"Great story to close out Legend family series"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted March 26, 2022
Romance Historical | Romance Western
In A MAN OF LEGEND, it seems as though we close the series of books centered on the wonderful Legend family. The Lone Star ranch has set the scene for numerous stories about this industrious family of ranchers. Strong stubborn men and smart tough women have faced down several challenges and somehow managed to settle on a homestead with everlasting love and respect for the land and demanding work.
In A MAN OF LEGEND, we are enchanted with nurse Paisley Mahonne as she returns home from Fort Worth Texas. Paisley is planning to continue her work helping folks and find herself working for Stoker Legend on his ranch. The Legend doctor is laid up, and this large ranch needs a medic on the property. However, being on the Legend ranch means Paisley is going to have to face Crockett Legend. Crockett is a judge whose office is not on the ranch so maybe it will not be awkward. However, there are more problems with being on the Lone Star. The Legends and Mahonnes have a longstanding feud. And Paisley has taken the side of the Mahonnes vocally.
Paisley is ill prepared to deal with how scary life on the Mahonne ranch has become. She returns for her father’s funeral after he succumbed to poisoning. And her brother Farrel is certain the Legends have poisoned their source of water. Paisley has some bad memories of Crockett who had once been a good friend and captured her young heart, only to follow his dream of law school. There are still some unsettled issues between Paisley and Crockett, and they are going to be spending more time together than they anticipated. After all, she is on the family ranch with Stoker.
So true to Linda Broday we will have front seats to two characters, each independent, intelligent and dare we say a bit stubborn. Life on a ranch is challenging. Making peace with a generations-long feud seems insurmountable. In A MAN OF LEGEND, we are reminded that the only thing stronger than the Legend men are the Legend women. And once you have gained the trust of a Legend man, you are practically considered family. I absolutely have loved reading and reviewing this heartwarming series.
SUMMARY
Famous across Texas, the Legends stand ready to take on any challenge that comes their way...
Crockett Legend has always loved Paisley Mahone, but a family feud sure can ruin a romance. When her father waged a war against the Legends, Paisley took her father's side. They've never seen eye to eye, and the rift widened when Paisley's brother was killed in prison—after being sentenced by none other than Crockett.
Now Paisley's father is dead too, and she's headed home to mourn with the rest of her family when she runs into Crockett on the train. But when the train is held up by outlaws, it comes to Crockett and Paisley to save a young shooting victim. She never thought being close to Crockett could make her feel anything but revulsion ever again, but some second changes are worth the risk...
"Resonate[s] with honesty and love."—Fresh Fiction for The Cowboy Who Came Calling
ExcerptEXCERPT 3 – A Man of Legend
Just because trouble has come visiting doesn’t mean you have to offer it a place to sit down. That had always been Crockett Legend’s motto and it had served him well. Until now. Looked like it might be too late at this point for any type of homespun cowboy wisdom. The dye had been cast.
Rays of an apricot sky through the idling train’s window sent a reminder that his early morning travel could yield yet more surprises and it was best to be prepared. If possible.
He rubbed his face with his hands and glanced around at the people still filling the car. A group of men in rough work clothes were talking about going to the oil fields, hoping to find work in the Texas boom towns that had recently sprung up overnight. In fact, the black gold and talk of getting rich seemed on everyone’s minds these days.
A swish of delicate fabric brushing his legs interrupted his thoughts as a woman hesitated, probably scanning the car for a choice of empty seats. Finally, she mumbled something under her breath and took the seat across the narrow aisle from him. The faint scent of sage and wildflowers wafted around him. He glanced up with idle curiosity and jolts of the familiar rushed through him.
Paisley Mahone.
He sat up straighter. He’d not spoken to her in three years, ever since her father and oldest brother had launched an all-out war with the Legends over a section of land. Joseph Mahone accused Stoker Legend of cheating him out of it. But the truth was Mahone had lost the land outright in a poker game to Stoker. Now the situation had become a powder keg and nerves were stretched tight.
Crockett took in Paisley from beneath the brim of his Stetson. Three years hadn’t aged her any. Her hair, still the color of ripe sunflowers, was swept into a low knot on the back of her neck. She stared straight ahead, her light green eyes glistening. A little plum hat perching on the crown of her head matched the color of her simple dress.
A stir raced along Crockett’s body, telling him he’d not spent enough time erasing Paisley from his mind. She was still so beautiful—still so unreachable. Still so forbidden.
A long sigh escaped his lips. The big iron wheels began to turn and gather speed, leaving Fort Worth, Texas and the business he’d tended to behind. His mind took him back to a sweltering summer day when they were kids. The ride to the swimming hole to cool off. One corner of his mouth quirked up. He’d dared Paisley to go in naked with him. Back then, she’d always been quick to take a dare.
Memories piled up. The daring look in her beautiful eyes as she’d undressed in the shade of a large pecan tree. The ripple left from her dive. Her wet, silken body sliding over his in the warm water. Sultry kisses of fire. Everything about her was branded in his brain. Then came the damn feud between their families and the sting when she’d chosen her father’s side.
In those days, he’d called her Firefly and the pet name had fit. Now, she’d likely slap him good. As angry as she was, he didn’t want to press his luck.
Outside, a horseless carriage raced alongside the train in an apparent attempt to outrun it. Crockett snorted. Another fool short on brains. Texas had long reached its quota of stupidity. A bit of the devil got into Crockett. He leaned across the aisle and touched a forefinger to his hat brim. “Morning, Paisley. Nice to see you.”
She slowly raised her long lashes, her mouth in a tight line. “Crockett,” she hissed.
After the single word, she turned to the window, clearly dismissing him. But he was like a bull charging an interloper, not content to share a pasture or a train ride without more. “How’ve you been?” he asked quietly.
Swinging back around, she spat, “I might have no choice but to be on this train with you but don’t expect me to carry on a conversation.”
He tried to block out her beautiful features so close and yet so far. Tried to maintain some semblance of composure. But the little freckle at the corner of her mouth stole his focus. He’d especially loved how that freckle had seemed to wink at him when he kissed her. She could deny their close friendship, the times they’d spent together, and the secrets they’d shared beneath a moonlit sky, but that damnable freckle made her the same girl she’d always been.
And he wasn’t ready to walk away a second time.
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Comments
2 comments posted.
Re: Great story to close out Legend family series
Thank you so much for this review, Sandra. It warmed my
heart and spurs me to keep writing these stories of the old
West. I'm working on a brand new series with three sisters
who have become outcasts, though not of their own making.
So, there is more to come plus a sweet story that's part of
a multi-author series.
(Linda Broday 1:23pm March 27, 2022)
What a fabulous review for this latest book from Linda!! I
totally agree with your thoughts on it, Sandra! Thank you for
shating!
(Jan Sikes 10:19am April 3, 2022)
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