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London Legends #4
Taming the Legend
Book four of the London Legends
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?
95,000 words
Books in the London Legends series
1: Knowing the Score
2: Playing It Close
3: Tempting the Player
3.5: Unwrapping Her Perfect A London Legends Christmas Romance
4: Taming the Legend
Other related books by Kat Latham
Romantic second chance at love, professional athlete, virgin hero, exotic vacation, beach, workplace, secret baby, international
contemporary romance, sports romance, rugby romance, contemporary romance novel, contemporary romance series, professional athlete, rugby player, London, England, California, rugby sevens, rugby 7s
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?
95,000 words
Books in the London Legends series
1: Knowing the Score
2: Playing It Close
3: Tempting the Player
3.5: Unwrapping Her Perfect A London Legends Christmas Romance
4: Taming the Legend
Other related books by Kat Latham
Romantic second chance at love, professional athlete, virgin hero, exotic vacation, beach, workplace, secret baby, international
contemporary romance, sports romance, rugby romance, contemporary romance novel, contemporary romance series, professional athlete, rugby player, London, England, California, rugby sevens, rugby 7s
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2015
15 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Kat Latham
20 books372 followersKat Latham writes sexy contemporary romance, including the London Legends rugby series. She’s a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She spent several years teaching English in Prague followed by several more working for a humanitarian organization in London. She and her British husband now live in a small town in the rural Netherlands surrounded by miles and miles of green pasture, canals and Shetland ponies. Kat’s slowly adjusting to life in a place where bicycles and cows seem to outnumber people.
With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the humor and emotion of real life. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s had the privilege of traveling to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to write about the heroic people helping their communities survive disasters.
You can usually find Kat on her blog (katlatham.com), Twitter (@KatrinaLatham) or Facebook (facebook.com/KatLathamRomance).
She hopes you’ll hang out with her there!
With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the humor and emotion of real life. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s had the privilege of traveling to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to write about the heroic people helping their communities survive disasters.
You can usually find Kat on her blog (katlatham.com), Twitter (@KatrinaLatham) or Facebook (facebook.com/KatLathamRomance).
She hopes you’ll hang out with her there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 16, 2015
4.5 Rucking Stars
Loved it, loved the rugby talk, loved the rugby guys. -.5 stars for the too long sex scenes (I know WHAT ?) they were just too long I wanted to get on with the story. The story was too good to drag on the sex too long
Ash is a rugby god. He retires at the top of his game and find himself lost in his freedom. He no longer has a set program he must follow, a diet, a team, a place to belong. He runs into an old flame from his teenage years the one that he never forgot. It turns out she never forgot him either and their separation was helped by a controlling team manager. When she challenges him to coach a new team she has in California he decides to take a chance and give it a go. There may be a chance to develop a top team and rekindle a long lost romance. I could tell you more here but I’m not going to spoil it for you. There is are several massive surprises in store for Ash and there is a second chance but it might not be the way most would expect it.
I loved it, this was my first read from this author and the series. I went and bought book 1 as soon as I finished this one. I loved the rugby plays, the rugby spirit the team spirits, the manners, the romantic moments, the heartbreaking moments and even the times of sorrow.
The only part of the str that didn’t hit the 5 stars rating for me was the sex scenes. I know crazy right ? They were too long, unnaturally long, they lost their impact and I went skimming to get to the end. They were sexy, detailed and tasteful just too long for me.
I am a huge rugby fan, and a good rugby read is a rarity. I am hooked on this series.
Loved it, loved the rugby talk, loved the rugby guys. -.5 stars for the too long sex scenes (I know WHAT ?) they were just too long I wanted to get on with the story. The story was too good to drag on the sex too long
Ash is a rugby god. He retires at the top of his game and find himself lost in his freedom. He no longer has a set program he must follow, a diet, a team, a place to belong. He runs into an old flame from his teenage years the one that he never forgot. It turns out she never forgot him either and their separation was helped by a controlling team manager. When she challenges him to coach a new team she has in California he decides to take a chance and give it a go. There may be a chance to develop a top team and rekindle a long lost romance. I could tell you more here but I’m not going to spoil it for you. There is are several massive surprises in store for Ash and there is a second chance but it might not be the way most would expect it.
I loved it, this was my first read from this author and the series. I went and bought book 1 as soon as I finished this one. I loved the rugby plays, the rugby spirit the team spirits, the manners, the romantic moments, the heartbreaking moments and even the times of sorrow.
The only part of the str that didn’t hit the 5 stars rating for me was the sex scenes. I know crazy right ? They were too long, unnaturally long, they lost their impact and I went skimming to get to the end. They were sexy, detailed and tasteful just too long for me.
I am a huge rugby fan, and a good rugby read is a rarity. I am hooked on this series.
August 1, 2019
I can't go from authentic relationship novels to these ones that feel so off.
Hero and heroine (and Ash is sexy, swoony material, so I have the sads) have a teenage tryst one summer and then separate, kept apart for a variety of reasons. Ash is retiring, and Camila shows up. He's happy,she punches him. What I did love about Ash is he's a committer/trier. Those characters are admirable.
This just wasn't a convincing 2nd chance for me though. We all had summer flings and the idea of rekindling with one of them after a short relationship 18 years later feels really off to me. Could an author pull it off? For suresy. Did this one? No, and I really enjoy her. I just don't want to read this one anymore because, well, life is too short.
Hero and heroine (and Ash is sexy, swoony material, so I have the sads) have a teenage tryst one summer and then separate, kept apart for a variety of reasons. Ash is retiring, and Camila shows up. He's happy,she punches him. What I did love about Ash is he's a committer/trier. Those characters are admirable.
This just wasn't a convincing 2nd chance for me though. We all had summer flings and the idea of rekindling with one of them after a short relationship 18 years later feels really off to me. Could an author pull it off? For suresy. Did this one? No, and I really enjoy her. I just don't want to read this one anymore because, well, life is too short.
February 9, 2016
3.5 stars - sweet addition to the London Legends series. The last 25% of the book was my favorite and it had the perfect ending - awesome epilogue! This can absolutely be read as a standalone. I've only read books 3 and 4 but will be going back to finish the first 2 in the series.
April 25, 2015
I love the London Legends series. No point pulling any punches, I do; I've pretty much read them back-to-back and I can quite comfortably say, Kat Latham can do no wrong. She has a talent of creating endearing characters with wonderful personalities, strengths and weaknesses. Ash Trenton and Camila Morales are no different and were as unique as each of the previous couples from the series.
Newly retired from the Legends, Ash has been a bit of an enigma throughout the series. But when he bumps into his first love at his leaving-do, old feelings are re-ignited and Camila has a proposition for him. One that requires him hopping a plane and helping out at the camp she runs for troubled teens.
Their journey was so different, for a start it doesn't take place in the UK, and whilst we know these men fall and fall hard, Ash was in a league of his own. I had an inkling I knew where the story was heading, and I was proved right, but it didn't detract from a strong, emotional read with humour, heartache and strong determined lady and a strapping man to fall head-over-heels for. He's a softie, but he's also a talker.
With a natural chemistry that comes with familiarity, Ash and Camila's re-ignited passion brings revelations, vulnerabilities and maturity, and together they were perfect. If, like me, you love this series, Taming the Legend won't disappoint. (And it also has a hidden treat of being loosely connected to One Night with her Bachelor, although it's not necessary to read it to follow).
4.5 stars.
This review will feature on Read Your Writes Book Reviews.
Copy received courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Newly retired from the Legends, Ash has been a bit of an enigma throughout the series. But when he bumps into his first love at his leaving-do, old feelings are re-ignited and Camila has a proposition for him. One that requires him hopping a plane and helping out at the camp she runs for troubled teens.
Their journey was so different, for a start it doesn't take place in the UK, and whilst we know these men fall and fall hard, Ash was in a league of his own. I had an inkling I knew where the story was heading, and I was proved right, but it didn't detract from a strong, emotional read with humour, heartache and strong determined lady and a strapping man to fall head-over-heels for. He's a softie, but he's also a talker.
With a natural chemistry that comes with familiarity, Ash and Camila's re-ignited passion brings revelations, vulnerabilities and maturity, and together they were perfect. If, like me, you love this series, Taming the Legend won't disappoint. (And it also has a hidden treat of being loosely connected to One Night with her Bachelor, although it's not necessary to read it to follow).
4.5 stars.
This review will feature on Read Your Writes Book Reviews.
Copy received courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
November 21, 2025
Is true love worth a second chance?
Years of life have now past Ash and Camila by. Camila is struggling to hold onto a camp, for struggling teens, that is suffering financially while Ash is having trouble dealing with retirement as a pro-rugby player.
When their paths collide after years of separation, their reunion is explosive and combative but that special spark was still there.
Ash must decided between Camila and his second dream career but then an unexpected circumstance throws them for a loop.
Heartwarming and emotionally charged, Taming the Legend was the perfect contemporary read. It is all about second chances and you couldn't help but be effected by Latham's storytelling. If you are looking for a marvelous romance with a story that you can really dive deep, check out Taming the Legend.
I received this ARC copy of Taming the Legend from Carina Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication May 11, 2015.
Years of life have now past Ash and Camila by. Camila is struggling to hold onto a camp, for struggling teens, that is suffering financially while Ash is having trouble dealing with retirement as a pro-rugby player.
When their paths collide after years of separation, their reunion is explosive and combative but that special spark was still there.
Ash must decided between Camila and his second dream career but then an unexpected circumstance throws them for a loop.
Heartwarming and emotionally charged, Taming the Legend was the perfect contemporary read. It is all about second chances and you couldn't help but be effected by Latham's storytelling. If you are looking for a marvelous romance with a story that you can really dive deep, check out Taming the Legend.
I received this ARC copy of Taming the Legend from Carina Press in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication May 11, 2015.
May 12, 2015
I didn't like this as much as I wanted to which may have partially been because I was reading it in an airport, but it was a little more soap operaish than I really was in the mood for. A baby the hero didn't know about, a long lost love, and then a reunion with an adopted baby? It was just a lot.
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September 20, 2017
Eine schöne Geschichte, wenn ich auch Schwierigkeiten mit den ersten 25% des Romanes hatte. Bis dato hatte es mich nicht wirklich gepackt. Dann wurde es besser, aber nicht umwerfend..
July 16, 2015
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2015/05/review-...
Favorite Quote:
“What can I say? With you I’ve always been easy.”
“With me, you’ve always been adored.”
London Legends rugby star Ash Trenton isn’t sure what he is going to do once he retires but coaching at a camp for troubled teens wasn’t on his to-do list. Not until an old lover shows up out of the blue asking for his help. Though it’s been eighteen years, he finds he can’t refuse the first and only woman he has ever loved.
Camila Morale was sixteen when she and Ash spent a summer exploring their love for one another but he had to leave to start his rugby career and she never heard from him again. She was left with a shattered heart and a very difficult decision to make. She never planned on seeing him again but she needs his help to save her camp from financial ruin and the only way to do that is for him to coach her team to victory.
Coaching kids who don’t want or care about the sport is hard enough but trying to ignore the attraction and chemistry that burns between Ash and Camilla is even harder. When Camilla begins to fall for Ash all over again, she fears that once his time at the camp is over, he will once again choose his career over her.
Taming the Legend is heartwarming contemporary with just the right balance of humor, emotional heart pinches, and some steamy romance. Well plotted with engaging dialogue and personable characters, the story sweeps you up with no hesitation. Second chances love with miscommunication as the villain is a tricky trope combination. To often the miscommunication ends up being something that could have been cleared up with one conversation. Luckily, Latham isn’t one to drag out conflict nor employ manufactured drama in order to capitalize on the angst that often goes hand in hand with this trope. Her characters are quick to communicate and resolve past problems in order to move forward.
Delightfully humorous and flawed characters open up their hearts and feelings to the reader. It’s always enlightening to see a story play out from two different sides and Latham gives us that through Ash and Camilla’s POVs. Written in an enjoyable conversational style, the laugh out loud dialogue blends well with some serious scenes that will keep you entertained and engaged all the way to the end. Latham takes her time in giving us insight into this couple’s past relationship and the reasons they separated. Youth, circumstances beyond their control, and some external forces came between them at a time when communication was much needed. Feelings were hurt on both ends and only when they meet again does the truth reveal itself.
A camp for troubled teenagers is the perfect gateway to reintroduce Ash and Camilla to one another. A lot has changed over the years but the chemistry still blazes strong. Camilla hasn’t had an easy time of it; from childhood to now, she has had to fight small town gossip and a very low self-esteem. Ash’s “betrayal” was the final nail in her coffin and Camilla went off the deep end. This camp saved her life in more ways than one which is why she swallowed her pride and seeks him out to beg for his assistance.
Ash never forgot about Camilla but in his defense, they were young, it was only for the summer, and he was already committed to rugby-something he never hid from her. He’s a sweet, funny, intense man who, when he learns what happened to Camilla all those years ago, genuinely grieves for her, him, and their past. I appreciated that he dealt with one of the external forces that kept him from her in a realistic and timely manner.
While the actual commitment was slow to build, this second chance journey is refreshingly honest and fun; not overburdened with emotional tripe and drawn out anger. The sparks between them are bright and hot; enhanced by Ash’s dirty little innuendos. Camilla feels the connection between them but the past weighs heavily on her mind while Ash wants more but knows his time with her is brief and doesn’t want to cause her any more pain than he already has.
Taming The Legend is another enjoyable read by Kat Latham and a wonderful addition to the series. Fans of sport themed contemporary romances will enjoy the heartwarming coming home feel of Latham’s newest couple.
RATING: B
Favorite Quote:
“What can I say? With you I’ve always been easy.”
“With me, you’ve always been adored.”
London Legends rugby star Ash Trenton isn’t sure what he is going to do once he retires but coaching at a camp for troubled teens wasn’t on his to-do list. Not until an old lover shows up out of the blue asking for his help. Though it’s been eighteen years, he finds he can’t refuse the first and only woman he has ever loved.
Camila Morale was sixteen when she and Ash spent a summer exploring their love for one another but he had to leave to start his rugby career and she never heard from him again. She was left with a shattered heart and a very difficult decision to make. She never planned on seeing him again but she needs his help to save her camp from financial ruin and the only way to do that is for him to coach her team to victory.
Coaching kids who don’t want or care about the sport is hard enough but trying to ignore the attraction and chemistry that burns between Ash and Camilla is even harder. When Camilla begins to fall for Ash all over again, she fears that once his time at the camp is over, he will once again choose his career over her.
Taming the Legend is heartwarming contemporary with just the right balance of humor, emotional heart pinches, and some steamy romance. Well plotted with engaging dialogue and personable characters, the story sweeps you up with no hesitation. Second chances love with miscommunication as the villain is a tricky trope combination. To often the miscommunication ends up being something that could have been cleared up with one conversation. Luckily, Latham isn’t one to drag out conflict nor employ manufactured drama in order to capitalize on the angst that often goes hand in hand with this trope. Her characters are quick to communicate and resolve past problems in order to move forward.
Delightfully humorous and flawed characters open up their hearts and feelings to the reader. It’s always enlightening to see a story play out from two different sides and Latham gives us that through Ash and Camilla’s POVs. Written in an enjoyable conversational style, the laugh out loud dialogue blends well with some serious scenes that will keep you entertained and engaged all the way to the end. Latham takes her time in giving us insight into this couple’s past relationship and the reasons they separated. Youth, circumstances beyond their control, and some external forces came between them at a time when communication was much needed. Feelings were hurt on both ends and only when they meet again does the truth reveal itself.
A camp for troubled teenagers is the perfect gateway to reintroduce Ash and Camilla to one another. A lot has changed over the years but the chemistry still blazes strong. Camilla hasn’t had an easy time of it; from childhood to now, she has had to fight small town gossip and a very low self-esteem. Ash’s “betrayal” was the final nail in her coffin and Camilla went off the deep end. This camp saved her life in more ways than one which is why she swallowed her pride and seeks him out to beg for his assistance.
Ash never forgot about Camilla but in his defense, they were young, it was only for the summer, and he was already committed to rugby-something he never hid from her. He’s a sweet, funny, intense man who, when he learns what happened to Camilla all those years ago, genuinely grieves for her, him, and their past. I appreciated that he dealt with one of the external forces that kept him from her in a realistic and timely manner.
While the actual commitment was slow to build, this second chance journey is refreshingly honest and fun; not overburdened with emotional tripe and drawn out anger. The sparks between them are bright and hot; enhanced by Ash’s dirty little innuendos. Camilla feels the connection between them but the past weighs heavily on her mind while Ash wants more but knows his time with her is brief and doesn’t want to cause her any more pain than he already has.
Taming The Legend is another enjoyable read by Kat Latham and a wonderful addition to the series. Fans of sport themed contemporary romances will enjoy the heartwarming coming home feel of Latham’s newest couple.
RATING: B
April 3, 2016
This emotional second chance romance is the story of Ash and Camila. A teenage holiday love affair ended in heartbreak for Camila when her letters to Ash after going home were returned unopened. As he went on to become a rugby star, she struggled but managed to lift herself up by her bootstraps and is now quite proud to be running a camp for troubled teens. But they are in financial straits and Camila decides to put the past behind her and approach Ash, who has recently retired from his London Legends team. She's hoping he'll consider coaching her young team in rugby sevens, a new game in the US and one with an upcoming prize winning tournament that would solve her money problems. When Ash agrees to help her out, it's only a matter of time before their hearts become involved once again. But when Ash has to choose between a dream job and the woman he's always loved, will he make the choice that guarantees a happy future for them both?
My advice to you on reading this story is to make sure you have a box of tissues handy, because there will definitely be some tears shed. Camila's story is heartbreaking but I loved how she has made herself into a resilient, strong and caring woman despite her past. It takes a lot of courage for her to approach Ash after the way things ended between them but she is willing to do whatever it takes to help out her camp, including taking the chance of being rejected yet again by Ash. She comes across as a really likable character. Ash is equally wonderful as a smart, dependable, loyal man who has always cared for Camila despite the circumstances of the demise of their teenage relationship. He's never forgotten her, the wonderful young woman he fell in love with so many years before and seeing her again is like a bolt of lightning to his heart.
'Heat rushed through him, but it wasn't the burst of lust he usually felt when he was this close to a woman. Well not entirely that, anyway. This was comfort and familiarity tempered by years of painful separation. This was forgiveness and moving on.
But it was also feminine softness, sweet-smelling hair and a body that fit his perfectly. When she pulled away and looked at anything but him, he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets so he wouldn't be tempted to pull her back. He couldn't remember the last time a simple hug had made him long for so much more.'
The chance to make up for the past is what leads him to California to help her out, but the opportunity to be with her again comes with its own challenges, not the least of which is the decisions he must make about his future, with her and his career. There is still a strong sexual attraction between them that eventually leads to some emotional and steamy love scenes (including some flashbacks to their earlier time together). The romance between them is believable and touching.
I really enjoyed the scenes of Ash working with the teenagers to craft them into a respectable and worthy rugby team. There is a fair amount of sports talk in the story, but it's well explained and gives a good rundown on the game of rugby and how it works - not so much as to be overwhelming but enough to keep the story interesting. The camaraderie that Ash has with his teammates from the London Legends is still in evidence despite Ash's retirement and it was delightful to see them once again, characters that have shown up in previous books in the series which I also highly recommend. There are several twists and turns to the plot that make the book hard to put down, surprises that I didn't see coming but that made the story that much richer. As well, there is a family link to the author's other recently released story One Night With Her Bachelor which stars Camila's brother Gabriel. 5 stars for a wonderful reunion story!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note 2: This review also appears as a blog post: http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
My advice to you on reading this story is to make sure you have a box of tissues handy, because there will definitely be some tears shed. Camila's story is heartbreaking but I loved how she has made herself into a resilient, strong and caring woman despite her past. It takes a lot of courage for her to approach Ash after the way things ended between them but she is willing to do whatever it takes to help out her camp, including taking the chance of being rejected yet again by Ash. She comes across as a really likable character. Ash is equally wonderful as a smart, dependable, loyal man who has always cared for Camila despite the circumstances of the demise of their teenage relationship. He's never forgotten her, the wonderful young woman he fell in love with so many years before and seeing her again is like a bolt of lightning to his heart.
'Heat rushed through him, but it wasn't the burst of lust he usually felt when he was this close to a woman. Well not entirely that, anyway. This was comfort and familiarity tempered by years of painful separation. This was forgiveness and moving on.
But it was also feminine softness, sweet-smelling hair and a body that fit his perfectly. When she pulled away and looked at anything but him, he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets so he wouldn't be tempted to pull her back. He couldn't remember the last time a simple hug had made him long for so much more.'
The chance to make up for the past is what leads him to California to help her out, but the opportunity to be with her again comes with its own challenges, not the least of which is the decisions he must make about his future, with her and his career. There is still a strong sexual attraction between them that eventually leads to some emotional and steamy love scenes (including some flashbacks to their earlier time together). The romance between them is believable and touching.
I really enjoyed the scenes of Ash working with the teenagers to craft them into a respectable and worthy rugby team. There is a fair amount of sports talk in the story, but it's well explained and gives a good rundown on the game of rugby and how it works - not so much as to be overwhelming but enough to keep the story interesting. The camaraderie that Ash has with his teammates from the London Legends is still in evidence despite Ash's retirement and it was delightful to see them once again, characters that have shown up in previous books in the series which I also highly recommend. There are several twists and turns to the plot that make the book hard to put down, surprises that I didn't see coming but that made the story that much richer. As well, there is a family link to the author's other recently released story One Night With Her Bachelor which stars Camila's brother Gabriel. 5 stars for a wonderful reunion story!
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note 2: This review also appears as a blog post: http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
March 13, 2015
Oh, how I love this series. I've been waiting on Ash's story since I closed my first London Legends book (which is actually the second in the series), Playing It Close, and it was, without a doubt, worth the wait.
Life after retirement is a mystery to Ash Trenton. With no idea what his next move will be, he's nonetheless surprised and a little unwilling when his ex -- the only woman that's ever truly been a distraction from his first love, rugby -- shows up asking for his help to save her floundering Californian camp.
Camila Morales had to swallow her pride to approach Ash, all in the hope he can coach her troubled teens to victory and a huge payout. After he broke her heart, and left her on her own to make a tough decision, Camila isn't exactly Ash's biggest fan, but he's her only chance, and she's hoping he's up for the challenge.
Working together reignites old feelings in both Ash and Camila, and it's hard to ignore. But Ash already chose his sport over her once, and when his dream job becomes a reality, Camila has to face the possibility that, once again, Ash will sacrifice her heart to make his own dreams come true.
Taming the Legend may just be my favorite book in this series. It's been a couple of days since I closed it and I am still thinking about it. Still thinking about Ash and Mila and their second-chance romance. I was a little apprehensive when I read the blurb, mainly because I've kinda...sorta...ok, totally crushed on Ash from the start and I wanted his story to be good. No, I wanted his story to be great, just like him. And it was.
Kat Latham has written a story that is funny, sexy, sweet and a little bit sad. As I've come to expect from her, she gave me laugh-out-loud moments, moments that made me smile big and small, and moments that made my brow furrow and my heart ache a little. I couldn't help but love Ash and how his handled the life-changing news that Camila presented him. I couldn't help but swoon over how he charmed and courted and loved Mila. I couldn't help but laugh at how he bantered with his new players, how he trained and led them, how hard he work for and with them. Oh Ash, I can see why you were Tess' favorite before Liam.
One of my favorite things about this series is the dynamics between all of the London Legends players, and while Ash is retiring, that is far from absent in this book. There are some excellent moments with the guys, and it made me hunger all the more for additional books in this stellar series. I am hoping that Hardy is next -- the carry-over of his secondary story from Tempting the Player, and the flashbacks to his shared youth with Ash, have me a little crazed at the thought he can and will get his own moment. *crosses fingers* Please?!
This series will always be a little special to me, because it's the first one I reviewed for Give Me Books. But more than that, because it is one I know I can count on to make me feel all the good feels while reading. And that is truly why I FLOVE this series. ~ Beth, 5 stars
Life after retirement is a mystery to Ash Trenton. With no idea what his next move will be, he's nonetheless surprised and a little unwilling when his ex -- the only woman that's ever truly been a distraction from his first love, rugby -- shows up asking for his help to save her floundering Californian camp.
Camila Morales had to swallow her pride to approach Ash, all in the hope he can coach her troubled teens to victory and a huge payout. After he broke her heart, and left her on her own to make a tough decision, Camila isn't exactly Ash's biggest fan, but he's her only chance, and she's hoping he's up for the challenge.
Working together reignites old feelings in both Ash and Camila, and it's hard to ignore. But Ash already chose his sport over her once, and when his dream job becomes a reality, Camila has to face the possibility that, once again, Ash will sacrifice her heart to make his own dreams come true.
Taming the Legend may just be my favorite book in this series. It's been a couple of days since I closed it and I am still thinking about it. Still thinking about Ash and Mila and their second-chance romance. I was a little apprehensive when I read the blurb, mainly because I've kinda...sorta...ok, totally crushed on Ash from the start and I wanted his story to be good. No, I wanted his story to be great, just like him. And it was.
Kat Latham has written a story that is funny, sexy, sweet and a little bit sad. As I've come to expect from her, she gave me laugh-out-loud moments, moments that made me smile big and small, and moments that made my brow furrow and my heart ache a little. I couldn't help but love Ash and how his handled the life-changing news that Camila presented him. I couldn't help but swoon over how he charmed and courted and loved Mila. I couldn't help but laugh at how he bantered with his new players, how he trained and led them, how hard he work for and with them. Oh Ash, I can see why you were Tess' favorite before Liam.
One of my favorite things about this series is the dynamics between all of the London Legends players, and while Ash is retiring, that is far from absent in this book. There are some excellent moments with the guys, and it made me hunger all the more for additional books in this stellar series. I am hoping that Hardy is next -- the carry-over of his secondary story from Tempting the Player, and the flashbacks to his shared youth with Ash, have me a little crazed at the thought he can and will get his own moment. *crosses fingers* Please?!
This series will always be a little special to me, because it's the first one I reviewed for Give Me Books. But more than that, because it is one I know I can count on to make me feel all the good feels while reading. And that is truly why I FLOVE this series. ~ Beth, 5 stars
September 15, 2022
Lo resumí en mi blog así «Segunda oportunidad en el amor mezclado con rugby con un héroe de lo más beta». O sea, varias cosas de las que a mi me gustan así que yo, encantada de la vida.
Ashley «Ash» Trenton se retira del deporte por todo lo alto, sin saber muy bien qué va a hacer después. En una fiesta se encuentra con Camila Morales y alucina. Se enamoraron de jovencitos, con ella perdió la virginidad y nunca comprendió cómo aquella relación tan bonita pudo acabar. Ashley es tu héroe beta perfecto. Si la romántica es educación sentimental, el mensaje que lanza es, creo yo, justo el de este libro: el amor siempre tiene que ir acompañado de respeto y comprensión, además de sexo estupendo.
La novela pasó por momentos un poco más aburridas, pero en general, merece la pena.
Ashley «Ash» Trenton se retira del deporte por todo lo alto, sin saber muy bien qué va a hacer después. En una fiesta se encuentra con Camila Morales y alucina. Se enamoraron de jovencitos, con ella perdió la virginidad y nunca comprendió cómo aquella relación tan bonita pudo acabar. Ashley es tu héroe beta perfecto. Si la romántica es educación sentimental, el mensaje que lanza es, creo yo, justo el de este libro: el amor siempre tiene que ir acompañado de respeto y comprensión, además de sexo estupendo.
La novela pasó por momentos un poco más aburridas, pero en general, merece la pena.
May 8, 2015
This was a sweet and sexy second chance romance read about a recently retired (at 36) and famous rugby player in England who is approached by his first love to help coach her camp's team as the winning prize money would save her camp. Stay tuned for a link to the First Look at Heroes and Heartbreakers!
ETA: Here is the First Look at Heroes and Heartbreakers!
ETA: Here is the First Look at Heroes and Heartbreakers!
May 21, 2015
3.5 stars
Taming the Legend was a good read.
The storyline was entertaining and enjoyable and the characters were well developed.
Loved the boy's banter and teasing, they added to my enjoyment of the book.
I'm enjoying the London Legends series and highly recommend all the books.
Thank you to Carina Press for the advance copy via Netgalley.
Taming the Legend was a good read.
The storyline was entertaining and enjoyable and the characters were well developed.
Loved the boy's banter and teasing, they added to my enjoyment of the book.
I'm enjoying the London Legends series and highly recommend all the books.
Thank you to Carina Press for the advance copy via Netgalley.
May 11, 2015
Have enjoyed earlier books in this English rugby series, but sadly, not this one.
May 8, 2015
I adored this book so much! I loved Ash and Camila. I loved the story, the romance. It is probably my favorite in the series!
January 1, 2016
5 stars! Loved this book so hard. Major book hangover. Really hoping to see more in this series in the future. I NEED more of the London Legends in my life!! Can't recommend this series enough!!
May 21, 2015
I don’t care for reunited lovers stories, especially when those lovers were teenagers when they met. So I started this book thinking, “ugh,” but it wasn’t long before I was thinking, “Kat Latham, I’m sorry I doubted you, I love you forever.” Seriously, every book in this series (Knowing the Score, Playing it Close, Tempting the Player) has been fun, emotional, and sexy, plus the heroines always kick ass.
Ash is retiring from rugby. His team has just won the championship and he knows that it’s better to go out on top. He doesn’t have any plans for retirement other than to get drunk, eat as much cheese as he wants, and eat boxes of fudge.
Camila has traveled halfway around the world for Ash’s help. When she was sixteen and he was eighteen, they met on holiday in Spain and Ash was finally able to lose his virginity. He’d just been signed to the Legends and was not about to jeopardize his career by committing to a girl from California, so they said a teary goodbye at the airport and Camila promised to write.
Their reunion isn’t happy, because they both have misconceptions about the other. But Camila is desperate. She owns a youth camp on a lake near Los Angeles, but the bank is about to foreclose on it. The camp means everything to Camila, so she hopes that her ex-boyfriend will come and turn some troubled teens into a prize-winning (and camp-saving) rugby team. She doesn’t tell him that he’ll be coaching a girls’ team.
I’m going to tell you all the ways that this book could have gone wrong. Ash and Camila could have held on to secrets and recriminations for half the book. They didn’t; they confronted their past early in the book and moved forward. They could have flashed back to their hot teen love affair, reminiscing how sex was never better. I hate that scenario the most; it makes my eyeballs burn. Thankfully they didn’t dwell. They were teens, Ash was a virgin, it didn’t rule their lives. Ash could have moaned and complained about coaching girls. He didn’t. He loves rugby, and the more people he can share that love with, the better. And those misfit teen girls could have been annoying stereotypes, but they weren’t. They had just enough screen time to show off Ash’s awesomeness.
Now, here are some things that Ash says:
“You lot [Americans] used to be great at rugby, but then you decided you liked American football better. Worst decision since the American Revolution.”
“Being a girl is not a disability. Boobs, periods, cramps…I know you’ve got them, but I don’t give a monkey’s toss about them.”
“[The girls] are that horrible in-between age when everyone’s telling them to be as responsible as adults but without letting them enjoy the freedoms adults get. I’ll be constricting their lives enough over the next month. Letting them drop the f-bomb is the least I can do.”
I admit I’m very Ash-centric in this review, but Camila is pretty tough, too. She’s pulled herself up out of a crappy childhood and she’s impacted the lives of so many kids. She also appreciates how Ash looks in his rugby shorts, and knows that sleeping with him again is a bad idea because he’ll return to London. But then she thinks, “I eat chocolate and ice cream and enchiladas and tamales, even though I know they’ll turn to fat and have bad long-term consequences. I eat them because they make me feel temporarily good. Having sex with you will be the same. It’s going to hurt in the end, but I’ve started to think you’re worth the heartbreak.”
So, a lot of creative rugby training happens, and Camila and Ash sneak through windows, and campers toilet paper the trees, and then there’s a gut punch, and Ash loves his rugby brothers but does he love Camila more??? It meshes perfectly with the rest of the series and made me happy.
Raing: B+
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2015/05/review...
Review copy provided by the publisher
Ash is retiring from rugby. His team has just won the championship and he knows that it’s better to go out on top. He doesn’t have any plans for retirement other than to get drunk, eat as much cheese as he wants, and eat boxes of fudge.
Camila has traveled halfway around the world for Ash’s help. When she was sixteen and he was eighteen, they met on holiday in Spain and Ash was finally able to lose his virginity. He’d just been signed to the Legends and was not about to jeopardize his career by committing to a girl from California, so they said a teary goodbye at the airport and Camila promised to write.
Their reunion isn’t happy, because they both have misconceptions about the other. But Camila is desperate. She owns a youth camp on a lake near Los Angeles, but the bank is about to foreclose on it. The camp means everything to Camila, so she hopes that her ex-boyfriend will come and turn some troubled teens into a prize-winning (and camp-saving) rugby team. She doesn’t tell him that he’ll be coaching a girls’ team.
I’m going to tell you all the ways that this book could have gone wrong. Ash and Camila could have held on to secrets and recriminations for half the book. They didn’t; they confronted their past early in the book and moved forward. They could have flashed back to their hot teen love affair, reminiscing how sex was never better. I hate that scenario the most; it makes my eyeballs burn. Thankfully they didn’t dwell. They were teens, Ash was a virgin, it didn’t rule their lives. Ash could have moaned and complained about coaching girls. He didn’t. He loves rugby, and the more people he can share that love with, the better. And those misfit teen girls could have been annoying stereotypes, but they weren’t. They had just enough screen time to show off Ash’s awesomeness.
Now, here are some things that Ash says:
“You lot [Americans] used to be great at rugby, but then you decided you liked American football better. Worst decision since the American Revolution.”
“Being a girl is not a disability. Boobs, periods, cramps…I know you’ve got them, but I don’t give a monkey’s toss about them.”
“[The girls] are that horrible in-between age when everyone’s telling them to be as responsible as adults but without letting them enjoy the freedoms adults get. I’ll be constricting their lives enough over the next month. Letting them drop the f-bomb is the least I can do.”
I admit I’m very Ash-centric in this review, but Camila is pretty tough, too. She’s pulled herself up out of a crappy childhood and she’s impacted the lives of so many kids. She also appreciates how Ash looks in his rugby shorts, and knows that sleeping with him again is a bad idea because he’ll return to London. But then she thinks, “I eat chocolate and ice cream and enchiladas and tamales, even though I know they’ll turn to fat and have bad long-term consequences. I eat them because they make me feel temporarily good. Having sex with you will be the same. It’s going to hurt in the end, but I’ve started to think you’re worth the heartbreak.”
So, a lot of creative rugby training happens, and Camila and Ash sneak through windows, and campers toilet paper the trees, and then there’s a gut punch, and Ash loves his rugby brothers but does he love Camila more??? It meshes perfectly with the rest of the series and made me happy.
Raing: B+
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2015/05/review...
Review copy provided by the publisher
July 16, 2015
What a witty, fun, sad, sexy story to take a journey with! I consumed this in one day. The crazy thing is I have read this series completely out of order and never felt lost in any book. I love when books are part of a series but can stand alone as well. Kat has a unique ability to have such heart pulling stories that are original. I love the glossary at the beginning of the book it really helps and the snarky banter between the main characters. I This was a perfect read for Mother's Day! I highly recommend this book, he'll this series!
5BadAssWhoWould'veThoughtStars!
5BadAssWhoWould'veThoughtStars!
May 15, 2018
(3/18/16) Ash really steals the show in this one, his humor and honesty and adorable coaching skills make him irresistible.
(5/14/18) I forgot how this ended, a nice surprise.
(5/14/18) I forgot how this ended, a nice surprise.
June 25, 2017
I absolutely love everything Kat Latham writes and this was no exception. A second chance romance about just-retired Ash Trenton from London Legends rugby team? Yes, please! I devoured this in two days. Couldn't put it down at all. Kat did a fantastic job building the story one piece at a time, giving us insight into how these two characters met and how their lives continued after.
It was really heart breaking what happened to them, but I loved the happy ending. Also, Kat writes the funniest, most real dialogue I've had the pleasure to read. It had be laughing out loud and going back to reread it. I also love the way she writes the teenage girls.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was that I found it a tad predictable. I was able to tell exactly how it was going to end by the halfway mark and it did. But that's ok, because it was so sweet and entertaining and real, that it didn't bother me too much.
Highly recommend this read. It might be my favorite in the series so far.
It was really heart breaking what happened to them, but I loved the happy ending. Also, Kat writes the funniest, most real dialogue I've had the pleasure to read. It had be laughing out loud and going back to reread it. I also love the way she writes the teenage girls.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was that I found it a tad predictable. I was able to tell exactly how it was going to end by the halfway mark and it did. But that's ok, because it was so sweet and entertaining and real, that it didn't bother me too much.
Highly recommend this read. It might be my favorite in the series so far.
April 23, 2022
This was a nice end to the London Legends series with Ash, the franchise player who came up through the system retiring the night his team wins the championship getting his second chance with the one who got away 18 yos ago whom he never forgot. She finds him at the hotel where he and his team mates are celebrating and she punches him out before he recognizes her.
Turns out she'd written him letters which were returned, unopened, because his father returned them all those years ago, to tell him that she was pregnant. She ended up giving their daughter up for adoption, only to fast forward and find her again when she's one of the girls he ends up coaching rugby at her camp in California. It's clearly romance reasons but it works and the series came to a lovely, tidy end with his team mates all traveling to Cali to the Rugby Sevens tournament to surprise him and Camila's camp being saved by donations/bets from his many ex-competitors who helped raise the 500K she needed to save her camp.
Turns out she'd written him letters which were returned, unopened, because his father returned them all those years ago, to tell him that she was pregnant. She ended up giving their daughter up for adoption, only to fast forward and find her again when she's one of the girls he ends up coaching rugby at her camp in California. It's clearly romance reasons but it works and the series came to a lovely, tidy end with his team mates all traveling to Cali to the Rugby Sevens tournament to surprise him and Camila's camp being saved by donations/bets from his many ex-competitors who helped raise the 500K she needed to save her camp.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
Taming the Legend is the fourth and final book in Kat Latham’s London Legends series, and is a second-chance story about retiring player Ashley Trenton and camp owner Camila Morales.
Ash and Camila met right before Ash’s tenure with the Legends began. They fell hard and fast. Mila was heartbroken when they parted, not only to be parted but also to be reminded time and again that rugby was truly Ash’s first love.
They meet again at Ash’s retirement, and Mila convinced him to give coaching her California team a go. Kat Latham’s writing is lovely and captivating as always, and Ash and Mila have many issues to wrestle with as they hesitantly begin to bridge what divides them.
A fantastic, satisfying close to the series.
Ash and Camila met right before Ash’s tenure with the Legends began. They fell hard and fast. Mila was heartbroken when they parted, not only to be parted but also to be reminded time and again that rugby was truly Ash’s first love.
They meet again at Ash’s retirement, and Mila convinced him to give coaching her California team a go. Kat Latham’s writing is lovely and captivating as always, and Ash and Mila have many issues to wrestle with as they hesitantly begin to bridge what divides them.
A fantastic, satisfying close to the series.
January 20, 2018
It was exactly what I've come to expect from this series. Lots of fluff, lots of steam, good characters and a nice plot to go with them.
My only issue would be, as always, the light (but very present) slut-shaming of the women he's been with/met/been propositioned by before. I can't help but be convinced you can make it clear that she's Special to him without putting other women down.
My only issue would be, as always, the light (but very present) slut-shaming of the women he's been with/met/been propositioned by before. I can't help but be convinced you can make it clear that she's Special to him without putting other women down.
February 1, 2024
Taming the Legend
Book 5 of London Legends
Kat Latham
The story and characters are well written and developed. I enjoyed the drama, chemistry and journey. Good read.
Book 5 of London Legends
Kat Latham
The story and characters are well written and developed. I enjoyed the drama, chemistry and journey. Good read.
December 15, 2016
All the elements I like in a romance novel but with a very unique backstory. Great twist as well
May 15, 2015
4 stars
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?
••••••••
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.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
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?
••••••••
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.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
May 22, 2015
4 1/2 Stars
I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.
I'll be honest, I know next to nothing about rugby. But Ms Latham did a pretty good job of explaining it in terms that made sense to an American. This was the fourth book in the London Legends series, about different players from the London Legends rugby club. The couple in this book was Camilla (pronounced Ca-mee-la) and Ashley (who is a very manly man by the way).
Camilla had a terrible childhood and adolescence. She meets Ash when she is 16, while she's in Barcelona staying with some cousins and taking care of their children a few days a week. I will mention that teenagers are treated a bit differently in Europe than they are in the U.S. From the time I lived in Germany, I learned that from about the age of 14, teens are considered more like young adults than children. I mention this because if you didn't know that, you might find it strange that Camilla's cousins didn't seem to mind when she told them that she wouldn't be home for a couple days and nights with no other explanation. She spent this time with Ash, getting to know him in every way possible. This is all revealed in flashbacks throughout the book. It's also revealed that when Camilla returned to Montana, she realized she was pregnant. She had been sending letters to Ash for weeks at this point, and after the baby was born, she received all of her letters back in a larger envelope, all of them unopened, including the one that had a picture of Camilla with their baby that said "it's a girl" on the back.
Ash had never even known that Camilla had written him one letter, let alone 37. His dad had intercepted the letters, afraid that Camilla would sidetrack Ash from his rugby career. His dad had never opened any of the letters, so he didn't realize that Camilla wasn't just an obsessed teenage girl, but a young girl about to have his first grandchild. It was 17 years before Ash or anyone in his family found out about the baby Camilla had given up for adoption. Camilla came back into his life when she came to London on the night of his last game as a professional rugby player, as that he was retiring at the age of 36. She flew all that way to ask him to help her try to save her campground in Southern California. She "massaged the truth" a couple times to get him to agree to help her, but what really pushed him into saying yes was finding out about the letters and the baby. She needed him to coach a team of campers so that they could play in the San Diego Sevens tournament, and hopefully win the tourney and the half a million dollars in prize money. That was the only way to save the campground from foreclosure.
The story happens over a month at the campground Camilla owns. It shows Ash and Camilla getting to know each other as adults. They keep their personal relationship as private as they can in a campground filled with a hundred teenagers and 25 or so counselors and staff. Ash makes Camilla his assistant coach because he has a hard time connecting with the girls on his team when they have an issue, but since Camilla was once a troubled teenage girl, she can see the problems he misses. Working together to help the team brings them even closer together, starting them on a very emotional rollercoaster ride. They dive into everything from their first time together when they were teenagers to their baby to how they would have changed things in the past. The one thing they don't discuss is the future. Their hearts get broken and they start healing from the heartbreak.
I'd recommend this to anyone that enjoys a book that makes you feel the emotions going on in that book. I would also recommend keeping some tissues close as you read though. If you like books with a little sports in them, this may be the book for you. If you like reading about the little guy (or gal) winning against outside forces that are trying to take him or her down, maybe you should check this book out. I'm not sure there's anyone I wouldn't recommend this book to, unless they absolutely despise one of the things I mentioned before. Otherwise, I say give it a chance!!
I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.
I'll be honest, I know next to nothing about rugby. But Ms Latham did a pretty good job of explaining it in terms that made sense to an American. This was the fourth book in the London Legends series, about different players from the London Legends rugby club. The couple in this book was Camilla (pronounced Ca-mee-la) and Ashley (who is a very manly man by the way).
Camilla had a terrible childhood and adolescence. She meets Ash when she is 16, while she's in Barcelona staying with some cousins and taking care of their children a few days a week. I will mention that teenagers are treated a bit differently in Europe than they are in the U.S. From the time I lived in Germany, I learned that from about the age of 14, teens are considered more like young adults than children. I mention this because if you didn't know that, you might find it strange that Camilla's cousins didn't seem to mind when she told them that she wouldn't be home for a couple days and nights with no other explanation. She spent this time with Ash, getting to know him in every way possible. This is all revealed in flashbacks throughout the book. It's also revealed that when Camilla returned to Montana, she realized she was pregnant. She had been sending letters to Ash for weeks at this point, and after the baby was born, she received all of her letters back in a larger envelope, all of them unopened, including the one that had a picture of Camilla with their baby that said "it's a girl" on the back.
Ash had never even known that Camilla had written him one letter, let alone 37. His dad had intercepted the letters, afraid that Camilla would sidetrack Ash from his rugby career. His dad had never opened any of the letters, so he didn't realize that Camilla wasn't just an obsessed teenage girl, but a young girl about to have his first grandchild. It was 17 years before Ash or anyone in his family found out about the baby Camilla had given up for adoption. Camilla came back into his life when she came to London on the night of his last game as a professional rugby player, as that he was retiring at the age of 36. She flew all that way to ask him to help her try to save her campground in Southern California. She "massaged the truth" a couple times to get him to agree to help her, but what really pushed him into saying yes was finding out about the letters and the baby. She needed him to coach a team of campers so that they could play in the San Diego Sevens tournament, and hopefully win the tourney and the half a million dollars in prize money. That was the only way to save the campground from foreclosure.
The story happens over a month at the campground Camilla owns. It shows Ash and Camilla getting to know each other as adults. They keep their personal relationship as private as they can in a campground filled with a hundred teenagers and 25 or so counselors and staff. Ash makes Camilla his assistant coach because he has a hard time connecting with the girls on his team when they have an issue, but since Camilla was once a troubled teenage girl, she can see the problems he misses. Working together to help the team brings them even closer together, starting them on a very emotional rollercoaster ride. They dive into everything from their first time together when they were teenagers to their baby to how they would have changed things in the past. The one thing they don't discuss is the future. Their hearts get broken and they start healing from the heartbreak.
I'd recommend this to anyone that enjoys a book that makes you feel the emotions going on in that book. I would also recommend keeping some tissues close as you read though. If you like books with a little sports in them, this may be the book for you. If you like reading about the little guy (or gal) winning against outside forces that are trying to take him or her down, maybe you should check this book out. I'm not sure there's anyone I wouldn't recommend this book to, unless they absolutely despise one of the things I mentioned before. Otherwise, I say give it a chance!!
May 29, 2015
Whenever I hear Kat Latham is releasing a new London Legends book I get excited. I love visiting my favorite rugby squad and seeing these amazing men fall in love. Each book has been wonderful and I never fail to fall in love with both the male heroes and female heroines. I think it's one of the hallmarks of her writing. She writes real people in real situations while still maintaining the escape element readers love. Having met Ash in previous books, I was very excited to learn the fourth book in this series would feature him, especially since I knew very little about him. For those who are new to this series, each book can be read as a stand alone, so no worries about being lost if you pick up this one!
Ash is a hard worker. He's put in everything he's had since he was a teen and eschewed the trappings that came with being a rugby star in order to achieve all the goals he set for himself. I loved that. I felt his loneliness as he walked off the pitch for the last time and noticed the majority of his team mates has significant others waiting for them. I was really intrigued by Camila's presence and his reaction to her after that last match. Most importantly, it was Camila's reaction to seeing him that really threw me for a loop! What a way to say hello after 18 years! I very quickly learned why Camila has such mixed feelings on seeing Ash again and the reason for her anger/hatred towards him. I instantaneously fell for her and she gained my empathy and sympathy too. I was firmly on Team Camila until other information became clear.
While Ash might have had a somewhat easy life, Camila had to work for everything she had and she was still working hard to help others. I loved her can-do attitude and her work ethic. This is one woman who would do whatever it took to save her father's legacy, her camp for troubled teenagers. She applied that same attitude towards her feelings for Ash. I completely understood her reticence to do anything about her attraction to Ash. It's really hard to put yourself out there especially when you've been burned the way she was. I had to commend Ash too. He also felt this intense attraction to Camila but he knew he'd hurt her and wanted to avoid doing the same this time around.
I loved seeing the snippets from the past when Ash and Camila met for the first time and their time together. It really helped me get a sense of how deep their short lived romance impacted them and why. I also loved how involved the campers were in this story. They really tugged on my heart strings and played an integral role in the camp's fate, and Ash and Camila's possible relationship. I loved seeing Ash surprised by the rugby team he was to coach and seeing them learn how to play the game. The healthy dose of emotions didn't surprise me, because I've come to expect the unexpected from Kat while also knowing there are equal chances I'm going to be laughing or crying in a scene. There were some really poignant scenes that stick out and I did have to reach for the tissues a few times. There were some really hot scenes too. I loved seeing Ash and Camila reconnect after such a long separation and everything they went and were going through. I may have need to turn up the air conditioning a tad bit.
This story had my attention from the first page through the last one. There were a number of unexpected twists, many of which took me by surprise. I read it one sitting and stayed up late to finish reading it. I wasn't surprised by how quickly I read the book, but surprised by how much was material was well packed into those pages. I'm sincerely hoping Kat isn't finished with this series. I can think of a player or two I would love to read about. I'm also hoping one of these days Carina will put this series into print because I would absolutely love to have them on my shelves. Once again Kat Latham has written a book that I can in no way do justice to with my review. If you're looking for a well written sports romance, definitely check out this book!
Ash is a hard worker. He's put in everything he's had since he was a teen and eschewed the trappings that came with being a rugby star in order to achieve all the goals he set for himself. I loved that. I felt his loneliness as he walked off the pitch for the last time and noticed the majority of his team mates has significant others waiting for them. I was really intrigued by Camila's presence and his reaction to her after that last match. Most importantly, it was Camila's reaction to seeing him that really threw me for a loop! What a way to say hello after 18 years! I very quickly learned why Camila has such mixed feelings on seeing Ash again and the reason for her anger/hatred towards him. I instantaneously fell for her and she gained my empathy and sympathy too. I was firmly on Team Camila until other information became clear.
While Ash might have had a somewhat easy life, Camila had to work for everything she had and she was still working hard to help others. I loved her can-do attitude and her work ethic. This is one woman who would do whatever it took to save her father's legacy, her camp for troubled teenagers. She applied that same attitude towards her feelings for Ash. I completely understood her reticence to do anything about her attraction to Ash. It's really hard to put yourself out there especially when you've been burned the way she was. I had to commend Ash too. He also felt this intense attraction to Camila but he knew he'd hurt her and wanted to avoid doing the same this time around.
I loved seeing the snippets from the past when Ash and Camila met for the first time and their time together. It really helped me get a sense of how deep their short lived romance impacted them and why. I also loved how involved the campers were in this story. They really tugged on my heart strings and played an integral role in the camp's fate, and Ash and Camila's possible relationship. I loved seeing Ash surprised by the rugby team he was to coach and seeing them learn how to play the game. The healthy dose of emotions didn't surprise me, because I've come to expect the unexpected from Kat while also knowing there are equal chances I'm going to be laughing or crying in a scene. There were some really poignant scenes that stick out and I did have to reach for the tissues a few times. There were some really hot scenes too. I loved seeing Ash and Camila reconnect after such a long separation and everything they went and were going through. I may have need to turn up the air conditioning a tad bit.
This story had my attention from the first page through the last one. There were a number of unexpected twists, many of which took me by surprise. I read it one sitting and stayed up late to finish reading it. I wasn't surprised by how quickly I read the book, but surprised by how much was material was well packed into those pages. I'm sincerely hoping Kat isn't finished with this series. I can think of a player or two I would love to read about. I'm also hoping one of these days Carina will put this series into print because I would absolutely love to have them on my shelves. Once again Kat Latham has written a book that I can in no way do justice to with my review. If you're looking for a well written sports romance, definitely check out this book!
October 26, 2017
„London Legends (4) – Spiel oder Liebe“ von Kat Latham
Verfasser der Rezension: Silvana
Preis TB: nicht verfügbar
Preis eBook: € 6,99
Seitenanzahl: ca. 331 Seiten
ISBN: 978-3-7363-0654-7
Erschienen am: 07.09.2017 LYX digital by Bastei Lübbe
===========================
Klappentext:
Heiße Rugbyspieler, toughe Heldinnen
Ash Trenton traut seinen Augen nicht, als plötzlich seine Jugendliebe Camila Morales vor seiner Tür auftaucht. Achtzehn Jahre ist es her, dass die beiden sich zum letzten Mal gegenüberstanden, achtzehn Jahre, seit Ash sich für seine Rugbykarriere entschied und Camila das Herz brach. Diese leitet inzwischen ein Camp für schwererziehbare Jugendliche in Californen und braucht nun dringend Ashs Hilfe: Ihre Einrichtung steht vor dem Ruin und kann nur gerettet werden, wenn ihre Kids den ersten Platz in einem landesweiten Turnier gewinnen. Und wer könnte sie besser coachen als einer der erfolgreichsten Rugbyspieler, die England je gesehen hat? Auch wenn Ash sich sein Leben nach dem Profisport eigentlich anders vorgestellt hat, kann er zu seiner ersten und einzigen großen Liebe nicht Nein sagen und fährt auf das Camp. Je mehr Zeit er dort verbringt, desto heftiger spürt er, wie die alten Gefühle für Camila wieder an die Oberfläche brodeln. Bald kommen die beiden sich näher. Doch dann erhält Ash ein Angebot für seinen Traumjob, und er muss sich erneut zwischen seiner Karriere und zwischen Camila entscheiden …
===========================
Achtung Spoilergefahr!!!
===========================
Zum Inhalt:
Der 36-jährige Ash Trenton geht auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Karriere in den Ruhestand. Plötzlich steht seine Jugendliebe Camila Morales nach 18 langen Jahren wieder vor ihm und bittet ihn um einen Gefallen. Damals hat er sich für seine Karriere entschieden und Camila das Herz gebrochen. Mittlerweile leitet sie ein Camp für schwer erziehbare Jugendliche in Californen und ist nun dringend auf Ashs Hilfe angewiesen. Ihr Camp steht vor dem Ruin und kann nur gerettet werden, wenn ihre Kids den ersten Platz in einem landesweiten Turnier gewinnen. Und wer könnte die Mädchen besser coachen als der erfolgreiche Rugbyspieler Ash Trenton. Auch wenn er sich seine Zeit nach dem Ruhestand anders vorgestellt hat, kann er Camilas Angebot nicht ablehnen. Je mehr Zeit im Camp verbringt desto mehr Gefühle dringen an die Oberfläche. Schon bald kommen sich die beiden näher. Doch wie kann man sich aufeinander einlassen und verzeihen, wenn so viel zwischen einem steht? Dass Ash dann auch noch ein Angebot für seinen Traumjob erhält, macht die Entscheidung nicht leichter …
===========================
Mein Fazit:
Das Cover ist auch hier wieder ähnlich gestaltet wie das der Vorgänger. Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und sehr gefühlvoll. Die Spannung bleibt bis zum Schluss aufrecht erhalten. Aber auch die Romantik kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Die Geschichte um Ash und Camila ist einfach spannend und traurig zugleich. Natürlich tauchen auch hier wieder Charaktere aus den vorherigen Büchern auf. Die Protagonisten waren mir zu jeder Zeit sympathisch. Camila und Ash die sich beide jung kennengelernt haben. Beide haben in der Vergangenheit Entscheidungen getroffen die sie bereuen. Besonders Camilas Schicksal ging mir sehr ans Herz. Aber auch mit Ash habe ich in vielen Situationen mitgefühlt. Trotz allem trägt Camila ihr Herz auf der Zunge und ihre vor Sarkasmus triefenden Sprüchen waren sehr erfrischend. Für mich neben Band 3 der beste und gefühlvollste in dieser Reihe. Für mich hat sich die Autorin von Band zu Band gesteigert. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung.
5 von 5 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀
Verfasser der Rezension: Silvana
Preis TB: nicht verfügbar
Preis eBook: € 6,99
Seitenanzahl: ca. 331 Seiten
ISBN: 978-3-7363-0654-7
Erschienen am: 07.09.2017 LYX digital by Bastei Lübbe
===========================
Klappentext:
Heiße Rugbyspieler, toughe Heldinnen
Ash Trenton traut seinen Augen nicht, als plötzlich seine Jugendliebe Camila Morales vor seiner Tür auftaucht. Achtzehn Jahre ist es her, dass die beiden sich zum letzten Mal gegenüberstanden, achtzehn Jahre, seit Ash sich für seine Rugbykarriere entschied und Camila das Herz brach. Diese leitet inzwischen ein Camp für schwererziehbare Jugendliche in Californen und braucht nun dringend Ashs Hilfe: Ihre Einrichtung steht vor dem Ruin und kann nur gerettet werden, wenn ihre Kids den ersten Platz in einem landesweiten Turnier gewinnen. Und wer könnte sie besser coachen als einer der erfolgreichsten Rugbyspieler, die England je gesehen hat? Auch wenn Ash sich sein Leben nach dem Profisport eigentlich anders vorgestellt hat, kann er zu seiner ersten und einzigen großen Liebe nicht Nein sagen und fährt auf das Camp. Je mehr Zeit er dort verbringt, desto heftiger spürt er, wie die alten Gefühle für Camila wieder an die Oberfläche brodeln. Bald kommen die beiden sich näher. Doch dann erhält Ash ein Angebot für seinen Traumjob, und er muss sich erneut zwischen seiner Karriere und zwischen Camila entscheiden …
===========================
Achtung Spoilergefahr!!!
===========================
Zum Inhalt:
Der 36-jährige Ash Trenton geht auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Karriere in den Ruhestand. Plötzlich steht seine Jugendliebe Camila Morales nach 18 langen Jahren wieder vor ihm und bittet ihn um einen Gefallen. Damals hat er sich für seine Karriere entschieden und Camila das Herz gebrochen. Mittlerweile leitet sie ein Camp für schwer erziehbare Jugendliche in Californen und ist nun dringend auf Ashs Hilfe angewiesen. Ihr Camp steht vor dem Ruin und kann nur gerettet werden, wenn ihre Kids den ersten Platz in einem landesweiten Turnier gewinnen. Und wer könnte die Mädchen besser coachen als der erfolgreiche Rugbyspieler Ash Trenton. Auch wenn er sich seine Zeit nach dem Ruhestand anders vorgestellt hat, kann er Camilas Angebot nicht ablehnen. Je mehr Zeit im Camp verbringt desto mehr Gefühle dringen an die Oberfläche. Schon bald kommen sich die beiden näher. Doch wie kann man sich aufeinander einlassen und verzeihen, wenn so viel zwischen einem steht? Dass Ash dann auch noch ein Angebot für seinen Traumjob erhält, macht die Entscheidung nicht leichter …
===========================
Mein Fazit:
Das Cover ist auch hier wieder ähnlich gestaltet wie das der Vorgänger. Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und sehr gefühlvoll. Die Spannung bleibt bis zum Schluss aufrecht erhalten. Aber auch die Romantik kommt hier nicht zu kurz. Die Geschichte um Ash und Camila ist einfach spannend und traurig zugleich. Natürlich tauchen auch hier wieder Charaktere aus den vorherigen Büchern auf. Die Protagonisten waren mir zu jeder Zeit sympathisch. Camila und Ash die sich beide jung kennengelernt haben. Beide haben in der Vergangenheit Entscheidungen getroffen die sie bereuen. Besonders Camilas Schicksal ging mir sehr ans Herz. Aber auch mit Ash habe ich in vielen Situationen mitgefühlt. Trotz allem trägt Camila ihr Herz auf der Zunge und ihre vor Sarkasmus triefenden Sprüchen waren sehr erfrischend. Für mich neben Band 3 der beste und gefühlvollste in dieser Reihe. Für mich hat sich die Autorin von Band zu Band gesteigert. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung.
5 von 5 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀 🍀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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