Rachel's lying, embezzling ex-fiancé has some nerve showing up now—full of accusations and looking so hot. Rachel Grant worked her fingers to the bone after her fall from society's grace, thanks to her sudden poverty and connection to ex-fiancé Trick Masters who was convicted of embezzlement. How dare he show up after being released and accuse her of framing him. How dare he look so good, so put-together, so infuriatingly handsome. For the last three years Trick has been consumed with revenge—for whoever set him up, for losing his investment banking career, for almost losing his mind in prison. Now free, he's getting his life back on track, first by finding Rachel and second, by discovering the truth—which turns out neither of them has or ever did. Tough Road is an expanded version of the previously-published novella, Shakedown.

Shakedown offers a second chances but only to some… Ex-con Nathan came to Shakedown to start over, not fall hard for one of their burlesque dancers, Midnight Starr. But who could resist such a woman? She was light and fire and everything good about the world. He will fight that thudding desire for her. He has to. The MacKenna family, whose son he accidentally killed many years ago, has drawn a target on his back and he won’t drag her into his mess. Starr, however, isn’t one to give up easily. When she wants someone, she’s all in. She has no idea what she’s in for.

Declan Phillips, Shakedown's owner, doesn't pine for women. They come to him. Throw themselves at him. Except her. No one understands his obsession with cold, angry Phoenix Rising. But how could they? How could they know what she did for him so long ago? He owes her and he won’t stop until every trace of the hurt and betrayal he sees in her eyes is gone. Phoenix won’t give in to his adoration. She made a pact long ago. Never to be separated from her sisters again. Never to be swallowed whole by another's agenda. Never allow a man to dictate her life like their deadbeat father. Declan should move on. He should stop tempting her. Stop being so damned perfect. At least he was perfect until she learned his family connections.