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Jewels of Time #1
Sapphire Dream
A bit of magic, a twist of fate, and a prophecy of danger and desire...
Brenna Cameron came to Castle Stour on the coast of Scotland seeking answers about her past. All she has is the sapphire pendant around her neck and a vague feeling that she has seen this place before. She never imagined that she would be transported to a seventeenth-century pirate ship, complete with a dangerous crew of scallywags and a handsome captain who is none too pleased to have her aboard.
Rourke Douglas knows the appearance of this beautiful stranger is linked to the prophecy that has haunted his family for years. When the fiery-haired siren materializes on his ship, courtesy of the mythical sapphire and a bit of meddling magic, Rourke wants nothing more than to send her back to wherever she came from. But something about Brenna stirs his wounded soul, and Rourke knows he cannot outrun his destiny any longer.
Brenna Cameron came to Castle Stour on the coast of Scotland seeking answers about her past. All she has is the sapphire pendant around her neck and a vague feeling that she has seen this place before. She never imagined that she would be transported to a seventeenth-century pirate ship, complete with a dangerous crew of scallywags and a handsome captain who is none too pleased to have her aboard.
Rourke Douglas knows the appearance of this beautiful stranger is linked to the prophecy that has haunted his family for years. When the fiery-haired siren materializes on his ship, courtesy of the mythical sapphire and a bit of meddling magic, Rourke wants nothing more than to send her back to wherever she came from. But something about Brenna stirs his wounded soul, and Rourke knows he cannot outrun his destiny any longer.
308 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
19 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 28, 2012
Recently I have been reading quite a few books from my time-travel stash. Sadly, most of the stories I've read are mediocre at best. What is my criteria? There must be great chemistry between the hero and heroine. Some tension needs to exist but the author needs to communicate to me that there is a reason for them to meet. It would help it if there was some humor. I think you would need some funny moments to get through traveling in time or meeting someone from another age but it must be realistic, not stupid. Another important aspect is how the heroine or hero travels in time. Most authors are not creative enough, we've seen various methods done time and time again, no pun intended.
This is Ms. Montgomerie's debut with Amethyst Destiny following Brenna and Rourke's story. She adds a different element as to why our heroine has come back to 1687 Scotland. This is explained near the end to cement the romance. Fortunately, this only helps the story.
Our hero, Rourke, is aware from the beginning that Brenna is from the future. The author also adds the principle of magic in the form of Hegarty, a dwarf. He has helped Rourke in the past and he tells our hero that Brenna is part of a prophecy that concerns all of them.
Brenna made a deathbed promise to her guardian, her aunt Janie, that she would visit a certain castle in Scotland on her 25th birthday. Unsure, she follows up on this and finds herself transported to a pirate ship in the latter part of the seventeenth century. There are toothless sweaty sailors that haven't been around a woman in a long time. Startled by what has happened she jumps ship at the first opportunity with the captain, our hero, in pursuit.
Though Brenna has present-day smarts she soon realizes that there is a reason women are 'protected' by champions during these ruthless times. Rourke isn't telling her everything and she knows it but she agrees to his assistance. Then she needs to find the little man and try to get back to her own time. The necklace her aunt gave her before she passed on is the clincher. Brenna just needs to find out what she needs to do and then everything will come together. Roarke has his own problems and as soon as Brenna is safe he plans on returning to the sea.
Of course, nothing goes as planned. Besides being a romance there is plenty of action and adventure for our hero and heroine. The sexual tension gradually builds between the two. You feel the plot escalating until the last quarter when everything culminates. Lastly, Ms. Montgomerie does a super job with the epilogue leaving us ready for more adventures. If you enjoyed this book you should look for THE MIRROR by Marlys Milhiser, A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux, A LOVE BEYOND TIME by Judie Aitken, or KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Bella Street.
This is Ms. Montgomerie's debut with Amethyst Destiny following Brenna and Rourke's story. She adds a different element as to why our heroine has come back to 1687 Scotland. This is explained near the end to cement the romance. Fortunately, this only helps the story.
Our hero, Rourke, is aware from the beginning that Brenna is from the future. The author also adds the principle of magic in the form of Hegarty, a dwarf. He has helped Rourke in the past and he tells our hero that Brenna is part of a prophecy that concerns all of them.
Brenna made a deathbed promise to her guardian, her aunt Janie, that she would visit a certain castle in Scotland on her 25th birthday. Unsure, she follows up on this and finds herself transported to a pirate ship in the latter part of the seventeenth century. There are toothless sweaty sailors that haven't been around a woman in a long time. Startled by what has happened she jumps ship at the first opportunity with the captain, our hero, in pursuit.
Though Brenna has present-day smarts she soon realizes that there is a reason women are 'protected' by champions during these ruthless times. Rourke isn't telling her everything and she knows it but she agrees to his assistance. Then she needs to find the little man and try to get back to her own time. The necklace her aunt gave her before she passed on is the clincher. Brenna just needs to find out what she needs to do and then everything will come together. Roarke has his own problems and as soon as Brenna is safe he plans on returning to the sea.
Of course, nothing goes as planned. Besides being a romance there is plenty of action and adventure for our hero and heroine. The sexual tension gradually builds between the two. You feel the plot escalating until the last quarter when everything culminates. Lastly, Ms. Montgomerie does a super job with the epilogue leaving us ready for more adventures. If you enjoyed this book you should look for THE MIRROR by Marlys Milhiser, A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR by Jude Deveraux, A LOVE BEYOND TIME by Judie Aitken, or KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Bella Street.
February 25, 2012
Brenna Cameron finds herself on a pirate ship off the coast of Scotland. At first, she can't remember how she got there and thinks these men are actors, possibly from a movie set or war re-enactors. After a dangerous encounter with these men Brenna comes to the realization that she is in the year 1768. She is tied to a prophesy that claims she will destroy of the Earl of Slains. With only the help of the handsome captain, Roarke Douglas she must find a way to get back to her own time.
I was pleasantly surprised with Sapphire Dreams. It has been a while since I read a time-travel novel of this caliber. Pamela Montgomerie does an awesome job of setting the tone and mood of the book. Even though this is a time-travel novel it felt very real. It had a more serious and intense vibe than other time-travel books I have read like Sandra Hill or Sandy Blair.
Brenna is very smart and her actions reflect that. Once Brenna realizes how dangerous the world is for an unescorted woman in this time she clings to her only protector, Roarke. Her confusion and abandonment really came across strong giving the book a feeling of reality. I also really liked that Roarke and Brenna don't fight their attraction. They are fairly open with their feelings for one another. Another positive in the book’s favor is an unusual twist to the plot that keeps this time-travel novel fresh and original.
Brenna and Roarke occasionally make the mistake of assuming things about the other, which eventually leads to problems that could have easily been avoided had they communicated better. More historical detail could have beefed up this book to an A rating. Outlander by Gabaldon did set the bar high, but Sapphire Dream comes close. I enjoyed it and believe that fans of time-travel will too.
I was pleasantly surprised with Sapphire Dreams. It has been a while since I read a time-travel novel of this caliber. Pamela Montgomerie does an awesome job of setting the tone and mood of the book. Even though this is a time-travel novel it felt very real. It had a more serious and intense vibe than other time-travel books I have read like Sandra Hill or Sandy Blair.
Brenna is very smart and her actions reflect that. Once Brenna realizes how dangerous the world is for an unescorted woman in this time she clings to her only protector, Roarke. Her confusion and abandonment really came across strong giving the book a feeling of reality. I also really liked that Roarke and Brenna don't fight their attraction. They are fairly open with their feelings for one another. Another positive in the book’s favor is an unusual twist to the plot that keeps this time-travel novel fresh and original.
Brenna and Roarke occasionally make the mistake of assuming things about the other, which eventually leads to problems that could have easily been avoided had they communicated better. More historical detail could have beefed up this book to an A rating. Outlander by Gabaldon did set the bar high, but Sapphire Dream comes close. I enjoyed it and believe that fans of time-travel will too.
April 5, 2023
Transported back in time by a magical necklace, the heroine finds herself on board a pirate ship battling the manly crew. The hero is the captain and has known about the woman prophesized return but wants absolutely nothing to do with it. When she escapes by jumping over the side of the boat, he swims after her because he knows she'll die without his help. When it's clear she needs his in order to return home, the two become a very reluctant pair.
For the first half of the book the hero truly resents his burden as she's cost him his gold, his ship and his future plans. He must bring her back to the village he grew up in and it's a place full of remorse and dark memories. Along the way though, they become friends and quickly start to develop feelings for each other. The heroine truly is a wildcat, as the hero likes to call her. She's able and though she's terrified, she doesn't complain. It becomes apparent to the hero that though her return has cost him a lot, it's cost her more. She's in a strange time and without him to protect her, she wouldn't survive.
By far my favorite scene is when the hero is shot by the enemy. He knows it's a fatal wound and, in a bid, to protect the heroine further, he pushes past the pain to kill the man who would have gone after her next. The heroine is summoned to the road leading to the castle to say goodbye. It's a heart retching scene as the heroine gives up her necklace and her only way home to save his life. I loved this story and the characters were extremely well suited. Chemistry off the charts.
For the first half of the book the hero truly resents his burden as she's cost him his gold, his ship and his future plans. He must bring her back to the village he grew up in and it's a place full of remorse and dark memories. Along the way though, they become friends and quickly start to develop feelings for each other. The heroine truly is a wildcat, as the hero likes to call her. She's able and though she's terrified, she doesn't complain. It becomes apparent to the hero that though her return has cost him a lot, it's cost her more. She's in a strange time and without him to protect her, she wouldn't survive.
By far my favorite scene is when the hero is shot by the enemy. He knows it's a fatal wound and, in a bid, to protect the heroine further, he pushes past the pain to kill the man who would have gone after her next. The heroine is summoned to the road leading to the castle to say goodbye. It's a heart retching scene as the heroine gives up her necklace and her only way home to save his life. I loved this story and the characters were extremely well suited. Chemistry off the charts.
July 15, 2009
The plot was honestly the best part of the book, but the romance only so-so. I found myself wondering if another author wrote this same plot if it would be a mega hit. Truth, the writing was just average and it read like an 80's bodice ripper (without the ripping). The heroine always had to have her way and of course needed to be rescude over and over and over. This is also the start of a series, but you don't realize it until close to the end that there are a set of jewels that are some how connected. This should have been more upfront in the story as it could have been really intersting. There were some interesting twists in the story toward the end too. My beef was the writing gave the book a one dimensional feel, and the romance was choppy. I am keeping an eye out for the next in the series as the story does intrigue me.
April 28, 2010
I was pleasantly suprised by how much I liked this story/book. As I am a fan of historical romance and time travel, I knew there was a good chance I would like it. But what I wasn't prepared for was the plot twists and unpredictablility, and the fast pace of the story. To me, these two elements made the story truly enjoyable. Add two independent, determined lead characters, and romance, and you have a story that I not only found enjoyable, but hard to put down. If asked, I would recommend this book to others, especially those who like romance/ historical romance/ time travel stories, and can't wait for the next book, Amethyst Destiny.
December 14, 2009
Time travel romance! As my first foray into romance novels, I gotta say it was not awful. The premise is ridiculous and nonsensical, but I kind of enjoyed it and was surprised by how it all came together. It was darker and had 100% more adventure than I expected (there's a lot of hiding in caves, riding around on horses, kneeing guys in the junk, and swashbuckling). The rampant sexism of the genre is scattered throughout (God, men are so dumb! Women are so good at emotions!) and it all seemed a little rushed, but maybe I'm just not the kind of person who wants to get hitched a week in.
March 27, 2010
I always enjoy the comedic writing of time travel, strong heroine travelling back in time to a male dominant society. I will continue to purchase Pamela Montgomerie's (Pamela Palmer) Jewels of Kindonan series.
August 17, 2017
This is one of my favourite at-the-cottage reads.
Our heroine finds herself back in time and on a Pirate ship. She's about to learn more than she expects about what finding her way home means.
A wonderful mysterious love affair!
Our heroine finds herself back in time and on a Pirate ship. She's about to learn more than she expects about what finding her way home means.
A wonderful mysterious love affair!
July 27, 2011
I’ve read a lot of time travels over the last several years, and the thing that sometimes makes or breaks one for me is the method in which an author chooses to have her hero or heroine travel, along with any extra traveling she chooses to give the reader. Most time traveling methods aren’t that creative or something silly is used or it’s something that’s been done before. Sigh. How I long for a time travel that will give me something a little different.
I’m very happy to say that Ms. Montgomerie fills that bill quite nicely. Along with the time travel, we get magic in this book and it’s that magic, wielded by a redheaded dwarf, that allows the traveling for our heroine, Brenna. What’s extra special in this book is that breaking that barrier of time is intentional and necessary, and the story woven around and through it all is very well done.
Brenna is back in Scotland, something her aunt on her deathbed made her promise. Go back when Brenna reaches her 25th birthday to find whatever information she can about her family, especially the father she remembers warmly embracing her as a child. Once there, however, what Brenna finds is the unbelievable fact she’s been transported into the 17th century, aboard a pirate ship full of lusty sailors and one handsome captain. Fleeing for her life, she jumps ship to get back on solid ground again, only to have the captain right on her tail.
Which is a very good thing. Without Roarke, Brenna is coming to understand, she wouldn’t have made it very far on her own in this brutal time. And the damned pirate knows something about her and her family that he refuses to go into. It’s the prophecy, he keeps telling her. And they need Hegerty, the magic-wielding dwarf, to get her back to her own time safely.
Roarke only wants to be rid of the woman who’s been the bane of his existence for so long. After twenty years he’s returned home thanks to her, and the memories and guilt are too much for him. As soon as he makes sure she’s safe, he’s on his way back to the sea. But danger and injury to Brenna force Roarke even closer to home than he wants to be, back among his kin and the pressure of taking over as viscount, something he knows he doesn’t deserve after his actions left his home in ashes and his parents dead all those years ago. Keeping Brenna safe is now his only priority, fighting the Earl of Slains, the devil who runs his territory with an evil and deadly grip, to the death if that’s what it takes.
The action in this books is fairly consistent from the moment Brenna finds herself thrown back in time, dodging one danger and then another. As much as she’s an independent 21st century woman, and that comes in handy a few times during her travel, she still needs a man of the current times and she comes to depend on Roarke quite a bit as they fight their way across Scotland to find that pesky dwarf. I like that we see two sides of Roarke, first as a pirate and then as the man he was born to be. He’s sensitive when it comes to Brenna and her secrets. He could have been a little more alpha for me, but he’s still a great hero.
As good as the first part of the story is with all the action and sexual tension, it’s the last quarter of the book when the story begins to weave and turn and things finally come together to make sense to both Brenna and the reader that really makes the book. Ms. Montgomerie does a terrific job with the storytelling and gives you something not done before in time travel romance. There are more books in this series, but checking the author’s wet site, I found nothing about those books. A little disappointing, that.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
I’m very happy to say that Ms. Montgomerie fills that bill quite nicely. Along with the time travel, we get magic in this book and it’s that magic, wielded by a redheaded dwarf, that allows the traveling for our heroine, Brenna. What’s extra special in this book is that breaking that barrier of time is intentional and necessary, and the story woven around and through it all is very well done.
Brenna is back in Scotland, something her aunt on her deathbed made her promise. Go back when Brenna reaches her 25th birthday to find whatever information she can about her family, especially the father she remembers warmly embracing her as a child. Once there, however, what Brenna finds is the unbelievable fact she’s been transported into the 17th century, aboard a pirate ship full of lusty sailors and one handsome captain. Fleeing for her life, she jumps ship to get back on solid ground again, only to have the captain right on her tail.
Which is a very good thing. Without Roarke, Brenna is coming to understand, she wouldn’t have made it very far on her own in this brutal time. And the damned pirate knows something about her and her family that he refuses to go into. It’s the prophecy, he keeps telling her. And they need Hegerty, the magic-wielding dwarf, to get her back to her own time safely.
Roarke only wants to be rid of the woman who’s been the bane of his existence for so long. After twenty years he’s returned home thanks to her, and the memories and guilt are too much for him. As soon as he makes sure she’s safe, he’s on his way back to the sea. But danger and injury to Brenna force Roarke even closer to home than he wants to be, back among his kin and the pressure of taking over as viscount, something he knows he doesn’t deserve after his actions left his home in ashes and his parents dead all those years ago. Keeping Brenna safe is now his only priority, fighting the Earl of Slains, the devil who runs his territory with an evil and deadly grip, to the death if that’s what it takes.
The action in this books is fairly consistent from the moment Brenna finds herself thrown back in time, dodging one danger and then another. As much as she’s an independent 21st century woman, and that comes in handy a few times during her travel, she still needs a man of the current times and she comes to depend on Roarke quite a bit as they fight their way across Scotland to find that pesky dwarf. I like that we see two sides of Roarke, first as a pirate and then as the man he was born to be. He’s sensitive when it comes to Brenna and her secrets. He could have been a little more alpha for me, but he’s still a great hero.
As good as the first part of the story is with all the action and sexual tension, it’s the last quarter of the book when the story begins to weave and turn and things finally come together to make sense to both Brenna and the reader that really makes the book. Ms. Montgomerie does a terrific job with the storytelling and gives you something not done before in time travel romance. There are more books in this series, but checking the author’s wet site, I found nothing about those books. A little disappointing, that.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
December 16, 2016
I didn't have high expectations for this book--I mean, it's a time travel romance book, how good can it possibly be?--so I was pleasantly surprised that it was an enjoyable story. Brenna is an overly scrappy modern lass who is transported back to seventeenth-century Scotland in order to complete a prophecy that she will defeat the thoroughly evil Earl of Slains. For the romance, we have Rourke, the handsome and remarkably gentlemanly pirate; he was a good character. The prose was a bit flowery but every time I contemplated switching to another book, the plot would pick up for a couple of chapters and I kept reading. Overall, not too bad!
June 10, 2015
Sapphire Dream is my first time travel novel. While I think it's a read worth my time, I'm not too impressed. It's actually pretty average, with some excitement and action stashed inbetween the romance. Brenna and Rourke were sweet and, well, pretty much the typical historical couple. However much typical it can be with a 21st century woman. Overall, I'm not thinking that this is fantastic, but it's something good to read, especially if you're looking for something a little more light-hearted after a series of murders and crime.
September 3, 2011
I liked this book enough to stay up late and finish it in one day. The heroine gets transported back in time to 1689 Scottland. It had mystery, pirates, highlanders, kilts (oooh la la)and some great plot twists. It kept me interested throughout the entire story, without fizzling out at the very end. I will read the next book in the series as well.
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December 9, 2009Time travel romance w/Scots pirates.
November 1, 2010
Surprisingly good. I will definitely read the rest in the series.
November 11, 2010
What could be better? Time travel and Scotland!
February 23, 2011
boring.
July 2, 2011
Im not sure Ive ever read a book where the main character irritated me in the first few pages
February 13, 2015
What an adventurous read. Lots of action. Great chemistry between Roarke and Brenna. Good plot. Wished it had more time on the seas but a good scottish brogue is equally satisfying.
August 17, 2016
2.5-3 stars
July 20, 2016
whiny heroine
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews