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Hard Time (2014)

by Cara McKenna(Favorite Author)

3.91 of 5 Votes: 6

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

InterMix

review 1: "Hard Time" is my first Cara's book and I wasn't totally sure what to expect, but when Clara of Piatkus told me it's a great read, I haven't doubted this for a second, as Clara slowly knows my tastes better that I herself, and so I of course jumped on the chance to read this novel. After reading the blurb, I dived into the story with great expectations and emerged, hours later, flushed and rather unwillingly, and picked it up again as soon as I could. I've read some steamy contemporary romance books before, but I guess I haven't read something like this yet. The setting of the story is more or less unusual, because it mostly takes place in and around prison. Our main character Annie starts working in the prison library, helping the inmates to broaden their horizons, to br... moreing them closer to the literature world and to help them with writing their CVs and other stuff. Of course she's scared at first, who wouldn't be, when every time when you come to work you must be searched, totally, the full service if you know what I mean. And right on the first day something strange happens: she catches eye of one inmates and she can't stop thinking about him, there is something that draws her to him. To cut the long story shot, they end writing hot, steamy letters to each other, although it's of course forbidden in prison, so they are risking both a lot. A fair play to the author for describing Eric in the way she did it. I found myself not judging him at all and I really liked him. I mean, I guess we are supposed not to like him, well, he's in fact a bad man, he's in prison sitting his sentence for assault, and he doesn't regret what he did, as he often states to Annie, he would do this again. On the other hand, he seems to be almost angelic in the way he is: calm, fair, honest, wants to live his life outside prison like an average person, loves his family and would do anything for those he loves. Complex? Yes. Complicated? Not much. Badass, sexy as hell, tattooed, but with tenderness and vulnerability to him. I would say, he IS a good person, being in prison not accidentally of course, but nevertheless, he still has his principles and is very gentlemanly.I must admit, I wasn't sure at first. I was expecting him to play some kind of game with Annie, I wasn't sure if he's honest. Call it prejudice, stereotyping... I don't know, but I wasn't sure of him, and I didn't know what to think of Annie that she played this game with him. I was, simply speaking, scared and afraid, because Annie was lovely, and she has experienced some bad things with her previous boyfriend, I didn't want her to get hurt again, I didn't want her to take such risk. But hell, what they say? No risk, no fun, seems that Annie is much more courageous than I am.The story was interesting and really engaging at the beginning, and the letters the two characters wrote to each other were full not only of sexual tension but honesty and feelings, and they were a real joy to read. The letters were really a highlight of the book, it seems that sometimes it's really much easier to open to each other in writing than face to face. Although I was really not absolutely sure at the beginning if the intents of both of them are really sincere, but this what began for Annie as some kind of a dangerous game turned into something very intimate, something important. Then, when Eric got his parole, I had no idea how the author is going to solve this, and what she did totally suited me. But then the story slowed down a little.And oh holly mother, the sexual tension was PALPABLE. It was not vulgar but tender and very realistic. There were unfortunately some things that haven't agreed with me, and one of the most important one is that I feel the book is not finished. The end seemed much too rushed and much too fairy - tale-ish for my liking, what with Annie and Eric's sister so quickly overcoming their differences, and - while I prayed that nothing would happen when Annie and Eric went to visit his mum and sister - I guess I was subconsciously expecting something bad to happen. While I felt really relieved that nothing happened, I guess I was also a little disappointed. Yeah, bear with me :) Secondly, I have never found what exactly Eric did to be sent to prison. Yes, there are some details given, there are a lot of hints, but all in all, the situation is left unsaid. And also I missed very much on Annie's family reaction to the relationship - knowing her parents' life approach and their opinions, I guess that they wouldn't be very happy with their daughter's choice of partner, and I missed this. Probably the book would be then twice as long, so maybe it was not possible to write about this, but I feel as if this subplot was mentioned and then forgotten. Or maybe there is going to be a sequel?But altogether, the book really worked out for me. The unusual setting, taking two totally different people who on the surface has nothing in common, and letting them blossom and get to know each other through letters, make the book outstanding. The author hasn't judged the characters and put them both in the centre in equal measures, and gave both of them a chance to show us their point of view. Moreover, written in a brilliant, engaging way, in a great writing style and with catchy, sharp dialogues, it really touches some of the most important issues, such as violence, punishment and forgiving. I will be for sure keeping an eye on Cara McKenna.Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
review 2: As soon as I read the summary of this one, I was definitely intrigued. A librarian who falls for one of the prisoners at the jail she was working at? Mmmm things were definitely going to be very interesting! Five years ago, Annie has finally realized the abusive relationship she was in had to stop. Ever since then, she's avoided men, moved to Michigan, and thrown herself into her work as a librarian. When she is assigned one day a week to work at Cousins Correctional Facility, she's definitely wary of being around so many men capable of hurting her like her ex-boyfriend had. What she doesn't expect, though, is to be so drawn to prisoner 802267, a man who's eyes seem to look deep into her soul and make her feel things she hasn't felt in years. Annie knows this man is the last man she should be thinking about and nothing could ever come out of their attraction, but that doesn't stop her from thinking about him every waking moment… Right from the start, I was drawn into Annie's world and was only hoping for the best for her. She was both physically and emotionally hurt from her last relationship and doesn't know how she could ever trust a man again. One look at Eric, though, and all thoughts go out the window. I love how entranced she was with Eric's powerful, yet laid back demeanor and how drawn they were to each other. Obviously, since it's a prison, their instant attraction was pretty much impossible to act on. My favorite part of their relationship, then, was how Eric wrote Annie letters for her to take home each week to show her that she was affecting him as much as he affected her. Oh boy, does that man have a way with words! Their "courtship" was so steamy without anything actually happening between them, but rather simply through the power and heat of their words. I got lost in their letters and loved how much Annie was affected by Eric's words to her and how special and wanted he made her feel. While I loved the beginning half of the book and how Annie has to push herself into learning to trust men again, especially a man like Eric who was in prison for a reason, I wasn't that big of a fan of the ending. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but something happened that really tested Eric and Annie's relationship and instead of being super climactic and suspenseful, things just sort of passed over and I felt kind of let down. However, I loved the development of their relationship up until that point and could not get enough of how sweet and caring Eric ended up being. He truly wanted to give Annie anything she wanted and was just so gosh darn sweet to her, especially how he explained how he missed the simple things since being in jail, things like morning cuddling and candlelit dinners. *sigh* Eric ended up being such the romantic and I couldn't help but fall for the convict myself. Overall, I loved the romance and the development between Annie and Eric. Both of them had very damaged pasts and have definitely changed because of it, and they find solace in each other and their intense attraction for one another. Being set in a prison definitely made things interesting, but also made their relationship that much more intense. I would recommend Hard Time to romance readers who love unconventional relationships where they both have to learn to trust their hearts and help one another feel again. less

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