Legend

Rating:
Summary: Whimsical but not satisfying
Review: I've read every one of Jude Deveraux's books, and while this book was entertaining, it was not her best work. Kady, the heroine, is engaged to a devastatingly handsome man, but we immediately know he's exploiting her chef talents. (He's the son of the restaurant owner Kady works for.) You've gathered from the synopsis that Kady puts on an antique wedding dress and is drawn into the past, where she meets Cole. However, we know Cole is not the hero, because all of her life Kady has had visions of an Arabian man calling to her. Cole has the same voice but not the visage.

So that's the first problem with "Legend." There are too many heros. Our loyalties are split between Kady's (as of yet unknown) soulmate, and Cole. Deveraux spends too much time - half the book - on the relationship between Kady and Cole, and her time in the 1800s.

Then Kady is returned to the present and is tasked with a mission to correct the wrong done to Cole's family. She must find the family's descendent for help - and there we finally meet Tarik, the hero.

The last half of the book seems sloppy. Deveraux is trying to create tension between Kady and Tarik, and then she has to undo the animosity somehow. She doesn't flesh that part of the story out enough, and the plot for the last half of the book is completely implausible.

If Tarik's nastiness to Kady is an act (he's known about her all of his life and has always been in love with her), it's impossible for Deveraux to explain the interactions when Kady and Tarik first meet. She builds an elaborate series of encounters and then explains them away in one sentence at the end of the book. It just doesn't work.

Then, Deveraux completely messes with time travel - Kady and Tarik go back in time, leave a motorcycle and a biker girl in the past, alter the course of Cole's family (who, obviously, are Tarik's ancestors), and return to the present to find all unchanged. Deveraux needed to spend a bit more time here tying up loose ends and making sure her plot was solid.

Deveraux does create animated characters that you want to keep reading about. She writes with her characteristic irreverence and wit. The emotions and dialogue are very entertaining. But in the end, it seems that Deveraux followed a tangent in the Kady/Cole story and couldn't match it with the Kady/Tarik story. She needed to go back and clean the plot, and either improve the Tarik storyline or reduce the Cole storyline.

Rating:
Summary: funny funny
Review: I waited a while to write a review for this book, to let it sink in. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, after falling in love with one Cole and then being introduced to another. After much inner debate, I have made my decision. This book was just entertaining! I laughed out loud and cried uncontrolably all throughout! All the scenes with 1873 Cole Jordan were filled with laughter! His innocence and childlike humor lifts any mood, and his tricks and pranks are so... EVIL! Choirboy indeed! I fell so in love with the people in Legend. I was heartbroken when Ruth, Cole's grandma, told Kady the truth about Legend and its inhabitants. So, Katy gets back to her present time from 1873, and realized that the love the people of Legend and Cole give her is better than that of her slimy fiance, she deserves better. So she sets off to find Ruth's offspring and meets Cole Tarik Jordan, literally the Arabian man of her dreams. He has been in love with her since he was little, but hated her because he knew that she would inherit the fortune his fathers worked for. Well, surprise, she doesn't want or need his fortune, and together they change the past, and of course, fall in love. There are just a few things that irked me. One is, if Ruth's husband dies, than how, if not from men who robbed the bank, and when does she have a child with her arabian man that eventually created Tarik, and if all of history changed, wouldn't Tarik be different? (When you read it, you'll know what I mean.) That bobbles my mind, but I really enjoyed the ride the book gave. I would change the end a bit, but overall, it was enjoyable!

Rating:
Summary: Better the second time around
Review: This is better the second time around. The first time I got too attached to Cole. Knowing everything before hand is much better. I'm not going to give away to much because some people may still want some surprises. Cole has a big secret, which Kady finds out about from somebody.

I won't say how she meets the other guy, but on second read he is more likeable (you may want to wait a few weeks at least to reread the book to get how great Cole was out of your mind)

Too much time was spent on Kady's relationship with Cole, and not enough on the one with the other guy. An extra chapter or two at the end would have been nice.

The best part of the book, surprisingly, was actually near the end. I won't give away what happened.

Cole does get his own story in an anthology. However, he's quite different then he is in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Legend.......brilliant.
Review: As I looked through the racks on one of my regular trips to the library, I could not find any books that I hadn't read by my favorite author. So I was browsing, as I often do. I came across "Legend". The outline on the back cover interested me, so I checked it out. The only thing that comes to mind when I remember the story is....BRILLIANT. Deveraux outdid Coulter with this book, in my opinion. The storyline was intriguing, keeping me on the edge of my seat. There was romance, mystery, humor....you name it! It was such a nice change from what I usually read, historical romance, that I instantly fell in love with Deveraux. Now, I am a devoted fan. I read everything of hers I can get my hands on. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast pace, humorous romance. Sit back and enjoy this book. I have bought a copy for myself, and enjoy reading it time and again!

Rating:
Summary: Really, really enjoyed this!
Review: Well, you already have the summaries. I also agree with some of the readers that a lot of loose ends needed to be tied. But overall, I really became glued to this book from Chapter 1. Loved the characters. Loved the time-travel aspect. Loved the culinary aspect. Made me interested in food science/wild herbs. What would I do without my modern day cooking conveniences? Could I rough it in the wild? I just loved the simplicity of the story, the story-telling, and the unexpected twists and turns it took. I felt like I jumped right into the town of Legend and really hated to leave it. Having lived in Alexandria, Virginia, it was nice to hear about some old stomping grounds mentioned, like Tyson's Corner Mall. Cole really was addictive. Loved him. The story never gets boring. My first Deveraux book (based on the ratings/suggestions here), but definitely not my last. Just checked out "A Knight In Shining Armor". Thanks for the recommendations guys. Hey, Great Job Ms. Deveraux!

Rating:
Summary: a delicious timetravel novel with a plot like a river
Review: Once I started reading this novel, I couldn't stop. It was such a surprising novel, so many things happened that made me gasp. I gave it 4 stars, because knight in shining armour is better than this one, but it is still such a good story.

I also love that the heroine is not the standard thin one, just a woman like we all are.

Rating:
Summary: I Loved It
Review: I've browsed through the reviews of this book, and see there's really no middle-of-the-road. Folks either love it or hate it. Actually, I can see both sides. BUT, I fall on the "love it" side.

I know other reviewers have recounted the plot, so I'll make mine brief for the purpose of this review:

Kady Long is an accomplished chef, engaged to marry her boss's son, Gregory. She loves Gregory, but can't forget the mysterious Arabian Knight she's seen in her dreams since childhood.

During her search for a wedding dress (she's fat by modern standards and can find none that look good)and furnishings for the townhouse the couple will share after marriage, she purchases an antique flour tin. Among the items inside is a beautiful old wedding dress. Once she puts it on, she's transported back to Legend, CO in 1873, and the scene of a hanging about to occur. The man she saves from the hangman's noose is Cole.

During her entire stay in '73, Cole declares his love for her and she tries to avoid falling for him, intent on getting back to Gregory.

After a heart-wrenching conversation with Cole's grandmother, she returns to her own time, a changed woman. It's because of the changes brought on by Cole and Legend (and a promise to his grandmother) that she meets Tarik, who she recognizes as the Arabian Knight from her dreams.

OK, first the largest problems as I saw them.

Yes, there is a problem with the two heroes, and yes, I had trouble giving up on Cole. I found myself mentally screaming at Kady, begging her to find a way to get back to Cole after her talk with Ruth, Cole's grandmother. Which is why I cried when Kady met up with him again in the end. I also thought she and Tarik went too quickly from hate to love.

I found I had a very hard time reconciling the cold, ruthless Cole the five Ms described with the endearing, fun-loving, and somewhat childlike Cole I had come to know.

That said, what I had the hardest time with was saying goodbye to Kady, Cole and Tarik when I finished the book.

Now the things I loved. I loved that Kady wasn't model perfect. Fat by today's anorexic standards, but nearly perfect in almost any other time. I loved Cole, and I was devastated when I learned the truth about him. Truth be told, I still am. I grew to feel very strongly for Tarik, too (although not as strongly as I felt for Cole), and saw some of the same playfulness and protective nature that Cole so easily possessed eventually emerge from him, as well. And the female cattiness in me has got to scream: I'M GLAD GREGORY LOST HIS MEAL TICKET!

Whew. I feel better.

Overall, as I said, I loved the book, and have put it on my shelf to read again and again.

Rating:
Summary: What about Cole?
Review: My best advice is to read the first half of the book and then to stop. The character Cole Jordan was refreshing and completely cativating, and he was also good for a laugh. After Ruth's revelation though, the story quickly deteriorated. While I found the intricate plot twist wholly interesting, I can't say I really liked the switch to the present. Upon returning to the modern day world, Kady eventually falls for her Arabian man (a questionable jerk) who lacks the luster of his ancestor, Cole. Although Tarik eventually shapes up into a decent character thanks to the use of the neat addition of the reccurring dreams, I still could not fathom why Kady would feel he is the answer to her prayers. I won't even comment on my opinion of Wendell since there was such a miniscule amount of character development to base my opinions upon. What really bugged me was the abundance of loose ends. We don't really get to hear much about Cole's fate, Luke is a huge plot hole, and what about the wedding dress? Did the absence of any explanation about the wedding dress nag anyone? Overall, I really loved the premise of the story, however, and the town itself was enchanting. This book would truly have been a favorite if its loopholes were resolved. Is it too much to hope for a sequel relating Cole's fate?

Rating:
Summary: I didn't want it to end!
Review: Kady Long is an accomplished chef, the "it" chef at an Alexandria, Virginia restaurant. She's engaged to marry her boss's son, Gregory, a gorgeous, charming man who Kady believes loves her just as she is. She loves Gregory, but can't forget the mysterious Arabian knight she's seen in her dreams since childhood. Despite that, as far as she's concerned her life is perfect.

During her search for a wedding dress (she's overweight by modern standards and can find none that look good)and furnishings for the townhouse the couple will share after marriage, she impulsively purchases an antique flour tin. Among the items inside are a watch, an old tintype photo and a beautiful old wedding dress. Once she puts the dress on (it's a perfect fit, by the way), she's transported back to Legend, CO in 1873, and the scene of a hanging about to occur. The man she saves from the hangman's noose is Cole Jordan.

Through a bit of trickery and manipulation which only becomes evident later, Cole first convinces Kady to marry him and then remain in Legend for a three-day honeymoon. During her entire stay in 1873, Cole declares his love for her and she tries to avoid falling for him, intent on getting back to Gregory. It's only when Cole deposits Kady at his homestead then disappears that we learn of his trickery. In desperation, she writes to his grandmother, who he's mentioned is his only living relative. Then, with a change of heart and a strengthening backbone, she endears herself to the entire town.

Following a false start with Cole after his return, Kady realizes she's fallen for him. She changes her mind about going back to her time, and then comes a message from Cole's grandmother. At Cole's urging, she decides to meet the woman and heads for the hanging tree, not understanding the sea of sad faces behind her. After a heart-wrenching conversation with Cole's grandmother, she returns to her own time, a changed woman. It's because of the changes brought on by Cole and Legend (and a promise to his grandmother) that she leaves Gregory and the restaurant behind and meets C.T. Jordan (Tarik), who she recognizes as the Arabian Knight from her dreams.

Of course, Tarik is initially not the romantic man with yearning in his eyes from her dreams. He's cold, rude and condescending, and Kady can't stand him. But since he is the man from her dreams, the barriers eventually (and predictably) crumble as the truth about the relationship between Kady and Tarik emerges.

In the end, not only does Kady find true love, but she also manages to keep a 100 year old promise.

OK, first the largest problems as I saw them.

I had a bit of a problem dealing with the two heroes (Cole and Tarik), and yes, I had trouble giving up on Cole. I found myself mentally screaming at Kady, begging her to find a way to get back to Cole after her talk with Ruth, Cole's grandmother. Which is why I cried when Kady met up with him again in the end. I also thought she and Tarik went too quickly from hate to love.

I also had a very hard time reconciling the cold, ruthless Cole the five Ms (five women whose names begin with M) described to Kady with the endearing, fun-loving, and somewhat childlike Cole I had come to know and love.

That said, what I had the hardest time with was saying goodbye to Kady, Cole and Tarik when I finished the book.

Now the things I loved.

I loved that Kady wasn't model perfect. Fat by today's anorexic standards, but nearly perfect in almost any other time.

I loved Cole, and I was devastated when I learned the truth about him. Truth be told, I still am.

I grew to feel very strongly for Tarik, too (although not as strongly as I felt for Cole), and saw some of the same playfulness and protective nature that Cole so easily possessed eventually emerge from him, as well.

And the female cattiness in me has got to scream: I'M GLAD GREGORY LOST HIS MEAL TICKET!

Whew. I feel better.

Overall, as I said, I loved the book, and have put it on my shelf to read again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Aargh!!!
Review: I just finished reading "Legend", and I'm feeling totally cheated! I'm in mourning! Why, why, WHY spend half of the book to introduce us to a wonderful character like Cole, only to take him away from us?! By the time Tarik makes an appearance the rug has been pulled from under our feet not once but TWICE (though Gregory turning out to be a jerk was of course obvious from the beginning), and most of the time that Tarik is around he's nasty to Kady. By the end of the book we're just confused as to what his true motives are - is he or isn't he the man of Kady's dreams, or is he out to use her, too, only to toss her aside? There just isn't enough evidence to prove that he's a good guy, I feel - there's too little too late, as far as he's concerned. Also, is he supposed to be the reincarnation of Cole? If so, it should have perhaps been better explained - it was hinted at, but not properly explored, which left me feeling confused and saddened, because to me, the true hero of the book was Cole, not Tarik.

I appreciate the effort of trying something a bit different plotwise, but the major twist is this novel was just a bit too clever for its own good. I feel that it was used at the expense of the reader's faith and emotions, which is a definite no-no. Please don't make us love a character and then take him away from us the way it was done here, at least not without tying up the loose ends.

To me this novel had the feel of an early experiment by a writer who has talent and potential to do better. Maybe a re-write wouldn't be totally uncalled for, or at least a sequel, in which Cole would make an appearance, too...after all, thanks to a nifty device called artistic licence, anything's possible!