Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.•'s Reviews > The Legend

Kalilah first meets Remi in her favourite place in the world, a library. It happens to be in his family home and he is sulking after having cross words with his mother. They are both early teens and enjoying a reprieve from the adults enjoying a party that night. They instantly bond and find they have a lot in common. However, they will not see each other again until 4 years later.

Remi lives with his twin sister, brother, mother and grandfather. They come from old money, living a life of weath and opulence. His mother is all about appearances and determined to make sure her children go to colleges of her choosing, having a career that she approves of and eventually marrying well. All carefully orchestrated by her.

When Remi is warned to stay away from a new girl that has moved into town, like most kids he wants to do the opposite. And to be fair, he is now 18 years old so not a child his mother can order around. When Remi does eventually meet this mystery girl he cannot believe it is his library buddy, Kalilah (Kal). This is just beginning of a wonderful friendship that spans the course of summer.

‘She’s got a wildness about her that’s contagious. Her imagination is full of magic that’s more than a cheap trick of the eye and she’s got a beauty so distinctive that I know I could travel the whole world and not find anyone who reminds me of her.’

Remi has never met anyone like Kal, she has him looking at the world differently and his whole life feels lighter just being around her. Their friendship develops into something so much deeper and he realises that everything that had been mapped out for him by his mother is nothing of his own choosing. He now knows what he wants to do with his life and Kal has helped him open his eyes to the possibility of doing things he is passionate about.

Until one night changes everything.

The outcome of this is that their lives end up going in completely different directions. Their paths cross a little bit over the next 14 years but they will never be able to get back the time stolen from them. Then fate steps in and Kal finds herself back in Houston, in the place where it all began. Back in Remi territory and damn if that man hasn’t gotten even more handsome with age. For Remi seeing Kal again is almost too good to be true. She is everything good in the world when he is at rock bottom in his own. He has never stopped loving her and there is no way he will ever let her go again.

However, amongst all of this Remi & Kal story playing out is a huge back story of Remi’s family secrets. His manipulative mother has played everyone in his family like chess pieces, she has caused so much trouble and heartache. Her desire to keep up appearances has had her resorting to ridiculous lengths to protect her family name and everything is about to come to home in a huge way.

The one true thing that Remi knows is that what he had with Kal all those years ago is still there, if not stronger all these years later. Even if everything else feels like it’s spiralling out of control in his life, he can trust that he can count on her love and loyalty.

Gosh, this was a fantastic second chance romance that travelled the course of 14 years to come full circle back to where it all began. I was completely hooked from the first page. I especially loved the sweet side of teenage Remi and then the sexy side of adult Remi too ☺

‘The Legend is a love story. But’s it’s also a cautionary tale. It tells you to love deeply, believe in happily ever after, but don’t try to live anyone’s life but your own. That will be your undoing. All legends are lies. Make your own truth.’