A Legend Arises by Brynn Paulin

Emma and Ailig have a love that surpasses all constraints of their time. In an era of political matches theirs is a love match. When Ailig gives Emma a necklace that holds a Romani blessing promising them eternity together, Emma is filled with a vision of coming darkness that the couple will have to face. A darkness that will span years before the couple can be reunited.

Gaining Hope by Lacey Thorn

Hope is looking for a way to escape an arranged marriage, a marriage that her older sister, Faith, had previously escaped. When the perfect opportunity presents itself Hope stows away on a boat that is leaving the island. On this boat are Tommy and Shawn, best friends who share everything and are looking for someone to complete them.

Moonlit Magic by Bronwyn Green

Five years ago Beckett fled the shores of her homeland and the man she loved. She left because she felt that she was just another notch in his belt and she couldn’t face the breaking of her heart. Now she has returned and is forced to face Kieran and the love she left behind. Kieran has waited impatiently for Beckett’s return. Unable to follow her due to a faery curse he has both yearned and dreaded her return. For Kieran isn’t the only one who has been waiting.

Healing Doctor Ryan by Carol Lynne

Dr. Bran Ryan is an oncologist, Ian Fitzgerald is his patient. In a field surrounded by death Bran has learned to disconnect from his feelings so as not to become attached to his patients. When Ian professes his attraction to the handsome doctor, Bran makes a fateful decision, he will take Ian up on the offer but it will be a no strings attached deal. Can Bran maintain his cool façade or will Ian melt his control and leave him healed?

A Legend Accomplished by Brynn Paulin

Emily Harteger has come to the shores England to research her new book. A romance novel about a couple named Ailig and Emma. Drawn to a castle and its beach, she finds her self filled with memories of things that she has experienced on that shore, things that couldn’t have happened, because she has never been to that shore, much less England before. Then she sees him, Alec Woods, owner of the castle and the picture of her character Ailig. When the two meet the attraction is overwhelming in its intensity and the memories begin to come faster. Are they really the reincarnation of Ailig and Emma, not fictional characters that she has invented but doomed lovers from the past? If they are, is the attraction they feel true or only an echo of the past?

It is very rare that I find myself able to completely enjoy an anthology. I often find that I only enjoy one or two of the stories and don’t really care about the others. In the case of Legend I have finally found an anthology that I loved. I liked each and every one of these stories. The theme of a blessed necklace that connects each story was well thought out and while it was a necessary plot device it didn’t overwhelm the story. The focus remained firmly on the developing romances and the necklace was only a minute fixture. I also liked how the beginning story was revisited in the end allowing for a cohesive whole. With the exception of Bronwyn Green I’ve read and enjoyed other works of the authors and several of the stories felt like they had jumping off points for continuations, perhaps with secondary characters or even the main characters. I look forward to reading more by these authors.

Reviewed by: Hayley