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Meet Maverick “The Avenger” Cage in Legend, the newest
stand alone in the REAL series releasing February 9th!
stand alone in the REAL series releasing February 9th!
AVAILABLE NOW
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TFo2L4
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JYmeal
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1TFpRrb
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Google Play: http://bit.ly/1HyXaYg
Blurb
Maverick “the
Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though
he keeps his identity well guarded, he’s known on the fighting circuit as the
new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as
trouble. He’s got a personal score to settle with the Underground’s one and
only Remington “Riptide” Tate.
Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though
he keeps his identity well guarded, he’s known on the fighting circuit as the
new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as
trouble. He’s got a personal score to settle with the Underground’s one and
only Remington “Riptide” Tate.
As Mav trains, he
meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town–and sparks fly. When
things get heated between them, he finds out she’s none other than Reese Dumas,
the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who’s supposed to root against him
and a girl he’s supposed to stay away from.
meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town–and sparks fly. When
things get heated between them, he finds out she’s none other than Reese Dumas,
the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who’s supposed to root against him
and a girl he’s supposed to stay away from.
But Maverick
fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s
eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate
fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.
fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s
eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate
fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.
* LEGEND is the
6th and final installment of the REAL series, but it can also be read as
standalone or after the three Remington and Brooke books (Real/Mine/Remy.)
6th and final installment of the REAL series, but it can also be read as
standalone or after the three Remington and Brooke books (Real/Mine/Remy.)
EXCERPT
It’s midweek
already, and I’m halfway through my workout when I get a text from Brooke:
Hey! Huge
line at the Underground registration, might pick up lunch on our way back home.
Don’t wait for us – lunch home w/Diane
line at the Underground registration, might pick up lunch on our way back home.
Don’t wait for us – lunch home w/Diane
Me: Got it ☺
Will take Racer to park and meet you home ltr
Will take Racer to park and meet you home ltr
I set my phone aside and scan the
gym again. Some otherworldly impulse has me walking past the weights section. I
cross the treadmills, bicycles, toward the mats at the end and the boxing bags.
I scan the area where Maverick always works out. There are several guys at the
bags now. None of them are as big, or mysterious. Or hot.
gym again. Some otherworldly impulse has me walking past the weights section. I
cross the treadmills, bicycles, toward the mats at the end and the boxing bags.
I scan the area where Maverick always works out. There are several guys at the
bags now. None of them are as big, or mysterious. Or hot.
He’s gone.
Disappointment washes over me. I wait a bit, checking
the time. Five minutes to leave for Racer.
the time. Five minutes to leave for Racer.
Reese,
you’re acting stupid.
you’re acting stupid.
“You’re looking for your friend? The one you come in
with?”
with?”
“I . . . ah . . . yeah.”
“He hasn’t come in.”
“Right. Thanks.”
I head to pick up Racer from day care, meet Pete there
with the stroller and our snacks, then sit Racer inside and push him to the
park. There’s this spot I like under the shadow of a tree. I head there. “How
was day care, Racer?”
with the stroller and our snacks, then sit Racer inside and push him to the
park. There’s this spot I like under the shadow of a tree. I head there. “How
was day care, Racer?”
“Okay.”
He’s scanning the park for dogs, I know.
“This is nice, isn’t it?”
I pull out his fruit bears and open them. He dives in.
“Racer, I ran extra hard today and I’m suddenly
hungry. If I tell you an extra story tonight, would you give me one of your
fruit bears?”
hungry. If I tell you an extra story tonight, would you give me one of your
fruit bears?”
“Two stowies,” he negotiates.
“Okay, two stories, for two bears?” I shoot back.
He hesitates, then nods and lets me pull out two bears,
examining my hand thoroughly. I let him open my palm.
examining my hand thoroughly. I let him open my palm.
“See? Two?”
He grins a dimpled grin that I could eat up, and then
continues eating.
continues eating.
I shove them in my mouth and start to set up my
blanket and stop in my tracks when I spot the figure doing pull-ups on the
tree.
blanket and stop in my tracks when I spot the figure doing pull-ups on the
tree.
His T-shirt is riding upward due to the lifted
position of his arms, and I can see the concrete-like squares of his abs
perfectly.
position of his arms, and I can see the concrete-like squares of his abs
perfectly.
His extraordinary eyes blaze and glow when he spots me
a few feet away, not far from the tree. He drops himself to the ground, lithe
as a cat and surprisingly quiet, and as he stretches to his feet from the
crouched position he landed in, his eyes are direct and interested and warm.
No, not warm. More.
a few feet away, not far from the tree. He drops himself to the ground, lithe
as a cat and surprisingly quiet, and as he stretches to his feet from the
crouched position he landed in, his eyes are direct and interested and warm.
No, not warm. More.
There’s a flip in my stomach when his lips curl a
little. He ambles over and I have the oddest sensation that he was waiting for
me. But . . . was he?
little. He ambles over and I have the oddest sensation that he was waiting for
me. But . . . was he?
“Maverick.”
“Mavewick!” Racer repeats, and puts out his fist.
He bumps fists with Racer. “Dude. Cool cap.”
He taps Racer’s Yankees baseball cap. Then his eyes
lift to meet mine.
lift to meet mine.
My stomach feels unsettled, but it’s not from hunger,
more like from nerves or something like . . . anticipation.
more like from nerves or something like . . . anticipation.
“Didn’t see you at the gym today,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I talked to Oz.”
“You did?”
He gives me this quiet, perfect smile and simply nods.
“That’s great.”
“Yeah.”
We smile for the most delicious few seconds.
“So you’re fighting during the inaugural?” I ask
excitedly.
excitedly.
He pulls out a page from his back jeans pocket.
“That’s me.”
“That’s me.”
I take and scan the page. It indicates his accepting
the Underground terms and rules of engagement, states his coach’s name, and
then his name. A dangerous little chill runs down my spine when I read:
the Underground terms and rules of engagement, states his coach’s name, and
then his name. A dangerous little chill runs down my spine when I read:
Maverick
“the Avenger” Cage
“the Avenger” Cage
And Maverick “the Avenger” Cage is watching me read
this paper, studying my reaction.
this paper, studying my reaction.
My palms are sweaty all of a sudden.
“Well . . . wow.”
“Well . . . wow.”
My stomach is quaking upon seeing his name, I don’t
know why. Maverick Cage. His name is a conundrum. Maverick means “rebel,” and
cage . . . But it looks like this maverick is coming out of his
cage.
know why. Maverick Cage. His name is a conundrum. Maverick means “rebel,” and
cage . . . But it looks like this maverick is coming out of his
cage.
He tucks the page back into his jeans. “I had to tell
someone.”
someone.”
“And you came to tell me?” If I sound bewildered, it’s
because I am.
because I am.
He stares into me, a liquid look coming to his eyes.
“It wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.”
“It wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.”
“That’s totally not true.”
He glances down at the stroller. “I wouldn’t forgive
myself if I didn’t tell my buddy here.” He fist-bumps Racer again and Racer
giggles at the attention.
myself if I didn’t tell my buddy here.” He fist-bumps Racer again and Racer
giggles at the attention.
“Mom and Dad are busy, so I get to keep him for an
extra while,” I tell Maverick.
extra while,” I tell Maverick.
He stares at me. He has a very stubborn, arrogant
face, but when he smiles, pleasure softens his granitelike features. And he’s
smiling right now. Dear me. “So he’s
not yours,” he says.
face, but when he smiles, pleasure softens his granitelike features. And he’s
smiling right now. Dear me. “So he’s
not yours,” he says.
“God, no. I wish!”
I can’t think straight when he looks at me. I feel
naked. As if he knows that I’ve missed him. As if he knows that just looking at
him makes me feel odd. Odd and oddly sensual inside. Responding to him.
naked. As if he knows that I’ve missed him. As if he knows that just looking at
him makes me feel odd. Odd and oddly sensual inside. Responding to him.
I open my blanket and bend over to smooth it on the
ground. Then I realize my butt is sticking out, the Himalayas of butts out
there for him to see. In tight exercise gear. Fuck.
ground. Then I realize my butt is sticking out, the Himalayas of butts out
there for him to see. In tight exercise gear. Fuck.
He kneels on his haunches at the edges of the blanket
and opens his hand. “Share the blanket with me?”
and opens his hand. “Share the blanket with me?”
His knuckles are still scarred. I can’t decide why I
keep looking at them. I get a gut squeeze of empathy every time I see the
bruises. His hands are huge. He
plants them on the blanket, then shifts to lean back on his arms, stretching
out his legs before him. Other couples are nearby on blankets. It feels
intimate when I set my stuff down, and I feel myself go hot when I sense him
watching me settle down next to it.
keep looking at them. I get a gut squeeze of empathy every time I see the
bruises. His hands are huge. He
plants them on the blanket, then shifts to lean back on his arms, stretching
out his legs before him. Other couples are nearby on blankets. It feels
intimate when I set my stuff down, and I feel myself go hot when I sense him
watching me settle down next to it.
He spreads out just a little more and squints up at
the tree, then looks at me in silence.
the tree, then looks at me in silence.
I search the picnic bag. “Want
some . . . kid food? Or I’ve got . . .” I pull out my emergency Snickers
bar, which I’m proud not to have touched yet, and I hand it over. “Plus one
water and a drinking cup with a lid.”
some . . . kid food? Or I’ve got . . .” I pull out my emergency Snickers
bar, which I’m proud not to have touched yet, and I hand it over. “Plus one
water and a drinking cup with a lid.”
I pass the drinking cup to Racer and hand Maverick the
water. He takes it. “I’m good.” He opens the
water bottle and hands it to me.
water. He takes it. “I’m good.” He opens the
water bottle and hands it to me.
I shake my head. I’m not hungry, really. Or thirsty.
My stomach feels full of butterflies again and it makes no sense, since I don’t
even know him.
My stomach feels full of butterflies again and it makes no sense, since I don’t
even know him.
He shifts up higher on his arms, the flex of his
torsal muscles visible through the cotton of his shirt.
torsal muscles visible through the cotton of his shirt.
“I almost thought you’d arrived to the gym and got
yourself kicked out,” I try.
yourself kicked out,” I try.
“Not yet. There’s still tomorrow.” He smirks.
And there’s a tinge of merriment in his eyes.
“Wee, and the ducks?”
I jerk my attention back to Racer and my pending
business with him. “Right. I promised we’d feed the ducks today.” I quickly
pack our stuff and then push the stroller toward the lake. He walks beside me.
business with him. “Right. I promised we’d feed the ducks today.” I quickly
pack our stuff and then push the stroller toward the lake. He walks beside me.
I feel him watching me as I stop at the dispenser to
fill up a cup of duck food.
fill up a cup of duck food.
“Mavewick, get me out,” Racer commands.
Maverick sweeps him up and sets him on his feet.
“Don’t go in the water, Racer, just stay on the edge,
and don’t let them bite your finger. Do it like this. . . .” I
show him how to cup his hand. “Or throw it in the water and watch them pick at
it.”
and don’t let them bite your finger. Do it like this. . . .” I
show him how to cup his hand. “Or throw it in the water and watch them pick at
it.”
He nods and starts throwing all over, sending the
ducks after the nibbles.
ducks after the nibbles.
I sit on the ground, the scent of damp grass
surrounding us as Maverick sits beside me.
surrounding us as Maverick sits beside me.
“Hey, I want to do something for you.”
“What?”
I can’t remember how to breathe.
I give him a moment to explain, but he’s not helping
me out, only smiling. His face is open, friendly, his smile captivating. But
his eyes are guarded, careful. I try to keep my voice indifferent.
me out, only smiling. His face is open, friendly, his smile captivating. But
his eyes are guarded, careful. I try to keep my voice indifferent.
“You mean for the gym?” I ask, a puzzled frown on my
face.
face.
He nods. “For that. And Oz.”
“Oh.” I shake my head, laughing softly. “It’s nothing,
really.”
really.”
When he looks at me, he looks curious, and unsatisfied
somehow. But a genuinely appreciative smile touches his eyes. “Trust me. It’s
not nothing. It’s something, and I appreciate it.”
somehow. But a genuinely appreciative smile touches his eyes. “Trust me. It’s
not nothing. It’s something, and I appreciate it.”
His open gratitude makes me so warm. He makes me feel impulsive.
“I’m in a healthy-living boot camp this summer. You’re
meeting the new Reese,” I hear myself blurt out.
meeting the new Reese,” I hear myself blurt out.
Wow. Did I just
spew it out like that?
spew it out like that?
I’m so desperate for him to share bits of himself that
I’m just totally baring myself to him without his even asking. Thank god he
takes it in stride with an attractive little dance in his eyes.
I’m just totally baring myself to him without his even asking. Thank god he
takes it in stride with an attractive little dance in his eyes.
“What was the old one like?” he asks easily.
I shrug and shake my head, not really wanting to get
into that.
into that.
When he does nothing to fill the silence that settles
between us, it leaves me with nothing to do but look up at him. I lift my
lashes, and he’s staring at me with a look of total intrigue in his eyes. Wisps
of hair tease my face, and I push them away, feeling really restless under that
stare.
between us, it leaves me with nothing to do but look up at him. I lift my
lashes, and he’s staring at me with a look of total intrigue in his eyes. Wisps
of hair tease my face, and I push them away, feeling really restless under that
stare.
“Help me kick my own ass, and we’ll call it even,” I
suddenly suggest.
suddenly suggest.
He shakes his head with playful stubbornness. “We’re
not even. I still owe you.” His eyes grow thoughtful, and he reaches into his
pocket and extracts something. “Open your palm.”
not even. I still owe you.” His eyes grow thoughtful, and he reaches into his
pocket and extracts something. “Open your palm.”
He looks so intense that I open my palm and watch him
drop something in it. “What’s this?”
drop something in it. “What’s this?”
“My IOU.”
I stare at the penny in my palm, then look up at him
in confusion.
in confusion.
His voice sounds a little more harsh and textured all
of a sudden. “I don’t have a lot right now, but I got this.”
of a sudden. “I don’t have a lot right now, but I got this.”
“For a rainy day?” I ask.
“For any day.”
Real (Book One) The Real Series
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Mine
(Book Two) The Real Series
(Book Two) The Real Series
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Remy
(Book Three) The Real Series
(Book Three) The Real Series
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Rogue
(Book Four) The Real Series
(Book Four) The Real Series
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Ripped
(Book Five) The Real Series
(Book Five) The Real Series
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About the Author:
Hey! I’m
Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two
children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading,
and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and
picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If
you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet,
I’d love to hear from you!
Website: www.katyevans.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans
Email:
authorkatyevans@gmail.com
authorkatyevans@gmail.com
WhenI (or let´s say we) started blogging, I always dreamed of taking part
in book tours for authors like Katy Evans. I read the other books of
this series months, probably by now years, ago. At a time when she
herself was a pretty unknown author (and what a talented one….)!
Some
weeks ago we received an ARC for a book by Jodi Ellen Malpas who is on
“this list” as well. Now being able to read “Legend” by Katy Evans in
advance is the best present you could give to our blog. Thank you for
this.
weeks ago we received an ARC for a book by Jodi Ellen Malpas who is on
“this list” as well. Now being able to read “Legend” by Katy Evans in
advance is the best present you could give to our blog. Thank you for
this.
So to come back to the book….
I
know what Katy Evans can do to you. She is one of these authors that
can rip your chest apart, squeeze your heart until it´s nothing but a
red puddle of blood and swallow it. And this is what she did with this
book to me as well! You rarely see authors that are able to create what
Katy created with this or the other books of the series.
know what Katy Evans can do to you. She is one of these authors that
can rip your chest apart, squeeze your heart until it´s nothing but a
red puddle of blood and swallow it. And this is what she did with this
book to me as well! You rarely see authors that are able to create what
Katy created with this or the other books of the series.
She
, again, created some of the deepest, most unique characters you can
find while combining it with other characters from previous book.
And those characters she succesfully put into a detailled and
beautifully described setting that makes you feel like you are part of
the story. A story that makes sense. A story that never left me bored. A
story that touched me from the very first until the very last page.
, again, created some of the deepest, most unique characters you can
find while combining it with other characters from previous book.
And those characters she succesfully put into a detailled and
beautifully described setting that makes you feel like you are part of
the story. A story that makes sense. A story that never left me bored. A
story that touched me from the very first until the very last page.
This
book is so precious. While reading it you want to take your time,
because you don´t want to finish it. But this is what you just have to.
Because you have no other choice.
book is so precious. While reading it you want to take your time,
because you don´t want to finish it. But this is what you just have to.
Because you have no other choice.
Yes, this is how good this book is.
So take a look yourself.
So take a look yourself.
I am certain: finding a book that is so real is almost impossible!