In HARD TIME, Post Graduate student Annie Goodhouse has just taken a job in Darren, Michigan as a librarian. She is trying to escape a past from an abusive relationship; and start over new in another town. Part of her job takes her once a week to the local Cousins Correctional Facility, a prison housing medium threat inmates. It is there that Annie first comes into contact with Eric Collier, an inmate serving time for aggravated assault. One look at each other, and the air is electrified with the attraction between them. Annie fights the pull of her attraction to the prisoner, but soon falls to the temptation in Eric's eyes.

The pair begin an illicit, secret relationship first by virtue of notes passed between them, and later sensual letters. The letters quickly evolve into illicit and steamy fantasies; and Annie revels in the freedom of them, knowing that she will never have to see Eric face-to-face. Months pass, and their intimacy deepens; until the day that Eric writes Annie that he is being paroled, and wants to know if their relationship can be continued on the outside, in the real world. Both of them have abuse and pain in their pasts, and don't know if they can maintain a solid relationship beyond the sexual. They are definitely willing to give it a try, until a threat from Eric's past looms over them, threatening to end their romance.

HARD TIME is low-key story, and the setting appropriately dreary to showcase the current state of Eric and Annie's life. The first part of the story is told mainly from Annie's point of view. Eric is only known to the reader through the passionate, sensual letters he sends to Annie. After his parole, Eric and his past begin to come to light; letting the reader gain deeper insights into his character. HARD TIME takes place in the same setting as Cara McKenna's previous novel Unbound; but is a completely standalone read. This is an excellent story about hurting people who manage to find each other and work through their pain. Cara McKenna has done a very credible job of creating believable characters with real problems to work through together; and a rich story that sucks the reader in and refuses to let them go.