As STRIKING DISTANCE begins, Laura Nilsson, the reporter known as the Baghdad Babe, has been missing and presumed dead for nearly two years after being captured by Al Qaeda insurgents. A surprise raid on a terrorist compound by SEAL Team 14 finds her alive, and she is rescued. Navy SEAL Javier Corbray is part of that effort, and he and Laura have a bit of a past. Seems two years before, the two had a highly charged weekend fling. They parted ways, but neither ever forgot the other.

After the rescue and trial of her captor, Laura heads back to Denver and a job as a reporter with the I-Team at their Denver newspaper. She's trying to pull her life back together after her long captivity, and harboring a huge secret. Javier winds up in Denver to spend some down time with old buddy Nate West after a difficult mission. When there are a couple of attempts on Laura's life; Javier becomes involved in the investigation and with her protection, moving into her loft with her for 24 hour protection. There are threats coming against Laura from several different directions, and they must find out how they tie together and stop the ongoing menace to Laura's life.

Both Laura and Javier have suffered some difficult, painful experiences in their lives; especially Laura during her captivity. There are some dark themes running through the book, but they are handled tastefully. Be prepared to have your heart hurting a few times throughout the course of the story, especially over Laura's ongoing dilemma. The story kept a steady even pace of drama, and the excitement and thrills didn't really kick in until near the halfway point. When the story took off though; it really took off, and the reader is held in thrall until the end. The story is a little different in tone from the other I-Team books, and the ending will put a lump in the throat of even the most jaded reader.

All the regulars are back this time around, especially Julian, Marc, Zach, and Nate; as they are involved in the investigation of the threats to Laura and in her protection. Reece Sheridan is now the Lt. Governor of Colorado; and there are glimpses of all the gang at get-togethers and at the newspaper. The story firmly revolves around Javier and Laura, however; the careful building of their relationship, and the dangerous difficulties they face together.

STRIKING DISTANCE is another excellent novel in Pamela Clare's always outstanding I-Team<.i> series. This is a series that is getting better by the book. This is a wonderful story, highly recommended to Romantic Suspense lovers, as is this entire series.