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 … 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.
more
This is a time travel romance and book 4 in the novels of Ravenwood series.
This book is a breath of fresh air and I fully intend to read the beginning of this series when I get a chance.
Judith is a strong female character which is always good to read about.
This story is imaginative and romantic and I highly recommend reading it
The fourth book in the Novels of Ravenwood series a well written Medieval England time travel story. Ardyth Nightshade and Hugh, Lord Seacrest meet when she travels from the 1986 to the 1102. Their story has suspense, drama, twists, turns, danger, time travel, villains, and romance. There is also a surprise ending. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The fourth of Judith Sterlings Novels of Ravenswood, Night of the Owl is a fantastic addition to the series. While we get to revisit beloved characters from previous books, Night of the Owl is oldest brother Hugh’s story. While magic played a part in all the books so far, this one includes actual time travel, and Hugh meets his match with Ardyth, a woman from the 1980s who has ended up in the year 1102. Sparks fly between them, but their happy-ever-after seems impossible, as Ardyth is fated to return to her own time and Lord Seacrest belongs in his. I have to confess, I don’t know much about this time period in history, but Sterling’s research and excellent writing drew me into the setting, and I felt as if I’d traveled there with Ardyth myself. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just say…there was a surprise twist at the end, which left me eagerly anticipating the next installment in this series!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 4th book in the series “The Novels of Ravenwood”… and this one starts with a surprise.
If you’ve read my reviews for the rest of the series then I don’t need to repeat that I think Judith Sterling is a superb story-teller and author, or how the the character/world building is so good you’ll think you’re reading actual history!
So, what I should say is this: Just read this series – you won’t be disappointed.
I adore this series!
This is a superb time travel romance that had me engaged all the way through it.
Ardyth Nightshade has had enough of men in her life she is going to devote the rest of her life to her research in early medieval languages and customs and luckily she has her families castle to do her research in When travelling down a secret staircase whisks her back to those times she gets a crash course in her subject She also gets to meet the man ahead of his times Hugh, Lord Seacrest a man that believes his wife will need to love him no political or marriage of convenience for him. Can people from two such different times but with such common believes actually make a relationship work Or will she be whisked back to her times and break both their hearts.
This is definitely my kind of book! I love medieval romance, and this story was one of a kind. The mystery the author weaves throughout the story left me guessing until the very end. The romance was perfectly paced, the banter enjoyable. I really liked the matching bold personalities of both Ardyth and Hugh. They don’t play games. They confront people outright and they say what’s on their mind. That approach to their characters was refreshing.
I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an incredible medieval romance!
I loved this light hearted time travel novel. It’s well written and well researched and while I occasionally marveled that Ardyth didn’t get burned as a witch for her 20th century oddities, that’s just one of those “suspension of disbelief” things you learn to accept when you go hopping through the centuries.
If you’re a fan of time travel novels you’ll love this one with it’s romance, intrigue, mystery and engaging characters.
Mostly set in the medieval times this time travel tale is filled with suspense, twists & turns, magic, intrigue, and romance. Definitely didn’t see that twist coming at the end but it such an awesome twist. I couldn’t put this one down it was so intriguing — became totally immersed in the story and characters.
I really enjoyed this romantic story of time travel. Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
this was a first book of yours i read and i really liked it! she is brought back to the past. where she meets a guy she knows in the future. he is looking for a wife. only hes not sure she is the one. read to find out why.
Can this series get any better?!! I just finished reading this 4th book in the series and O.M.G. my mind is still spinning! lol Brilliant story that encompasses time travel and add to that mystery, danger, adventure and love.
Ardyth is going about her business in the year 1986 when she suddenly finds herself in the 12th century England!! Good thing she has studied medieval times, as well as having learned the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman languages! I just loved her character and had to giggle at some of her thoughts:) She ends up working as a scribe for Hugh, Lord Seacrest and not only is she fascinated to actually be living in the medieval era, she’s really falling hard for Hugh but knows nothing can come of it because she will be returning to her own time soon enough. I also loved Hugh’s character:)
The ending really had my jaw dropping, I did not expect some of the revelations….as I said earlier, absolutely brilliant!! I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Wow! I didn’t see that coming…at all! This was a deliciously wonderful time travel romance and I’m already hungering to do a reread!
When Ardyth receives a summer job in England as a research assistant in medieval history, she didn’t realize what an up close a personal look she was going to have. Whisked back to the year 1101, she finds herself with a small assistant and soon she’s enmeshed in the type of life she’s dedicated years to. As she settles in as a scribe, she has to remind herself that she cannot develop feelings for Lord Seacrest, her time here is temporary.
Ardyth was quite feisty and outspoken, especially when dealing with Hugh. She was more than capable of taking care of herself and even him, when needed. I loved that she didn’t immediately yield to him despite her attraction. Her education helped her to fit in with this new world and added to the believability factor.
Hugh was fun to watch as he struggled to figure Ardyth out. While she looked and talked the part, there were certain things she would do that confused him. He also exhibited a bit of jealousy that teased my jealous/possessive soul. I loved watching him fall for this heroine with all his heart.
The chemistry between this hero and heroine was perfect for the story, never becoming the driving force behind the story. It’s all about falling in love and learning to trust, with a dash of sizzle thrown in. This has a great pace to it, never bogging down or becoming repetitive. While the drama through most of the story ebbs and flows, this really picks up speed as it nears the end. And then, holy heck! Nothing is going to prepare you for what this author has in store!
This doesn’t necessarily end on a cliff, but I certainly want, no, NEED, to know what secrets are going to be revealed. If you love medieval romance and time travel…I recommend you dive into this one!
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.
Take a delightful trip back to England in the 1100’s when PhD student Ardyth Nightshade goes through a door–on purpose it turns out–and meets the man of her dreams. Hugh, Lord Seacrest is a man of action as well as principle. The two learn about each other, their worlds, and love.
A trip worth taking!
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Ardyth Nightshade is through with men. She’s much rather lose herself in research at her family’s medieval estate than give her heart to another man. When the caretaker leads her to a historical set of stairs, she finds herself back in time, more specifically to Medieval England. Good thing she’s fluent in both Saxon and Norman languages, cultures and customs. Before long, she’s whisked away to the estate of Lord Hugh Seacrest. From the moment she meets Hugh, sparks fly. He’s not at all what he seems and the more she’s around him, the more her feelings grow. Even though they’re worlds apart, fate seems to pull them back together. When his life is in peril and a man of the cloth is murdered, she becomes a suspect. Will she confess the truth to Hugh and more importantly, will she admit to him and herself she loves him, or will she go back to her time period with a broken heart?
Night of the Owl is a sweeping, romantic time travel adventure and the best book of the series. In the same vein as Jude Deveraux’s A Knight in Shining Armor, Judith Sterling weaves an intoxicating romance between an independent modern-day heroine and a medieval ahead-of-his-time hero. The intricate historical backdrop is impressive and added to the richness of the story. She brings such detail to this historical time period, I could smell, taste, and feel everything the characters experience. There’s a certain amount of drama and suspense to the plot which I enjoyed. An old enemy rears his ugly head but was satisfied with the outcome. The ending was incredible. My heart beat a staccato and I might have swooned a bit. Okay, a lot.
Why is this a 5-star romance? What makes this so entertaining is Ardyth’s inner dialogue with herself as she’s trying to navigate through her new life. Who knew undergarments and toothbrushes would be revolutionary? I laughed, nodded and agreed with her throughout the book.
If you love time travel romance, like Outlander, you’ll fall in love with Night of the Owl. Don’t worry about it being the fourth book in the series. It’s a standalone and the author fills in the backstory, so you know what’s going on. Highly recommend!
Favorite Character/Quote: Ardyth. I connected with her right away and when she’s in Medieval England, I kept rooting for her to let go of her past and embrace all that love had to offer. She’s the star of this romance and wanted to read more about her and Hugh’s life together.
My Rating: 5+ stars