Medieval Monday with Judith Sterling - Excerpt 11

 

Welcome back to Medieval Monday! This is week eleven of the new round of authors, snippets, and fun. Our spring theme is the first kiss. Today I am hosting Judith Sterling and her great story, Return of the Raven.

(For easy access to authors taking part in this round of Medieval Monday tales, visit the Medieval Romance Lovers Facebook page. Authors will post their blog links there.  You can also find us on Twitter at #MedMonSpring21.)

Let me catch you up. Margaret and Griffin are in an embrace, a very hot embrace. Griffin is torn between lust and love. No, that’s not true. It’s love. He knows it is. So, what is he going to do?

Excerpt # 11

He wrenched himself from her embrace and took three steps back. Panting, they stared at one another for a brief, yet eternal moment.

“Well,” she breathed. “That sufficiently disproves my theory.”

A puff of breath escaped his lips, followed by an irrepressible grin. “To say the least. You’re dangerous, you know that?”

 

See last week’s snippet on Cathy MacRae’s blog: https://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog

Follow along next week on Sherry Ewing’s blog: https://www.sherryewing.com/blog

Return of the Raven
by Judith Sterling

True love is eternal.

Margaret, Lady Ravenwood, is trapped in a loveless marriage and firmly entrenched in the medieval world. Along comes Griffin Nightshade, a historian from the future whose soul resonates with hers. He persuades her to return with him to the 1950s, but heeding her heart means courting danger from a curse that could spell her doom.

Haunted by his parents' sudden deaths, Griffin knows all too well the pain born of love lost. He guards his emotions, but Margaret delves deep and goes straight to the soul. She's hard to resist…and harder to set free.

The heart's desire and history's demands don't always agree. Yet true love is eternal.

Buy links:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B08RYD2GW8

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/return-of-the-raven-judith-sterling/1138556276

Apple https://books.apple.com/us/book/return-of-the-raven/id1547199256

Where you can find Judith Sterling: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

 

 

 

 

Medieval Monday with Judith Sterling

Welcome to week 4 of Medieval Monday.

Today I'm hosting Judith Sterling. Her story, Night of the Owl is a medieval time travel. Our heroine Ardyth has already fallen back in time and met the man of her dreams, Hugh. They have gone for a ride and stopped to enjoy the lunch his has packed for them. You see, Ardyth has already instructed Hugh in the art of the sandwich. So, what did his man make for them?

Snippet:

“M-m,” she hummed, her mouth full of the same goodness that filled his own. “Heaven. Particularly the cheese.”

“You share my passion for food.”

“I never met a cheese I didn’t like.”

Follow along next week on Jenna’s blog: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/

Night of the Owl

True love transcends time.

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

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

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

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

Medieval Monday with Judith Sterling - Excerpt #4

Welcome to the fourth week of Medieval Monday. Today I'm hosting Judith Sterling. 
I don't think Constance is at all happy to see the archdeacon. Hmmm... I don't think I like him either. Judge for yourself.

Excerpt #4

His beady eyes flared.  “Sacrilege!”

“Truth!”

“Women know naught of truth.”

Heat flooded through her.  “The Mother Prioress would be sorry to hear that.”

“She was sorry to learn of your leaving.”

Constance frowned.  “How do you know?”

“I overheard her conversation with the knight.  As soon as he mentioned Ravenwood, I knew I must visit my cousin.”

“When you’d only just arrived at St. Bartholomew’s?”

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win digital copies of the first three books in The Novels of Ravenwood series, and follow along next week on Rue Allyn’s blog: https://www.rueallyn.com/blog/

Shadow of the Swan - The Novels of Ravenwood, Book 3

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy links:

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo Audible

Medieval Monday with Judith Sterling - Excerpt #5

Shadow of the Swan (The Novels of Ravenwood, Book Three)

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy Links:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble 

iBooks 

Kobo 

Excerpt #5

            Robert gazed into amber eyes that stole his breath.  They plunged the depths of his memory and beseeched him to recall another time and place.  But when?  Where?

            Guy cleared his throat with gusto.  “Sir, will you not answer?”

            Wrenched out of his reverie, Robert glanced at his squire.  “What?”  He returned his focus to the young woman.  “You asked me a question?”

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed print copy of Shadow of the Swan, and follow along next week on Lane McFarland’s blog: https://lanemcfarland.com/blog/

Judith Sterling's - The Novels of Ravenwood - Now on Sale

Judith Sterling is running a sale on the first three books of her medieval romance series, The Novels of Ravenwood.  All are available for only 99 cents, now through February 7, 2019.  Here’s a little about each story:

Flight of the Raven

How eager would the bridegroom be if he knew he could never bed the bride?

Lady Emma of Ravenwood Keep is prepared to give Sir William l’Orage land, wealth, and her hand in marriage. But her virginity? Not unless he loves her. The curse that claimed her mother is clear: unless a Ravenwood heir is conceived in love, the mother will die in childbirth. Emma is determined to dodge the curse. Then William arrives, brandishing raw sensuality which dares her to explore her own.

William the Storm isn’t a man to be gainsaid. He’ll give her protection, loyalty, and as much tenderness as he can muster. But malignant memories quell the mere thought of love. To him, the curse is codswallop. He plans a seduction to breach Emma’s fears and raze her objections. What follows is a test of wills and an affirmation of the power of love.

Buy Links:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B01JVH2GFO

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flight-of-the-raven-judith-sterling/1124411557

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/flight-of-the-raven/id1146332733

The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4531-flight-of-the-raven.html

Soul of the Wolf

A Norman loyalist, Lady Jocelyn bristles when ordered to marry Wulfstan, a Saxon sorcerer. She nurses a painful secret and would rather bathe in a cesspit than be pawed by such a man...until her lifelong dream of motherhood rears its head.

A man of magic and mystery, Wulfstan has no time for wedded bliss. He fears that consummating their marriage will bind their souls and wrench his focus from the ancient riddle his dying mother begged him to solve. He's a lone wolf, salving old wounds with endless work. But Jocelyn stirs him as no woman ever has.

Their attraction is undeniable. Their fates are intertwined. Together, they must face their demons and bring light to a troubled land.

Buy Links:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B06WP4GSCR

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-of-the-wolf-judith-sterling/1125800554

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/soul-of-the-wolf/id1209890366

The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4949-soul-of-the-wolf.html

Shadow of the Swan

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present. Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden. Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm! But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it. From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them. When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one. She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing. Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy Links:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B078JYQDTX

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-of-the-swan-judith-sterling/1127751024?ean=2940158925597

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadow-of-the-swan/id1332023091

The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5561-shadow-of-the-swan.html

About Judith:

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.

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Judith Sterling

I’m delighted to announce the return of Medieval Monday. Escape with us into the realm of medieval romance, into the world of knights, Highlanders, strong maidens, and a dragon or two!

Today, I’m welcoming Judith Sterling. Her hero has an interesting problem. How eager would the bridegroom be if he knew he could never bed the bride?

Here is Judith’s first excerpt from Flight of the Raven, Book One of The Novels of Ravenwood.

"Not many romance novels focus in marital drama but this one does and does it well." Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt One          

The brisk wind lashed William’s cheeks as he emerged from the stairwell and stamped onto the twilit battlements.  All night he’d paced:  round the bailey, through the darkened keep, and high above it all.  Anywhere served, so long as ʼtwasn’t his bedchamber.

            As the hours waxed, so did his temper.  His mind discharged a clear and terrible record of his life, from the moment he left for the Holy Land to the memory of Emma’s tears.  He went over the details again and again, stewing in a burst of negativity which was all-consuming.

            Now, on the battlements, his mood so blinded him he nearly slammed into the figure approaching from his right.  At the last second, he stepped aside.  Then he jerked to a halt in recognition.

Make sure to comment below for a chance to win a digital copy of Flight of the Raven (or if you already own a copy, your choice of another of Judith’s books).  A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on December 31.

Follow along next Monday on Mary Morgan’s blog: http://www.marymorganauthor.com

Blurb

How eager would the bridegroom be if he knew he could never bed the bride?

Lady Emma of Ravenwood Keep is prepared to give Sir William l’Orage land, wealth, and her hand in marriage.  But her virginity?  Not unless he loves her.  The curse that claimed her mother is clear:  unless a Ravenwood heir is conceived in love, the mother will die in childbirth.  Emma is determined to dodge the curse.  Then William arrives, brandishing raw sensuality which dares her to explore her own.

William the Storm isn’t a man to be gainsaid.  He’ll give her protection, loyalty, and as much tenderness as he can muster.  But malignant memories quell the mere thought of love.  To him, the curse is codswallop.  He plans a seduction to breach Emma’s fears and raze her objections.  What follows is a test of wills and an affirmation of the power of love.

Buy Links

Amazon http://buff.ly/2eRAwRW

Barnes and Noble http://buff.ly/2eWWIx3

The Wild Rose Press http://buff.ly/2eRuYXX

Audible https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Flight-of-the-Raven-Audiobook/B07D6VCGVH

Medieval Monday Blog Hop with Judith Sterling

Welcome back to Medieval Monday. We had such a terrific response with our author exchange blog hop that we're doing it again. Today I’m hosting Judith Sterling on my blog and she is hosting me on her blog. Here is her snippet from Shadow of the Swan, Book Three of The Novels of Ravenwood

Excerpt

Sitting without repose on one of the solar’s high-backed chairs, Constance shifted positions. An unexpected chill crept in with the evening. The shutters were closed, and a fire danced and hissed on the hearth. The room was aglow with candles whose light harmonized to showcase the exquisite tapestries on the wall. Vibrant yet vulnerable, the flames quivered at the slightest draft.

Her stomach quivered, too, as she stared at her half-eaten pigeon pie. Whatever made me agree to share his bed? The mention of rats? The thought of a prickly straw mat between her back and the cold, hard floor?

Want more? Constance’s predicament continues next week at Bambi Lynn’s blog:  www.bambilynnblog.wordpress.com

Blurb

Lady Constance de Bret was determined to be a nun, until shadows from the past eclipsed her present.  Marriage is the safest option, but she insists on a spiritual union, in which physical intimacy is forbidden.  Not so easy with a bridegroom who wields unparalleled charm!  But a long-buried secret could taint his affection and cloak her in shadow forever.

Back from the Crusades, Sir Robert le Donjon craves a home of his own and children to inherit it.  From the moment he meets Constance, he feels a mysterious bond between them.  When she’s threatened, he vows to protect her and agrees to the spiritual marriage, with the hope of one day persuading her to enjoy a “real” one.  She captivates him but opens old wounds and challenges everything he thought he believed.

Two souls in need of healing.  Two hearts destined to beat as one.

Buy Links

Amazon:  https://amzn.com/B078JYQDTX

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-of-the-swan-judith-sterling/1127751024?ean=2940158925597

The Wild Rose Press:  https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5561-shadow-of-the-swan.html

Medieval Monday Blog Hop - First Encounter - Judith Sterling

Welcome back to Medieval Monday. We had such a terrific response when we did snippets of a scene that built week after week until you have the entire scene that we're doing it again. This time we're doing an author exchange (Judith on my blog and I'm on her's) and it's all about our hero and heroine's first encounter.

Today I'm hosting Judith Sterling. Here is snippet number one from Soul of the Wolf.

            The clouds swirled, the breeze sang, and the meadow cushioned her fleet steps.  Tomorrow her fate would be sealed, but this moment was hers.

            A low hill rose before her.  Pausing, she breathed deeply of the crisp air and the scent of pine needles.  She removed her brown mantle, tossed it over her arm, and started up the hill.  Not far ahead, a bird’s caw mingled with the rustle of leaves.

            And there was another sound, deep and low.  A male voice.  A smooth, rich timbre interwoven with the wind.  It wended its way into her ears like music.

Soul of the Wolf – Blurb

A Norman loyalist, Lady Jocelyn bristles when ordered to marry Wulfstan, a Saxon sorcerer. She nurses a painful secret and would rather bathe in a cesspit than be pawed by such a man...until her lifelong dream of motherhood rears its head.

A man of magic and mystery, Wulfstan has no time for wedded bliss. He fears that consummating their marriage will bind their souls and wrench his focus from the ancient riddle his dying mother begged him to solve. He's a lone wolf, salving old wounds with endless work. But Jocelyn stirs him as no woman ever has.

Their attraction is undeniable. Their fates are intertwined. Together, they must face their demons and bring light to a troubled land.

Buy Links

Buy at The Wild Rose Press

Buy at Amazon

Buy at Barnes and Noble

You can find my snippet on Judith's blog at https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Why Judith Sterling Writes Medieval Romance

Welcome to the next round of Medieval Monday. For months you’ve been reading excerpts from some pretty amazing medieval romances. We’d like to tell you a little bit about ourselves. What better way to do that than explain why we love to write medieval romance and a little about ourselves.

This week my guest is Judith Sterling.

Why Judith Sterling writes Medieval Romance

Some of the first romances I read as a teen were set in medieval England. I loved the passion of the period—the High Middle Ages (11^th – 13^th centuries) in particular—and the lure of the British Isles. Ultimately, that love led to a degree in history and a minor in British Studies.

During college and grad school, I studied in England, Scotland, and Sweden. I jumped on every opportunity to explore castles, monasteries, and other medieval buildings throughout Europe. The older the structure, the better! In ruin after ruin, the whispers of the past seduced me. I hear their voices still. With any luck, they add a magical twist to the medieval romances I feel compelled to write and give my readers a world they’ll want to enter again and again.

More About Judith Sterling

Judith Sterling's love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Flight of the Raven and Soul of the Wolf are part of her medieval romance series, The Novels of Ravenwood. The Cauldron Stirred, the first book in her young adult paranormal series, Guardians of Erin, will be released soon. Written under Judith Marshall, her nonfiction books—My Conversations with Angels and Past Lives, Present Stories—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.

Judith’s Link

Visit me on Facebook @judithsterlingfiction. You can find my books at https://judithmarshallauthor.com/my-books