Review: Hard Time by Cara McKenna
Received from Publisher
Title: Hard Time
Author: Cara McKena
Publisher: Piatkus
Publication Date: 6 Nov 2014
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis from Goodreads
This is romance like you’ve never seen it before. Utterly intense, unforgettable and not for the faint-hearted, Hard Time will turn your world upside down . . .
——————–
My pounding heart went still, eerie as birds fallen silent in the wake of a gunshot.
He was big. Tall frame, wide shoulders-but not burly. His near-black hair was due for a cut, curling under his ears. Dark brows, dark stubble, dark lashes and eyes.
And he was handsome. So handsome it broke your heart.
A deck of cards was split between his hands, paused midshuffle. Some of the men wore navy scrub tops and bottoms, some navy tee shirts, a few white undershirts. This man wore a tee, with COUSINS stenciled on the front, above the number 802267. Those digits imprinted on my brain, burned black as a brand.
He watched me. But not the way the others did. If he was trying to picture me naked, his poker face was strong, though his attention anything but subtle. His entire head moved as I passed through his domain, but his eyes were languorous. Lazy and half-lidded, yet intense. A hundred looks in one. I didn’t like it. Couldn’t read it. At least with the horny jerk-offs, I knew where I stood.
I wondered what the worst thing you could do and still only get sent to a medium-security prison was. I hoped not to ever learn the answer.
And I hoped to heaven inmate 802267 hadn’t signed up for any of the day’s programs.
Received from Publisher
REVIEW
I have to say that I was instantly swayed when I saw that the main female character was a librarian. Come on I mean how could I not read it Believe me when I say I am so, so, so glad I did because Hard Time is one of the most sensually romantic books I have ever read. you would never guess from the synopsis just how much swoon-worthiness is in these pages. For such twisted circumstances Hard Time is utterly romantic.
Told in first person narrative from Annie’s point of view. A southern transplant with all the sensibilities the term ‘southern’ implies. Annie is instantly relatable with humorous inner musings
Following a painful relationship (both physically and emotionally abusive) Annie understandably has a negative attitude to men and relationships. She has retreated behind an almost impenetrable barrier to both her emotions and sexuality. The portrayal of domestic violence leading to a solitary life was deeply saddening to witness.
There is an immediate awareness of each other between Annie and Eric. Both at a physical and a subconscious level that immediately brings to mind the soul-mate connection. The significance of the 5 year time span to both Eric and Annie added depth to the connection and the emotions for both their relationship and the reader. Both Eric and Annie have been locked away; Eric in the literal sense while for Annie it is in the metaphorical sense. The way in which Eric and Annie click together unlocks the chains that have internally bound them.
While the main part of the narrative is told from Annie’s perspective, the letters that are written by Eric provide valuable insight into his side of the story. The plot brings into focus the idea of justice and that there are some things that the law doesn’t take into consideration. Hard Time begs the question what is justice and how best is it served. Sometimes breaking the law is justified. Although the reasons Eric is serving a prison sentence is not divulged until much later in the story, it is instantly apparent that he had very specific reasons for whatever it was he did. The reader is left to build their own character picture of him and if you are anything like me, it is going to be completely positive. However, this does not detract from the fact that he did commit a crime; he has had to pay a huge price for his actions no matter the reason behind them. He will forever be judged on his criminal record before anyone makes the attempt to look deeper.
Cara McKenna makes ingenious use of the seasons to reflect emotion within the narrative. I completely agree that Winter is desolate, bleak and hard not at all conducive in making things flourish even people.
Hard Time is so much more than I expected.
