Legacy (Ashford Creek #1)
Carrie Ann Ryan
Blurb:
Only two years
ago, after the worst night of my life, he kissed me and I can’t keep him off my
mind.
When the only
house available to rent in town happens to be the one across the street from
him, the close proximity does its work.
We can’t keep our
hands off each other. Yet as the heat rises, so do feelings. He might want me,
but he wants peace more.
There’s a
darkness within him I know he fights. Just as there are secrets his family
needs to uncover. But when the danger comes full force, it won’t be from the
obvious corner. No, we both have our pasts we chose to hide.
And our fears.
Yet when I break,
he catches me.
And I hope I have
the strength to do the same.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4.25 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:
Before
I begin my review of this all new series beginner by Carrie Ann Ryan, I want to
offer my advice, advice that a lot of folks will ignore even though Carrie has
given the same advice AND made it easy by including the book along with Legacy
for free—Do NOT skip reading the free prequel offered. If you skip Careless and
jump right into reading Legacy you will regret it and Callum and Felicity’s
full story will not be a rich or enjoyable for you. Ok that’s all I’ll say form my soapbox, on to
my review of Legacy…
I
always love when a favorite author jumps into a new series, one filled with
rich and loveable characters, even ones that we might have met in previous
series and gotten to know a little bit. But even more enjoyable is when they
decide to take their writing in a new direction by given us a new twist on
their writing or letting us see a new side of their imaginations. Carrie Ann
Ryan has written so many different types of stories over the years, be they
paranormal, sensual erotica, simple sweet contemporary, or heartbreaking
stories of redemption and second chance love, but with this new series she
takes us into a world of suspense that is just that little bit twisted and
scary from the very beginning—and I LOVED it. The Ashford Creek series revolves
around a founding family that has fallen from grace with recent generations
when mysterious deaths, dangerous members, and dark circumstances case a shadow
over them. Despite that there are many in town that love and respect the youngest
Ashfords and the Carter family is one of their biggest supporters, so its no
surprise that love blossoms, however will love be enough to get them their HEA
of will others try to come between them?
Felicity
Carter has loved Callum Ashford for years, even if it was a different kind of
love when she was a young woman, but now she’s back in town she has to face the
truth that he never returned her heart. Callum rescued her two years ago and he’s
never forgotten the feeling of having her in his arms, but the age difference
and being her brother’s best friend isn’t the only thing keeping him away from
her. The mysterious death and disappearances at his father’s hands make him
wary of bringing a woman into his life, knowing it will put her in his father’s
crosshairs. When Felicity ends up renting the house across the street from him,
the pull to have her is too much and soon Felicity and Callum’s relationship grows
beyond just friends with benefits and their hearts are so deeply involved that
neither can deny it any longer. But
danger is stalking Felicity and Callum has to protect her at all costs because
he couldn’t bear to lose her like he lost his mothers, but even more he couldn’t
be the cause of her death because it would kill him too. Only by trusting one
another implicitly and loving fully can they save one another and have the future
they both so desperately want.
I
loved finally getting to know more of Callum’s story and it was fun watching
him try to handle the spicy and sweet Felicity, even though their story was at
times heartbreaking and difficult. Callum is obviously and alpha male, used to
being the hero for those around him and protecting especially the women in his
life. When he was younger he watched his father abuse and destroy those around
him and he learned early on that he would be a protector instead, so when he
was unable to protect or felt that something he did would put those he loved in
danger he spiraled quickly. He was sexy, witty, sweet, and loving and even when
he was floundering as he tried to find a way to handle Felicity as she made him
come to terms with their feelings for one another he never once utterly lost
his patience or temper with her. Felicity
was my favorite kind of spicy and sweet young sunshiny character meant to drive
her grumpy new lover insane. She is obviously very smart, ambitious, and brave
as is obvious by the facts of her living her life on her terms, despite what
others might think she should be doing and going after what she wants, in her
professional and then her personal life. It was sad to watch as she dealt with
a few things through this story, but her bravery, love, kindness, sassiness,
and ultimately her caring of those around her showed that she was the perfect woman
to stand beside Callum and give him the faith in himself he needed to finally
let go of his past and live his life for himself and find his own happiness.
Legacy begins as a story about a man that is terrified of the inheritance he has received from his father and what he might be leaving behind for the next generation, but slowly he comes to see that with the right mentality and the love of the right woman he can choose what he leaves behind and make if something meaningful and wonderful. Callum knows in his heart that he doesn’t deserve Felicity and certainly isn’t the right man for her, but once she forced him to confront his feelings for her, there is no way that he can resist that need, even when he fears what loving her will do to her present and future. But loving her is exactly what Felicity needs and she knows that nothing Callum chooses to do or give her could ever be bad for her, but when dangers arise that threaten their happy world she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect their new love. The heat between these two lovers has bee burning for years and is enough to melt all the snow in the Colorado mountains and once they finally accept that resistance is futile, we can see that passion burning for the entirety of their hopefully long lives together. I loved every moment of their story, even when we had to watch them fighting for their HEA quite literally as they fought enemies, and one another for that chance to be together and love long into their old ages. I am dying to see more of these Ashfords as they find their match and hopefully even find healing from their painful pasts, and after that last chapter (damn you Carrie Ann, EVERY time!) we know the next story is going to a rough one. Whever this series leads us, whatever mysteries we solve, and whatever dangers lurk around new corners, Ms. Ryan has a lifelong fan in me for sure!
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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