G481 E-Reading Book Review of Loving Lucianna by Joyce DiPastena
Author: Joyce DiPastena
ISBN/ASIN: B00NG8NWGW
Publisher: Sable Tyger Books
Type of book: Venice, England, Medieval Love, 1100s, siblings, never-do-well, secrets, friendships, godmother, clean romance
Year it was published: 2014
Summary:
Sir Balduin de Soler gave up long ago on love. He never had the means to support a wife until an unexpected advancement in his fifties allows him to reassess his future just as the lovely Lucianna enters his life.
Lucianna Fabio harbors a secret, painful memory from her past that has kept her unwed, as well. Now in her forties, she thought herself too old to marry until she meets Sir Balduin. Now suddenly their lonely autumn lives feel very much like spring again . . . until Lucianna’s brother appears without warning and threatens to revive the secret that will destroy Lucianna’s second chance at love.
Characters:
The main characters are Lucianna, who is titled a Lady but comes from a more modest background. She is tempermental, fiery and does whatever she can to protect those she loves. Sir Balduin is in love with Lucianna and is determined to win her over, even while doing things that he has no aptitude for. Other secondary characters include Lucianna's friend's daughter and her husband as well as the son, and then Lucianna's brother who cost Lucianna so much happiness.
Theme:
Love comes unexpectedly
Plot:
The story is written in third person narrative from both Lucianna's and Sir Balduin's points of view, and despite the cover and description its actually a happy and somewhat comical tale. Despite the brief interludes that explain more about Lucianna, I do wish there would be more stories about her early life and how this life influenced her to be what she could be. If possible, I would like to read a sequel to find out what happens to Lucianna and Sir Balduin as well as Lucianna's brother.
Author Information:
(From Italy Book Tours)
Meet the author:
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).
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.
Connect with Joyce: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
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).
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.
Connect with Joyce: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Opinion:
When I read the description of the book, I thought it would be bittersweet or else sad (blame the cover.) Much to mine surprise there is humor laced in the book and its written as a clean romance novel proving that love could be found at any age at any time. I do hope that in the future books more will be explored with Lucianna's background and life, which I will like. The story also contains delightful surprises, and its a first in a new series.
This is for Italy Book Tours
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This tour is fully booked
Nov 10 - Library of Clean Reads - spotlight / giveaway
Nov 10 - Nighttime Reading Center - review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 11 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review / author interview
Nov 12 - Back Porchervations - review / author interview
Nov 13 - A Bit Bookish - review / giveaway
Nov 13 - Walking with Nora - review / giveaway
Nov 14 - 2 Kids and Tired Books - review / giveaway
Nov 14 - 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - review / giveaway
Nov 17 - The Book Review - review / giveaway
Nov 17 - FLY HIGH! - review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 18 - Girl with Camera - review / author interview
Nov 19 - Katie's Clean Book Collection - review / giveaway
Nov 20 - Readers' Muse - review / giveaway
Nov 21 - Unshelfish - review / giveaway
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Thank you so very much for your spotlight and review of "Loving Lucianna"!
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