TAMING THE LEGEND (London Legends #4) by Kat Latham-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 11, 2015

When retiring rugby star Ash Trenton considered his next career move, coaching troubled teens at his ex-girlfriend’s California camp wasn’t on the list. But when Camila Morales reappears after eighteen years, begging for his help, he can’t say no to his first and only love.

Camila was just sixteen when Ash moved on to start his rugby career, leaving her heartbroken…and on her own to make a life-changing decision. Now she needs his help to win a tournament prize and save her camp. Relying on Ash is the last thing she wants. But while it’s hard to get over being dumped for a sport, it’s even harder to ignore the rush of attraction that has only gotten stronger after so many years apart.

Coaching teens is the hardest job Ash has ever had, and the task becomes personal when he begins to fall for Camila all over again. But when he is offered his dream job, will he choose the job—or the woman whose heart he already sacrificed once?

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REVIEW: TAMING THE LEGEND is the fourth full length installment in Kat Latham’s adult, contemporary London Legends romance series focusing on the London Legends Rugby players from London, England. This is retiring rugby star Ash Trenton, and Camila Morales’s storyline. Although TAMING THE LEGEND is the fourth in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information is revealed where necessary.

Told from alternating third person perspectives TAMING THE LEGEND follows thirty six year old Ash Trenton as he considers the future. Recently retired from pro rugby, Ash comes face to face with his past-the woman to whom he lost his V card-and a woman with a secret. Rugby has always been Ash’s first love and in this, Ash was unable to commit to Camila, therefore, walking away was his only option. Eighteen years later, Ash finds himself considering an offer to coach rugby in America but to Ash’s surprise, Camila had a few more secrets hidden behind the offer.

Camila is struggling to keep her business afloat. Inherited from her father, the business loans are soon called in and Camila looks overseas for a quick influx of cash. Approaching Ash Trenton is her last resort, but she needs Ash to help coach her latest collection of reluctant players. What ensues is a sometimes comic but oft times heartbreaking look at two people who have lost too much to ever go back.

The relationship between Ash and Camila is a second chance at love for two people whose lives went in opposite directions. Camila and Ash met eighteen years earlier, and in the ensuing time their lives could not have been more different. Camila and Ash both believe that the other no longer cared; that what they shared was nothing more than a teenage tryst but there was more to the lack of communication than anyone could have known. The $ex scenes are intimate and emotional, but in the end, Ash makes no promises for the future.

The secondary and supporting characters include several of the London Legend’s rugby players, as well as Ash’s new team in America-there is something to be said about the quick wit and sassy back talk from his new team of players. We are introduced to Ash’s parents who are struggling themselves with the lies from the past; and of course, Camila’s coworkers who have no idea about Camila’s connection to Ash.

Kat Latham’s LONDON LEGENDS is an engaging, amusing, refreshing and intoxicating series. We get up close and personal with the players of professional rugby-their sport, their history and their loves. There are moments of humor, passion, heartbreak and regret all wrapped up in a storyline with a happily ever after. At times, I was lost in the vast amount of rugby detail contained within TAMING THE LEGEND –rules, regulations, play by play information – as the storyline takes a different direction than the previous installments in the series. If you know something about rugby, then you will have no problem but for this reader my eyes glazed over as I had a difficult time ‘imagining’ the set up and scenarios. I needed a coaching handbook to understand the minute details.

TAMING THE LEGEND is a wonderful storyline; you will be hooked from the very start-no pun intended.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
1. Knowing the Score
2. Playing It Close
3. Tempting The Player
3.5 Unwrapping Her Perfect Match
4. Taming The Legend

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy