"A magical romance"

In Florida, horse trainer Alec MacKenna informs owner Douglas Wellesley that his thoroughbred Lady Justice should not run today. Douglas forces the issue and the steed is injured in what will turn out to be the last race for this champion horse. Alec's concern for the horse's best interest costs him his thriving career as a leading trainer as the industry blames him for the accident and for his angry behavior towards the obstinate owner.

Alec gets a second chance when he is asked to work miracles with talented LEGENDS LAKE, a horse that is lightning fast, but tends to jump the oval fence. He takes his new charge to Kate O'Sullivan's horse farm in Ireland so that the original breeder can help him understand the horse. As they work together, Alec and Kate begin to fall in love although her use of Druid magic to help her horses confuses him. However, he has a hurting stepdaughter still in mourning for the death of her mother (his wife) and she is legally married to a nasty sort making a relationship between them impossible.

LEGENDS LAKE is an entertaining contemporary romance with a bit of magic and plenty of relationship drama to include the title hero. The story line is fun though the horse racing saga of LEGENDS LAKE asks the reader to run quite a stretch. Still, the interpersonal relationships are well designed so that the audience obtains insight into the feelings of several players. More than just the $2 better or the casual Derby follower will enjoy JoAnn Ross' Triple Crown winner.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 2, 2001