Casee‘s review of Naked Edge (I-Team, Book 4) by Pamela Clare.
The day Navajo journalist Katherine James met Gabriel Rossiter, the earth literally moved beneath her feet. Nearly killed in a rockslide while hiking, she found her life in the tall park ranger’s hands. Although she can’t forget him she thinks she’ll never see him again. She is crushed when she recognizes her rescuer among the law enforcement officers raiding a sweat lodge ceremony one night, throwing her and her friends off Mesa Butte, land they consider sacred.
Gabe long ago swore he would never again lose himself to a woman not even one with long dark hair and big eyes that seem to see right through him. But from the moment he first sees Kat, the attraction he feels is undeniable. Appalled by what he has been ordered to do, he’s determined to get to the bottom of recent events at Mesa Butte and to keep Kat safe.
But asking questions can be dangerous almost as dangerous as risking one’s heart. And soon Kat and Gabe’s passion for the truth and each other makes them targets for those who would do anything, even kill, to keep Native Americans off their sacred land.
This book was meh for me. It begins and ends with Kat. I had a problem reconciling the tough-as-nails investigative reporter to the naïve virgin that acted like she was straight out of a historical romance. With the long wait between books, my memory about Kat wasn’t exactly up to par. What I did remember was that she was kick ass. Because you had to be kick ass to be on the I-Team.
The book started top-quality which is exactly what I expect from Pamela Clare. She’s very accomplished at throwing the reader into the story right from the beginning. After the initial action passed, the book was bogged down by pages of detailed Native American traditions. Kat was Navajo, so there was obviously room for Navajo beliefs and customs. I found the inipi ceremony to be particularly fascinating. The coyote superstition as well. There were several other parts that were critical to the story as well. In addition to that, there was more. And more. And more.
Gabe Rossiter is attracted to Kat from the start. When their paths cross months after their initial meeting, Kat makes it clear that she is not the type of woman that will jump into bed with a man. In turn, Gabe makes it clear that he will never make promises to her b/c they both know he wouldn’t keep them. A tragedy in his past took Gabe from being a relatively care-free man to a bitter one. Gabe will stick his dick in any woman that wants it. He just won’t stick around. He was very blunt and to the point when it came to sex.
The constant see-sawing of Gabe’s emotions on top of the heroine that Kat turned out to be was a lot. When you add in the story that Kat’s investigating, it felt like something got lost. In between history lessons, I would put the book down and not have any urge to pick it back up. That’s not usually how it is for me and Pamela Clare.
Up until the last 50 or so pages, I probably would have given this book a three out of five. Then Gabe makes an incredible sacrifice. A sacrifice so profound that it made me cry. At work, no less. That did show me that Pamela Clare still has it. This just wasn’t that book for me. I loved the epilogue and was really happy that both Gabe and Kat could find peace.
3.75 out of 5.
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
The series:
Hmmm… Overall this one has been getting great reviews. It should be on my doorstep when I get home today. I’m looking forward to it!
I seem to be in the minority on this one, so you’ll probably like it.
I just wanted to chime in. Naked Edge was my first PC book and it made me an instant fan. I really loved this story. I know there are readers who felt disturbed by Gabe’s issues but he never looked bad in my eyes, whatever his behavior as a-holey as it was I understood where he came from.
I’ve been reading romance for a long time and not much bowls me over but this story did, it felt real and almost magical.