The Last MacKlenna

Celtic Brooch #2

by Katherine Lowry Logan

A multi-layered international romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

A cat and mouse game between two corporate jet-setters that will take you from Scotland, to Kentucky, to California and back again.

Meredith Montgomery, the owner of a Napa, California winery, is facing not only another holiday alone but devastating news. Seeking a distraction, she flies to Scotland to search genealogy records for a brochure advertising her winery’s 150th-anniversary gala. While in Edinburgh, she meets Elliott Fraser, a Highlander, who is president of MacKlenna Farm, a world-renowned Thoroughbred breeding operation in Lexington, Kentucky.

A dinner invitation turns into a Christmas Day outing at Elliott’s four-hundred-year-old family castle in the Scottish Highlands. Following the most perfect day in Meredith’s life, Elliott rushes back to Kentucky to deal with a crisis on his farm.

Not wanting to return to her office in California and the medical news awaiting her, Meredith stops in Kentucky for a visit. Disaster strikes both Elliott and his farm, pulling Meredith into a web of mystery and murder at a time when she’s facing trouble of her own.

Can these two wealthy and powerful people find their way through the chaos and take a chance on their volatile love, or will the obstacles they face be too much to overcome?

Genres: Romance, Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published September 11, 2013

About the author

Katherine grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and attended college in New Jersey, where she earned a BA in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. After attending the Philadelphia Institute for Paralegal Training, she returned to Central Kentucky and worked as a real estate and tax paralegal. Katherine is a marathoner and lives in Lexington, Kentucky where she writes full time.

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth read of this book. It still feel exactly the same way as I felt the first time I read it. Bliss!

This book is a page-turner that will grab you from the beginning. It will elicit emotions such as fear and anger and you will probably shed some tears (happy ones at the end). I still find it refreshing to find the two main, albeit flawed characters (pivotal in future books) are two people past their first blush. Both characters, beautifully written, are complicated, driven, vital, passionate and interesting people. I was fascinated by their two high powered, yet different worlds (one a world famous Napa Valley vineyard, one the head of a world class Kentucky racehorse breeding farm). While this book is not a time travel story, as are the other "Brooch" books, these two characters play a significant part in the entire series and their story needed to be told. Both characters are facing tremendous challenges in their personal and professional lives when they meet and are not really looking for commitment. It was a joy to watch how things developed, on all fronts.

I recommend reading "The Ruby Brooch" before this book for the set up. There is a backstory that occurs before this book that will make the references to other characters and incidents make sense to what is happening in this book. "The Ruby Brooch" is a great, time travel book and the beginning of one of my favorite series.

Since is my fourth time reading this series, I feel like I'm visiting my old friends. I just love it. All the books are fabulous! I cannot recommend them enough. Yes, bliss!

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “The Last MacKlenna” by Katherine Lowry Logan, the second in her Ruby Brooch series, the focus is on Meredith Montgomery, a breast cancer surviving widow who runs a winery in Napa Valley. Over Christmas she goes on a Christmas time research trip to Scotland to find out about her family’s genealogy, where she meets Elliot Fraser, a rich horse breeder.

Despite her lack of bodily confidence due to her scars, the two of them have some sparks flying between them. However, fate intervenes when one of Elliot’s prize winning horses dies and might have been murdered, demanding his immediate attention elsewhere and leaving Meredith in doubt about his feelings and her own.

The romance between the characters is done really well, understated and realistic, thanks to some greatly set up and developed main characters. None of them is drawn either as a drama queen or too flaccid - both characteristics are pet hates of mine in the genre and the author has done a great job at keeping the story line believable and fresh.

Meredith at the time of her trip has yet another health scare. She finds another lump in her breast just before she sets out on the trip, which brings a more serious note to the romance. This, too, is handled in an understated and delicate manner, which lends the book more depth and makes the story all the more touching.

The book has also a lot of very memorable and colourful characters around Elliot, such as his ‘sister-in-law’ Lou, the owner of the B&B where our lovers meet. This makes the story much more entertaining than you would expect a book with such a serious theme to be and I guess it will prove very compelling reading for anyone who has experience with the big C.

The plot has many surprises and turns which I will not mention. There is a minor paranormal element in the story and a link to the past.The slow build-up of the characters and the story was excellent but it picks up in time

to keep us engaged in the story. This is very well written.

Logan balances the various elements of the story really well and also handles the more serious issues without letting them take over the story completely.

Given the character depth, some excellently placed symbolism and the seriousness of the issues I wonder if this should really be passed as romance writing and not as literary novel.

[Coco.V]

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[Ceri London · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following my review of The Ruby Brooch, I was delighted to be offered an Advance Review Copy of The Last MacKlenna, a romance that picks up the story of Elliot Fraser, CEO of MacKlenna Farm, and introduces Meredith Montgomery, owner of a vineyard in California.

Once more, I was enthralled, but for very different reasons. This is a more mature romance that fearlessly explores cancer, psychological damage, and loss. It is a story that sensitively lays bare our fears as we look to the future beyond the pinnacle of a career and examines our response to the hard knocks life can throw our way.

I use ‘our’ deliberately as Katherine Lowry Logan delves into a health issue that many will have encountered in one way or another. Cancer is an emotive subject, often inspiring a heroic response in those it touches, and always forcing its victims to face their deepest fears. In this respect, the Last MacKlenna is a truly touching story that will resonate with many, even though the hero and heroine live in a privileged world where their coterie can compare the size of their respective corporate jets.

Both Elliot Fraser and Meredith Montgomery are financially independent, hardworking, and successful. They’re also at a time in their lives where they desperately need to put their priorities into perspective. And despite the benefit of past experience and the painful moments they have already endured, they are just as vulnerable as any inexperienced twenty-year old when it comes to the emotions of the heart—even more so, because they are scared of getting hurt, or of being disappointed, or worse, of being the one that disappoints.

What I loved most about this story was the gradual piling on of tension as fresh traumas emerge from the wreck of a romance built far too quickly on the shifting sands of mutual attraction and blatant lust. I couldn’t rid the lump in my throat as I watched a car crash of ‘hopes and dreams’ falling to Elliot and Meredith’s self-doubt and fears as they encounter a mountain of obstacles blocking their path to true love. Sometimes, life has to kick really hard to force an adjustment in thinking. This story kicks hard!

A wonderful, heart-stirring read, The Last MacKlenna can be read as a standalone novel, but I especially enjoyed the glimpses back to the family mystery unravelled in The Ruby Brooch. It was very satisfying to discover the other side to Cullen and Kit’s legacy.

Overall, a solid five stars.

[Lilian Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing novel. I read it in two day and loved every single page, every single line, and every single word. The plot was so intense that I couldn’t find a point where I could just put the book down and walk away. I was absolutely captivated.

Everything about this book is perfect. Katherine Logan is one of my favorite authors. I didn’t think she could write something so magic so grasping that would get even close to her first novel “The Ruby Brooch” which by the way was fantastic!!!

However The Last Macklenna did exactly that. It captured my heart and my thoughts in many ways. Elliott is the man that women dream of and woo over when they set eyes on him. Meredith is the epitome of a strong, energetic, smart and loving woman. They are utterly perfect for each other.

What is so fascinating is that both are fighting internal wars that if not for the strength of their individuality and the love for each other, all those issues would have brought them to their knees. I don’t want to give the story away, but I know that I could write a novella just praising Katherine Logan as an author. “The Last Macklenna.” Is captivating, fascinating, charming, enchanting… and I could go on and on. Great job Katherine. Love it!!!! Love it!!!! Love it!!!

[Elaine C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because this series involves time travel in some of the novels (this one has no time travel), and although this is the 2nd book in the series, these books don't necessarily follow each other per se, but there are definitely references in this book that you might not understand if you don't read the first one. With that being said, this book was another WINNER!!! As the novel starts, two high-powered CEOs from two different companies, both decide to head to Scotland for Christmas - each with different reasons. How they both wind up at the same B&B can only be attributed to some Highland magic ... but it's the way that Ms. Logan weaves the tapestry of this story that is truly magical!!! I love the twists and turns ... and the way everything falls into place ... a MOST SATISFYING read!!!!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than the first. Maybe cause I’m a genealogy person and genealogy was at least one plot point. But I liked Meredith & Elliot’s characters, I liked them together…though she did give him more chances than I would have.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

love this series

I had a harder time believing the initial connection in this book, but it grew on me. I am definitely reading the next one!

[Leserling Belana · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 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.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters were well developed. I enjoyed the story line. The ending is what prevented me from giving it 5 stars. I felt like it was rushed. A lot of time was spent on whether they thought the farm would go into bankruptcy and determining who killed the horse and then it was never really explained what happened. If they caught it was doing it shouldn't the bankruptcy been cleared up? Also, I don't know why it says Elliott is the "last MacKlenna" when Meredith is a direct descendant of Kit as well? That didn't seem to add up quite right at the end there either to me. I also thought maybe there would be a little discussion when Meredith found out that Kit that Elliott was referring to was actually her great, great, great, grandmother (might have been another great). I really enjoyed the story, like I said it's just the ending that suddenly seemed to have wrapped up without quite clearing some items back out in the detail that they were referred to within the novel.

[Dixie Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had just finished the prequel to this book - The Ruby Brooch and loved the time travel twist as it covered one of my favorite eras. This book is not dependent upon that book however, The Last MacKlenna is mostly a romance with some fun and mystery thrown in along with a good sense of the impact breast cancer can have in a woman's life. It also involves travel and a jet setting world view of jaunting from Scotland to Napa Valley to Lexington, Kentucky. There is no time travel but there is murder and ghosts and love and humor and sex and cancer and a little bit of wine making and horse racing. It was a fun read although I still love the Ruby Brooch more.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book. And I really wanted to know Elliot’s story... I liked the characters.. the author really established a lovely community of love around them. And the hinted connections between this and the previous book.. so promising.

But I felt let down at the end. She had all these things happening that would take a community to get through, and a dozen more connections to make with the past.. and she wraps it up in a chapter?? Such a let down. After covering practically every minute of their lives for two months.. and skipping ahead a year? With no more a passing mention of the connection to Kit?

The characters are winning, but the ending left me disappointed.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! This one doesn't quite fit smoothly with The Ruby Brooch or The Sapphire Brooch, but I still love it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliott meets his match and then some in Meredith Montgomery. From the minute they set eyes n each other there is a tug of war with words and feelings. A great addition to the series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in The Ruby Brooch series. I kept waiting for time travel but all we got was a reference to Kit being in the Highlands and not wanting to be disturbed. Elliott is the only one who knows where she is (and we readers of the 1st book). This 2nd book is a mix of romance, mystery, suspense, and angst and it all repeats. It would be nice to have a jet at my disposal so I could fly back and forth between Napa and Lexington, Kentucky, whenever I wanted to. Books about the wealthy are always easier to read and so much more fun than reading about poverty. Who is killing race horses on the MacKlenna stud farm? Who is the ghost who haunts the farm and bears a striking resemblance to the man Kit ran off to be with in Book 1? Well, we find all this out and more when we read about Meredith Montgomery, the owner of the oldest winery in Napa, and Elliott Fraser, the caretaker of the stud farm. When his race horse winds up dead, he sets an investigation in motion to find the murderer of the $15 million horse. Meredith has breast cancer, and it returns after 5 years. She is afraid to let anyone know so she keeps it to herself. This is not a sappy romance but a detailed story about two people and the difficulty they have giving in to be together. I listened in audible and the narrator did a remarkable job of voice changing and accents. She is the narrator of the entire series. Teri Schnaubelt is terrific.

[Susan Marzec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so Good. In fact, I should have given it a two stars. After reading the first book of the series, I thought this might be one to follow for awhile. It's not Outlander so don't go there. Outlander is very dark, this is not the same. I got a little tired of the sex scenes but realize that after "Shades of Grey" came out many female writers seem to have the need to include graphic sex in their books. This one was BY FAR the worst. There was almost no plot and everything was about their love-making. Sigh. I'm so over women writers who need to get graphic for no reason. In fact, I've found that the men writers I follow, although interest in a "beautiful woman," don't go there typically. They simply let us know the key players got together. THIS BOOK WAS ALL ABOUT SEX AND NOT MUCH ELSE. I would have skipped it but learned that in order to follow the characters through all the books, one must read the books in order. Just finished book two (The Sapphire Brooch) SO MUCH BETTER. Yeah, so just skip the sex stuff as there is much more drama going on and it's not anywhere as much
. I didn't like the main characters much at first, but enjoy the read. Warning: read it but let yourself skip unnecessary stuff.

[cdf4206gmail.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book to follow up from The Ruby Brooch as I had enjoyed the author's writing and wanted to see what might happen next with the characters I had already enjoyed meeting. I was not disappointed, and even though this is not a time travel book it is a bridge from The Ruby Brooch to The Sapphire Brooch, which I am currently reading and I can now say, is a must read to truly enjoy this series. I am hooked!!!! I especially loved the character development of Elliot Fraser, who I felt sorry for in Ruby, to the rather scandalous scoundrel he had become in this novel, to what he has grown to in Sapphire. I am in love with this series. I think you will love it too.

[Becky A · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Last MacKlenna" received THREE stars.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

1/2 * gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

This series is just awesome! I love everything Scottish and the fantasy of time travel fascinates me. Makes learning about history, even if the characters are fictional, a lot more interesting! I don’t think there was a thing in the book that I disliked. The way this author describes details was exceptional. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys romance, intrigue, animals and just great stories. I chose this rating because it was well deserved.

[JOAN Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

By: Katherine Lowry Logan

Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt

Series: The Celtic Brooch, Book 2 of 10

I listened to this book at 1.50 X

If felt like this book was a bit better then the Ruby Brooch 1 of 10. Not a time travel book but ties really well with book 1.

This book made me really wanting to go to book 3 asap. Getting hooked to this series.

Vocal artist Teri Schnaubelt did another great job. So may characters and accents. 8 Stars out of 5.

[Malin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meredith Montgomery är kalifornisk vintillverkare, som generationer innan henne, och hon förbereder introduktionen av en ny sort. Då upptäcker hon att hennes bröstcancer troligen är tillbaka. För att rensa tankarna, samt göra lite släktforskning, åker hon till Edinburgh över jul. Där möter hon Elliot Fraser, VD för stuteriet MacKlenna Farm i Kentucky, men uppvuxen i Skottland. Attraktion uppstår. Men även missförstånd och otäcka händelser. Och vad vill egentligen spöket på MacKlenna Farm?
***
Elliot är en sidokaraktär i första boken om de keltiska broscherna och han får här sin egen berättelse. Vissa saker känns igen från första boken, men denna är en renodlad romance - helt utan tidsresa. Aningen klyschig, aningen för lång, men man vill ju veta upplösningen! 🤗 Fast jag stör mig på att de dricker "whiskey" - det gör inte skottar, de dricker "whisky". 😉
Helt okej tidsfördriv!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, repetitive and shallow

I really liked book 1 but this one was frustratingly slow. Most of it was just about how the two main characters wanted to f**k each other all the time. I get it! The guy has a stiffy constantly! Didn't really get started until the last few chapters. It droned on and on and dragged out the story lines until the end when everything was wrapped up quick with a cherry on top. Disappointed. Just save your time and skip to the end.

[lana l. melzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It is one that you can not put down.. The pages are filled with History, Ghosts, Romance , Wine and Horses.. All things I enjoy reading about. I loved the “Ruby Brooch” (First book in this series) which is about time travel . Although “ The Last MacKlenna” is not about time travel it is equally as good! I am excited to read the third book and am so glad that I discovered this series!!

[Martha J Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it!

I gave book number one a five star rating, which it well deserve, and cracked the cover of book number two thinking it would be good but could not best it's predecessor. Well, I am eating my words. As soon as I finish writing this review I'm going straight to book number three which is already downloaded along with all the rest of the series. Meanwhile, they better start developing a six star rating. I'm sure I will need it before I finish all of series.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series. For some reason, I didn't like it as much as the first one. I did like the story guess I missed the time travel part. Having Kit as Meredith's ancestor was a good storyline. Too bad she didn't figure out that it was the "current" Kit from Elliot. Will read more of the series.

[Betty Hansford · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacKlennas Again

Even though this book isn't time travel, all the families are still related, and the see-through person is definitely part of the story. Ms. Logan does a marvelous job at keeping all her ducks in a row when writing a complicated and busy manuscript. Once again, I will recommend this book and any of the other six in this series.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this one didn't have any Celtic Brooches or time travel I still enjoyed it. I liked reading Elliot's story and how they tied it into the series. It makes me want to ready the remainder of the series to see how they bring it all together. I'm already imagining whose stories will follow.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, I'll give it 3.5 stars. Better than the first of the series by far, thankfully lacking some of the awkward language and terminology in that one. The story is much more believable, and the characters well developed. Certainly not earth shattering literature, but it was fun to read on an airplane!

[Calbert Hyland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother. Lots and lots of romance and nothing more. Not like the Ruby Brooch. Now I'm already reading the Saphire Brooch. That's good! I didn't liked being duped into the series description about an EMT, Time Travel, etc. to be exposed to the dribble contained in the romance issue. Looking ahead, there's another and I'll skip that as well.