Extreme Exposure

I-Team #1

by Pamela Clare

Novels such as Carnal Gift and Sweet Release made Pamela Clare's rising star shine. Now, she turns her "impressive" talents to a novel of modern romance - and breathless intrigue...

It's been years since her child's father dumped her, and since then Kara McMillan has kept men at bay - although every day she aches more for a lover's touch. But to get that, the hard-boiled journalist must become vulnerable - a feeling she vowed never to have again.

With his dangerous good looks, charm, and power, Senator Reece Sheridan could have just about any woman he sets his piercing eyes on. But he's intrigued by only one. This Kara, this gutsy investigative reporter, has a sensuality that arouses him to no end. If she's a firebrand in print, he guesses, she must be just as fiery in bed...

But this is no fling. A sudden political scandal - and attempts on Kara's life - could very well drive them apart. Or maybe, just maybe, adversity could draw them into a bond even more intense than their steamy sexual embraces.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery, Adult

335 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 2, 2005

About the author

USA Today best-selling author Pamela Clare began her writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers. Along the way, she and her team won numerous state and national honors, including the First Amendment Award and the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, she was honored by the Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists with their Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for her work. A single mother with two grown sons and two cats, she writes historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense within view of Colorado’s beautiful Rocky Mountains. She is a two-time RITA finalist (Surrender, Defiant) and a three-time Daphne du Maurier finalist (I-Team series). She loves history, having studied archaeology in college, and has traveled extensively, living for almost three years in Denmark, which feels like home to her. She attributes her love of historical romance with the years she spent visiting ruins and castles in Europe.

Reviews

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review:

I’ve read Pamela Clare’s Historical Romance series, MacKinnon’s Rangers highlander novels, Surrender and Untamed and loved them both, so when I heard that she had a romantic suspense series, I was pretty sure I’d enjoy them as well, and wow, was I ever right! Now my biggest dilemma is, do I plow through the rest of the books, one after the other, or pace myself?

Extreme Exposure is the first book in the suspense filled I-Team series. The I-Team is the investigative reporting team at the Denver Independent newspaper, made up of Tom Trent - Editor in Chief, Syd Wilson - Managing Editor, and journalists/investigative reporters; Kara MacMillan, Matt Harker, Sophie Alton, Tessa Novak, and Joaquin Ramirez.

Now, most of the romantic suspense books I’ve read are about military, police, firefighters, etc., so I had no idea that a reporter investigating a story could be so exciting – and dangerous. This story focuses on Kara MacMillan and Senator Reece Sheridan and when I bought this book I had no idea that it revolved around a newspaper reporter as the heroine and a good guy politician as the hero. Another something that is different is that in Extreme Exposure it’s the female lead who’s taking risks, making enemies, and living dangerously. That’s not to say that Reece doesn’t have his own fires to put out and enemies to escape, because he most certainly did.

I’ve never really given much thought to what an investigative reporter actually does, so I appreciated the detail and the insight we’re given into what happens on a daily basis with meetings, appointments, interviews, etc., and I also appreciated the way that it was done. Usually, I feel that the first book of a series suffers from what I affectionately call “F-BITSs” – First Book in the Series syndrome – where there’s so much character introduction and world building that we’re lost in page after page of data resulting in information overload. However, Ms. Clare did this in such a way that we were actually inside those meetings, watching what transpired, what needed to be done next and listening to the interactions. I much prefer the authors who show us by allowing us to experience it, rather than tell us what happened after the fact. It keeps things from becoming boring and “lecture-esque.”

Another thing I was glad to see was how Kara juggled her career and her family, namely her son, Connor, a four year old bundle of dynamite. Connor’s father had abandoned them as soon as he learned that Kara was expecting their child, so everything she had to do was done alone, as a single mom. There was nothing glamorous about Kara’s life and she worked her tail off to be the best she could be as both a journalist and a mother. She struggled at times, and her choices were not always easily made. This is what real life is like for a mom who wants a career and who also wants to raise her child herself, without relying on nannies and babysitters to do it for her. Kara was fortunate enough to have a loving, supportive - albeit quirky - mother, Lily, who was more than willing to step in and help when she wasn’t attending demonstrations and sit-ins sans shirt and bra. Yes, you read that right – topless. And I’ll just toss this in real quick; her mother made for some fun times and interesting relationship storylines.

The glimpse into the life of a Senator, in this case, one Reece Sheridan, was quite enlightening. Maybe if I had paid closer attention in high school civics it wouldn’t have seemed quite as fascinating, nevertheless, it was. Reece didn’t really have any other responsibilities other than his senatorial duties, and it’s a good thing because they took up most of his time. It was educational, but not boring.

Now, Kara and Reece had known each other from press conferences and interviews, that kind of thing. But they happen to meet in a bar one night and Reece was immediately interested while Kara wanted to keep things professional. Well, until she’d had three margaritas and was chatting him up about oral sex which made for a pretty funny scene. I enjoyed the way their relationship progressed. Kara was trying to keep a “safe” distance, and Reece wasn’t giving up, but he wasn’t being all pushy alpha male, either. In fact, he’d given Kara a ride home from the bar that first night and when, in her tipsy state, she’d rather blatantly propositioned him, his reply was, “Not this time”…”Ask me again when you haven’t had three.”

I really admired the integrity with which they both performed their jobs. While it’s easy to imagine that all politicians are crooks, Reece was not. He had been a high school U.S. Government teacher and had given a very passionate speech to his students about the need for citizens to become involved in government. When his students challenged him to run for Senator, he did and he won. It was important to him to show his students that you in fact could be a politician and be honest at the same time. While he was doing his “time” at the Capital building, he always planned to return to his true love, teaching, knowing that he’d be learning very valuable lessons which he could then use to educate his students in a way text books never could.

I suppose we don’t too often read about crooked journalists, at least I don’t. So it wasn’t too terribly shocking that Kara wanted to do everything by the book. In all her requisitions, in all her dealings and interviews, every “t” was crossed and ever “I” was dotted. There were times when it was annoying as hell when I wanted her to be able to just hurry up and get the bad guy, but she was being true to her profession and her ideals. I couldn’t fault her for that.

There were a few great quotes and scenes, and this was one of my favorites:

Very slight spoiler:

Her labor had been so much easier and faster this time, with the pain overwhelming her only toward the very end. But then her mother and Reece had been there to help her through it, together with the midwife and Reece’s sister Melanie, who’d become a good friend. Holly, Tessa, and Sophie, whose job it had been to entertain Connor during Kara’s active labor, returned at the last minute, just in time to watch the actual birth.

Reece, whose love had sustained her through the last excruciating hour, had been the one to catch Caitlyn. With the guidance of the midwife, he’d eased their daughter from Kara’s body. Then he’d looked up at Kara through eyes filled with tears, a look of amazement on his face. “It’s a girl!”

Kara would never forget that moment for as long as she lived – even if in the next instant she’d overheard Holly tell Tessa and Sophie, “If I ever have a baby, I’m going to have a Brazilian wax first. Keep it pretty, you know?”

“Honey, when you’ve got an eight-pound object coming out of your cooter, the last thing you’re going to care about is how it looks,” had been Tessa’s reply.

End spoiler

Overall, I found this to be a surprisingly well balanced story. There was action and suspense, sex, drama, romance, sex, passion, intrigue, mystery, sex… oh, did I mention there was a lot of sex? And it was hot sex, too - vanilla, but hot. And I don’t feel like it overwhelmed the story.

I’m so, so pleased to have found this variation on the romantic suspense theme – something other than macho male warriors – and can’t wait to read the next book!

The I-Team reading order, so far:

1. Extreme Exposure
1.5 Heaven Can't Wait - a novella found in the out of print anthology Catch of the Day and on ebook
2. Hard Evidence
3. Unlawful Contact
4. Naked Edge
5. Breaking Point
5.5. Skin Deep
5.9. First Strike
6. Striking Distance

----------

If you're already a Pamela Clare fan, or interested in learning more about her and her books, be sure to stop by our Pamela Clare Fan Group here on Goodreads!

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I will need to keep this short as Real life has been getting in the way of my reading life and I have got a ton of crap I have to get caught up with. I'm behind on my reading, laundry, and I could really use some sleep.



lol Anyways I got the Audible Romance Package a little while back and this book was on there. I have been wanting to read this book for a while so win/win. I enjoyed this book and I believe I will love the whole series,but the reason I gave this book 3 stars is the heroine. Kara wore me out. She push poor, sweet Reece away too many times. It drove me crazy how skittish she was. It got old and I was really annoyed with her. Reece was great. I am surprised at how much I liked him. Being a Senator I didn't think I would care for him but he was awesome. The plot was really good too. It kept me on edge and I never got bored. I bet if Kara would have been less of a coward I would have loved this book so hard. I can't wait to read or listen to the others!

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.. Let me start off by saying that a friend recommended this book to me. So the author is new to me

Kira’s best friend Holly had convinced her to go out for the evening little did she know at the time being when she agreed to go out with Holly that she was going to be hiding in the corner by a plant with her margarita in her hand while her best friend went in hunt for her latest victim…
This is where Kara met the sexy Senator Reece For the first time in person….

Lucky for her, that bff left her without a ride home…….
Not only was the senator sexy but he was very considerate as well and offered to give her a ride home…and Kara had left a lasting impression on the sexy senator


Kara McMillan works as a reporter at the Denver Independent newspaper, and she also struggles as a single mother to a five-year-old son…… She is so relatable with her struggles with both her job and being a single mother to amazing child that I just found adorable……

Reece became a senator to be a better teacher, to prove to his students that one person could make a difference, to show the world that it was possible to hold political office without bending to the corruption that so often went with it.


I must say that I really enjoyed this author’s writing skills along with her humor as well as the plot was exciting and suspenseful,
I’ll admit that I had enjoyed the quick but steady pace through the story…. But at times I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride with Kara’s on and off method with the sexy senator……. This was a great romantic suspense thriller; I most definitely will be looking for more books from this author in the future. Thank you again my friend for recommending this book

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS! ★★★★



“I think you need someone in your life you can depend on, someone you can confide in when things go to hell at work, someone to massage your tired feet and your stiff shoulders, someone to bring you tea and cook a meal once in a while. Someone to be there for you.”

Holy schnapps, what a great romantic suspense read right here! With all the recent contemporary and NA reads I've been tackling recently, I felt like I needed a break and decided to try out another recommended read from a trusted buddy in this RS genre. With its well-detailed plot and appealing characters, I devoured this read like I was watching an episode of my favorite investigative series.



Extreme Exposure being the first instalment in this series depicts a group of investigative journalists calling themselves the I-team and the first book here centers around Kara McMillan. She's a single mum who's driven with two main priorities in her life right now; her 4-year old son Connor and her job in the I-team. One day Kara gets a mysterious call that leads her to believe that a huge corporation is causing a hazardous environmental impact and little did she know that writing an expose on it would put her life at risk.

Kara's life is further thrown off the loop when she crosses path with Senator Reece Sheridan. Now Reece here is a fine example of a rather atypical politician from those we've come to know about. It was really refreshing to read about Reece and his genuine intentions, going against the norm of what politicians have been painted about in this vicious circle. I really loved how his character was being portrayed; he was sexy, charming, completely swoon-worthy (the guy can cook!!) and protective about the woman he loves without coming off like a complete caveman. Reece Sheridan, you have my vote!



Kara was equally a respectable character in my eyes, her fierce love for her son was something that really stuck to me throughout the read. Being damn good at her job and sticking her head out there for the team, you could genuinely feel her struggle between juggling her work and being there for her son. God forbid she even had one arse of a boss that didn't understand her commitment to her son, so imagine the amount of fistpumps I did everytime she stood up to him!

And have I mentioned the book have some serious sexual tension and chemistry between these two?! LOVE IT! Granted their first encounter sparked off from instalust (and rather hilariously) but it didn't damper my reading experience at all as I tend to get iffy from instalust sometimes. The steamy scenes were off the charts scorching hot and not to mention, a certain scene about the purple jiggle stick will forever be embedded in my mind *winks*



I think what really makes Extreme Exposure stands out as a romantic suspense read was how well-researched this book was and the author really took the time to lay out each event that unfolds instead of just jumping right into the action. It's evident that it has a really solid plot, there were intense and thrilling moments that had me flipping my pages faster than I can recall; all of them putting me at the edge of my seat. The romance here was also well-balanced with the mystery/suspense element despite the story being mainly driven by the investigative plotline. Throw in some humor and steam, I can clearly see why it would be a hit among the readers who love an all-rounded read!

I definitely can't wait to read more in this series and it was such a nice change from my usual reads. If you're looking for a romantic suspense read that is sure to keep you on your toes and love some steam to go along with it, I would definitely urge you to try this one out!



Extreme Exposure is the first instalment in the I-Team series and can be read as a standalone.

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!



It’s such a great feeling to re-read an old favorite and still find it to be a winner! It’s sad to say but lately, very few ‘new’ books can keep my attention so I decided to revisit an oldie and I’m really glad I did. The last time I read this book was over 2 years ago and reading it again now reminds me why I’ve always considered it (and this series) to be one of my all-time favorites. It just hits all the right buttons. The characters are very mature and there’s hardly any relationship drama, the mystery was well concocted while the suspense kept my attention, and the amount of romance and steam was just right. But most of all, it’s the quality and depth of the story that just really gets to me. There’s a journalistic feel to the book which I loved. It didn’t make the story preachy but at the same time I still feel like I learned something. The author was an investigative journalist herself, so a lot of the newspaper jargon and methods are drawn from personal experiences which just made the book feel so authentic.

The I-team series focuses on a group of top-notch investigative journalists who are the best of the best, all specializing in a specific news area. This first book is journalist and single mom Kara McMillan’s story. The stories she covers all have to do with the environment and her latest piece is exposing a potentially corrupt company for harmful waste disposal that breaks environmental standards. I like smart, complex plots that make me think, and so even though Kara’s investigation is pretty detailed, it worked well for me. I also really like how well-rounded her character is. While she’s working, Kara gives off this hard, unrelenting vibe but when she’s with her son, she becomes unguarded and relaxes. She’s pretty much perfect in my eyes!

Then there’s the hero Reece Sheridan who’s a state senator. If there’s one thing I remember about this author’s books (I’ve read all her books) is that she always creates these memorable and extremely honorable heroes. At first, I was a bit wary about Reece because I mean, he’s in politics and realistically speaking, there aren’t that many politicians you can wax poetic about. But Reece is really different. Not only is he not corrupt, he’s one of those very rare people who entered the world of politics for all the right reasons: to promote change that benefits society and its people. In a way I feel like his character pokes fun at all the greedy, single-minded politicians out there today. While I did think his interest in Kara was too sudden, I didn’t mind because neither Kara nor Reece were looking for random hookups, so their relationship still progressed at a believable pace. From the start, Reece was all in, and even though Kara was being indecisive at first, I understood why. Unlike Reece, she had her young son to consider, her past abandonment issues to work through, and just the whole journalist/politician dynamic put pressure on both of them. I liked that while there was drama, there was nothing dramatic about it and all issues were resolved in a mature, respectable manner. And through it all, Reece stood firmly by her side, defended her, protected her, pampered her...gah!! So who cares that he was a bit too perfect and the love was instantaneous? Give me an honorable, good-hearted hero and I’ll waive all my usual complaints away ;)



The one thing that did bother me though was when Kara’s 4-year old son asked if she and Reece were having sex and that just rubbed me the wrong way. In context of the book, it was meant to be funny (and I swear, I did laugh) but it was the uncomfortable kind of laugh... I mean, the kid is FOUR and he knows what sex is. Hmmm... I docked half a star for that but in no way did that affect my enjoyment of the book overall.

This book was steamy, well-researched, and really well-written. Since I’ve read the other books following this one, I can tell you this is a series that gets better (suspense and romance wise) with each new book and I’m already getting giddy at the thought of revisiting the other wonderful I-team heroes and their leading ladies. If you’re looking for a new romantic suspense series to fall in love with, definitely go with this one! :)

Extreme Exposure is the 1st book in the I-team series and is a standalone. Each book will have a main character who’s a journalist focusing on one specific news area (in this book it was environmental standards). Reading order:



P.S. My favorite hero's from book 3, my most re-read book is book 4, and my favorite action-packed plot is from book 5. I can't choose favorites with this series!

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to Ms. Clare for taking two of the most hated professions, and giving us three-dimensional, lovable characters in these professions that question this reader's perceptions of people in these fields. Kara is a reporter, but she is one of the reporters that show the ethics and the dedication that the people in this field should represent, in a perfect world. She's a really sweet person, but is also strong and driven to do a good job. Kara faces the struggle that many American women face, raising a child and pursuing a career at the same time. Kara deals with the prejudice that working moms face: that they must not love their child enough or they would stay home with her or him. And on the other side, they aren't committed enough to their job because their child is more important. There is not a question in reading this story that her child Connor is her life. But at the same time, she takes her career as a journalist very seriously. And a woman can do both. Many women do it every day. But in the end, Kara has put her other needs as a woman on the shelf, also because of being betrayed by the man she loved, Connor's father. She has denied her sensual self for five long years, and avoided relationships and/or sex for five long years. I personally could see where she was coming from, because I too believe that having a revolving door of men through a single woman's life is not good in the long run for her children. It's the dilemma that a single mother faces everyday.

Enter the other part of the equation, Reece Sheridan. I'll be the first to admit it. I was underwhelmed at the thought of the hero of this book being a senator. Let's just say, I don't feel that a lot of politicians are overendowed with sincerity. Well, Reece is as real as they get. In fact, at several times in this book, I was blown away at his earthy, raw nature. My mouth was open, because I didn't see politicians like that. Okay, I'm naive. Well, he's a serious alpha man, and he is definitely a sexual person, and he wants to explore that part of himself with Kara.

Had that been all his relationship with Kara was about, I would have thrown the book against the wall. Books where the relationship is just about sex are not my cup of tea. It was a big part of their connection, true. But Reece truly cared about Kara. He wanted to make sure that all her needs were met. He really was a sweet guy. He was pretty sexually agressive, but that seemed to be what Kara needed. I loved the fact that he got invested with Connor, and wanted to spend as much time with him as he did with his mother. He really was the perfect mate for Kara.

And Reece cared about society and became a state senator to prove a message he tought as a teacher, if someone wants to make change in the world, he has to act. He worked very hard to stay out of the political machine and to get things accomplished as a senator. He didn't always make the right choices, but his integrity could never be called into question.

It was interesting how Kara and Reece interacted as man and woman (lovers), but also as professionals whose career lives intersected, since Kara's story involved corruption at the government level, because the company doing illegal dumping and violating environmental regulations was getting some aid on the inside of the legislative system.

This book has a really good suspense storyline. It was frighteningly real. And it showed how ruthless people can be when it comes to making a profit. The environmental message was timely and intense, and seamlessly tied in with the fact that the culprits had no problem killing and hurting people who got in their way, really showed how inethical and harmful this behavior is. I really admired Kara for pushing through to get her story written. Her life was threatened and she was badly injured more than one time in the course of this book. But she would not give up. It wasn't about glory for her. It was about using her abilities to see justice done and people helped. There was a message in this story about responsible journalism that resonated with me. I do believe that the news media has fallen prey to bias and has forgetten about the important service they have and the crucial nature of ethics in the profession. Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox because that's not what this review is about. I do have to say that Ms. Clare did a much better job of getting this point across in an enjoyable way.

The sex is blistering hot in this book. You need to wear handmits when reading this book. However, the best thing is the powerful emotional relationship between Kara and Reece, that encompasses Kara's sweet little boy, who needs a father, just as much as Kara needs a lover and a mate.

Be warned about the violence level. It's intense, but it drives home the message about greed and how some people show no morals when it comes to keeping the money rolling it. Anyone that cannot be bought could end up dead or injured if they stand in the way.

This was a very good book, and I have to say that Clare is just as skilled at writing contemporaries as she is historicals. I look forward to reading the other books in the I-Team series.

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hace tiempo que tenía pendiente comenzar la serie I-Team de Pamela Clare, que me venía más que súper mega recomendada. A pesar de mis sólo 3 estrellas, esta primera entrega cumplió mis expectativas, porque también me habían adelantado que es la más flojita de todas (como ven, hago mi tarea antes de empezar un libro jajaja), por lo que de todas maneras continuaré con las demás.

La novela tiene de todo, romance, intriga, corrupción política, mucha acción y un ritmo realmente vertiginoso, con un escenario de fondo bastante atractivo y poco explotado como es el ambiente legislativo y del periodismo de investigación.

¿Dónde se cae? En el extremismo cliché de sus personajes. Los buenos son increíblemente buenos, abnegados y sacrificados, y los malos son horriblemente malos, corruptos, sin escrúpulos e inmorales. No es difícil suponer, entonces, que la historia es absolutamente previsible; incluso, la única “sorpresa” que trae el desenlace ya la veía venir hacia la mitad del libro. Además, creo que esa "perfección" de los personajes principales influyó en que me costara un poco conectar con su relación.

De todas maneras me mantuvo muy entretenida y con las ganas de seguir con los siguientes de la serie.

[Auntee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an awesome writer and a great romantic suspense! Pamela Clare creates some truely memorable characters and a larger than life hero in this, the first book in her I-Team series.

Kara McMillan is a young single mother, working as an investigative journalist for a Denver newspaper. She's working on a story that would expose a company that is dumping chemicals illegally and polluting the environment. This company has some powerful political allies, and they just may include some members of the state senate.

Reece Sheridan is an idealistic state senator, and former high school teacher. He quit teaching as a challege from his students--they challenged him to 'make a difference'.

Kara and Reece first meet face to face in a bar, where Kara's had too many margaritas, and proceeds to become a little 'loose lipped' and speaks to Reece with quite a 'potty mouth', asking him a lot of frank, sexual questions. It's a very funny scene, and certainly gets Reece's attention.

When these two intelligent, sexy people finally get together romantically--whew--the sparks really fly! Pamela Clare can write love scenes like no other, and creates a romantic hero that you will wish was real! The plot was exciting and suspenseful, and builds to a harrowing, nail biting conclusion, as together Kara and Reese try to figure out who is trying to wreck his career and who has been making attempts on Kara's life. On the way, Reece finds something that he never knew he was looking for, and Kara finds that she can trust her heart again to a very special man.

If you like a romantic suspense where you have to think a little bit about who are the 'bad guys', along with a hot romance between the H/H, then this one is for you! I look forward to reading more from this very talented author!

[Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* · Rating 5 out of 5]

6th Oct 2010 - Initial thoughts were:

4.5 Stars - I really enjoyed this! But....This book made me think of my work. For that reason alone, I'll have to minus half a star. LOL ^o^ Actually, to be more accurate, my line of work made me question parts of the legislative process portrayed in this book and now I feel like I need to do "homework" to find out how it works in Colorado. Dang! ^_^
.......................................

11th Oct 2010

Rating reviewed to: 5 Stars. I decided it was unfair of me to bump it down just because it made me think of my work during my leisure escape reading. Plus, the more I thought about the comparisons in legislative processes, the more I appreciated that this book made me think about that. I'm contradicting myself, aren't I? Anyway, I know what I'm talking about! LOL

I’ve been struggling lately with organising my thoughts for reviews, so, for this one, I’ve decided to disguise my ramblings with an interview format. *cough, cough* I mean, I've decided on an interview format as inspired by the I-Team! Of course!

Q: Do you usually read Romantic Suspense and is this your first time reading Pamela Clare’s work?

A: I used to read a bit of Romantic Suspense, mostly of the murder mystery variety in the works of Linda Howard, Kay Hooper, and Tami Hoag. I haven’t read Romantic Suspense/Crime Thrillers in almost 3 years – since a family member of mine was murdered. For some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to read books in this genre after that.

BUT….I kept seeing great reviews and comments about Pamela Clare’s I-Team series through my GR friends, and I decided it was time I stopped being such a wuss and read this genre again. I mean, it’s not like there hasn’t been violence in the PNRs, Fantasy, Historical Romances and some YA I’ve read!

I want to say THANKS to my GR friends who recommended this series (special mention to UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~*, Zosia and new_user)! Yes, this is my first read of Pamela Clare’s writing and I must say that I really enjoyed it!! It was suspenseful, funny, romantic, steamy, and informative!

*Interviewer thinks to self: Wow! And that was only the first question! We’ll be here all night!*

*discreetly clears throat*

Q: So, tell me, what did you think of Extreme Exposure?

Oohhh, maybe I shouldn’t have asked that question! Too open ended! Ah, too late!

A: As I said, I used to read murder mystery type Romantic Suspense, usually involving law enforcement, so I really enjoyed reading a Romantic Suspense involving a team of investigative reporters. It was different from what I had read, previously.

I really appreciated the detail and insight into investigative journalism. Pamela Clare, having worked as an investigative reporter and editor-in-chief for two newspapers, clearly drew from that experience in writing this book, which gave this book a realism and authenticity.

With my own background working within the legislative process in Government in Australia, I found the legislative aspects in Extreme Exposure interesting, and appreciated seeing the differences and similarities between the Colorado and South Australian systems. One aspect that threw me, though, was of Senator Reece Sheridan “editing” the bills he would be introducing into session. I’m thankful that I got to chat with Pamela Clare, herself, and ask her some questions about the bill process in Colorado for clarification. She was really friendly and approachable and I really appreciated her taking the time to chat with me. Thanks again, Pamela!

Q: What are your thoughts on the characters?

A: I really liked Kara McMillan, the heroine, an investigative reporter with the environmental beat. She’s a very dedicated journalist and single mother of 4 year-old, Connor, struggling to balance her work with being a mother. She’s been burnt in love by Connor’s father. Kara finds herself swept away by Senator Reece Sheridan’s charm, but she’s extremely cautious of getting into a serious relationship, for Connor’s sake, and also to protect herself from vulnerability. She’s independent and strong, but sweet, as well. Yeah, I really liked her.

And Senator Reece Sheridan? Whoo Weee!! *fans self* That man is HOT!! LOL I mean, I haven’t met a politician like him in my own work, much to my dismay, but I’m certainly thankful he exists in this book and in my mind now. *grins* Thanks to Pamela Clare for creating him. I loved Reece! He’s confident, sweet, he not only cooks but he cooks well *sighs*, he's good with kids, is incredibly sexy and is a a take charge but giving man in the bedroom (and elsewhere! ^_^). I love that he’s really a teacher at heart, and became a legislator to put his words into action. I mean, he’s not a man who hasn’t made mistakes, but he’s a politician with integrity.

And when Kara and Reece get together, dang, is it HOT!!! - Not just sparks flying but it’s a flaming inferno!! LOL

Q: What are your most memorable moments from the book?

A: Hmm…I’ll try to not to give away spoilers. I thought the opening chapter and Kara’s risqué talk to Reece at the restaurant, after one too many margaritas, was hilarious, though mortifying for her! It immediately drew me into the book!

Another funny and memorable scene involved an embarrassing moment with Kara’s son Connor, Reece and … something purple. LOL That’s all I’ll say.

And I brought a pic for my other memorable moment:



Q: A mountain lion pouncing in the snow?? *raises eyebrow*

A: *smiles* Anyone who has read the book will know what I’m talking about. And for those who haven’t read the book, well, read it to find out!! ^_^

Q: Who would you cast as Reece and Kara?

A: Well, I immediately saw Patrick Wilson, in my mind while reading, as Reece, because I think he has that handsome senator air to him, and is also believable as a teacher-turned-legislator. Though, I imagine his hair lighter than in these pictures, as he’s described as having conservatively cut dark blonde hair and blue eyes. Plus, I really like his smile. *sighs, goofy grin on face* Sorry, I developed a bit of a crush on Patrick Wilson... after watching Watchmen, even though he played a slightly pudgy washed-out superhero in that, and my crush grew stronger in Little Children, where he played a sexy Mr. Popular Jock turned stay-at-home dad.... so, I’m afraid I have a quite a few illustrative shots of him as my Reece.







And for Kara, she was described as having beautiful long dark hair and green-gold eyes, and Jennifer Connelly immediately came to mind. I was pleased to find a photo of her which reminded me of a scene of Kara in the book.





And there's even a scandalous photo of the two of them:




And now I'm just as exhausted as they look, from all the asking and answering of questions and researching visual aids! ^_^

*Interview ceased to go dream of yummy senators and tortured undercover agents*

Editor’s Note:

Here’s a special montage of Reece’s (Patrick Wilson’s) ass-ets ^_~:

**WARNING: Not Safe For Work!!!**

Reece's Assets

Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den



COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.

[Lady Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read: September 29, 2010

I wanted to take a couple of days to think about this book before I posted a review... well a couple of days have passed and this story still 'pops' into my head.
To start with.. Reese is PERFECT! The man can cook, clean, has excellent taste in food, and wine. He was (and plans to be once again) a teacher who ran for Senate because his students challenged him to prove what he was teaching them 'that anyone can run for office and make a difference'. Reese has a conscience and He's an idealist who stands on what He believes in. He is protective yet not overbearing. He works out (buffed and ripped) and according to the book is amazing in bed...what more can I say...He's every woman's fantasy and every man wants to be him.
Kara on the other hand grew up without a father, and the first man she fell in love with dumped her when she became pregnant so she was left to work, and raise a child on her own....hence there is a trust issue between her and Reese.
Only a character like Reese's could break the barrier that Kara has put up.
Now to the story...AMAZING! Kara is an investigative reporter who 'gets right in there' to get the story. She risks her life in order to protect the innocent and make the world a better place for her little boy.
There is action, suspense, mystery and of course a brewing romance between Reese and Kara.
I highly recommend this book and will continue to read the rest of the series.

Second read: May 10, 2013

Amazing! Loved this story more the second time I read it! Still LOVE Reece, and Kara is still my hero!
Still 5 shiny stars!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great in paperback and ebook…AWESOME on audio!! 5 Stars for the Sexy Senator!!

I’m almost done reviewing this series on audio, so bear with me, I’m enjoying this so much.

So while I know this is not everyone’s favorite in the series, I happen to have loved it! Lots of humor, and even though Reece is not your typical hero, he’s a senator; he gave the series a great jump-start and I adored him, and Kara and Connor too!

Okay, let’s take a walk down memory lane. Two of my favorite scenes.

“Yes, mating habits.” He stood and circled her like a predator, his voice dropping to a growl. “The male mountain lion finds the female by scent.” Kara heard snow crunch behind her and felt the thrill of being stalked. His hand slid beneath her coat and inside her jeans, his cold fingers drawing a gasp as they touched her skin and again when they sought and found her most sensitive spot. “He knows when she’s primed to mate, knows when she’s ready for him.”
RAWRRRRRRRR!!! I got nothing else to say about that!

Favorite scene number two! No quote just a pic in a spoiler! Meet the infamous Mr. Jiggle Stick!!
Now that was HOT…and funny!

Again, the narrator, Kaleo Griffith, was awesome and listening to this book was like reading it for the first time. I knew what was going to happen, but his voice…his very sexy sensual voice, made it sooooo much better! *moan*

Thanks again to Dorsey!!! Luv ya girl!

His eyes were blue and his square jaw bore a trace of five-o’clock shadow. Dark blond hair, short at the back and on the sides, a bit longer on top for style. My Reece Sheridan!

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Within the first chapter, I realized that this is a wish-fulfillment fantasy. Senator Hunkypants and Reporter Caresalot are going to dance around each other and have feelz and take on the world. So I wasn't surprised that he'd be a paragon of all manly virtues and she'd be intrepid and dig all the dirt. What has surprised me very much is how completely they undermine themselves in the process. I mean, Senator Hunkypants uses his influence to get preferential police treatment for Caresalot even while spouting homilies about how justice should be equal and for all. And Caresalot is meanly judgmental about people she's just met who happen to appear successful or simply dress well.

I started wearing down when all their opposition were completely unrealistically one-dimensional, as well. Caresalot stumbles onto a company ignoring environmental standards and getting away with it. Only, they're not just dumping harmful chemicals without cleaning or storing them up to spec. No, they're doing things so blatantly wrong that literally every worker there has to know that they're doing illegal, dangerous things because caustic substances are making literal four-foot drifts on the premises. So they're not just polluting, but they're doing it blatantly and in the community where their workers have to be living. So to take this seriously, you have to believe that they not only have powerful friends, but that no worker has been fired with a grudge and gone whining to the press and that all their workers are perfectly happy raising families in a cancerous cesspit so that the owners/bosses can make an extra buck.

And Hunkypants' opponents are charmless scumbags who are ripping off the taxpayer while delivering special favors to lobbyists. Not only do they not have any ideals of their own, but they sell favors openly and with their avarice on full display, even to their political opponents.

Sigh.

I had my final straw when Hunkypants had a public curse-out with Caresalot's sleazy ex. The thing that pushed him over the edge was a supercilious monologue by the selfish crappile that was such a stereotypical dudebro litany of wrongheadedness and machismo that I nearly choked. There may be throwbacks who might actually talk that way, but in public? To a near-stranger you're trying to build alliances with? I wouldn't buy that from the most entitled frat bro alive, let alone a trained legal expert others pay to represent them in tricky political matters.

So I'm done. This has the nuance of a concrete block and the charm of a fart in church. Okay, that's a bit harsh. If you don't care about realism and get caught up in the wish fulfillment, then it's fine. His pants are very hunky and she really, truly cares a whole heckuva lot. And normally, I'm all over wish fulfillment fantasy in my romances. But this was just so very blatant that I couldn't descend into the dream.

[new_user · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela Clare's Extreme Exposure is a treat for contemporary romance readers. Clare's familiarity with her subjects and her well-rounded characters bring reality back into a genre that eschews fangs and flights of fancy. Even the danger in this novel is Erin-Brockovich-plausible, where a mining corporation ignoring health and environmental regulations wants to silence our nosy heroine, reporter Kara McMillan.

I loved the detail with which Clare related Kara's investigation. In science, experiments must be replicable to be believed, and the same is true of fictional investigations. Kara's steps were plausible. They could be replicated by any reporter with gumption. There were very few "big breaks" that magically fell into her lap. She found her information by following a paper trail and harrying bureaucrats for interviews like a dog with a bone. Though it would have fostered excitement, the author didn't include many shenanigans like stealing into the villain's home, etc.

Clare also conveyed the realities of a journalism job: the silences during editing time, the tedium of searching through mountains of files for that one incriminating memo, the constant effort to prove she is as committed to her career as employees without children, Kara's struggle to juggle parenting (darn field trips!) without compromising her work. I appreciated this mirror on real life, even though I felt Clare resolved this problem too neatly at points. These problems cannot be solved simply by shouting down one's boss-- but it was right for Kara, whose investigative team recorded her conversations with her boss and whose colleagues defended her. One hopes that all colleagues would do the same.

As for Reece Sheridan-- I will come out and say he is too perfect to be true. He is miraculously well-adjusted, more patient than Gandhi, and he always says the right thing. He is always understanding, he is even a little dominant in bed. I would have liked a flaw or slip-up here and there, besides his rare, realistic hiccups: he wonders at one point if his motherless childhood has affected his relationship, but he needn't fear, of course -he's miraculously well-adjusted, remember- and his too-human reaction to a tipsy Kara's frank, un-seductive talk the first night he meets her. This normalcy is a welcome dose of reality, as well as the too-likely flubs with her son, embarrassing but normal incidents that might happen in any family-- and past time they made it into a novel.

Even the beginning of Reece's and Kara's relationship -aka The Time of Bunnies- is true to life, but lest you think you're reading the wrong book, only two of these are longer scenes and Reece takes the cake for his, er, demands. ;)

So, in sum, I recommend this to anyone looking for a more natural, real, heated contemporary romance, especially featuring journalists, with a side of suspense. Thanks for the rec, UM!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted at Under the Covers

This is my second time reading Extreme Exposure and this is my second attempt at writing a review. No words are adequate enough to explain how great this series is. While it may not be my favourite of the series, Extreme Exposure starts the I-Team series with a bang! It really has all you could want in a romantic suspense novel. It’s clearly evident that Clare is a terrific writer. The words flow and there are great moments of suspense and the right amount of humor. I really loved her writing style. Overall, this book was fantastic! Ms. Clare is an auto-buy author for me and I’m telling you, she should be one for you as well.

The heroine, Kara McMillan is a tough and determined investigative reporter who doesn’t fall back easily in the roughest of times. I enjoyed her character a lot. However, there were a few times where I felt that her determination in her work caused more problems than solutions. Sometimes, there was a lead and you feel like some real progress has been made, but them Clare pulls a U-turn and we’re back to square one! The suspense aspect of the novel definitely had my heart pumping for the majority of the book. And when that wasn’t happening, the romance aspect got my little heart to go pitter-patter too.

And now I must speak of the man who is the embodiment of women’s fantasies – Reece Sheridan. Senator Reece Sheridan really is the embodiment of the perfect gentleman. He’s polite and doesn’t take advantage of women who have had one too many margaritas. He’s manly in that he likes to pump iron with his friends, but creative enough to get a bunch of branches together and make a bed frame with it. Tell me, what man can do that? This guy can pull off everything! But after intense scrutiny of his character, I found one fault!!! Why does he always yell during sex? All the “Taste yourself!” and “I need to fuck you hard and fast!”? Weird. Okay, okay, so that’s not really a bad thing. There really is nothing bad to say about Reece. He’s just PERFECT!

The I-Team series has shot to the top of my all-time favourites lists. Pamela Clare is one of my all-time favourite authors. And if you still haven’t read the I-Team series, you’re missing out big time. With some of the sexiest heroes, Clare’s I-Team series is a must read!!


This is how I pictured Reece Sheridan. The perfect man deserves a perfect body and face.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It says I am reading this for the third time... I don't think it is my third time ... second maybe. Pamela was one of the first authors I discovered who wrote RS back when I joined Goodreads. I think I gave it five stars originally ... I will give it four. I was handing out the five stars like there was no tomorrow back then. Good story. Nice characters. I was going to continue re-reading the series but not sure I will - might just skip to her newest book. I wanted to reacquaint myself with the characters again, as it had been a while.


Set in Denver, a place I would love to visit.

[Blacky *Romance Addict*]

There aren't many novels I didn't finish, but unfortunately this one goes to that category. The story is what bothered me the most, I just couldn't bring myself to get interested in anything that was happening, especially concerning the senator stuff and passing bills, jeez. Her angle was also nothing special, a "been there, seen and read that a million times" - a factory and environmental problems? Toxic waste? Just didn't work for me. Even their love affair wasn't enough to hold me through the book. Maybe I'll return to it later, but I highly doubt it. BUT, I won't give up on this series, some of the other storylines seem very interesting, maybe it's just me and my dislike of politics that had me edning this one. Hope the others will be better.

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 3 out of 5]

♥♥♥ 3.5 STARS ♥♥♥

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

“You need a man, Kara. A man you can open up to. A man whose passion for life matches yours. A man who grabs your hair in big fistfuls and twists and pulls it when he's fucking you. A man willing to walk wire for you.”

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

I really enjoyed this one. It had some steam, a sexy hero, an independent heroine and some exciting suspense.



The story is about a single mother and journalist, Kara McMillan. Like her mother, she has had to raise a child alone while also work hard at her career. It wasn't easy but she loves her life, for the most part. She still craves that companionship with a man, but most of all, she misses the sex.





I really liked Kara. She was a strong investigative journalist who was independent, and a good mother to her four year old son Connor. She did have a few moments where she was stubborn. But that was because she didn't want to get hurt by Reece when he comes waltzing into her life. She is attracted to him but doesn't know if he wants more than sex or not. She tries to resist him but it becomes impossible.





Reece Sheridan is a state senator of Colorado. He was a politician that actually cared about the causes he brought to light. In this book, he trying to get a bill to pass that will use old tires as fuel. Like Kara, he takes his career seriously and works really hard at what he does. He is also handsome, kind, and protective. I loved the way he treated Kara and her son. It was really sweet and adorable.


There was some steam in this book, but not very much, which wasn't a bad thing. I felt like the main focus of the story became the suspense of the environmental scandal. The first parts of the book were a bit slow because of it. I wasn't too interested in the scandal itself but I did enjoy reading about Kara finding out the truth. There were many suspenseful moments and threats made. I just, really wanted there to be a little more focus on the relationship development between Kara and Reece. I don't feel like I really got that here. I didn't really feel like I saw them fall in love, it just kind of happened. So, more one on one time is something I would have liked.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

"I love you Reece Sheridan."

He grinned. "I kinda figured."

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

The last part of the book is when things got a lot more interesting. This is where I actually got into the whole scandal part because things started to pick up. I really liked it and all the drama that occured. I LOVED everything Reece does for Kara, I really did. I absolutely loved the adorable Connor. I was happy with how things concluded for them all. It did, however, feel a tad bit rushed in my opinion. Again, I would have liked to see more of their relationship and how it all worked. The glimpse that I did get was very happy and sweet wish I really liked. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked some things about it and others not so much, but it was still an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing where this series goes.

[Buggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening Line: “Kara McMillan was going to kill her best friend.”

So how good was this! Thanks to everyone who kept recommending this series to me over and over (and over) again, now I get what all the fuss has been about. And Pamela Clare well what can I say, this is the 7th book of yours I’ve read now, covering two genres and they’ve all been 5 star reads, so thanks for being amazing.

One of the reasons I put this off for so long was that I just couldn’t get into a politician as our hero. Yeah I made assumptions, because I couldn’t believe that a stuffy, suited, paper pusher could be so, freakin hot! Or for that matter even slightly interesting, I mean at some point his character is going to have to do political stuff which is always so bor-ing, and yes Reece does hang out at the capital and pass bills and vote on shit but he’s also so much more. Okay I’m just going to say it; Reece Sheridan is the perfect man, a total keeper.

I’ll admit I still cringed a bit when he was described as wearing a bow tie ...um no thanks but the Senator makes up for his fashion sense in so many other ways; like his extreme cooking skills, he’s great with kids, he’s also funny, has a six-pack, knows his wines, and drives a jeep (I wonder if it’s a CJ or a YJ ?) He has a compassionate yet take charge nature and goes all alpha and growly in the bedroom, he’s also good with his hands i.e. he has the ability build a cabin in the woods complete with a bed made from tree branches and then take you outside in the snow and have mountain lion sex with you !! Jeez Louise.

Okay where was I? I’m all befuddled now.
Right, Extreme Exposure book is book 1 in the I-team series, centering around Kara McMillian a single mother and hard hitting journalist with a penchant for margaritas and purple jiggly things (god those scenes made me laugh) Kara is struggling to be a full time mum for her son while still holding down a full time job. She’s given up on any hope of a love life after the disaster that was her son’s father and the fact that her boss is a bit of an ass and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

When Kara receives an anonymous tip from an employee at the Northrup Mining Corp regarding a host of environmental crimes including the dumping and disposal of toxic waste (I admit I had flashes of Erin Brockovich here) Launching into her investigation Kara soon realizes she’s got the potential for a huge story on her hands. People’s lives are at stake and the extent of the corruption is beyond anything she could have imagined, going all the way to; you guessed it, the senate which does put a kink into her blossoming affair with a certain politician. Before long he’s also on her list of suspects and Kara’s running for her life.

This was just all out fantastic read, superbly written with believable, well rounded characters, sex scenes that were off the charts hot, an exciting suspenseful and interesting storyline that stayed out of OTT territory and kept me engrossed with moments of humour, vulnerability, intrigue and passion. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead next. Cheers

[Ingie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - a good one...

Quite a few weeks later, 18th September 2013.

There was certainly never any review written then i August. That's what happens when a book is read on a white beach on the Mediterranean in the middle of the summer.

... Either way, this was a really good and enjoyable romance with pretty much suspense elements.

Here we have a very goodlooking hero, the Senator Reece Sheridan and a strong and tough beautiful woman, Kara McMillan, a single mother and a successful hard-boiled journalist. They are two people who invest time and effort in their careers and jobs; She examines a possible environmental scandal. He fights with all kinds of political battles every day. They don't know each other, but of course they both know who the other one is and even more admire each other's skills, etc. So, by pure coincidence they encounter each other in a bar one evening. Kara is a bit drunk after several of the drinks her friend tricked her and the fancy senator begins flirting.

The gorgeous Senator Sheridan is a sought-after bachelor but Kara has already been let down (hard) once and doesn't intend to take the chance to get maybe get hurt again. Mostly, Kara must focus all her energy on her young son after a day with her usually very demanding job for a big neews paper (which she loves).

~ But an assertive senator will not give up so easily....

The opening scene in the bar, when they meet for the first time, was a real treat. I laughed - a perfect opening for a romance. It caught me as a reader and I was stuck in the story.

'Bit it was her scent that just about killed him. Clean skin. Woman. And something more—something that made him feel like dispensing with five thousand years of civilization, dragging her off to a cave somewhere, and filling her with babies.'

The bottom line; for me, this was a well done lovely tale about two adults (which I always prefer) who were so worthy of finding the big, eternal love and a HEA, as they did. I really liked this two main characters and the fancy Senator??...; Oh Yes, he is a true full-point catch!!

Recommended! - I will definitely continue reading this series.

I LIKE - a yummy very nice read!

[AH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve found a new author to add to my list of favorites. Reading Pamela Clare’s Extreme Exposure was a real treat. From the first margarita enhanced scenes right to the very end, I was hooked. I could not put the book down.

Extreme Exposure is the story of Kara McMillan, an investigative journalist. Kara has the opportunity to expose a major polluter in her area. Her investigation puts her in danger and causes some very scary moments. Luckily, she has Senator Reece Sheridan as her protector.

I absolutely loved Kara’s character. Kara was a strong, single mother completely dedicated to her young son Connor. She is a hard worker and stands up for her rights. Her idealism is infectious. Kara has been unlucky in love, and very hesitant to start a new relationship.

And what can I say about Reece? Reece made me sigh, made me swoon, and he made me dream. Aside from being just a little too perfect, I absolutely loved him. Loved his sense of responsibility, his sense of humor, and the way he protected his woman. And yes, he is hawt!

There’s also a real thriller happening between all the love scenes. It’s a great story and kept me on the edge of my seat. The investigative journalism part of the book seemed very realistic as well. Kara had to work through tons of paperwork to find her answers. It never ceases to amaze me how much research needs to go into a newspaper story.

There are a few very memorable scenes in this book. One of my favorites included a purple jiggle stick. I’ll now look at mountain lions in a whole new way. Thanks, Reece!
Oh, and Reece, you can get me hot and bothered anytime.

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This had some intensity and events that hit harder than I was in the mood to read right now I think. The book I finished before this was a sweet, slightly suspenseful read, and this was jarring in comparison with whistleblowing, death threats leading to danger, and political machinations. Other friends rated this more highly and my enjoyment was definitely affected by my mood.

The writing is high quality and there are multiple complex plot lines woven around a spicy romance. The H is an idealistic politician who fights for the environment and treats the h and her son so well. The h was a badass journalist, unafraid to go toe to toe with anyone professionally, but she was frustrating when it came to her personal life. They have an interesting (and revealingly mortifying) moment when the h has too much to drink at a bar and the H helps her home. A quickly deepening romance develops, including several steamy scenes. Despite the wonderfulness that was the H, the h self-sabotaged at times and made me want to shake her a bit. But she also had a lot of baggage and a lot going on what with the danger and turmoil and trying to break a huge story.

Written in third person, mostly dual POV (a couple POVs of side characters). No ow/om drama and neither were virgins (h had been celibate for years and H not a manwhore, brief mention of a casual relationship he had with someone previously in the past).

Some older style writing inclusions that might bother some of my friends, for example the h’s editor who crosses major HR boundaries with how he treats staff. Other than him though, the side characters were excellent. Her other coworkers were equally intelligent and driven, while being supportive. The h’s mother was hilariously forthright and New Age. Plus the h’s son was adorably precious and his scenes with the H were lovely.

The climax had me white-knuckling my kindle honestly, even knowing it had to have a HEA. And it definitely does. The epilogue wraps up what happened to all the bad guys and shows the H and h happily married 18 months later and them living their best lives. The final page is esp sweet and moving.

Trigger warnings: death threats due to investigation, attempted SA (some description of attempt before stopped but with description that a rape kit was used after), violence, and attempted murder

[Beanbag Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while for me to get into this story. I don't really like politicians as main protagonists. They're always these idealistic to a completely unbelievable degree figments of the imagination. Add to this a heroine who is a non-smarmy political journalist and you've got a fairy tale on a believability scale with Thumbelina.

But it's also a crime story, and that again is a cliche. An Erin Brockovich tale that ensnares both hero and heroine and includes an evil corporation, a dirty factory, corrupt politicians (everyone except our hero, of course), and run down houses with old people on oxygen who have complained to the EPA for at least two years with nary a peep in return. Seen it too many times to be on the edge of my seat.

The leads are good, even though Reece (our hot state senator) is a bit squeaky clean and Gary Stu-ish. Kara is a bit of an emotional basket case, and some moments are not believable to me. She's not stupid, but she does a few stupid things and it gets annoying after a bit. But their chemistry is believable for the most part.

I was surprised by some of the writing. Clare resorted to some ripe repetition, which is unexpected in such a good writer. I'll have to do a search, but I swear Reece had rage boiling in his gut, white hot rage coiling in his gut or some other variation of rage doing something in his gut at any given time. Use the rage too much, and you've got a rather unstable hero for our emotionally confused heroine. It truly was his first reaction to almost any news. Rage. It got very old and I was disappointed with Clare for stepping into a rut with it.

I'll read the next in the I-Team series, but as I said, politicians and reporters are not necessarily my favorite protagonists. The I-Team refers to the "Investigative Team" of a Denver, CO paper, BTW, so we're in the journalist world whether we like it or not. It's possible that Clare was just struggling a bit with the contemporary format and language, as she's typically a writer of historicals. These might get better as I go along. (disclosure: I used to work for several different magazines, which is probably why I'm not all that interested in journalists as heroes or heroines of stories)

HOWEVER, if you're interested in some smokin' sex scenes, Reece doesn't disappoint. Rawr. ;^)

ETA: Recently this book went on sale for $3.99 for Kindle. I just checked and it's still at that low price. Usually it's $7.99 (because it's published by stupid, greedy, freaking Penguin). Why am I giving a heads up on a book I was so hard on? Because this series got better and better until it became possibly the best suspense romance series going. :)

[KristenReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

I couldn't decide whether to give this book 3 1/2 or 4 stars. I finally decided on 3 1/2 stars because I disliked and was annoyed by Kara's character through most of the book. She did, however, become more palatable by the end of the story. Unfortunately, because of my dislike for her character, and the fact the plot mostly revolved around her, I had a hard time staying fully engaged in the storyline.

In addition, I would have preferred that Kara and Reece, her love interest, spend more time together throughout the book. It would have heightened the sense of romance, making the story feel more than just a suspense thriller with steamy erotic scenes thrown in. Fans self just thinking about the steam factor in this book. 

Kara's character is the epitome of the fiercely independent, fickle heroine. Oh, how I wanted to smack her! She couldn't seem to make up her mind how she felt about Reece. She was constantly trying to push him away in the name of self preservation. It got old real fast. Having said that, she did have a sensitive side that was touching. My heart ached for her as she battled her insecurities about being a good mother. Most mothers can identify with that feeling.

As for Reece's character, I pretty much loved everything about him. He really was a fantastic character. He's sweet, charming, sensual, sexy, helpful, passionate, intelligent, thoughtful, courageous, confident, optimistic, witty, idealistic, and frankly too good for Kara. Alright, I admit, he may be a little "too good to be true." Brutal honesty...he's "a lot" too good to be true. But that's okay, being the impeccable specimen that he is, he knew he needed to make up for Kara's character. 

I really enjoyed the suspense, action, eroticism, and humor in this book. Pamela Clare is a master story teller and I honestly feel guilty for giving one of her books only 3 1/2 stars. Unfortunately, no matter how skilled an author is, it's difficult to completely connect with a story when the reader doesn't particularly like one of it's main characters or finds the subject matter of little interest.  

Extreme Exposure may not be my favorite book, and the odds of me reading it again slim, but it is a good book by a very talented author.  

[Pepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engancha y atrapa. La trama está bien construía, buenos personajes, tanto principales como secundarios, escenas divertidas, eróticas, tiernas... lo tiene casi todo para ser una historia redonda.
El problema es que al final ambos descubren todo el enredo demasiado rápido y que el senador como personaje masculino me parece tan terriblemente perfecto que me ha parecido totalmente increíble.
Dejando de lado esos dos detalles, me ha gustado bastante, siempre me gustan estos libros romántico-suspense, y leeré toda la serie

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know...some days I think I nitpick everything, and other days I feel like I'm way too lenient with books. Considering the fact that I actually did enjoy the book, it makes me feel a little guilty for how much I'm about to pick apart the male lead.

Reece was just too perfect for my tastes. I can handle perfect men in fantasy and pnr themed books because there is often a magical or race related reason for the perfection. When it comes to realistic and contemporary fiction, I crave flaws. People can still be attractive with flaws. This man just didn't seem to have one thing wrong with him.

Let's see if you can spot the flaw :

Good looking and well-dressed
Ripped body and packing heat
Excellent lover (go go multiple O's with barely a touch)
Has an abundant amount of sensitivity from his previous teaching job and the status from his current senator position
Money is not an object for him as witnessed in his cars and vacation cabins
He can build with his own two hands ladies! Look, he even built the bed they're sleeping on - a big HAHA to that one
Is wanted by obscene amounts of women, but can't seem to find the right one
Thinks the female lead is adorable, even though he met her while she was drunkenly rambling
Willing to overlook the woman's single parent status and is enthused to be a part of her son's life
Willing to come to her rescue and kick ass when she's being stalked

So where is the flaw? Is perfectionism a flaw?

Complaints aside, I actually did have a fun time reading Extreme Exposure. The book was a group read for the romance group I mod, so I got a chance to pick up a book I might not have otherwise tried. This was a new venture into contemp suspense, which is not usually the type of book I would gravitate toward, but there was enough of a mix of humor, mystery, steam, etc. that I appreciated the read because of the variety. The author knows her stuff because she did the job previously, and knew the area because it's where she lives, so the story itself did not feel forced, and I was not bored while reading it.

[Viri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitivamente quiero un Reece en mi vida. Si los senadores de mi país fueran tan guapos como estrellas de cine o modelos de GQ otra cosa sería pero... pues no se puede así de sad es mi vida ajjajajaja.

El libro tiene una muy buena mezcla de suspenso con romance y un poco erotismo que vuelve a esta historia adictiva. Si bien la intriga y el punto esencial de esta novela es bastante predecible fue una lectura muy entretenida.

Nada fuera de lo común pero buena para pasar el tiempo. Me gustó pero sin ser WOW.
Seguiré con la serie porque francamente no tengo nada más que leer jajaja.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm not reviewing this one in depth since it's been done by bajillions before me, but I enjoyed the story and characters, and I LOVED the sense of humor. But I didn't feel it was a rocks my socks fantastic book. I can see why so many love this series, though. And yet, I couldn't get the pages to turn fast enough (stupid e-reader button!). It had a few eye-rolling moments, definitely. The "demands" Kara made of Reece kind of pissed me off, and I think that it *is* okay to have a happily ever after without babies. And yet I still enjoyed the book.

I'll definitely read the rest of the series, but I'm not chomping at the bit to get through them. One thing that made the suspense storyline work for me though, is a recent interview with Pamela Clare at Riverina Romantics (you can read it here ) and I realized how close to home the suspense action must have been for her. Wow, that bumped the book up a notch, in my opinion.

So, yeah, great plot, hysterical moment with Reece, Mr. Jiggle Stick, and a menage a trois (my favorite part! lol-really, the part where Kara is tied up and Reece is like "I didn't think you'd mind if I brought a friend." And pulls out her purple vibrator!) and a good ending. the epilogue was over-kill to me. I'm all for marriage and babies and HEA, hello! have you met me? (lol) but this was a little over the top.

[Eastofoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t really work for me. I tried to like it because a lot of readers rave about the series but I just couldn’t get into it. I put it down a few times to read something else and then in the end forced myself to finish it. It’s a different twist on romantic suspense but not one that I particularly liked. Politicians are just not sexy. They’re staid and uninteresting or so the hero came across like that in this book.

The story centers around Kara the journalist, and Reece the politician. Not very common in romantic suspense so I was intrigued if somewhat reticent, but hey I thought I’d give it a shot. Kara is an investigative reporter for a local newspaper. She works for an insensitive ass of an editor but lets herself be walked all over because she’s devoted to her job and needs the money as she’s a single mother. What I thought was odd here was that if she was such a good journalist why didn’t she ever leave the nightmare job and go work for someone else? Anyway a whistleblower calls her about environmental laws being violated at the factory where he works and the story starts. That’s the suspense aspect and that takes up the better part of the story. Then there’s the romance but it’s very weak and feels like it’s in the background which would be fine if this were a thriller but it’s romantic suspense so I thought it should’ve been more focused on the romance. Kara ends up falling for the Reece, the do-gooder politician who just came across as sexless and nice. Not what you really want in a hero. The feelings turn out to be mutual but their relationship feels contrived and forced, almost passionless. The heroine was a total pain because she didn’t really know what she wanted and Reece should’ve kicked her to curb letting her wallow in her miserable solitary life. She had way too many issues and I don’t like women who create problems where there aren’t any. Life was going to be good for her if she just gave Reece a chance but she kept putting up all these roadblocks and that got old fast. He persevered though and everyone loved everyone at the end.

The novel was predictable and it felt like I’d seen it all before. I very rarely like romances with children because they get in the way and things start to get hokey at some point –this story was no different. Kara’s extreme independence made her unlikeable. Reece just wanted to help her but she fought him every step of the way. She was more devoted to her job than anything else which is not the most attractive quality. The steam scenes were blahish and sometimes had a bit of an out of place raunchy feel to them that came out of left field. The violence was also extreme at times and just didn’t blend in with the rest of the story. The back tracking got on my nerves too and had me skim reading more than once. I can see how an author needs to show the characters remembering things but it was excessive and just felt like filler.

The epilogue was good in that it briefly went over what happened to each character but then came the sticky sweet part with the h/h that I didn’t like. Sure you want an HEA but I don’t like the sugary sweet make my teeth hurt kind. It lacks originality.

Overall I thought it was a very average read missing sparks but I think that it’s also the type of book that many readers may enjoy if you like a family centred, crusader heroine kind of story with an awe shucks wholesome ending. There’s nothing wrong with the writing style it’s more so how the story came together that I didn’t enjoy. It felt old and dated and just wasn’t at all engaging.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I burned through Pamela Clare's "Extreme Exposure" like a chocoholic after a year's drought. I'm torn as to whether I liked this one even more than "Hard Evidence" which is book two of the 'I-Team' series, but the one I read first! I love the fact that these books are gripping romantic suspense, yet still believable. The characters are wonderfully flawed and the relationships are complex and seriously HOT.

It's been longer than reporter Kara wants to think about since she's had sexual contact with anything other than plastic. But when her friend drags her to a local bar and Kara runs into local congressman Reece, her curiosity combined with a bit too much alcohol, sets off an interview of the more personal sort with the handsome state Senator. She knows it's a bad idea for an investigative reporter to get involved with a state senator, but Reece won't give up and Kara can't seem to say no to him. When their careers collide in scandal, Kara will have to be brave enough to fight for her man...or they could both end up dead.

Once again, I can't say enough great things about this author. She just needs to write faster! I'm stuck now waiting for the third novel in this series to arrive in the mail and then I'll be tapping my toes in anticipation of "Naked Edge" which has been pushed back to a November 2009 release...bummer!

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]