Tough Like Her

A mother's love comes in many forms...but always with the capacity for transformation. Val Ramsey is a consummate businesswoman with the hard-edged streak required to win in a sea of sharks-and her maternal style is no different. Yet somehow realizing she lacked the warmth necessary raise a child, Val always made sure to provide her sensitive 16-year-old daughter, Ria, with nurturing nannies, even going so far as to marry Todd-a man Val despised as weak-to give Ria at least one soft-hearted parent after Val drove Ria's biological father out of their lives. However, Val and Ria's world starts about to collapse when Todd suddenly dies in a car crash and Val discovers a humiliating secret in his diary. As Ria comes to terms with her own grief, Val drags Ria with her on a business trip to the Middle East. But what should have been a straightforward deal transforms into a traumatic ordeal as Val is abducted by terrorist wannabees. Later, Val discovers Ria's closest confidante also harbors a secret-one that threatens Ria's life, confirming Val's inclination to express her motherly love as a protective vise around her child. But will Val's abduction be enough to convince Val that she needs to loosen her stranglehold on Ria in order to show her the support and love Ria has always craved? And can Val realize that the best way to protect Ria-and save Ria's life-is by letting her go before it's too late?