Katherine Lowry Logan

BRILLIANT!!!!

I openly admit that I've loved each and every brooch book, however this one brought tears to my eyes repeatedly. More than once I could feel the crack start within my heart. Filled with some of the greatest men from history, like Jefferson, Hamilton and Washington....combined with the lore of these magical brooches, the loves of those that had already walked it's path. This time it's Sophie and Pete's turn to test the tides of time. Of all the others, this one is the bumpiest show more ride yet. Filled with players from previous books, children growing up, and lots of Elliott at his finest. Yet again this series just continue to get better and better. I am already wishing for the next in this exciting series! show less

I was pretty excited to dive into this time travel novel because I played way too much Oregon Trail as a kid and this book is set in the mid-1800s along the Oregon Trail. Kit MacKlenna is a modern day paramedic living on her ancestral horse ranch. Yet she has questions about her heritage and a small package left to her tempts her into the past to discover her true roots. I really liked that she knowingly traveled to the past. She plans well, studying up on the time period and packing certain show more supplies. Now I will say that I was a little surprised by how many modern things she decided to take with her (flashlights, IVs, pregnancy tests, etc.) and I did worry that would lead to many, many questions for her later. Also, she chose to take her dog and cat along for the trip as well. While I do like having furry companions in any story, I did find this an odd choice and I deeply worried the pets were going to be Red Shirts for drama down the road.

Then we’re off into the semi-civilized lands of Missouri. She knows that it will be hard to get a place on a wagon train as a single woman so she’s hoping to find a group that will accept her. She’s capable of seeing to her own food, camping gear, and animals so it’s really a matter of bending the social norms of the time. At first, the mid-1800s characters held to their social morays but as the story progresses, I did notice that there were sometimes unlikely reactions to Kit’s modern attitudes. Those little breaks in character took me out of the story from time to time and I wish that Kit had to work harder to either hide her modern ways or win others over to her ways quietly.

There is a strong romantic element to this book. I did like Cullen though I found the insta-luv between him and Kit to be rather convenient. Cullen is an interesting character but once he becomes involved with Kit they had this silly emotional roller coaster. Flirting, fighting, showing off to one another, ignoring each other, kissing, making up, etc. I was much more interested in the historical elements of this story but, alas, those were rather lacking once the tale was set up and off and running. This is a romance story first and foremost and a historical fiction second.

Despite the silly romance, Kit is a woman who does get stuff done. She’s a good shot, knows how to ride well, and has her medical skills. She’s also skilled at sketching. So she has a lot going for her if she can just wrangle in her emotions and stay focused. This mystery about her true relatives eats away at her throughout the story. While I can understand how that mystery can drive a person, I did feel she was a bit too needy at times, forgetting all the good things her upbringing modern Kentucky did have. I can’t help comparing The Ruby Brooch to other time travel books by the likes of Diana Gabaldon and Connie Willis. This book isn’t on the same level as those works. It’s more romance than historical fiction.

Some of the other interesting characters include Braham McCabe, who adds a bit of comedy here and there.The Barrett Family was very good to Kit and I feel I got to know Mrs. Barrett and Frances the best among them. Elliot Fraser is Kit’s godfather in modern Kentucky and he provides wisdom and safe household to return to if needed. All told, 3.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Teri Schnaubelt was awesome as the narrator. I really liked her variety of accents and the range of voices she had for men and women. Kit cried so much in this book (a little too much for me) but Teri did a great job with all the emotions. Schnaubelt sounded engaged throughout the story and all her character voices were distinct. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.

➜ Susan received a free copy of this book from the narrator. Her opinions are 100% my own. show less

This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster, and not due to the relationship between the lead characters, but due to the underlying problems Meredith battles with. Right at the start, I had the feeling somebody punched me in the stomach, and Meredith's problem accompanies us throughout the novel. I'd wager that it is a problem every woman can relate to somehow, and awareness and fear of it grow with age.
It is the reason why Meredith acts as she does, and it is understandable. I show more found the characters believable, and my impression was, that the author had first hand knowledge, or researched the subject really well. I'm not usually emotional when it comes to fiction, but here, I found myself nearly in tears and really, really scared for Meredith's future.
I'm not sure somebody who hasn't read the Ruby Brooch will understand what it is with the ghosts, and why Kit isn't present, but then I think you can understand and enjoy the book without this knowledge, as it doesn't play an important role. The focus is on Meredith, and rightly so.

Teri Schnaubelt again did a wonderful job at narrating the story. I love her accents, and the different voices she has for the different characters. I think, listening to the story instead of reading it was again a great decision, because Teri's narration gives it even more depth.
If you expect a time-travel or even a historical romance, you'll need to read/listen to the first volume; this one is set in our time, with only a few hints at other time levels. Still, it is well worth the read/listen, even if nobody does any time-traveling here. show less

Yes, I'm in love with a fictitious character by the name of Dr. Elliott Fraser. Not since Rhett Butler have I found a character so endearing, so arrogant, so loving, so annoying - a truly complex man who is given to the reader bit by bit until by book's end you want to cry because the story is over.

The Last MacKlenna is the prequel to The Ruby Brooch and I must say I don't usually give much thought to prequels. But this one took me by surprise - grabbing me by the collar and throwing the show more book at me (figuratively). Meredith Montgomery meets Elliott Fraser over the Christmas holiday when each of them escapes from their busy worlds and stay at a B&B in Scotland - one in search of her ancestry and the other there for various reasons. For Elliott it is love at first sight although he mistakes his love for lust. Meredith - a young widow and head of a California winery that's been in her family for generations - see Elliott has a holiday fling, perhaps her last as she has recently been diagnosed with a return of the breast cancer that she beat five years earlier.

What ensues is a cat and mouse game between the two that takes us from Scotland, to Kentucky, to California and back again as we try to keep up with these two corporate jet-setters.

The Last MacKlenna is a love story, a murder mystery, a bit of history, and a throw back to another time and place that will keep the reader guessing until the final pages whether or not its true love for Meredith and Elliott. I couldn't wait to finish the story yet didn't want the story to end. I'm looking forward to The Sapphire Brooch.

If you like Scotland, men in kilts, and whiskey then this book is for you - and even if you don't you'll learn to love them after you read this book. show less