We’re starting out November’s First Kiss Friday blog with a giveaway thanks to my lovely guest, Judith Sterling. You’ve seen Judith here before including on our Medieval Monday blogs that will begin shortly. Sit back and enjoy this excerpt from Night of the Owl and don’t forget to leave her a comment to be in the running for her giveaway. We’ll leave it open until Sunday when a random comment will be generated! Happy reading, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

Hugh stormed into the cave, unable to stem the tide of jealousy swelling inside him.  A pox on Ranulf!  Ardyth thought him smart, talented, kind, and handsome.  She told me she didn’t need a man.  Now here she is, half in love with a goliard!

Her arms dropped to her sides, and she stumbled backwards.

He stopped and frowned.  “Why do you recoil?”

She halted and lifted her chin.  “Why do you look so angry?”

With purposeful strides, he closed the distance between them.  “I met Lady Isobel near the gatehouse.  She told me you were here, talking of Ranulf.”

“Oh, she did!  How good of her to report my every move, and how predictable that you prize her opinion above mine.”

“As you prize Ranulf above other men?”  He clenched his fists, willing her to contradict him yet knowing she wouldn’t.

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw the pair of you last night…conversing cozily in the hall.  ʼTis obvious he’s claimed your affections, though how I cannot—”

“What?!”  Her flushed face was a mask of disbelief.

“You heard me.”

“I did, but I doubted my ears.  A man of your depth and perception must’ve realized that…”

His clamped fingers relaxed.  “Realized…what exactly?”

“Must I say it out loud?”

“I think you’d better.”

With a huff, she rolled her eyes.  “Ranulf is just a friend.  If there’s anyone I like around here, ʼtis you!”

He hesitated only an instant, long enough to absorb what she’d said.  Then he grasped her arms, pulled her to him, and pressed his lips to hers.

Breaking free of his hold, she took his face between her hands and returned his kiss with passionate abandon.  Her tongue took the lead.  Her moan harmonized with the howling wind.  She tasted of elderberries, ginger, and honey.  Of lust and life.  Heat rushed through him, heightening every sense as he gave himself to the kiss.

---

Night of the Owl (The Novels of Ravenwood, Book Four)
By Judith Sterling

Book Blurb

PhD student Ardyth Nightshade has renounced men and pursues her twentieth-century career with single-minded focus. When fate whisks her to medieval England, she meets her match in a man whose passions mirror her own. Can she sacrifice ambition for a love she never sought?

Hugh, Lord Seacrest confounds all who know him. He refuses to marry without a meeting of minds and hearts, and no lady has even approached his ideal…until Ardyth. But she’s an odd one, with unique skills, shocking habits, and total conviction she needs no man. She also harbors secrets, and in the midst of rumors, plots, and murder, trust is fragile.

A woman outside of her time. A man ahead of his. They must take a leap of faith to forge a bond that will shape history.

Buy Links

Amazon https://www.amzn.com/B07YCX3R2B

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Owl-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B07YCX3R2B

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Night-Owl-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B07YCX3R2B

Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/Night-Owl-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B07YCX3R2B

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-of-the-owl-judith-sterling/1133653973

iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/night-of-the-owl/id1482587240

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/night-of-the-owl-1

Author Bio

Judith Sterling is an award-winning author whose love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Whether penning medieval romance (The Novels of Ravenwood) or young adult paranormal fantasy (the Guardians of Erin series), her favorite themes include true love, destiny, time travel, healing, redemption, and finding the hidden magic which exists all around us. She loves to share that magic with readers and whisk them far away from their troubles, particularly to locations in the British Isles.

Her nonfiction books, written under Judith Marshall, have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.

 Social Media Links

Website – https://judithmarshallauthor.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/judithsterlingfiction/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16291161.Judith_Sterling

BookBub –  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judith-sterling

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01MT3KB7L

The Wild Rose Press – https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/judith-sterling

The Captivating Quill – https://www.thecaptivatingquill.com/Author/Judith-Sterling

A little extra…

The hero and heroine’s mutual love of history reflects my husband’s and mine.  You might say history brought us together because right around the same time, each of us decided independently to move from different parts of the country to Virginia, specifically to seek work at Colonial Williamsburg.  Nowadays, we work (respectively) at The House of the Seven Gables and The Witch House here in Salem, MA.  There’s a lot of both of us in Night of the Owl.  That’s why the release date is perfect; it’s our 19th wedding anniversary.  As if that isn’t enough, I wore my hair almost exactly like the cover model’s on the big day.  Neither my publisher nor the cover artist knew about either coincidence.  Pretty cool, right?!

Giveaway ~ Be sure to leave Judith a comment to be in the running for an eCopy of Night of the Owl. A random comment will be generated on Sunday as the winner! Thanks to Judith for offering a copy of her wonderful book!