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Judith Sterling

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Judith Sterling

Tag Archives: Ireland

Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway ~ GUARDIANS OF ERIN

01 Saturday Oct 2022

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award-winning books, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Jonathan Corwin, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, paranormal fantasy series, Salem Massachusetts, Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, The Witch House, young adult series

Happy October! The weather has turned chilly, and here in Salem, Massachusetts, we’re already packed with tourists. It’s the busiest time of year, and when I’m not writing, editing, and promoting my books, I teach Salem’s witch trial history at The Corwin House, aka The Witch House. All that aside, I’m inviting you to check out the Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. There are more than thirty prizes this month! I’m giving away an e-copy of the complete Guardians of Erin YA paranormal series. If you’re a fan of the paranormal and/or Ireland, this prize is right up your alley!

See all the prizes here. If you want a particular one, be sure to mention it when entering the giveaway.

Good luck, and have a magical month! 🙂

THE SPEAR ALIGHT ~ Worldwide Release

07 Monday Mar 2022

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books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, supernatural, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, worldwide release, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Today’s the day: the worldwide release of The Spear Alight! I’m excited yet a little sad too, just as I was with the last of The Novels of Ravenwood. As for this series, I planned the entire thing in great detail before starting Book One, so even though my characters sometimes surprised me, the ending (Book Four) was exactly as I envisioned. I hope it gives you joy.

The story in a nutshell:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow? 

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld
not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

A peek inside:

            Freeing my hand, Kian grinned. “Welcome to the fourteenth century.”

            I lifted my gaze to the top half of the stone keep. A shuttered window caught my attention. Aengus is there.

            Hugh had given us a good idea of where to go, but how I determined his son’s precise location, I can’t say. Maybe I knew because I needed to know. Or maybe our souls were bonded in a way that defied all logic.

            I pointed to the window. “Up there, right in the middle. Let’s jump up and go through the wall.”

            We leapt into the air and paused at the third-floor level. Like ghosts, we floated through stone and entered the medieval bedroom. Then we lowered ourselves until our feet touched the plank floor. Tapestries, oak furniture, and a crackling fire on the hearth made the chamber feel homey and inviting.

            “Awesome,” Kian breathed.

            Aengus’s sleeping form drew my gaze. He lay on his back, with his bare and beautifully sculpted arms and chest visible above the fur coverlet. His golden hair was longer, touching his shoulders. I couldn’t look away.

            Fortunately, my brother could. “I think the manuscript is over there.” He went to investigate.

            I crept toward the bed. Aengus. I’m so sorry. I love you. Compelled beyond rhyme or reason, I leaned over and pressed my lips to his.

            I’d intended a quick kiss, but my mouth lingered, savoring an experience it might never have again. His lips were softened by sleep; his breath was warm with a trace of spices. Mulled wine? Maybe.

            “Ash, I got it. We have to go.” Kian waited close by.

            Regretfully, I ended the kiss and straightened. I’ll always love you.

            Aengus stirred beneath the covers. “Caer,” he murmured. His eyes opened.

            Crap! Any second, he might shift into the Otherworld and see me. I seized my brother’s hand as Aengus sat up in bed. “Hurry, Kian!”

            The next instant, the room was quiet. The Otherworld twilight remained, as did the medieval furnishings, but the fire and the man were absent.

            A sense of loss swept through me. “Funny how empty a room can seem.”

            “I’m sorry, Ash.” Kian squeezed my hand, then released it. “It’ll be okay.”

            I turned to him. “Will it?”

Buy the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

Remember, the first three Guardians of Erin books are on sale at all Amazon stores, so there’s never been a better time to dive into the series. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! 🙂

Literary Giveaway ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

01 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, The Spear Alight

Happy March! If you’re a booklover, the fabled pot of gold might represent something literary, and here’s your chance to find it. I’ve teamed up with forty authors for N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s latest giveaway, and my prize is a copy of my upcoming release, The Spear Alight.

As you may know, the book takes place in Ireland, which seems perfectly aligned with this giveaway. Check out all the prizes, and if you’re feeling lucky, enter here! Good luck!

GUARDIANS OF ERIN 99-cent sale!

25 Friday Feb 2022

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books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, new release, supernatural, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Good news! With the release of The Spear Alight fast approaching, the first three books in the Guardians of Erin series are on sale for 99 cents for a limited time. Buy them at Amazon here, and you’ll be ready for the final installment, hitting stores on March 7, 2022. Here are the basics for all three:

Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life.

At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her.

But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha DĂ© Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined.

Since moving to Ireland, Ashling Donoghue has tackled one challenge after another. Now the mystery of her parents’ disappearance seems unsolvable. Are they dead or only missing? No one—not even the godlike Breasals—has a clue. Hope and fear war inside her, but she’s determined to find answers and stay strong for her siblings. Even as she hones newfound powers, her banshee-in-training sister Deirdre needs her support.

Ashling could use a little help herself. She’s struggling to navigate her first romance, and while Aengus Breasal stirs her body, mind, and soul, his nemesis Lorcan does too. Both men harbor secrets about her past life as Caer. One has ties to Aoife, the scheming wind demon whose influence is on the rise.

As the Stone of Destiny awakens, so does the conflict within.

Ashling Donoghue is no closer to finding her parents than she was the night they disappeared. But hope returns as her brother Kian channels the Sword of Light, revealing past-life secrets and truths long suppressed.

The more she learns, the greater she fears the darkness that drowns the Netherworld also drives her. Is Aengus her true love, or is it Lorcan? Does her future wait in shadow or the light?

One point is clear: the threads of her past-self are woven inextricably into the tapestry of her soul. An impossible choice looms before her, and all the while, evil is poised to strike.

Have a great weekend, and happy reading! 🙂

THE SPEAR ALIGHT ~ Available for Preorder

09 Wednesday Feb 2022

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Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, new release, preorder alert, The Spear Alight

The Spear Alight, the final book in my Guardians of Erin series, is now available for preorder! The release of this book will be bittersweet. I’ll truly miss the characters and their adventures in Ireland. But you can still tag along and see how it all ends. Here’s the story:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow? 

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld
not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

A peek between the pages:

            All aspiration toward sleep left me. I needed company. Now.

            Lorcan.

            Bad idea. Far worse than waking up my sister. But he wouldn’t judge. In fact, he’d probably be glad to see me. Me, Ashling Donoghue, pariah and maven of mistakes. I’d made a million of them. What was one more?

            I imagined the interior of Lorcan’s tent at Dun Aengus on Inishmore. Then I flexed my will and was there, surrounded by rich colors, sumptuous fabrics, and perforated hanging lanterns. The intricately patterned Persian carpet felt soft and soothing to my bare feet.

            Was he in bed? There was one safe way to find out. “Lorcan? Are you here?”

            “Ashling?” His silken voice, warm and rousing, flowed from the bedroom and washed over me.

            “Yes. It’s me.”

            A heartbeat later, he appeared between the drawn, red curtains that separated his bed from the main section of the tent. He wore a black velvet dressing gown and an expression of mingled surprise and pleasure. With relaxed strides, he closed the gap between us. “You’re the last person I expected to see tonight.” His heated gaze roamed over me.

            Too late, I realized I was wearing a thin, white night shirt that refused to cover anything below my upper thighs. I grabbed the hem on both sides and pulled downward
in vain. “I never planned to come.”

            “Why did you?” His shoulder-length black hair looked as luxurious as his robe. I stifled the urge to touch both.

            “I needed a friend.”

            “Haven’t we traveled beyond the bounds of friendship?”

            My stomach trembled at the memory of our passionate kiss. Stop it! I huffed. “That never should’ve happened.”

            “But it did, because it had to.” His ice blue eyes held my gaze. “You belong to me. We belong to each other.”

            “Aengus would disagree.”

            “If he were here, but he isn’t.” He reached for my left hand and turned it over. Gently, he caressed my palm with the pad of his thumb.

            “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” My palm tingled.

            “You are the answer. Nothing and no one else.”

Preorder the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

I hope you’ll enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Incredibly, we have less than a month to go before the release! 🙂

Cover Reveal ~ THE SPEAR ALIGHT

03 Monday Jan 2022

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cover reveal, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, release date, The Spear Alight, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Here it is: the cover of my upcoming release! The Spear Alight is the fourth and final book in my award-winning Guardians of Erin young adult paranormal fantasy series. It’s set to release on March 7, 2022. Here’s the scoop on the story:

Ashling Donoghue has almost lost hope of finding her missing parents. As her faith wanes, her love for two men waxes, rending her heart and causing friction in the Breasal household. The time has come to make a choice, to create a future untarnished by doubt. But how can she embrace the light when lured by the soft seduction of shadow?

At last, her brother Conall channels the Spear of Illumination. He’s a natural shapeshifter, and he sees through illusions in both the material world and the Otherworld
not a moment too soon. An ancient evil has surfaced, and it threatens all worlds.

Only the Donoghues can save Ireland. They must face their greatest fears and act as one to fulfill their destinies as guardians of Erin.

While preparing for March 7th, I’m also starting the first book of my new gothic mystery series. Believe it or not, I’ve had a detailed outline ready and waiting for almost 7 years. But I was so busy writing The Novels of Ravenwood and the Guardians of Erin series, there wasn’t time. Now there is! I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again for your interest in my work. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead! 🙂

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

17 Wednesday Mar 2021

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#irishreads, books on sale, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, St. Patrick's Day, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Will you be celebrating? I will with my family tonight. Until then, I’ll spend the day deep in Irish lore, writing more of The Spear Alight, the last book in my Guardians of Erin series. I’ll also be making soda bread. Yum!

Remember, the first three books in the series are on sale for 99 cents apiece. If you’re longing to travel to the Emerald Isle, here’s your chance to go in spirit.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books

Have a lovely, magical day!  🙂

 

Booklovers’ Pot of Gold Event and a Sale!

12 Friday Mar 2021

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#irishreads, Booklovers' Pot o' Gold Event, books on sale, eBooks, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Irish books, Irish legends, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, St. Patrick's Day, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, work in progress

N. N. Light’s Book Heaven has created a Booklovers’ Pot o’ Gold event, and I’m excited to have my book, The Sword Unsheathed, as part of it! One lucky reader will win a copy of every featured book, and today, mine is in the spotlight. Check it out here!

Enter to win the e-book bundle of 23 books here! The giveaway is open internationally and runs through March 21. A winner will be chosen on March 22. Good luck!

In related news, the first three books in my Guardians of Erin series are now on sale for 99 cents. With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, there’s never been a better time to lose yourself in the magic and beauty of Ireland. As for me, I’m deep into the creation of the fourth and final book in the series, The Spear Alight.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books

That’s it for now. Have a lovely day!  🙂

Are Ye Feeling a Wee Bit Lucky Giveaway ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

02 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by Judith Sterling in Uncategorized

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#bookish, Amazon gift card, free audiobooks, free eBook, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, St. Patrick's Day, The Cauldron Stirred, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, YA paranormal fantasy, young adult series

Feeling lucky? Here’s a chance to win some bookish treasure! I’ve teamed up with 46 authors for this event, and the prizes include Amazon gift cards, e-books, autographed paperbacks, and audiobooks. Because my Guardians of Erin series takes place in Ireland, it’s perfect for this giveaway. You could win the audiobooks of The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened, plus an e-copy of The Sword Unsheathed.

 

 

 

You can find all of the prizes listed here. If there are any in particular you’d like, be sure to mention them when you enter here. The giveaway runs through March 31, 2021. Good luck!

 

THE SWORD UNSHEATHED ~ Worldwide Release

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Amazon gift card, excerpt, Guardians of Erin, Ireland, Judith Sterling, new release, paranormal fantasy, Silver Dagger Book Tours, The Cauldron Stirred, The Spear Alight, The Stone Awakened, The Sword Unsheathed, worldwide release, YA series

Today’s the day!  It’s the worldwide release of The Sword Unsheathed, the third book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin.  I’m excited to share it with you, and I’ll soon start writing the fourth and final book, The Spear Alight. 

Remember, the first two books–The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened–are currently on sale for 99 cents, so there’s never been a better time to catch up on the story.  You’ll feel like you’ve traveled to Ireland, while still enjoying the safety and comfort of your own home.

I’m also kicking off a month-long blog tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours, featuring not just the new release but all three books in the Guardians of Erin series.  There’ll be excerpts and more, and you can enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card.  Check it out here!

Now, here’s a little about The Sword Unsheathed:

Ashling Donoghue is no closer to finding her parents than she was the night they disappeared. But hope returns as her brother Kian channels the Sword of Light, revealing past-life secrets and truths long suppressed.

The more she learns, the greater she fears the darkness that drowns the Netherworld also drives her. Is Aengus her true love, or is it Lorcan? Does her future wait in shadow or the light?

One point is clear: the threads of her past-self are woven inextricably into the tapestry of her soul. An impossible choice looms before her, and all the while, evil is poised to strike.

A peek between the pages:

“Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I tell you.”

Nerves atwitter, I did as Aengus asked. A brief, subtle tingling sensation swept through my body as we slipped into the Otherworld.

A moment later, he released one of my hands but held fast to the other. “All right. You can look now.”

I opened my eyes. We stood before an immense, grass-topped mound surrounded by a multitude of tightly-packed, white stones.

It looked familiar. “Wait a minute. This is a famous prehistoric tomb. What’s it called? Newgrange?”

Aengus nodded. “I call it SĂ­ in BhrĂș, and it’s part of BrĂș na BĂłinne, or the ‘Palace of the Boyne’ in County Meath. We’re in the valley of the River Boyne.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “Did you say ‘palace’?”

“In the physical world, this is an ancient temple and passage tomb, more than five thousand years old. Here in the Otherworld
well, it’s best to show you.”

The next instant, we stood inside a grand, circular hall, far larger than the mound we’d viewed outside, with a high, domed ceiling. Tri-spiral designs covered the walls, but the space was empty except for a five-tiered fountain at its center.

My gaze locked onto the trickling, golden liquid. A feeling of dĂ©jĂ  vu overwhelmed me, and I shivered. “Is that
mead?”

“You remember!”

I turned to him. “Remember what exactly?”

“This fountain flows eternally with mead. My parents gave it to us as a wedding gift.”

“To you and Caer, you mean.”

He squeezed my hand. “Does anything else spark your memory?”

“The spirals seem familiar.”

His blue eyes shone. “They should. We lived here for centuries.”

“Caer lived here, not me.”

“But you were Caer.”

My insecurities ganged up on me and knotted my stomach. Is that the only reason why you want me? Because of who I once was?

Could I ask that out loud? What if he said yes?

Yes or no, I had to know. A lasting relationship required honesty and communication. My parents’ love had taught me that, and I wanted nothing less.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and took a step back. “Maybe you wish I still was Caer.”

His blissful expression devolved into a frown. After a heart-stopping moment, he found his voice. “What?”

“Sometimes I wonder whether you like me or just who I used to be.”

“You can’t fight your soul’s history.”

“Especially when everyone keeps shoving it down my throat.” My gut tightened further.

“Who’s everyone?”

I huffed. “Kian. Robin. Deirdre. Lorcan. And now—”

“Lorcan?” There was an edge to his voice.

“Yes, Lorcan. I’ve seen him a couple of times, but not because I went looking
” I couldn’t finish that sentence. My soul had obviously sought Lorcan the night I traveled to Dun Aengus.

“Ashling, you know how I feel about him.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t around to stop me, were you?”

His frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to have a relationship with someone who’s never around.”

“And Lorcan is around. Is that what you’re saying?”

“He’s always there, waiting in the wings, ready to take your place.”

Aengus slammed a fist into his other hand. “It’s time I showed him—”

“No! It’s time you showed me whether you want me or Caer, because I’ve had it with ghosts from the past messing up my—”

He grasped my arms and pulled me close. His mouth came down on mine in a searing kiss. Releasing my arms, he stole his own around me, and I responded in kind. Bodies and tongues entwined, we rode the wave of the kiss for a blissful moment that seemed as eternal as the bubbling fountain beside us. Nothing else mattered.

When at last he pulled back, he gave me a tender smile. “Does that answer your question?”

“Um
” My head still spun from the kiss.

“I kissed you, not Caer. I brought you here tonight because I wanted to share a piece of myself with you. It’s only natural I wondered if you’d remember it. After all, a part of your soul lived here for ages.”

I scanned the vacant, cavernous space. “If we lived here so long, where’s all the furniture?”

The light in his eyes dimmed. “Once upon a time, this place brimmed with beauty
with rare treasures, music, poetry, and the laughter of friends and courtiers. But when you left
when Caer left
nothing was the same. I couldn’t stay.” He squeezed his eyes shut, as if to block out painful memories.

Thick tentacles of worry and guilt wrapped around my heart as though a legendary kraken sought to drown me in a sea of regret. I placed a hand on Aengus’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”

His eyes opened, and he covered my hand with his. “Don’t be.”

Buy the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B & N | Apple Books

That’s all for now.  Wishing you a great start to the week! 🙂

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