Equal parts sexy, intense, and emotional, Breaking a Legend will suck you in from the very first page and refuse to let go until long after you've finished. It's one of my favorite MMA books to date.-- "Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author"
--This text refers to the audioCD edition.
About the Author
Aside from being a Top 10 Barnes & Noble and Amazon Bestseller, Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in forensic and clinical psychology. She is newly married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiasts as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues including everything from mammals to reptiles to marsupials, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.
Charles Constant is an actor whose professional storytelling career began at the age of thirteen, when he became an Actors' Equity Association apprentice. An accomplished audiobook narrator, he has recorded many popular titles, including How to Win at the Sport of Business by Mark Cuban.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
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..
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
I read this series out of order by accident but as I was reading Saving A Legend, I was becoming increasingly curious about the eldest Kavanagh sibling, Rory, and his partner Clare. Rory' s surly character intrigued me and I am a sucker for animal stories too so I definitely wanted to hear all about Ace, the dog he rescued. Hence, as soon as I turned the last page on SAL, I was hot footing it to the 1-Click button to get their story. It did not disappoint. Rory is in a bad place after a career ending injury the year before has taken its toll on this former MMA fighter. Well, hello there and sign me up....MMA guys? I'm in. His faithful sidekick is Ace, the fighting dog he rescued. And that ladies and gentlemen is the point at which I was getting my book crush on. Who could possibly resist that combo ? Plus we meet the whole Kavanagh clan (except Kieran), who are a pretty addictive bunch to read about. Clare, our heroine is really likeable and has a rather dark past herself. She is not looking for love but Hell if I could resist a 6ft 2 MMA, family orientated, dog rescuing , badass with a heart of gold either. They both have their flaws but they are perfect together. Excellent character development, interesting plot and a lovely ending mixed in with passion , humour and drama make this a really good book. Recommend over 18's only due to sexual content and swearing.
This is only the second book I've read in the Kavanagh Legends series. After reading an ARC of the fourth book Chasing a Legend. I was so drawn into the Kavanagh family. I had to go back and read all the stories that I'd missed. And I'm so glad I did, as Breaking a Legend was an enjoyable and engaging story. That caught my attention from the very start and continued to hold it throughout.
As for the actual story it was sweet, easy to read, had some angst and even a little suspense. Which I wasn't expecting but enjoyed and I was really drawn in by Clare and Rory's romance. Which wasn't all plain sailing but nevertheless was great to read and I would happily recommend this story and series to others.
I was So looking forward to this book. I love this author but I'm afraid this one didn't do it for me. Although is a good story and has all the right things to make it a great book, sex, angst, love, damaged alpha, friendship, strong family values etc. I just couldn't get into it.
4.0 out of 5 starsFantastic start to a knock out series.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 October 2015
Verified Purchase
Put a picture like that on the front cover, tell me there is a troubled but glorious MMA fighter nestled between the pages and I will tell you to move on over because this one is mine!! Rory Kavanagh is the first of his family to get a book and if this one is only the start then I am hands down sunk, I loved this – the story was everything I could have possibly hoped it could and would be and the characters had so much going on that if anything the book was a little too short for me. The conclusion to sort of wrapped up a little too quickly. If I had to define Alpha in the dictionary, I would be running out of space with pictures of all my favourite book alpha plastered all over the pages, but I would have to find a little bit more room now because Rory Kavanagh is not just a teensy bit alpha, this man is alpha to the core!!! And he has no intension of changing. But will he have a choice? Clare is new in town and is very obviously on the run from something or more likely someone but exactly who and why is not made clear until well into the book, giving time to get to know her for who she is now. I liked this, I kept in my mind that there was more to her story but by not knowing, I was not tainting her with an element of sympathy – I could just accept her for who she was. Rory suffered a life altering injury during his last bout and is still on the road to full recovery, one that he is not helping by self-medication on not only too much alcohol but also with prescription painkillers that not exactly garnered by legal means. Sleeping his way around the neighbourhood, Rory is a walking time bomb – something has got to give and it is just a case of how cataclysmic the outcome is going to be. Clare is working at a local bar when a very drunk Rory first claps eyes on her and even in his drunken condition, he is smitten. Unable to shake her from his mind, he knows that she is too important to let go, so he doesn’t! He goes all out to get the woman that has his full attention, but will he have to try too hard or is the feeling mutual? Their journey is fairly easy, they take tiny steps at first, Rory meeting her after work to walk her home, offering to train her in self-defence and Clare urging him to give up the wallowing and the booze and fight to be the man that he should be not what he is now. With her by his side, Rory feels invincible, but what happens when her past threatens to take away everything they have, will this headstrong man be able to see straight and protect his woman? When Clare’s past tracks her down the resulting fracas is nail-biting but it gives a credibility to Clare’s strength. The story is really rather sweet in away, a man that doesn’t do love, falling hard and fast for the one thing he has never had, someone of his own, someone that he can love and that loves him back. He was everything I would have ever wanted him to be had I written him myself. The Kavanagh family have a lot to give, they are boisterous, loyal and loving, they have the archetypical patriarch, one who everyone in the district looks up to and who commands respect. They have a mother that rules them with an iron rod but whole loves them with all her heart, no matter the trouble they get themselves into. They are close but completely different and I am so looking forward to reading the stories that are to come from the rest of the eclectic, gregarious family.
![Breaking a Legend: A Kavanagh Legends Novel by [Sarah Robinson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519NIybBM+L._SY346_.jpg)
