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William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

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The Cloisonné Brooch by Kat Drennan – My Review!!

September 9, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

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

Connect with Kat Drennan:

Find Kat on her Amazon Author Page, her website, or her Goodreads page! Check out The Cloisonné Brooch and her other books (maybe buy a few). While there, consider leaving a review or a comment. I know she’ll appreciate it!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

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