This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
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
Just because trouble has come visiting doesn’t mean you have to offer it a place to sit down.
My Review
First Impressions
A Man of Legend is the most latest release of the Lone Star Legend series, I am not sure if this is the finale or if we will get one more book in the series, but I will say that this one was my favorite of the series. I absolutely every single bit of this book. I was able to rotate between the ARC and the audiobook, which was quite fun to do with this book. I was impressed with how this one was written, as it charmed me in all of the best of ways. I was so fascinated by how this author was writing this book here. I will say that if you love audiobooks then you MUST grab this in audio, I felt like the narration was very well done and I honestly couldn’t put the audio down once I had picked it up. I was completely hooked. Another plus is there minimal modern sensibility in this book, as the previous two books had it more heavily, so I really liked it was a bit lighter. Those who have read this one probably know what I mean by this. I was definitely drawn into the family feud that was introduced and also the enemies to lovers romance that was on point!
Famous across Texas, the Legends stand ready to take on any challenge that comes their way.
Summary
A Man of Legend begins with the return of Crockett Legend who is on his way home on the train but he also runs into Paisley Mahone, who was the girl he once loved but hurt years previously. They meet on a train, and passions and tensions rise between the two. But Paisley refuses to trust any Legend,. The Mahone and the Legend’s have been in a family feud and neither family trusts the other. Now with Paisley’s father and brother killed, she blames the Legend family even though deep down she knows it was due to her brother’s crimes that he died in prison. Despite the fact that there is this turmoil between the families, Paisley can’t deny her feelings for Crockett, or the chemistry that is between them. Crockett knows that he hurt Paisley but now he is older and more mature and is determined to win his girl back, no matter what it takes. He knows that his family isn’t the issue in the feud and there are secrets that are hidden. But will Paisley let her pride keep her from embracing the kind of love worth fighting for or will she let the man who has always held her heart go?
Thank you for always making me feel like a lady
You will always be my lady
What I Loved
There were so many elements that come into play that just fed my romantic heart with this book and I am not sure why I waited so long to read this one. I had the ARC and I feel bad for not reading it sooner, however, I really have to be in the mood for the modern sensibility of historical’s and I just wasn’t quite in the mood or it. But then I was in the mood and I ended up loving this story so much. First off, I have really been loving the enemies-to-lovers trope so much lately (I am not sure if it’s the water I am drinking or what haha) but I am loving all the angst. Plus it has the family feud theme and anyone that knows my reading tastes knows that is my catnip when it comes to historical westerns. I really loved that it had a second chance in the relationship as well. I was so intrigued that these two were once together and ended it. Honestly, both Crockett and Paisley made mistakes when they were kids. They have such a level of maturity that I was drawn to. They handled their new life situations so well and I definitely wanted them both to reach their HEA. Our hero, Crockett, is a lawyer and has been away to law school, but he decides to come home and win Paisley and his devotion to his family and to the woman he loves was so endearing. I really respected him dearly in this one here. Then we have our heroine, Paisley, who even though at the beginning she doesn’t trust the Legend family, she also begins to see how evil her brother has become. My heart ached for her sister-in-law and nephew (there are some triggers here so check the trigger warnings below) I also want to say that I adored the family bonds that we see are cultivated. Also, there were a bunch of side characters that I absolutely adored….we have a hilarious parrot and man the laughs this bird evoked were real y’all. Also, there is this young handicapped cowboy where seriously I would beg this author to write his story because he deserves it! The romance that develops between Crockett and Paisley was beyond loveable. You really see how their individual growth plays such a vital role in them embracing their newfound relationship and healing from the past. They have this level of maturity to let go of the hurts of the past and misunderstandings and start with a clean slate. I really admired their wisdom in building a fresh start together. They had these beautiful moments that evoked such tender poignancy which is sure to deliver in all of the feels.
Sometimes you won some and sometimes lost. And sometimes, if a person was lucky, they got a little miracle.
What I Struggled With
I will say the only issue I had was the modernism within the heroine’s character. It was more lightly glazed, so it didn’t bother me too much. But I am sorry but this is Texas early 1900’s and women and careers were not normalized at all. There were some women that were driven to it, but society’s view of it was still more traditional. Heck even 20 years ago it was still like that haha It just didn’t feel that authentic and will appeal more to those that prefer the modern sensibility in their historicals. However, it wasn’t super heavily present, so it didn’t rub me the wrong way too much and is the only factor that keeps this book from being a full five-star read.
The Narration
When the audio was released, I knew I had to listen and I am telling you I listened to it in one sitting!! That is not common for me so that should convey how much I adored the narration, I am not sure if its the same narrator as the previous two books. BUT wow I am still stunned by the level of talent that was portrayed in it. This is definitely a narrator I will be listening to much more because their style just captivated me from the beginning and I couldn’t get enough and I became addicted to the style in which it was done.
Overall View
A Man of Legend is an epic tale of two lovers that have been separated and now come together and face their new fresh start as well as facing the dangers and secret reveals and embrace a strength together that is beyond endearing and will capture the reader’s heart!
Book Details
Title: A Man of Legend
Author: Linda Broday
Genre: Historical Western Romance
Format: Audiobook/eARC
Source: Publisher/Hoopla Digital
Length: 10 Hours and 59 Mins
About the Narrators
Los Angeles–based voice artist Tieran Wilder loves the delicious world of erotica and romance, and enjoys working closely with her authors to create the sultriest mood for their creations. Tieran is passionate about passion, hot chocolate, and great stories. She recently moved into her own home, where she works in her custom-built vocal studio.
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| Storygraph| Literal Club| Audible| Anyplay
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4.5
Story Itself: 4.5
Character Development: 5
Writing Style: 4.25
World Building 4.5
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 5
Plot 5
Narration= 5
Cover Art 5
Ending 5
Book Ratings
Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering cup of tea—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin’ by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Trigger Warnins
Violence, Domestic Abuse, Emotional Abuse
Series Order
Lone Star Legends
A Cowboy Of Legend-Pub 2021 #1 in the Series
A Cowboy Christmas Legend-Pub 2021 #2 in the Series
A Man of Legend-Pub 2022 #3 in the Series
About The Author
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. I live in the Texas Panhandle on land they call the Llano Estacado where the Native Americans and Comancheros once roamed and I can often hear their voices whispering in the wind. History is thick here with the ghosts of the people who settled this land. I love writing western historical romance and can’t imagine doing anything else. I love a man in a Stetson and tight pants. Oh man! Those cowboys sure make my heart beat faster.
I adored this one so much. I loved the last one, but this was as good or better for me. I do know what you mean about modern elements creeping in. I didn’t notice them like you did- maybe I’ve been reading recent historicals that are so much more blatant about it that I’ve become more inured. 😉 Casanova was a hoot and that parrot stole the show so often. Loved reading what you thought about it all, Renee. 🙂