.  As they learned more about each other, they grew closer and closer, and I was glad to see that the prejudices Samantha held towards Thor's profession diminished.  He was protective without being overbearing, which I liked, and Samantha knew when she needed to rely on Thor.  They were true partners, and it became more evident as the story progressed.  While I did feel that some of the story was almost too focused on the sexy times, I also realize that it's the South Pole and what else are you going to do when a man named Thor is in your bed?  I loved it from cover to cover, and it makes me wonder if I chose the right profession.

As always, I enjoyed Pamela Clare's writing and look forward to reading more in this series!

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

I loved the characters of alpha warrior Thor and the extremely brilliant Samantha. The book is fairly fast paced and had a good flow to it. The South Pole was a different destination to be and I enjoyed the setting. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

4.5 Stars!
Another book in Pamela Clare’s Cobra Elite series, another fantastic action packed story that had me fanning my face! 

Thor Isakson works for Cobra International Security. When the firm is contacted about retrieving a downed satellite in Antarctica, the Danish man is tasked with heading up the mission. With the weather elements they’ll be facing, it has the potential to be the most dangerous operation they’ve ever faced - so much so, the boss is sending only the unmarried/unattached operatives.

When Thor and his two teammates arrive on the South Pole, they walk into a station mourning the sudden death of a teammate and news that the crashed satellite didn’t crash on accident. And before the Cobra team can be extracted, they’re pulled in to solve not one crime, but two.

I LOVE this series! Each story has the perfect amount of suspense and steam and I sit on the edge of my seat the whole time. As with the other books, the suspense part of the storyline moves at a breathtaking pace and the 300+ pages flip by in a flash.

And I love Ms. Clare’s characters and the way their relationships develop! I always like the heroes, but I especially liked Thor. I love a hero who wants a life partner. Far too many romance books give us men who don’t want one and are opposed to a committed relationship, so it’s refreshing when that isn’t the case. Add in the fact that Thor’s all manly and protective - but without that obnoxious alpha-male behavior that has him grunting (or thinking) “she’s mine” - and this hero was truly a hero. The heroine, Samantha, was pretty awesome too. With a doctorate in astrophysics, she’s got brains to spare, but also needs help. What was so great here is that the hero was there by her side to support and encourage her - became her partner - instead of simply swooping in to save the day.

I can’t wait for the next book in the Cobra Elite series. I think we got a hint at the end of Hard Line who the next story will be about, so I can’t wait to see if I’m right. Either way, I’ll just be here...not so patiently waiting for it!

* thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGally Co-op for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Pamela Clare delivers another powerfully suspenseful romance, from the deft, real descriptions of the severe Antarctic conditions to a deliciously unlikely romance, that it’s hard to know where to start.
“Anyone else feel like we’re stuck in a three-dimensional game of Clue? … It’s someone with a xxx[edited to avoid spoilers] at the South Pole. But who?”
♕Plot: When a satellite crashes at the South Pole, Thor Isaksen and two other men from Cobra International Security are sent to retrieve sensitive components. For their mission to succeed they need Dr. Samantha Park’s help, an astrophysicist stationed at the South Pole’s research facility who is not only wary of military men, but is also mourning the death of her best friend and colleague.
But keeping the weapon secure and the woman Thor is quickly falling for safe turns out to be life threatening when a killer is loose and they’re trapped in the station until the one hundred below weather clears.
♕Hero: Aptly nicknamed Viking by his friends, Thor is Danish ex-military, he’s keeps to himself and is as tough as they come. He’s also incredibly caring and patient and I loved how he saw Samantha’s inner beauty and helped build her confidence as a woman.
♕Heroine: Even though Samantha had some self doubts about her allure, she’s a badass smarty-pants. I don’t believe I’ve read many books with book smart woman and I love it. Not only because the hero has to be man enough to appreciate this, but also because the heroine sets a great example.
♕Sexiness: There was no below zero temperature problem where Thor and Samantha were concerned. The two burned up the pages and I loved every interaction between the two. I especially loved how Thor gave her confidence in the areas in which she was lacking. They made the perfect couple.
”Samantha had lit a fire in him that he couldn’t put out with her intelligence, her directness, those blue eyes, her dancer’s body.”
♕Feels: So many emotions were brought expertly to the fore. ”Grief. Fear. Rage. Lust. Fascination.” I was at the edge of my seat reading without being able to put this story down.
♕Hard Line is book #5 of the Cobra Elite series by Pamela Clare. This was an incredible addition to Pamela Clare’s collection. I highly recommend this standalone romantic suspense, which is told from both points of view with a happy ending.

I really liked this book!  Action in Antarctica is a great story for Thor and Samantha.  Lots of action and suspense in this book.  Its pretty meaty in the middle with a great balance of romance and suspense.  Thor and Samantha's back stories were well written and I could feel myself on the ice with them. I have always enjoyed Pamela Clare.  She is able to pen a story that I can place myself in and feel the characters emotions.  I havent come across many authors that can do that.  I am always looking for a new book from her and I get excited when I see a pre-order or a notification that one is in the works!!! 
 I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!  #Clare #Netgalley #ARC #Hardline

Samantha has been working hard in Antarctica on a research project with her best friend Patty when the unthinkable happens. Thor has been resting up from his last mission when the call comes in that he will be sent to Antarctica on a mission. Samantha wants to have nothing to do with the “special; mission” she has been asked to help with, she wants to be left alone to grieve for the friend she has loss. Thor ;never expects to be pulled into investigating a murder, something he has no experience in but he finds he will do anything to, protect the quiet scientist he is drawn to. 

Samantha and Thor ,are radically different but compliment each other in a special way. I really enjoyed their story, it was a great read, had mystery, suspense and romance throughout. All around a great book.

I LOVED THIS ADVENTURE! This book will take you places you’ve never been. Thrilling escapades in an environment unlike any you’ve encountered before. Our hero is a god among men and our heroine is the smartest I’ve encountered in a while. Read this book.  Although it is part of a series it can be read standalone.

Hard Line was a great addition to the Cobra series! I really enjoyed this one. Thor and Samantha were both great characters. I thought they had great chemistry and I loved how resilient Samantha was. This is one of my favorite romantic suspense series. I am hoping for Malik's book next!

HARD LINE is the fifth instalment in Pamela Clare’s contemporary, adult COBRA ELITE romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Cobra International Security. This is former Danish spec-ops solider Thor Isaksen, and astrophysicist Dr. Samantha Park’s story line. HARD LINE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Samantha and Thor) HARD LINE follows in the aftermath of a downed military satellite in the remote regions of Antarctica. Thor Isaksen, and several members of Cobra International Security had been tasked with the recovery of the US satellite before it fell into the hands of a potential enemy. Staying at one of the South Pole science stations, Thor would come face to face with astrophysicist Dr. Samantha Park, the woman with whom Thor would fall in love but all was not well at the research station when a young woman dies under mysterious circumstances, and everyone including Samantha become suspect in her death. As Thor and several members of the Cobra Elite team are quickly deputised as US Marshals, an investigation would reveal a killer was closer than anyone could have imagined. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Samantha and Thor, and the potential fall-out as our couple are targeted and left alone to die in the Antarctica cold.

The relationship between Samantha and Thor begins as a working assignment when Thor discovers Samantha was the victim’s best friend.  Working together to retrieve the important parts of the military satellite, Thor and the agents from Cobra Elite would encounter a Russian Team hoping to take back what didn’t belong. As Samantha and Thor’s relationship begins to build, Samantha quickly realizes that their relationship comes with an end date, a date coming all too soon. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and animated secondary and supporting characters including several members of the Antarctica mission: site manager Steve Hardin, astrophysicists Greg Martin, Bai Zahang Wei and Kazem Hamidi, Kristi Chang RN, cook Jason Huger,  Lance, and coms manager Charli ; Cobra Elite Team members including co-owner Derek Tower,  Malik Jones, and Lev Segal; as well as  several Russian agents with questionable pasts.

HARD LINE is a story of betrayal, greed, survival, power and control. The premise is intriguing and imaginative; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are energetic and spirited. HARD LINE  is a startling and energetic addition to the Cobra Elite series.

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When her best friend and research partner dies just two months into their eight-month tenure at Antarctica’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Dr. Samantha Park is completely unnerved.  She’s grieving when three strangers arrive from Cobra International Security and ask for her assistance in recovering sensitive components from a crashed satellite.  She’s suspicious of the military and flying in austral winter is almost a death wish, but when she learns of the lives that could be lost if the components wound up in the wrong hands, she knows she must help.  She’s just surprised at how readily she comes to trust the Cobra leader, Thor Isaksen.

Danish native Thor is a veteran of combat in Afghanistan and a former member of the elite Sirius Dog Sled Patrol.  He’s used to dealing with the cold and isolation after two years spent in northeast Greenland so he’s the ideal choice to lead this mission.  He’s prepared for everything he must do to protect the potential weapon once it’s recovered, but not for his attraction to Samantha.  Even though he can’t afford the distraction, he and his team are stuck in Antarctica until the weather clears and he knows he can’t resist her allure that long.

When it becomes apparent that the death of Sam’s partner was not due to natural causes, Thor finds himself in charage of a murder investigation and wholly out of his depth.  In such a contained environment, the killer is bound to get desperate and Thor will be hard-pressed to keep himself, his team, and his newfound love safe.

When I saw this book was set in Antarctica, a setting I’d never read before, I knew I had to try it and I was not disappointed.  I loved this book.  Thor was a fantastic hero and Samantha was smart without arrogance or the awkward, literal logic that seems to be so popular to use right now with brainy heroines.  Instead, her brand of awkward was charming and utterly relatable, so her winding up with the hot guy was extremely satisfying.  The forced proximity and elements of danger and suspense here were excellent and enough to keep me hooked even after I’d figured out who the killer must be.  This book was unlike anything I’ve read before and I loved that.  I definitely plan to keep up with this unique and enthralling series as it reminds me of my first literary love, romantic suspense.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
This was my first Pamela Clare book even though I’ve had her on my TBR for ages, and wow did this book pack a punch! Can’t wait to devour everything she has ever written! If you want some good romantic suspense then look no further!

Our hero is a security specialist who is sent to ANTARCTICA to retrieve sensitive material to the pentagon. Our heroine is an astrophysicist working in the Antarctic and is asked to help retrieve the sensitive material. When these two get thrown together there are some definite sparks that fly in the frigid cold!

I’ve never read a book set in Antarctica before but I’m totally here for it! The setting was unreal but also felt so well researched and I want to read more with this setting away from the rest of the world. The hero is Danish (as is the author) and I loved reading about him, the fact that he was also a feminist dreamboat helped too! The heroine is shy and focused on her work but he definitely helped her out of his shell! This book had an amazing setting, amazing characters, perfect 🔥🔥🔥 and a great suspense plot line. I NEED MORE!

The fifth book in Cobra Elite, Hard Line is an engaging romantic suspense. Samantha and Thor were good character and were surrounded by great secondary characters. I enjoyed the story and the characters and will look to read and recommend more by this author.

Wow!  This was a satisfying read. It had everything I want in a romance novel.  Action, suspense, romance, and heat.  I'm going to go back and read it again after I read the others in the series that I missed.  This can easily be read as a stand alone but you'll want to read the others.

There is so much to love about this book. The story captures the readers attention from the first few pages and keeps it to the last. First off, I have to say that I love this series and really enjoy "travelling" with the Cobra team and this time we travel to Antarctica  Given his experience with cold weather Thor is assigned a leader for this mission. In Antarctica, we meet Samantha, a scientist, dealing with the death of her friend.  The cobra's team  mission to retrieve equipment and Patty's death intersect in this story.  The author does a really good job of describing, via Samantha, the "campus" in Antarctica and it actually became a character in the book. Thor's past experience in cold weather is described very clearly. There are a few scenes that add a sense of adventure, create a rhythm for the storytelling and also gets the hero and heroine alone together. It added suspense and a feeling of claustrophobia. There is action, sex (Malik and Kristi getting together first and the noises added needed levity). There were also very poignant scenes (Patty’s wake), personal development, Samantha starts taking more risks and realizing that she could (given that Patty was gone). It was also a lot of fun to have Holly, Gabriella and Elizabeth in a scene. Love when characters from other books make an appearance.

What happens when a simple in and out mission is not so simple? Thor, an operator for COBRA is about to find out. When he’s sent on a mission to retrieve a downed satellite, not only does a have to fight the chill of the Antarctica  but also a killer. Samantha Parker is studying the universe from the Antarctica. When she finds her best friend dead, the grief is overwhelming but not as overwhelming as finding out how she died. Can she with Thor’s help figure out what’s going on?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Bone chilling yet heart warming:
I loved the unique setting of Antarctica, although just reading about the harsh and frigid conditions gave me the chills. Thankfully the chemistry between Thor and Samantha helped to heat things up a bit! I thought these two made an interesting couple and you could really feel their love and admiration for one another.
This book was gripping and had me frantically reading to find out what was going to happen next. I liked that it balanced the suspense and romance with just enough scientific facts to keep things informative and interesting. It can be read as a standalone although past characters do make an appearance. I love how each book in this series is unique in its own way and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next - only 2 more single team members left!!!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I love Pamela Clare's writing: fast-paced, action-packed, and suspense-filled. Did I mention how sexy and strong the men she writes are? 

This next book in the Cobra International Security family brings us the sexy Thor and the uber smart, shy and sexy Dr. Samantha Park. Not only do I enjoy the sexy, strong men of the security team, but I love that the women featured are smart and strong as well. 

Samantha is am astrophysicist living at the South Pole doing research on something so fancy, yet very interesting, that I couldn't even begin to tackle an explanation. I will say, either Pamela Clare does amazing research for her books or she is a downright genius herself to be able to write Samantha Park so intelligently.  When a satellite crashes, Thor and the security men are sent in to retrieve the parts in fear of sabotage and a foreign country gaining the intelligence. However, when they arrive at the South Pole they are soon immersed into a suspenseful drama of a murder mystery that pulls you into the drama of this story. I loved that all of the story takes places at the same location as I didn't feel a distraction on bringing in other scenes or locales or what have you, all your attention is consumed in one place and one group of people, I enjoyed that.

As with all the books in this series, and those this one spun off from, Hard Line is suspenseful and action packed and a complete ride to the finish where you do not want to put this book down. 

Thanks NetGalley, Viking Editing and Pamela Clare for the ARC.

**I received a copy of Hard Line from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are my own and not solicited**

Hard Line by Pamela Clare in the fifth book in her Cobra Elite series and I have to say it's my favorite one after Quinn's book. Did I look up what exactly Sirius Dog Sled Teams do? Yep and did I watch the official video a zillion times=double yes!! This book is totally worth all five stars if I could give it more I would.

What do you do when you're sent to Antarctica to retrieve the satellite components that was hacked you send the best guy who know what cold weather Thor Isaksen a former Danish SF Sirius Corps. But when they arrive at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station they don't expect a body to be transported back or a welcome committee as the scientist are there for their research not to retrieve secret spy satellite. From there the Russian come but are suddenly stranded, the bad guy strands Thor and Dr Samantha Park in a -102 degree snow storm or that it would be hard to find out who and why they took down a satellite.

I'll stop here because you really need to read this book because saying anything more would give away the best parts of the story.

I haven't been a big fan of the Cobra Elite series.  They are hit and miss when it comes to storytelling, unique characters not to mention the unbelievable moments in the series.

The males are so over the top short of beating their chest with how amazing they are in bed and the women who fall for I am Tarzan You Jane sex.

The plot and mastermind of the evil plot is boring one dimensional and lacks any type of convincation. The "Bad guys" is the only character I wish they had more of.  The author tries to use a red herring but it falls flat so many times.

If you like the Cobra series you will love this book but if this is your first book by Pamela Clare I suggest finding a different one from her other romantic suspense series.

Thor, Thor, and more Thor!  I have always been a fan of him but now I am a bigger fan!  I loved this book.  I didn’t think I was going to like Samantha Park, but I was very wrong.  This book was fascinating.  I could not put it down and was so absorbed in it, I could feel the cold.  I loved the South Pole setting, I thought it lent a very unique quality to the story.  I honestly thought the previous book was the best in the series, but Thor and Samantha’s story beat it hand down!

Love, love, love the men (and women) of Cobra Elite! Every book puts the main character in their element and this was no different. Thor was amazing and his just-slightly-wrong English was endearing. Samantha is a introvert struggling with a lifetime of insecurity but her strength, intelligence and passion have Thor hooked. A great mix of action and steamy romance in a unique and slightly terrifying setting.

Hard Line is book 5 in the Cobra Elite series by Pamela Clare. The books don't have to be read in order and now that I have discovered the series, I am thrilled this is book 5 because there are 4 more to read!  This book highlights one of my favorite romance tropes: nerdy scientist and the alpha male. I love love love a heroine with intellect!

Hard Line is a fast paced and enjoyable action/romance, mixed with a little bit of mystery. 
 
I liked our heroine Samantha, she is a scientist but willing to go outside her comfort zone for the greater good. Our hero, Thor, is also very likable in his silent and handsome magnificence. The storyline is entertaining and kept me interested from the start. I did, of course, want our couple together from the start and always thought they belonged together. Thor is very protective, and while Samantha is brave and not an annoying "save me" type, she did need back up and Thor is a good guy to have at your back.
 
The secondary characters are well written as well and I found myself questioning the loyalty of pretty much anyone who worked with Samantha (like you should in a mystery). 
 
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance mixed with action, suspense, and mystery.

This was a really good book!

It had a really interesting storyline and I thought that the plot was well planned out and well developed too.  I thought that the characters were great, genuine and I really warmed to them from the outset.

The pace for the book was spot on and the writing style was perfect - I whizzed through the pages and couldn't put it down!

This is the fifth book in the Cobra Elite series but I think it reads fine as a stand alone.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - another great addition to the series and another great release from Pamela Crane - very highly recommended!!

Why would an author decide to write a romantic suspense set in, of all places, Antarctica? I mean, what is sexy and mysterious about parkas, gloves and lots and lots of snow and ice? It isn’t an obvious choice, certainly. And yet Pamela Clare pulls it off brilliantly. I was so caught up in this book from the very beginning that I read it in one sitting. I just could not put it down.
The book is part of a series, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying it. The books can all be read as stand-alones, though I would recommend starting from the beginning if only because they are all so good.
I absolutely loved the characters of Samantha and Thor. They were well developed and their relationship felt very natural. I won’t relate the plot of the book, since that is taken care of very nicely in the product description. What I will say is that this book ticked every box I have for a romantic suspense. It was exciting and romantic and thrilling and sexy. I fell for Thor so easily, and loved how Samantha grew throughout the story.
Clare has a wonderful ability to write about topics that might come off as dry and boring with another author. I found the information about living and working in Antarctica to be fascinating. She made the station and the people working there come alive.
I could ramble on and on about this book, there was just so much to love about it. Instead, I’ll simply say READ THIS BOOK. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Note: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Arc received for honest review. I've read several books by this author and this was another great read.

I highly recommend this story, I dove right in and didn't come up for air. Such an exciting and entertaining tale of mystery. I didn't know whodunnit, some of you will but I'm glad for the suspense and surprise.
I think I even got an education from this book, I'm sure Melbourne gets those winds from the South Pole, bone numbing winds.
Thor and his mates are on a mission and encounter a lot more that they imagined. The Cobra team are appointed detectives to solve a crime which is connected to their original mission of retrieving components from a downed satellite. Love wasn't in the mix but chemistry happens. Will they all survive and discover the criminal element in this mystery?

A crashed satellite has the Cobra Elite team, led by Thor Isaksen, headed to the South Pole in Antarctica to retrieve sensitive data before enemy forces reach it. When they arrive at the Amundsen-Scott station, they learn one of the astronomers has died under strange circumstances so they make a quick decision to return her body with their transport. Her best friend and fellow astrophysicist, Dr. Samantha Park works with the team on their satellite retrieval mission. However, they have to alter their plans and extend their stay when they learn that the astronomer’s death wasn’t accidental.

I absolutely love that this series takes me to places I’ve never even imagined and vividly creates settings that have me feeling as if I’m there. I know it’s cold in Antarctica but it’s described in a way that goes beyond just illustrating subzero temperatures. Thor is of Danish descent and served on an elite dog sled patrol so he was a perfect choice for the assignment. He and Samantha made a striking couple, both having an appreciation for all things intelligent and thought provoking. Their romance was skillfully meshed with the mission and subsequent investigation, which was extremely dangerous and confounding.

Thor and Samantha were wonderfully developed characters and may just be my favorites in the series, which is surprising as I had zero interest in him before this story. It speaks to the great writing and character development. The mystery kept me guessing and the climax was thrilling. I had a hard time putting this one down. It was a perfect balance of suspense and romance.

I enjoyed this story.  Strong character development, interesting story line, a whodunit which I didn’t predict and some steamy scenes to add some spice.  I recommend this read.

Pamela Clare’s latest romantic suspense, HARD LINE is one of the best books I’ve read all year – and it's my favorite of the Cobra Elite series. It’s set in Antarctica, and after the seriously hot summer we had in North Carolina, the frozen tundra was a welcomed locale. Dr. Samantha Park is an astrophysicist, and her head is in the stars. Literally. She a winter-over studying relic light, which is light emitted from shortly after the Big Bang. She’s got big brains to go with her subject matter, and big bravery, because she gets swept up in a government operation to recover technology from a downed satellite. On hand to manage and secure the recovery effort is Thor Isaksen, a giant Dane known to his Cobra International Security teammates as Viking. He’s an expert at winter survival; he’s strong, intelligent, and drawn to Samantha. As dangerous as the Russian operatives trying to get their hands on the technology are the extreme elements of the Antarctic winter. I loved everything about this book, from the fast-paced plot and intelligent setup, to the robust characters and equitable focus on gender strength. Samantha might be smaller in stature and untried as a military operative, but her brain and her balls are mighty. This book is awesome.

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/must-read-romantic-suspense-for-fall/

HARD LINE is book five in the Cobra Elite series by Pamela Clare. With this particular book, we have a Danish hero and for me, this was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. Thor is more of a cold hero, which I didn’t really mind all too much. I like having a variety of different heroes in a series, so I thought that he was easy to fall for.

Samantha, on the other hand, required a little more time for me to warm up to. It’s funny because this book is set in a really cold climate, so I felt like even the characters had some coldness to them. But whether or not that was intentional by the author or not, Samantha didn’t completely win me over. I found her narration to be quite repetitive, especially in the first few chapters. The repetition really got me out of reading this, so it took me much longer than usual to finish.

I enjoyed the setting. It provided a great backdrop for the action and also the suspense. It actually reminded me of another I-Team novel of Clare’s that I enjoyed with cooler climates too. So while it wasn’t a total win for me, I did like several aspects of this book. I’d maybe even say that it was one of the better ones of this series.

Just great! Another amazing story from Cobra International Security Novel. In this one, Thor finds his love in Antarctica. Samanta is one of the scientists at the South Pole and everything stars with her best friend's died. Thor and his teammates have a special mission but everything changes when they must find a killer among all the scientists. Great intrigued suspense romance. The story that keeps you on the toes and a lovely love story that warms your heart. 
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Hard Line is book 5 in Pamela Clare's Cobra Elite series and takes place in at the South Pole, Antarctica. A crashed satellite with sensitive material send the Cobra team, lead by Danish operative, Thor Isaksen. When the team arrives at the Amundsen-Scott Station, the team finds out one of the astronomers has mysteriously died and the body is quickly sent back on the departing flight. The astronomer's best friend and research partner, Dr Samantha Parks, works with the team to retrieve the satellite and eventually have to investigate the death of her partner. 
Clare is a master at evoking visual settings and experiences for places we have probably never been. Her descriptions of landscape, climate and impressions have you immersed in the locale. She makes you actually feel the extreme weather while you are reading! Thor was a soldier, has served on the elite Danish Dog Sled Team in Greenland and is very familiar with cold temperatures and weather which makes him the logical choice for this assignment. Thor and Samantha's relationship is based on both of them having an appreciation for each other's intellect and compassion. Their romance is woven into the story but is not the main focus. 
A great story, well-developed characters and lots of suspense make for a compelling read. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This honestly wasn’t a good match for me and have to say it’s nothing to do with the story or the authors writing I just don’t think it was a good match for me.

Samantha is dealing with the loss of her friend while working at the South Pole. Cobra team is led by Thor to retrieve a satellite before it falls into the wrong hands. The team finds out Samantha's friend died under suspicious circumstances and decide to return the body when they leave. Samantha ends up going with the team. Thor is attracted to her even though he knows he shouldn't be and Samantha feels the same way. A killer is lurking and will do anything to destroy them. Can the couple make it through this mission?

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

This was a light hearted, easy to read story. 
The characters were fabulous and really pulled you in to the story and their world. 
An enjoyable read.