Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Hard Time

Rate this book
Felicity Reid's life is a whirlwind of high-stakes litigation at one of New York City's top law firms. Her career demands every ounce of her dedication, leaving no room for love or intimacy. Determined to make partner before thirty, Felicity has accepted a life of solitary ambition.

Everything changes when she meets Lance, the Sergeant At Arms in a notorious bikie gang, at a charity gala. Their one-night stand ignites a passionate affair, one that must remain a secret from her bosses at all costs. But when a brutal murder leads to Lance's arrest, Felicity's world is turned upside down.

Assigned to defend Lance, she is thrust into a dangerous mission where the stakes are life or death. As she delves deeper into the murky underworld of gangs and violence, Felicity must navigate treacherous waters, battling against time and powerful enemies to save the man she's falling for.

"Hard Time" is a relentless thriller, weaving a tale of passion, betrayal, and survival. Every twist and turn plunges Felicity deeper into a perilous struggle, where one wrong move could destroy everything. In this high-octane race, she must decide how far she's willing to go to save Lance—and herself.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

7 people are currently reading
18 people want to read

About the author

Edward Lee

270 books1,458 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.

He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
6 (42%)
4 stars
8 (57%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
65 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2025
The characters and storyline completely captivated my heart. I couldn’t help but be swept away by the fierce, unstoppable boss bitch who dares to fall for the rugged, hardened criminal biker—such a daring, electrifying love story that grabs you by the soul. It was incredibly tempting to rush through it, but I wanted to savor every moment, every tempting detail, letting the story unfold slowly and passionately within me.

This book isn’t just about love; it’s a thrilling rollercoaster of suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The spice in the scenes ignited something deep inside me—especially that intense interrogation room moment—it's been haunting my thoughts. The twists and turns? They blindside you in the best way, adding layers of complexity and excitement that make the story unforgettable. It’s a perfect blend of fiery romance and heart-pounding suspense that will leave you breathless.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone with a craving for passion and adrenaline. It’s so easy to get lost in its pages—so gripping that you won’t want to put it down. An incredible storyline that hits all the right notes.
Profile Image for HannahMReads.
105 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2025
This book felt like being immersed in a high stakes action movie. The plot was fast paced, and the writing was descriptive in a way that made you feel like you were there in the midst of the action. It tells the story of a high profile attorney and the criminal biker she starts a forbidden affair with. The author is a skilled storyteller and keeps you invested throughout the entirety of the book due to good pacing and a fast moving storyline. While it's not necessarily a romance, it does have spice that is well written. If you like fast paced action thrillers, you might enjoy picking up this book.
Profile Image for Chris Amies.
Author 16 books12 followers
April 11, 2025
Effective biker-gang thriller set in New York. Rising and ruthless young lawyer Felicity has sworn off men until she meets biker Lance Hardwood (which sounds like a porn name tbh).
Plenty of action and spills, though the detailed sexual descriptions might put some people off reading it in public.

I did enjoy it, even if it did need some editing here and there.

This isn't by the horror writer Edward Lee (nor the Korean-American chef and food writer), but a third Edward Lee, from Australia.
7 reviews
June 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this book— I really the unique descriptive language used.

The story was engaging, the pacing kept me interested, and the characters were well-developed - they captured human flaws that made them seem all the more real and relatable. It had a perfect balance of emotion, tension, and lighter moments that left me laughing to myself like a crazy person.

Altogether it was a satisfying read from start to finish pulling me out of a months long reading slump.
9 reviews
March 22, 2025
I loved this book.
The characters and storyline just sucked me in.
It was very hard for me not to read this too quickly as I wanted to savour the story.
I loved that it was a love story but had some suspense in there as well.
I really recommend this book for everyone.
Easy to easy, which I love, and an awesome storyline. Hope there is a sequel.
Profile Image for Maddy_TNN.
39 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2025
This was a 3.5 for me…. I loved loved loved the story line! The thriller aspect to it was great! The spice was very spicy and sometimes I wanted to actually skip the scenes just to see the next part of the plot! Great writing from a great Aussie author!
Profile Image for Krystal.
20 reviews
August 13, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
TW’s: S/A

Hard Time is an Thriller/Romance book by Aussie author Edward Lee. Hard Time has a super interesting storyline that has you gripped from the start! Suspense, banter, spice, betrayals and a tatted morally grey MMC who’s in a MC, what’s not to love!?
Profile Image for Karen.
150 reviews
August 15, 2025
3.75, this was a wild run through New York as a lawyer and motorcycle club member race against time as they look for answers and try to stay alive. **There is some spice, attempted grape, and violence**
1 review
November 5, 2025
A psychological thriller that will have you hooked! Great plot twists are sprinkled throughout so you don’t need to wait until the end. The spice was SPICY 🌶️. A great read by a great Aussie author. You won’t be disappointed!
14 reviews
August 9, 2025
Kept me turning the page needing to know what happens next. Great read.
2 reviews
August 22, 2025
great book, author is super responsive with any edit suggestions.

spice was great. definitely worth the read
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.