It Happened One Night is an entertaining, well-written time travel story. The heroine responds just as you’d expect a modern, independent woman when thrust into the 19th century – she doesn’t take guff from anyone. This results in lively dialogue, which I plan to reread soon. The great dialogue combines with wonderful sexual tension to produce a terrific read.

When accountant Alanna Chapman fulfilled her dying aunt’s last request and performed a magical ceremony, she didn’t know she was going to find herself in Ireland in the early 1800s. At first, Alanna can’t accept that she’s in the past, though the people who find her know that she is from the future. (How’s that for a refreshing twist in a time travel romance?) Captain Kiervan des Marceaux expects Alanna’s aunt to be the time traveler, and is surprised to meet the very uncooperative Alanna instead. He forcefully takes her to his ship, and Alanna is certain that Kiervan is insane.

When Alanna is attacked by British soldiers carrying swords, however, she knows that she is in the past. Alanna and Kiervan travel together through the Irish countryside, facing many dangers. During this hazardous journey, Alanna fights her attraction to Kiervan. After all, she has a fiance in this century, and Kiervan is planning to marry for money. Once she fulfills her destiny in this century, will Alanna decide to return to the present, leaving Kiervan behind?

Alanna is a wonderful heroine – outspoken, intelligent and quick to act. Her past is revealed slowly, but there are many clues planted along the way. When the secrets of her past are finally revealed, the information comes at a logical point in the story, and it makes her behavior understandable. Alanna’s doubts about her ability to perform magic also make sense because of her upbringing.

At first, Kiervan seems like a rogue and mercenary. As Alanna soon learns, however, he is more than that. Like Alanna, Kiervan is still coming to terms with his disadvantaged youth. He is attracted to Alanna from the moment he sees her, but he knows he can never have a permanent relationship with her. He doesn’t believe permanent relationships really exist.

The relationship between Alanna and Kiervan developed believably. Though they were attracted to each other, Alanna was reluctant to give up her virginity to a man who wouldn’t be there forever. I did think Alanna had a few too many doubts after they had made love though. This was a woman who has stood up to homicidal English soldiers and a temperamental Scottish chieftain! Yet suddenly, she decided she wasn’t good enough for Kiervan?! Luckily, Alanna’s doubts didn’t overwhelm the story. She was able to come to terms with her feelings before too long, leaving the next decision about their relationship up to Kiervan.

Although I rated this story as “warm,” don’t think it isn’t sexy. Alanna and Kiervan are together for most of the book, and the time they spend together is filled with sexual tension. (When you read the scene in the inn, don’t hold the book near any open flames. Just in case!)

The secondary characters were of varied quality. In this book, that was probably a good thing because it kept a tight focus on the main characters. While I didn’t expect the villains to have many redeeming attributes, Kiervan’s would-be fiancee was a little overdone. She wasn’t just snobbish, she was nasty. It didn’t take much on Kiervan’s part to decide against marrying her; the decision was a no-brainer. I thought the story would have been stronger had the fiancee turned out to be a nice woman, just not the woman Kiervan was marrying for money. Then, the choices Kiervan had to make would have been even more difficult.

This book fits in many categories without showing signs of strain. It’s a paranormal, a time travel, a road story, and a story of Ireland, all rolled in one. There may have been flaws, but while I read this book, I was so swept up in the adventure, I didn’t care. While the adventure keeps the story moving, it’s the sympathetic main characters who made the book a worthwhile read. Besides, I couldn’t wait to hear what Alanna had to say next! Now excuse me while I reread some of Alanna’s dialogue when she meets Kiervan’s uncle.