This much acclaimed Time Travel Romance is a fun read…

THE RUBY BROOCH by Katherine Lowry Logan – Review by Sheri J. Kennedy aka  Kennedy J. Quinn

The writing quality and overall story deserve a five-star rating, but I gave it a four. The deduction of a star is due to a personal preference that might cause others to add a star. The author, Katherine Lowry Logan chooses to take every thread of the story to its bitter (or beautiful) end. This reader prefers a place of understanding showing the direction of conclusion rather than full explanation on some plot points, so I thought the book somewhat outlasted the story.

That being said, it was a rich journey well illustrated in words. Kit McKlenna’s character is complex enough to be captivating and raw enough to be a fully romantic woman. She’s inspiring and vulnerable, heroic and needy in just the right measures. Cullen Montgomery starts with the perfect name and continues to woo the reader with an excellent balance of masculine strength, educated tastes, wild passions and gentle understanding. The relationship between them rides the path of the west like a spirited stallion, taking great leaps and requiring meticulous care to thrive.

The time travel aspect of the plot has a well-traveled approach using a talisman as a vehicle, but there are some fun twists regarding its origin and purpose. Their slow revelations throughout the book add to the mystery and depth of the relationships.  This isn’t the type of time travel that should be inspected by science. There are some changes to history and the whole thing could unravel like a loose lasso if scrutinized too harshly. But the treatment has integrity enough to carry the romance and the beautifully conceived circle of time and march of MacKlenna generations.

The only serious dent in the time travel machine for this reader was the readiness of the 19^th century characters to accept Kit and her technology as coming from the 21^st century. Since romances are about relationships, this psychological stretch was harder to run with than the scientific issues. I recently read a statistic that in our present time we process more information in a week than 19^th century minds did in a lifetime. Even Cullen who was educated would’ve had very little new information to adjust to and live with. To have such a drastic change in paradigms would have bucked them out of their psychological saddles.  The author does address it through Kit fearing they’ll think her a witch, but I think it would derail their journey together. I believe any acceptance would come hard, especially given my experience with the stubbornness of the progeny of those that survived covered wagon crossings that I have the pleasure to spring from. They were exceptionally slow to change, even in the 20^th century when change was the norm.

I do understand that stopping to solve this acceptance issue would’ve made it a completely different story. So let’s set technicalities aside and enjoy the ride. It’s a good one. I was entertained and looked forward to reading the next part of the saga each night. I can heartily recommend it as a fiery romance and a great escape.

You can purchase THE RUBY BROOCH here

Find out more about Katherine Lowry Logan.