The Cloisonné Brooch is missing. Tessa holds the key. Forces outside her control are closing in. When Tessa Madigan finds ancient gold jewelry sealed in the walls of her uncle’s old house, she opens the door to an ancient past and a an old enemy.
The Cloisonne Brooch
By katdrennan
A captivating tale encompassing the ‘here and now’ and the ‘what once was’ that will keep readers of historical fiction, mystery and even romance turning pages long into the night. So often historical fictions are set in the time period in which they are based, but with The Cloisonné Brooch author Kat Drennan has created a magical formula with time-travel at its heart. Shifting seamlessly from present to past and back again, readers find themselves as intertwined as the characters Tessa and Kindra become as the compelling layers and intrigues of the story unfold.
As mesmerizing as it is historically accurate, Drennan gives us an unforgettable view into the life of a female slave during a period in history that differs greatly and yet is hauntingly similar to present day.
Every now and then I step outside my normal genres and read something new. This selection is no exception. The Cloisonné Brooch: A Serpent’s Coil Time Travel Romance was in my recommendations, so I decided to try it. Here are my thoughts!
Synopsis (from the author):
Tessa Madigan’s perfect world turns upside down when she finds a cache of old jewelry sealed in the wall of the Balboa Island home left to her by her Uncle Theo.
Most of the jewelry matches the description of artifacts stolen from a museum during WWII. The only piece missing is the Cloisonné Brooch. The smart thing would be to report the find to the authorities. However, metallurgist by trade, romantic at heart, Tessa can’t resist trying on a serpent bracelet from the cache. With a warm, almost imperceptible slither from her wrist to her biceps, the serpent tightens and a cloudy veil lifts from a window into the past. There is a slave girl being sold at auction, a sensual encounter with a powerful Praetorian guard, and her own hands drenched in blood. She rips the bracelet off her arm and vows never to put it on again.
Was it a kooky dream brought on by too much whisky during Friday Night fun with her boyfriend, Phillip? Or does the serpent’s coil have a dangerous, irresistible power? Wrapped in Phillip’s arms, she can believe in the dream. But the moment he leaves, she can’t shake the feeling she was involved in something terrible. Shaken to her core, she can’t help believing Uncle Theo hid the jewelry for a reason. What happened to the Cloisonne Brooch? Is she responsible for someone’s death in the ancient past? She can’t rest until she knows the truth.
What I liked:
The Cloisonné Brooch was a different take on time travel and I enjoyed it. Tessa’s dreams (or were they simply dreams?) made for a great transition between the past and present. Add to it the heat between Phillip and Tessa and Marcus and Kindra, throw in a splash of murder, a little ancient palace intrigue, and all the elements are there for a great story! No spoilers from me, so read the book and find out for yourself!
What I didn’t like:
I never really understood how one character (again, no spoilers from me) got to the present time and Kindra and Marcus’ fates were unsatisfying.
Overall impression:
The Cloisonné Brooch took a different approach to time travel. I enjoyed the interwoven story from today to the ancient past. If time travel romance is your go to genre, or if you are looking for something different to read, this is a book for you!
My rating:
4 Stars
A delightful time-slip novel that proved to be a lovely distraction. I especially liked being taken back in time to follow the life of Kendra, a young slave.
When renovating the house Tessa’s Uncle left her, her boyfriend discovers a stash of ancient jewellery hidden in the walls. Tessa discovers when wearing one of the items, a gold bracelet, she experiences the life of the young slave who fashioned the jewellery centuries earlier during the reign of Constantinople.
In Tessa’s timeline, jewellery hunters, Valerie and her brother-in-law are aware of the find and are prepared to kill to gain possession. Valerie may be as dangerous to Tessa as Valeria was to Kendra.
A well-written, easy to read book, that I recommend to anyone looking for some light distraction.
When Tessa’s favorite (and artifact collector) Uncle Theo dies, she inherits his house and a whole lot more. She and her boyfriend, Phillip, decide to remodel the rundown place, but a destruction of a wall leads them to discover ancient jewelry and a psychic link to the past. After Tessa begins to dream of a woman named Kindra, she begins to realize it may not just be a dream, but a connection that crosses centuries.
A historical fiction fan, I really enjoyed this book. Well-written and tight, my favorite parts were when we dived into Kindra’s world in the past. Kudos on the way the author used her research so as not to be too expositional. I’m not huge on romance, but if you are, there is definitely enough sizzle to keep you happy. I liked the ending even though it wrapped up a tad too fast for taste. It was a very enjoyable read.
The Cloisonné Brooch is an excellent story mixing elements of time-travel, mystery and romance, but romance in a non-genre romance way which which makes this story accessible to all readers. I enjoyed The Cloisonné Brooch so much I read it in two or three sittings spread over two days, which says enough! Recommended.
A delightful story. The lovely prose carries you away to both the past and the present, vivid enough to make you feel as if you are experiencing the scenes yourself. A history buff, I especially liked Kindra’s story, which took place during the time of Constantine. As a woman and a slave, she endured a hard life, but one that was better than most women sold into slavery. The two time periods flowed well and their connections to each other was handled seamlessly. The romance element was realistic and not sappy. Even if you do like the sappy ones, you’ll enjoy this one as well.
Beautiful Story
I was sucked in from the moment I read the first page. Kat has a gift of taking the readers into the book and placing them among the characters. I’m not into romantic novels but this one was a page turner from the beginning. Loved the book and the way Kat wrights.
The Cloisonbe Brooch us a wonderful and delightful read. Its well written story. It has a good storyline. Its a page turner and kept my interest throughout the story. I look forward to reading more stories by this author.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.