Breaking a Legend: A Kavanagh Legends Novel Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed reading this book! It covers a lot of issues that you would find in the community today. Mainly painkiller abuse and domestic violence. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Rory and Clare's story. I loved that Clare turned out to be such a strong and independent woman after the ordeal she went through before moving. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

After a gruesome leg injury destroys his career as an MMA fighter, Rory Kavanagh has been hitting the bottle heavily and popping pills like their candy to deal with the pain he still suffers. However, meeting Clare, the new bartender at O'Leary's Pub, has Rory turning over a new leaf in hopes she'll give him a chance at winning her heart.

Trusting people isn't easy for Clare Ivers, especially when the dangerous man she's hiding from could find her at any moment. Yet, the more she's around the gorgeous Rory, the more she finds herself considering giving him a chance. But how can she when he's doing everything she despises to alleviate his pain.

What an exciting, fast-paced, spellbinding read this book was, and one that packs quite a punch right from the prologue. Where its plot hooked me immediately, and encompasses a heroine running from her past, and a hero struggling to cope with his injury, as well as losing his career. The dialogue was well-written and intense due to both characters back stories. Rory's need for drinking and popping pills, and Clare's dislike for both makes for interesting reading. Especially once I learned why she's so anti drugs and alcohol. The playful banter between Clare and Rory charmed me. He's determined to prove that she can trust him. That he can be the sort of man she needs, if she's willing to give him a chance.

I loved both the main and secondary characters. Clare is brave with the way she's determined to start over, even knowing the danger she faces, if her past catches up to her. She's kind-hearted by trying to reclaim parts, of her past when it comes to her love, for animals. And finally, she's tenacious in her need to learn self-defense in order to protect herself from the coming danger. While Rory, he's strong, kind-hearted and protective. The way he's determined to make Clare feel safe is wonderful, because the heroine definitely needs to feel the way Rory makes her, which is cherished. How just being around Clare manages to change him, helps him to re-discover the man he was before his injury was great. He needed her, just as much as she needed him, to help heal from the pains of their pasts. Rory's dog also helps to bring the main characters closer together.

The sex scenes are sizzling and heat up the story at the perfect moments, especially the first scene. As the sexual tension was so high that I was hoping the intimacy would happen sooner rather than later. Rory treats Clare like the precious gift she's become to him, which she needs. As it's not easy for her to let her guard down, to trust someone as much as she does Rory.

Overall, I loved this story and am looking forward to the next one of this series, as Rory's brothers were fantastic in this book. I liked them almost as much as Rory. Almost. I highly recommend this novel to all romance readers, but most especially if you're after a really good sports romance..

Favorite Quotes:

“Then let me behind you walls. Let me be your walls. You’re safe with me.”

“No, I’m having a moment, and you’re the woman I want to spend it with.”

“Clare, I’m swinging in the dark here. I’ve no clue what I’m doing. All I know is that this is different. I don’t want to just have one night with you. I think I might want every night with you, and I can’t even believe those words are coming out of my mouth right now…”

“It means that you are the pulse of my heart, you’re the reason it keeps beating, Clare. You bring me to life in a way I never could have on my own.”

My Review:

Breaking a Legend was considerably different from my initial expectations. It turned out to be an angsty and steamy read. Ms. Robinson does sizzle very well, and she brings the heat with this passionate couple. The story was rather heavy with the main characters both having been beaten down and their spirits nearly broken by past events. Both are considerably damaged, weakened, and gun shy of relationships, yet both are also smart and capable. I enjoyed the plot, humor, banter, sizzle, sweet love story, and most of the characters. Clare frustrated me somewhat - while she occasionally showed feistiness it was alternated with flakiness and a lifetime of poor choices… I frequently wanted to whack her on the back of the head.

3.25 stars---BREAKING A LEGEND is the first installment in Sarah Robinson’s contemporary, adult KAVANAGH LEGENDS romance series focusing on the Kavanagh family of MMA fame. This is former MMA champion twenty eight year old Rory Kavanagh, and bartender Clare Ivers’s storyline.

Told from dual third person perspectives BREAKING A LEGEND focuses on the building relationship between Rory and Clare, and Rory’s recovery from a devastating career-ending injury. Tens months earlier Rory’s injury in the cage left our hero a broken man in more ways than one. Enter Clare Ivers, the newest waitress at O’Leary’s Pub, and the woman who would call to Rory’s heart. Coming from a big, Irish Catholic family, Rory has never lacked support but Rory’s choices in life have left our hero fighting the dark demons that resulted from the catastrophic injury.

Clare Ivers hides a secret. Our heroine is one the run, trying to stay one step ahead of her past and falling in love was never in the cards. When Clare’s past resurfaces, our heroine is willing to walk away from Rory and the family she has grown to love in order to protect everyone from the life she once led.

The relationship between Clare and Rory is one of immediate attraction. Rory is a man taught to respect women and in this Rory is the ultimate gentleman as he slowly seduces the woman who calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are gentle; there is no erotic, graphic imagery or text. But I did take issue with the lack of condoms. In an age of STDS and deadly viruses, the use of condoms should never be questioned.

We are introduced to Rory’s extended family including brothers- Quinn, Kane and Kane’s twin Kieran (who is currently in prison), and the youngest Jimmy, who is a member of the local police department. Jimmy has his hands full keeping his family on the straight and narrow. Rory’s loving parents Seamus and Dee Kavanagh are the backbone of the Kavanagh family ; and Rory’s cousin/sister Casey who befriends Clare when she needs it the most. The family ‘feel’ to this storyline is loving and supportive.

The world building focuses on Legends-the gym owned by the Kavanagh family where ‘legends’ are made and history is written in the Bronx borough of Woodlawn, New York. We are up close and personal with the fighters as they prepare for the next championship. There is some history with Seamus Kavanagh and the local Irish mob but we are not currently privy to the background information.

SPOILER ALERT: I did have some issues of believability with certain aspects of this storyline as it pertained to Rory and his ability to get clean and sober. It was all too neat and tidy; there is no mention of withdrawal, side effects or the physical and emotional pain one suffers during detox. Getting clean is a long process and doesn’t happen over night or in a matter of a couple of days. The unreality of the situation is questionable.

BREAKING A LEGEND is an easy read with a large ensemble cast of characters. The premise is entertaining; the characters are engaging; the romance is sweet and seductive but saying that, there was something missing in the telling of the story; the details are missing for many of the storyline components especially as it pertained to Clare’s past and Rory’s fall into the abyss