Midnight in Legend, TN by Magdalena Scott

Legend, TN is where old-time values still rule and small town way of life has never stopped being the norm. Midnight in Legend, TN seems like the perfect escape from men after her divorce, but the local realtor may throw too many obstacles in her path.

Midnight Shelby is starting over. She’s leaving her ex-husband and the big city, big corporate life behind her. But she doesn’t know where she’s going until she happens upon an amazing website advertising real estate in Legend, Tennessee, a place she didn’t know existed. The virtual tour of a large two-story big brick building—a former bar—on the main street of the small town makes her fall in love. With the building, and with the potential for a new life.
She has no idea she’ll also fall in love with the realtor who sells her the property.
Martin McClain was born and raised in the Legend area. His family has lived there for generations, and he feels a duty to preserve it. Part of the reason is his thirteen-year-old son Daniel. The web site Daniel created has been good for business, but although Martin is a real estate agent by trade, he’s wary of newcomers’ motivations. With good reasons—one of them being Daniel’s absent mother.
For love of Legend, and with an eye toward Daniel’s future, Midnight and Martin begin to work together, and learn that in spite of their different starting points, their destination is the same: Home.

Midnight Shelby is done with men. She had to fight ‘tooth and nail’ for everything she got out of her divorce after her husband left her with no notice but a note. After years of his controlling her and his constant worrying over appearances, she is finally doing what she wants. She has even lost her beloved corporate job for refusing the ‘advances’ of a coworker. Looking to start over and for meaning in her life, she comes across info on Legend, TN. She decides to start her own business selling arts and crafts similar to what her parents make and she buys a local building from the only realtor, Martin McClain. Now he is fighting the positive advertising she wants to do to draw more tourist business to the area. Just because something is new or different doesn’t make it bad. The local businesses need more customers if they are going to stay open. But Martin won’t consider her ideas and is fighting her. Yes, as that roadside stand on her trip here said, all men are scum!

Martin McClain doesn’t think of himself as a ‘stick-in-the-mud,’ but even his son, Daniel, would point out that at thirteen Daniel has more of a life that Martin does. But ever since his wife left him with a baby, AND took him for everything she could, he doesn’t trust outsiders or women. Martin likes his small town, his quiet life, and wants both to stay that way. He doesn’t think they need big city people or their ideas messing up their perfect town or raising hopes just to turnaround and leave again. Yes, he will admit that their town’s economy is slow and could use a boost, like that factory that is talking about coming in. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to sweep in and change things. Lots of damage can be done when those people don’t follow through with their ideas.

Of course, Martin and Midnight are attracted to each other from the start. And both are scared of being hurt again. Martin doesn’t think she will stay around, and then is scared to believe she will. Midnight is hurt that he won’t consider her ideas at first. Then Martin sees how well she does with Daniel! And how well her ideas could really help the town. Can Martin get beyond his past? And will he be able to reach Midnight (or has he done too much damage already)?

Midnight in Legend, TN works well as part of this anthology, creating a ‘founding’ family we haven’t met before, except for Martin. As a stand alone, Midnight in Legend, TN is a quick read that works great. This sweet (clean) story is all about second chances and finding ourselves again. Midnight had been married for twenty years but spent enough time traveling that she didn’t really have much of a relationship with her demeaning husband anymore. I loved how well she connects not only to the town, but to the people and her past, her parents (even though not really in story) as well. She is not just starting her own business, but finding something to put her heart into. Martin may have been a little set in his ways, but as someone living in and loving my own small town, I understand. And I even worry about how our own town is expanding so much, so I can sympathize with Martin’s attitude.

I do have a couple small problems with Midnight in Legend, TN. First is that the blurb gave too much away. Second is that it is too short, but it is part of an anthology, so that can’t be helped. Finally, this ends a bit abruptly and a little unfinished, at least in my opinion. Maybe we will see more about these two? There are other stories in the series out, so I will have to check them out and see. But all this is minor and I still enjoyed Midnight in Legend, TN very much.

Midnight in Legend, TN is quick and sweet. I like the ideas Midnight comes up with to revitalize the Main St businesses. It’s also cute to watch Martin come out of his shell. I can’t wait to see them again in the rest of the Legend anthology.