Release Blitz: Legend by Katy Evans {Review+Excerpt}
Welcome to my stop on the release blitz for Katy Evans' Legend hosted by TRSOR Promotions!
Today I am excited to share my review with you all!
Legend (Real #6)by: Katy Evans
Publication Date: Feb. 9, 2016
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 272 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks | BAM | IndieBound
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Maverick “the Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though he keeps his identity well guarded, he's known on the fighting circuit as the new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as trouble. He's got a personal score to settle with the Underground's one and only Remington "Riptide" Tate.
As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town--and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she's none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who's supposed to root against him and a girl he's supposed to stay away from.
But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.
As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town--and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she's none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who's supposed to root against him and a girl he's supposed to stay away from.
But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.
I absolutely love this series you guys. I remember the first time I read Real back in the day and I was just so completely in love with the characters and the MMA world. Now that the last book is here, I won't lie- I was quite nostalgic. We got to see so much of Remy and Brooke in this one and that really made my heart happy. The ending was SO fitting and I couldn't have asked for a better ending to this series. It made sense and completely ended the way it was meant to. I also love that Katy included an update in her author's note for the characters as well. <3
Reese and Mav are such a great couple and I really loved them together. Some of their scenes and conversations felt a bit disjointed, and I felt like I missed something, but I don't think I did. That was my one small issue with this one. Otherwise, it was perfect. The chemistry between Reese and Mav is very palpable and I loved seeing these two together. Their sexy times are scorching hot, but most of all I loved how alpha Mav was. Reese was THE girl from the minute he saw her and I always love seeing these macho, tough fighters have such dedication and loyalty for their loved ones.
It takes Reese a bit to fully open herself up to Mav, as she is trying to figure out what she wants out of life. She originally needed to get away from home and branch out on her own, but she wants to make some changes to her life. While they might have started out for the wrong reasons, she eventually realizes she wants to do them for her and her alone, not for anyone else.
Mav is determined to make a name for himself and not live in his famous father's shadow. This is no easy task because no one is willing to take the chance on him. No matter how many times he was rejected, he kept on plugging and I loved that. He shows the MMA world that he is more than the tattoo that marks him and the reputation that precedes him.
I absolutely LOVED the role Remy played in this one and I won't spoil it for you, but I was just so full of happiness over the developments there. It was so well done.
I am definitely sad this series has come to an end, but like I said above, it couldn't have been a more satisfying ending.
At Tate’s corner, outside the ropes, his coach whistles. “You two get some headgear on. Stat.”
Tate’s lips curl rebelliously, and he looks at me with challenge in his eyes.
I smile back, a feral curl of my lips.
We tap gloves.
No headgear.
I jab. He swings his arm, blocks the hit, leaps back, and I jab again, blocked again.
We space apart and jump in place, shaking our shoulders, loosening up. I pull my gloves back up, narrow my eyes, and he asks, “You think you’re the shit because you’re fast and strong? I got news for you. I’m faster, I’m stronger, and I’m disciplined. Your coach isn’t doing you any favors.”
“He’s in my corner, and that’s enough for me.”
He swings, I duck fast and come up behind him. He straightens and faces me again. “If you settle for that, then you should settle for second place.”
“What the fuck. You want me to win?”
“I want a good fight. I like keeping things real. Reminds me I’m a man. Mortal.”
“I want to be a legend. Legends never die. Even if they die alone.”
He swings again, and I duck, come up, and jab three times.
He blocks repeatedly, then hooks with his right; I deflect. He grins and jabs again. I block, then I duck before he puts me up against the ropes, and I head back to center. He follows.
“To be a legend you need to fall seven times, get up eight,” he says.
I remember a final a few years ago when my father kicked Tate to a pulp. “Or not fall at all.”
He backs up his arm and then smacks the smirk right off me. “Before you stop falling, you need to embrace the fact that you’re going to hit the ground.”
I clean the blood from my mouth, glowering.
We take positions again, and he watches me as if waiting for my next move as we start dancing around, jumping, waiting for the other to strike.
“Do you want the headgear now?”
I lunge and start hitting, and he blocks, deflects, blocks. “Fuck you,” I grit out.
“Getting angry doesn’t help. You control the anger, not let it control you.”
I want to prove him wrong; I loop out my arm and aim for his head.
He ducks and hooks, his knuckles cracking into my jaw. I spurt blood and bounce against the ropes.
I shake my head, wipe the blood away, grit my teeth and straighten, narrowing my eyes. “My turn,” I growl, and I swing. My fist connects: a kidney punch.
He blocks my next hit, frowning in thought. “You’re cocky for someone who just lost yesterday.”
He jabs.
I dive my upper body to the side, evading. “You got to play it to become it.”
“I’m the champion, not you.”
“You won’t live forever, champ.”
He jabs three times, then leaps back, flexes his arm and looks at it.
“Muscle memory. You hit enough times, you fight on instinct; part of your brain works on your assault, the other is focused on the other’s assault. Let your muscle memory work for you and consciously stay focused on your opponent’s eyes.”
I laugh mockingly. “I don’t need your pointers.”
“Go back home to daddy, then.”
“When I’m finished with you.” I punch him, then raise my left hook and connect hard enough to stun him.
He raises his head, shakes it to clear it, and wipes blood from his nose. I catch my breath, satisfied I got some blood. At least I won’t be the only one with an ice pack tonight.
He sees the blood on his arm and looks at me, impressed.
“TIME!” his coach yells out from the corner. “You two won’t have shit for the fight if you keep up this nonsense.”
Tate grins at him, then turns back and glowers at me. “You get enough?”
“Barely warming up here.” I squint the blood out of one eye and raise my gloves. “Come get it, Riptide,” I growl.
Real (Book One) The Real Series
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1CHl6sS
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35g8N
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zT7J31
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1tHrTct
Mine (Book Two) The Real Series
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1I2nbzy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1tHrdns
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1yhymBF
Remy (Book Three) The Real Series
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOn8T2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35lcN
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1vlqhom
Rogue (Book Four) The Real Series
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOnjh8
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FOFfJy
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6
iTunes: http://bit.ly/12xnylU
Ripped (Book Five) The Real Series
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Bfzsi
Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans
Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com
6 comments
I love MMA books!! I still haven't started this series though
ReplyDeleteI need to go back and read the 2nd and 3rd books. I love them though.
DeleteOOOoh Loved the review. Definitely sounds like a good read filled with some good drama and romance. I wonder about the character Mav. I'd love to get his story, sounds intense!
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoyed this series Magen! Mav was so intense! I loved it.
DeleteI know how much you love this series, so I'm glad this one wrapped it up well for you. That excerpt was a lot of fun and as always great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks hun! It's always awesome when a series wraps up just like it's meant to!
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.