Scan barcode
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable read. I do find myself wondering if Ruaidhrí's (and I assume Ailis) story will be told.
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
4.0
Wow this was such a journey! I loved the connection between Bernie and Nicholas as they gradually learned to trust each other. Really great story. There is a lot of graphic content and mentions of rape and sexual assault.
fi_c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
**Most of my reviews contain detailed CW/TW sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
Audio (Kaleo Griffith)
5/5
Summary: Frontiersman MMC trying to escape his traumatic past encounters the widowed pregnant FMC on her homestead. Lots of caretaking both ways. Both MCs have traumatic pasts, and over time they become close. When they head back east to Fort Pitt, they become involved in the siege, and other drama ensues.
Stats: HR- American Frontier 1763, M/F, Open door, part of a series but essentially stands alone.
Notes: nice classic style historical. Overall, I think it holds up quite well (orig. published 2005). I liked the way the SA history was handled, in particular.
OTT and Spoilery Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW):
pregnancy, childbirth, torture, death of previous (pregnant) partner, SA/rape (both MCs have been raped), CSA, mentioned violence against animals, hunting, overcautious dubcon: MC begins sex while other MC is sleeping (after their relationship is established), violence - historical war, shooting, execution, assault.
Audio (Kaleo Griffith)
5/5
Summary: Frontiersman MMC trying to escape his traumatic past encounters the widowed pregnant FMC on her homestead. Lots of caretaking both ways. Both MCs have traumatic pasts, and over time they become close. When they head back east to Fort Pitt, they become involved in the siege, and other drama ensues.
Stats: HR- American Frontier 1763, M/F, Open door, part of a series but essentially stands alone.
Notes: nice classic style historical. Overall, I think it holds up quite well (orig. published 2005). I liked the way the SA history was handled, in particular.
OTT and Spoilery Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW):
vdarcangelo's review against another edition
4.0
http://archive.boulderweekly.com/090805/uncovered.html
This review originally appeared in the BOULDER WEEKLY
Gritty romance
by Vince Darcangelo
When people think of romance novels, they instinctively think of the music of Eminem. The two go together like...
Well, maybe not everyone associates Eminem with romance novels. But when best-selling author Pamela Clare was making the transition from writing historical romance to contemporary romantic suspense, she put together an iTunes playlist featuring modern hip-hop and "anything that felt more urban and action-oriented." The intent was to bring her voice out of the frontier and into the 21st century.
The result is Extreme Exposure, a hard-boiled, modern-day thriller that was released on Aug. 2.
"It's about a single mother who is an investigative journalist who gets drunk at a bar and asks some obscene questions of a state senator who is there," says Clare. "Just as their relationship is taking off, she begins an investigation of a company accused of environmental crimes."
The reporter, Kara McMillan, then begins receiving death threats.
"As the threats grow serious, it starts to look like the senator might be involved with the crime she's investigating," says Clare.
Extreme Exposure is Clare's first foray into contemporary romance, but certainly not her last. Riding the heels of her debut historical trilogy—the final installment of which, Ride the Fire, was released in March—Extreme Exposure sets the stage for a series of novels centered around the investigative team at the Denver Independent newspaper. For Clare, who has more than a decade of experience as an investigative journalist under her belt, it was an obvious direction in which to take her fiction.
"I started thinking through all my years of journalism, and did I have interesting material? Yes, I did," says Clare.
But despite being influenced by her real-world adventures as an investigative reporter, Clare is quick to deny Extreme Exposure is a work of thinly veiled nonfiction.
"Obviously real experiences influence a writer," she says, "but Extreme Exposure is a work of fiction."
But though Clare has enjoyed the freedom of writing in a contemporary voice, she will continue writing historicals. She has begun work on her next trilogy, the first installment of which will be released in March. After that, she will release a contemporary novella in June and her next romantic thriller in November. All told, that's five books in two years, a major feat for the young author.
And as her writing has evolved, so has the subject matter. Clare has also had a darker tone than most romance writers, opting for a more realistic feel in her historicals. In Ride the Fire, which is set against the backdrop of frontier violence between colonists and Indians, the first 10 pages document the torture of the imprisoned protagonist. Clare received heat from some in the romance-reading community, as well as critical praise. Her next trilogy, set in the time of the French and Indian War, will feature the same kind of historical accuracy—even if it gets brutal at times.
"People are going to see more of that realistic view of frontier life in the next trilogy," says Clare.
And while this may turn off more delicate readers, Clare is committed to both telling a great story and being historically accurate.
"A lot of people want romance novels to be just fantasy," says Clare. "But I get bored in ballrooms."
It's an attitude shared by a certain street-wise rapper known for his gritty takes on reality, who chooses not to sugarcoat his material for mass consumption. So perhaps the link between Eminem and romance novels isn't as farfetched as it first seems.
This review originally appeared in the BOULDER WEEKLY
Gritty romance
by Vince Darcangelo
When people think of romance novels, they instinctively think of the music of Eminem. The two go together like...
Well, maybe not everyone associates Eminem with romance novels. But when best-selling author Pamela Clare was making the transition from writing historical romance to contemporary romantic suspense, she put together an iTunes playlist featuring modern hip-hop and "anything that felt more urban and action-oriented." The intent was to bring her voice out of the frontier and into the 21st century.
The result is Extreme Exposure, a hard-boiled, modern-day thriller that was released on Aug. 2.
"It's about a single mother who is an investigative journalist who gets drunk at a bar and asks some obscene questions of a state senator who is there," says Clare. "Just as their relationship is taking off, she begins an investigation of a company accused of environmental crimes."
The reporter, Kara McMillan, then begins receiving death threats.
"As the threats grow serious, it starts to look like the senator might be involved with the crime she's investigating," says Clare.
Extreme Exposure is Clare's first foray into contemporary romance, but certainly not her last. Riding the heels of her debut historical trilogy—the final installment of which, Ride the Fire, was released in March—Extreme Exposure sets the stage for a series of novels centered around the investigative team at the Denver Independent newspaper. For Clare, who has more than a decade of experience as an investigative journalist under her belt, it was an obvious direction in which to take her fiction.
"I started thinking through all my years of journalism, and did I have interesting material? Yes, I did," says Clare.
But despite being influenced by her real-world adventures as an investigative reporter, Clare is quick to deny Extreme Exposure is a work of thinly veiled nonfiction.
"Obviously real experiences influence a writer," she says, "but Extreme Exposure is a work of fiction."
But though Clare has enjoyed the freedom of writing in a contemporary voice, she will continue writing historicals. She has begun work on her next trilogy, the first installment of which will be released in March. After that, she will release a contemporary novella in June and her next romantic thriller in November. All told, that's five books in two years, a major feat for the young author.
And as her writing has evolved, so has the subject matter. Clare has also had a darker tone than most romance writers, opting for a more realistic feel in her historicals. In Ride the Fire, which is set against the backdrop of frontier violence between colonists and Indians, the first 10 pages document the torture of the imprisoned protagonist. Clare received heat from some in the romance-reading community, as well as critical praise. Her next trilogy, set in the time of the French and Indian War, will feature the same kind of historical accuracy—even if it gets brutal at times.
"People are going to see more of that realistic view of frontier life in the next trilogy," says Clare.
And while this may turn off more delicate readers, Clare is committed to both telling a great story and being historically accurate.
"A lot of people want romance novels to be just fantasy," says Clare. "But I get bored in ballrooms."
It's an attitude shared by a certain street-wise rapper known for his gritty takes on reality, who chooses not to sugarcoat his material for mass consumption. So perhaps the link between Eminem and romance novels isn't as farfetched as it first seems.
reading_rainy's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5* A very young and pregnant widow, an English gentleman turned frontier expert and recluse, save each other's lives, while surviving insurmountable odds.
Really loved both these characters but specifically the h as she was so incredibly strong throughout all her ordeal.
Really loved both these characters but specifically the h as she was so incredibly strong throughout all her ordeal.
She'd never given birth before, never seen a baby born. And though she helped cows to calve, she knew having babies was different for women. Would she know what to do?The H is multi-dimensional, and such a fabulous character. Tender and gentle when needed but also a fierce warrior and passionate lover. One of the best historicals I've ever read. Brutal, but not glorified for the time period the story is set in. I appreciated that the author didn't sugarcoat the brutality on both sides. The settlers were vicious in their search for a place to call home, while the Native Americans were just as vicious to keep them out. Everyone was raping, torturing, scalping, and committing mass atrocities on each other.
The war with France had just ended, and already the frontier was about to collapse into new violence and re-doubled bloodshed. Whether they were Indian or white, it seemed to be the nature of men to kill.Loved this story but don't know if I could stomach reading it again.
jenniferlovesromance's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful love story. I have a special place in my heart for Heroes that have been tortured and abused, and Nicholas was certainly that. It was wonderful to watch as, through his growing love for Bethie, he was able to put his past behind him and have a bright and beautiful future. He did the same for her, as she had a difficult past as well. They healed each other.
Nicholas was a fabulous hero. I usually like the bad boys, but he was so kind, so amazing, so patient and yet he never bored me.
Since this is in the synopsis I can mention how his helping Bethie with the birth of her daughter, and essentially saving both of their lives...WOW! I was in awe of him at that point.
I love how Ms. Clare painted a very realistic picture of the time, and I especially enjoyed her Author's Note at the end, where she describes some of her research and how it applies to this story. As a detailed researcher myself, I appreciate when an author takes the time and effort to get the historical time and place of his or her book right. Pamela Clare certainly did that, with fantastic results.
The steam/sexual tension in Ride the Fire is slow building, but it makes sense once you learn certain things about Bethie's past. The lovemaking when it did finally happen, was definitely worth the wait. Not quite as hot as I normally like, but satisfying nonetheless.
Amazing story, and a fitting end to the Blakewell/Kenleigh Family trilogy!
Nicholas was a fabulous hero. I usually like the bad boys, but he was so kind, so amazing, so patient and yet he never bored me.
Since this is in the synopsis I can mention how his helping Bethie with the birth of her daughter, and essentially saving both of their lives...WOW! I was in awe of him at that point.
I love how Ms. Clare painted a very realistic picture of the time, and I especially enjoyed her Author's Note at the end, where she describes some of her research and how it applies to this story. As a detailed researcher myself, I appreciate when an author takes the time and effort to get the historical time and place of his or her book right. Pamela Clare certainly did that, with fantastic results.
The steam/sexual tension in Ride the Fire is slow building, but it makes sense once you learn certain things about Bethie's past. The lovemaking when it did finally happen, was definitely worth the wait. Not quite as hot as I normally like, but satisfying nonetheless.
Amazing story, and a fitting end to the Blakewell/Kenleigh Family trilogy!
loverofromance's review against another edition
4.0
Elspeth Stewart, pregnant and recently widowed, lives alone until a stranger comes to her door, and through a turn of events ends up tied up on her bed, and injured. Bethie knows that she is alone now and pregnant and must do whatever she can to protect herself, especially from a man that points a gun to her head. But Nicholas Kenleigh goes from a stranger, to the man that helps her birth her daughter, and a man that she falls in love with. Nicholas has suffered a painful past and finding Bethie and her daughter has revived him in ways that he never expected. Now as they journey together to escape danger that could put all of their lives in jeapordy, the strength from the newfound love with heal them both of past wounds....Ride The Fire is third in the Blakewell/Kenleigh family series, by Pamela Clare. Ride The Fire was filled with one adventure after another. I had such a fun time reading this one. This was the first book to read by this author, and I just fell in love from the first page. From the heroine tying up the hero...to them journeying together to escape dangerous indians who intent on killing them, and we see a tremendous change from Nicholas who is a renegade and cold inside, turns into a passionate and protective man and a tender love story where two people heal each other through the love they feel. A truly impressive story, one that will have you turning the pages as quickly as you can read them!