Formerly Legend and Country (Carter Hills Band 7), now part 2 of the Lonesome Heart Duet.

I absolutely adore Emmanuelle Snow - all of her books (I’ve read all 7 Carter Hills Band series now), and her as a person. She’s just so incredible! A brilliant author (amazing!), and such a kind and beautiful person.

Legend and Country - WOW! This one has so much depth, so many layers and emotions … so much going on here. It really needs all 580 pages for you to experience everything and heal along with the characters.

Sam, musician extraordinaire (nickname “Legend”, formerly friend of the Carter Hills Band, and who we know from previous books, a tiny bit), left the country music scene when his wife left him and his two very young daughters because being a wife and mom just wasn’t for her, leaving behind three broken people.

Fast forward two years, and Riley (manager), who we know and love from the previous books, tries to bring Sam back from the depths of depression and barely surviving, by getting him to think about getting back into music and touring again, with a nanny he’s heard of. Enter Madison… who changed everything, even though she’s had a hard life, and things continue being extremely difficult with twists that no one could have ever predicted (because every Emmanuelle Snow book has to have extreme circumstances that bring out all the tears, even for this non-emotional reader, and that’s just life)!!

It’s absolutely incredible, heart-wrenching, a tearjerker (get your tissues, chocolate and wine ready!), and you won’t want to put it down so make sure you have a really long block of time free. One of her absolute best, and one of the very best books around, and probably of this whole year (yeah, I know it’s only January)!

I received an advance review copy from the author, and this is my honest feedback.

Sam »the legend« Stevens has had his entire world destroyed when his (ex) wife walks out and leaves him to raise their 2 girls.

He's closed off and is doing all it takes to make sure his daughters are taken care of. But now the opportunity of a lifetime is presented to him and he wants to take it. Enters Maddie who’s a young girl, who's had a rough childhood and when she's presented the opportunity to work for Sam and help take care of the girls, she's all in. These two have a lot to workout in order to make their relationship work and I'm here for it.

There's three things you need to know before you start this book.

One: keep tissues near you. You'll need them.

Two: be prepared for a gut punch right off the bat. Emmanuelle starts this book off on a sad note.

Three: do not read this book in public if you blush while reading spicy scenes.

I thought Princess and Country was a tear jerker but Sam's story will shatter your heart and crush your soul. They'll slowly get pieced back together as you learn to love again along with Sam.

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars because in the first few chapters, there's a lot of rambling. However, once you get farther into the book, the story blossoms. Maddie and Sam's story is beautiful. Full of tragedy hope and love. And you can't help but lose your heart to Sam Stevens.

The father.
The man.
The legend.

Emmanuelle has a way of writing characters that are very relatable. I was so immersed in their story. I cried, laughed, got nervous, worried, and sad. All the emotions. Their story was absolutely beautiful. I can honestly say there is not one story or couple I love more than the other because they each have such strong and amazing stories in their own ways.
Emmanuelle writes such strong woman.

** spoiler alert ** LOVED THIS BOOK! Age gap, nanny and single dad (country singer) and a fun story line. I read this book as an ARC and I couldn’t put it down even when I had to. The Country series from Emmanuelle Snow can be read alone or as part of the series.

I fell in love with Maddie and Sam. Sam didn’t know what he needed in his life until Maddie came in as a nanny to his two fun loving, sweet, sometimes devious and moody girls. Right away, Sam knew he was in trouble and had to stay away from Maddie.

When Sam decides to go on tour and relaunch his career, he needs Maddie’s help to get everything together. The playful banter is so much fun to read but get the tissues ready!

Some triggers may apply like adoption, abuse (minimal details) and absent parents.