It Happened One Night

by Leslie LaFoy

In a spellbinding tale that marks the debut of a born storyteller, a beautiful woman finds herself transported back in time. . . to a world of shimmering desire and heartrending danger. . . .

Alanna Chapman knows that no accountant worth her salt would leave town during tax season, but now she has no choice. To honor her aunt's final wishes, the Colorado CPA has come to the mist-shrouded shores of Ireland, intending to stay just long enough to accomplish her mission. But on the mysterious grounds of Carraig Cor, something extraordinary Alanna finds herself catapulted back to the year 1803. Taken for a "seer" who can foretell Ireland's future, she becomes the prisoner of a ruthless privateer...a dangerously attractive sea captain who has no doubt that he can bend this modern temptress to his will, to use her magic powers for his own ends. But when Alanna crossed over to the nineteenth century, she didn't leave her independent spirit behind. Now she's looking for a way to escape the captain's irresistible embrace--and his enemy's notice--before this perilous adventure costs her her heart...and her life.

Genres: Time Travel, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Time Travel Romance, Paranormal

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Hi everyone! Here are a few facts about me:
I am a multi-published author in mass market historical fiction, or in other words, I write historical romances. I have a background in education, specifically social studies, but I've also dabbled in directing a public television station and serving as a police liaison officer.

I've been married to my wonderful husband, David, for twenty years and I have a teenage son who has yet to encounter a sport he doesn't love. Basically, when I'm not frantically writing and eyeing deadlines, I'm running a taxi service to various sports venues around town. Heck, around the entire state of Kansas.

Speaking of which, I live in a small town on the prairie where everyone gathers at the football field for Fourth of July fireworks and the Lions Club serves free ice cream and watermelon. Where going to the ball diamonds, the grocery store, and the truck stop for dinner is always a social occasion. Where the police department is all of three guys and the Chief drives a PT Cruiser.

My life is full of love and adventure, which always carry into the historical romances I pen.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a time travel story which I enjoyed in spite of myself. It was written in 1997 and shows its age. The beginning put me off when our heroine (in order to be silenced and subdued) was slugged by our hero and carried off. Did we think that was good then?
Anyway the plot and characters are good as the story proceeds. I'd read a novella by LaFoy in an anthology with two of my favorite authors and searched for a book of hers. Overall I was not disappointed. Four stars without the slugging which never got addressed but was never repeated.

[Terryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting time travel read. She was a modern day accountant who had an eccentric Irish aunt. To honour her aunt's final wishes she travels to the shores of Ireland to the mysterious grounds of Carraig Cor to perform the ritual her aunt told her before releasing her Aunt's ashes. Something extraordinary then happens and she finds herself catapulted back to the year 1803. Taken for a "seer" who can foretell Ireland's future, she becomes the prisoner of a ruthless privateer. Together they battle the dangers that follow them.

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised by an aunt who was a time traveler, the heroine grew up learning old medicine and survival tactics from hundreds of years ago. Which comes in handy when she's thrust back in time via a funeral ritual. What's even more helpful is the fact that before she went to live with her aunt, she was a foster kid who frequently got into bar fights. So is becomes pretty apparent that she can handle herself in an altercation. She's immediately kidnapped by the hero who needs her, or rather her aunt, to use her visions of the future is inspire an Irish rebellion. They don't start off as friends-to say the least but what's always plainly obvious is the attraction between the two. Both characters are betrothal or engaged to another person but it's obvious that neither is a love match. The hero is marrying a wealthily girl for her dowry and her fathers business, while the heroine is marrying a dull, same accountant who won't push her past her comfort zones. The heroine has got to be the best female character I've read about is a very long time. She's very quick witted-both in a banter and in an argument but she's seriously stubborn. She's terrified to let anyone in so she's built these massive walls to protect herself. When they are attack but English after her escape and hero takes a beating in an attempt to save her, she immediately sees him to be a friend rather than an enemy and just like that, she's willing to stick by him. It's like anyone who is able to prove themselves to her gains unshakable loyalty. The hero is also amazing. He's just as quick and the two have such funny, eye opening conversations in the weeks spent traveling the wilds of Ireland. He's very charming and he doesn't hide the fact that he's a rake and will keep a mistress when he marries. But he isn't a grease ball, he's just a produce of his time. He gradually opens himself up to the heroine's modern way of thinking. The chemistry between the two characters are off the charts. I'm talking about HOT! When they're threaten discovery in the inn and must pretend to be having sex to hide themselves, the scene was like a bomb going off, I swear. It was full of so much passion that is surprises it. The love between the two characters was so grand and inspiring that you can only hope to find even a portion of it's like in your own life. Safe to say that I absolutely LOVED this book.