Hard Edge (Cobra Elite #4) by Pamela Clare-a review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 21, 2020

Gabriela Marquez came to her parents’ homeland of Venezuela to help its people. Working undercover for the CIA as Sister María, a Franciscan nun, she spends long days at the mission, giving food to the poor, helping the sick—and keeping a close watch on local drug trafficking. When a violent raid makes her a hostage together with two American journalists, she finds herself the prisoner of the very cartel she’s been spying on. Fortunately for the journalists—but not so luckily for her captors—Sister María is not what she seems to be. Hiding behind her nun’s habit, Gabriela puts her training to use to ensure the hostages’ survival.

Dylan Cruz spent the better part of a decade with Seal Team Six, ridding the world of scum. Now an operative with Cobra International Security, he’s sent to Venezuela with a small team to gather intel for a hostage rescue. Against all expectations, he gets valuable information from one of the hostages—a beautiful young nun. Sister María of the Gorgeous Brown Eyes puts R-rated thoughts in his mind, thoughts he has no business thinking. Then again, he always figured he’d end up in hell.

When the rescue fails, Dylan finds himself trapped in hostile territory with lovely Sister María. Together, they go underground to reach the Colombian border, but Sister María is full of secrets—and enticing surprises. Beneath that shapeless, gray habit is a woman whose abilities—and passions—are a match for Dylan’s. As the desire between them ignites, what should have been a straightforward mission of evade-and-escape turns into a fight for survival against a murderous cartel boss who wants them both dead.

••••

REVIEW:HARD EDGE is the fourth instalment in Pamela Clares contemporary, adult COBRA ELITE erotic, military, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Cobra International Security. This is former US Navy SEAL Dylan Cruz, and undercover CIA agent Gabriela Marquez’ story line HARD EDGE 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 (Dylan and Gabriela) HARD EDGE follows in the wake of the rescue of two American journalists, and their fellow captive Sister Maria, from the Venezuelan cartel. Gabriela Marquez (aka Sister Maria) has worked undercover in Venezuela for close to eighteen months but her abduction and that of two American journalists has forced the CIA to call in outside help. Enter Dylan Cruz, a member of the Cobra International Security Team and the man with whom Gabriela will fall in love. What ensues is the rescue of, and cross country journey between Gabriela and Dylan, and the potential fall-out as our couple remain the target of some very powerful men, and Dylan’s inability to commit towards a future or happily ever after.

Gabriela Marquez knows a thing or two about going undercover but never expected to find herself the victim of an abduction, with her life hanging in the balance. Disguised as a nun, Gabriela remained in character until threats against Dylan Cruz meant Gabriela had to reveal just enough to arouse suspicion. Dylan Cruz’s attraction to Gabriela Marquez in the guise of Sister Maria was immediate but Dylan struggled with job at hand. Saving the life of the woman with whom Dylan would fall in love, our hero found himself on the receiving end of torture and threats, until said woman saved the life of his own, in return.

The relationship between Dylan and Gabriela is one of immediate attraction but Gabriela was off limits in more ways than one. Dylan Cruz doesn’t do relationships having been burned in the past but something about Gabriela melted the ice surrounding his heart. Upon their safe return to America, Gabriela was willing to walk away knowing Dylan believed he wasn’t worthy of love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include journalists Dianne Connelly, and Tim Yang, several local Venezuelan and Columbian residents, as well as numerous members of the local cartels. We are reintroduced to Derek Tower, one of the co-owners of Cobra International Security.

HARD EDGE is a story of resilience, betrayal, survival, rescue and love. The premise is fast paced and engaging; the romance is seductive; the characters are strong, energetic and dynamic. HARD EDGE is a hard hitting, and heart pounding addition to the Cobra Elite series.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Hard Target
Hard Asset
Hard Justice

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy