Legacy continues the story of Callum and Felicity, expanding on the foundation laid in the prequel Careless. What began as a glimpse into their chemistry and unresolved tension now evolves into a fuller exploration of their relationship, their conflicts, and the choices that shape their path forward.
Title: Legacy
Author(s): Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Ashford Creek #1
Published by Self-published on January 6, 2026
Pages: 474
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Format: eArc 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: 
Series Rating:
Heat Level: 
With one scowl, I fell just that much harder for Callum Ashford—NFL star turned small town brewer. He’s not only older, but he’s my brother’s best friend. Two very important reasons I should stay away.Only two years ago, after the worst night of my life, he kissed me and I can’t keep him off my mind.When the only house available to rent in town happens to be the one across the street from him, the close proximity does its work. We can’t keep our hands off each other. Yet as the heat rises, so do feelings. He might want me, but he wants peace more.There’s a darkness within him I know he fights. Just as there are secrets his family needs to uncover. But when the danger comes full force, it won’t be from the obvious corner. No, we both have our pasts we chose to hide. And our fears.Yet when I break, he catches me.And I hope I have the strength to do the same.**Legacy is an age gap, best friend’s little sister, small town romance and the first in the Ashford Creek series featuring Callum and Felicity. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Readers who started with Careless already know that Felicity has been quietly, deeply in love with her brother’s much older best friend, Callum. She kept those feelings hidden, convinced he didn’t feel the same way. A spark of hope ignited with one scorching, unforgettable kiss. But it quickly turned to heartbreak when Callum pulled back and placed her in the friend zone. Felicity is determined to move on. Yet his constant presence makes it impossible to forget what almost was.
Callum, however, is far from unaffected. He has been fighting his attraction to Felicity for years, and each attempt to keep his distance only makes the pull between them stronger. His resolve finally slips when he does the one thing guaranteed to complicate everything: he has her move into the house directly across from his.
In Legacy, Ryan delivers a beautiful and emotional love story that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. As we step back into Callum and Felicity’s world, it’s clear they have always cared deeply for each other. But fear and insecurity stand in their way. For Callum, the thought of risking a lifelong friendship—and their age difference—weighs heavily on him. Add a haunted past and outside forces pushing against them, and their fragile situation becomes even more complicated.
Ryan digs into the characters internal struggles while showcasing the tension unfolding around them. Felicity’s long-held feelings and her fight to finally choose herself are written with so much honesty and heart. Callum feels the need to protect everyone but himself, even if it costs his own happiness. It makes his journey relatable and, at times, heartbreaking. Together, they walk a tightrope between longing and restraint, between hope and fear. They are constantly trying to figure out if love is truly worth the risk.
As their story unfolds, the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore. Every glance, every almost-moment, every shift in the air pulls you right into their push-and-pull. And just when it feels like they’re finally finding their way, the past comes crashing back in, forcing them to confront the things they’ve tried so hard to bury. The suspense threaded through their romance keeps the tension high and makes each chapter feel even more compelling.
That said, there are moments where the pacing slows, and some of the obstacles feel slightly drawn out. Despite this, the connection between Callum and Felicity shines through. By the end, Legacy delivers a rewarding payoff that makes it worth the read.
| Story Evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| World Building | |
| Writing Style | |
| Pacing | |
| Cover | |
| Enjoyment | |
| Ending | |
| Overall: | |
About Carrie Ann Ryan
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Wilder Brothers, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She’s the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over one hundred novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
