Illuminations of the Heart: Poitevin Hearts, #2
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About this ebook
She has illuminated many a priceless book. But illuminating a widower's grieving heart will require much more than pen and paint.
When her brother dies, Siri de Calendri is forced to close their illuminating workshop and travel from Venice to the unfamiliar county of Poitou. She becomes the ward of her brother's friend, Triston de Brielle, but she does not intend to stay that way. She is determined to find new employment as an illuminator and reclaim, if she can, the happy life she left behind.
But Triston is not the guardian she expected. His wildly handsome good looks take her breath away, while his quiet honor and courage quickly steal her heart.
Triston's guilt for the death of his wife has left him hesitant to love again. It feels a betrayal to nourish the sweet stirrings Siri's merry laughter and twinkling eyes bring to life in him. It would be better for his peace of mind to find her a husband. And safer for her to be wed to another when a neighbor out for vengeance attempts to use Siri as a pawn to entangle Triston in a dangerous rivalry between the king's sons.
But Siri is not the biddable ward he hopes for. Her fiery spirit is maddening, her contrariness exasperating, and her vivacious beauty makes his blood run entirely too hot.
Treachery and heartbreak lie all around them. Triston's shrewdness and Siri's boldness might deliver them from the first. But can Siri's vibrant spirit ever illuminate the shadows of Triston's heart and lead them both to love?
Illuminations of the Heart is a PG-13 rated historical romance.
The Poitevin Hearts romance series is linked together by recurring characters, but each title is written as a stand-alone novel. They can be read and enjoyed in any order.
Joyce DiPastena
Joyce DiPastena dreamed of green medieval forests while growing up in the dusty copper mining town of Kearny, Arizona. She filled her medieval hunger by reading the books of Thomas B. Costain (where she fell in love with King Henry II of England), and later by attending the University of Arizona where she graduated with a degree in history, specializing in the Middle Ages. The university was also where she completed her first full-length novel...set, of course, in medieval England. Later, her fascination with Henry II led her to expand her research horizons to the far reaches of his “Angevin Empire” in France, which became the setting of her first published novel, "Loyalty’s Web" (a 2007 Whitney Award Finalist). When she’s not writing, Joyce loves to read, play the piano, and spend time with her sister and friends. A highlight of her year is attending the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival . Joyce is a multi-published, multi-award winning author who specializes in sweet medieval romances heavily spiced with mystery and adventure. She lives with her two cats, Clio and Glinka Rimsky-Korsokov, in Mesa, Arizona.
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Loyalty's Web: Poitevin Hearts, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Loving Lucianna: Poitevin Hearts, #3 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Illuminations of the Heart
13 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really liked the historical details in this one. From the intricacies of feudal system relationships to the tumultuous world of the Devil's Brood and their family to the little choice women of the era had over their lives, this book brought the Middle Ages to life like few can. I especially enjoyed being exposed to such little known worlds of illumination outside the monasteries and the court of Prince Richard rather than King Richard. The characters were enjoyable for the most part. I definitely enjoyed how three dimensional Triston was; he is obsessed with his guilt over past actions and focused on revenge to the point almost of insanity versus his devotion to family and fierce love towards Siri that develops throughout the novel. Siri, on the other hand, I found almost too perfect. Beautiful beyond words, the perfect mother figure for Perrin, feisty and protective towards her person and loved ones... I don't know. I enjoyed to the hilt the fact that she didn't hesitate to hold her dagger to more than one throat, but I didn't encounter any faults in her at all. And that just makes her a little too unreal to me.I think this novel's greatest attribute, though, was the story intermixed with the romance. The connection between the two main characters was very tangible. Though at times I felt like hitting them over the heads with a 2x4 over how often they let the past and guilt get in the way of happiness, I truly felt they balanced each other and were made for each other. I liked how the back story wasn't all revealed at one time, either. Bits and pieces are strewn throughout the book for a truly jaw-dropping revelation towards the end of the novel that I never saw coming. The author does a great job in letting snippets be peppered throughout the story so the reader is constantly wanting more, to learn more. Despite some issues with the main female lead and an over-use of past guilt as a story/motivation driver, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a pleasure it immerse myself into the period details, the characters, and the wonderful story. Definitely look into this book if you're looking for a good historical fiction book with some romance as spice.Note: Book received for free via Good Reads First Reads program in exchange for honest review.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was a little annoyed at the first quarter or so of this book. For that little while there it was just the same back and forth of Siri clearly pining for Triston as much as he did for her/her-as-Clothilde. It was tiring, but once Siri tried to make herself less like Clo and he started seeing the true differences between them, it turned back to the magic that is Joyce DiPastena!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I had quite a bit of fun reading this novel. It was easy to get caught up in the story and like the characters. It is set in France during the Middle Ages. It was an area of France that I don't remember reading about. I enjoyed that she picked an area that is not the typical romance setting.This book begins with a mistaken identity scenario. The only problem is the person that Siri is mistaken for is deceased. She tries help Tristan understand that she is not his deceased wife, she yearns to be noticed for herself.There is revenge, angst, treachery, and of course kissing. I was very happy that I picked this book up. I follow Joyce's blog and realized the amount of research that she puts into her books. I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future.It's a clean romance book. It helped me to remember how much I adore the Historical romance genre.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena is one of the best medieval romances I've ever read.