Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
Plot:
16 years old Sophie Alton shares the most memorable night of her life with highschool bad boy Hunt.
Hunt’s ticket to make something of himself is enlisting in the army and, unfortunately, he leaves the very next day.
Twelve years later Sophie has become an investigative journalist and, while working on drug addiction and pregnancies in prison, she befriends a young mother, Megan.
When, soon after her release on parole, Megan mysteriously vanishes with her 7 months old baby, Sophie can’t believe she disappeared willingly.
Investigating on Megan’s case she finds her brother, Marc Hunter, a convicted killer condemned to life in prison.
Marc Hunter knows his sister has gone missing and he suspects their past has something to do with it.
She might be in grave danger and he cannot protect her from prison.
He sets a plan in motion and an interview with Sophie Alton, is his best way out.
Marc takes Sophie hostage and her life is turned upside down.
Soon she realizes Marc is that boy she has never forgotten and there’s a tragic reality behind both Marc’s conviction and Megan’s disappearance…
Personal Thoughts:
For quite some time I’ve been seeing reviews of Pamela Clare’s books on my feed but I remember reading one of them in italian and completely hating it so…they didn’t “call out to me”.
I’m happy I jumped on this thanks to a GR friend that loves the entire series.
I didn’t fell in love with it but I’m rounding the rating up because overall I enjoyed the story and I’ll probably try reading another book by this author.
A have a few complaints though, BIG ones.
The first 40-50% of this book I was in love with it but at some point something started annoying me…
► Mark escapes from prison to find and protect his sister but, when things heat up with Sophie, his priorities shift.
40% of this book, Mark & Sophie “play house” while the sister he sacrificed EVERYTHING for is missing and in danger of being murdered.
They are so sweet together that I almost forgot about Megan too!!
Almost.
Even with their great chemistry it was maddening thinking about Megan on the run with her 7 months old daughter while those two were completely lost in each other’s feelings and “impossible” future together.
► From 60% on, Mark’s self-deprecating becomes annoying.
The whole situation was all sad and tragic and….over the top.
► The author’s attention is mostly focused on the romance and the drama when, in my opinion, the plot often asked for more “serious” action and “smarts” from both characters, expecially Sophie.
She’s supposed to be an investigative reporter but she’s kind of slow on the uptake…
There’s a scene 3/4 into the story where Sophie’s genius deduction skills prompt her to suggest Mark their only option REMAINING is looking for Megan…REALLY?
THAT’S WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO FROM THE BEGINNING!
…IT’S THE REASON WHY MATT ESCAPED FROM PRISON!
Dumb moment.
► And talking about overdramatizing…
Mark is on the ground DYING, he can BARELY breathe and he has the time to painfully comunicate HIS LAST WISHES to all those surrounding him.
Not one or two words
No.
His wishes to Megan about herself and her baby, to Sophie, to Sophie’s cop friend plus…a final super dramatic declaration of love.
Really.
It was a big *eye rolling* scene and I couldn’t take it seriously.
Also…all the wounded people survive.
► The ending wraps everything up with a perfect bow…
Sweet but not even close to realistic.
Mark has the family he’s always dreamed about,
he’s fully pardoned and becomes a S.W.A.T. office O_O
He’s innocent of murder but he’s guilty of everything else!
Every law he has broken is forgotten just to make it possible for him to be pardoned…
Way too much stuff that are not a believable turn of events.
Over the top is the code of the second half of this book.
I’ve rolled my eyes so much they hurt!
If you’re looking for a story with realistic plot and action, probably you will not love this book…but, if you can take the overdramatized and over the top second half of the story, you’ll not hate it either.
⭐ 2.5 Stars rounded up⭐
*Unlawful Contact is book #3 in the “I-Team series” by Pamela Clare, no cliffhanger, standalone.
~ My Ratings ~
Writing: 3 /5
Plot: 2.5 /5
Hero: 3 /5
Heroine: 2 /5
Secondary Characters: 3 /5
MC’s chemistry: 4 /5
Triggers: Violence and explicit scenes, a secondary character was raped and abused.
Recommended to: Adult Romance Readers that enjoy steamy romance and action but that are not bothered by OTT and unrealistic plot.
Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare
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