Customer Reviews

Illuminations of the Heart (Historical Romance Novels)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first line "Donna Siri, cover your head" drew me in and I found myself devouring the pages. It became a "I have to finish this before I can sleep read" which was finished in the early morning, The next morning I began it it again. This is a top ten book of this year for me.

Illuminations of the Heart is the story of Siriol "Siri" de Calendri and Triston de Brielle.

After her brother's death, Siri, is sent to Poitou, placed in the guardianship of Triston, who has been given the charge of arranging a marriage for Siri. Upon arrival, she finds out that she bears a resemblance to Triston's late wife Clothilde.

When Triston kisses her, Siri's heart is lost. Known for her extreme beauty, Siri wants to be loved for herself. As circumstance from Triston past threaten to destroy them, Triston must decided if he can let go and see Siri for herself.

By the end of the book, I found myself falling for Triston as all of his good qualities become more apparent and cheered Siri on as she fights to remain true to herself.

While this book is billed as a romance it is much more. It has intrigue, mystery, revenge, political rivalry, combined with moment of laughter and tenderness that will appeal to any reader looking for a well written story. DiPastena effortlessly weaves in historical detail that adds another level of depth and richness to the plot. If readers are anything like me, they will come to the end of the book with mixed emotions. Happy to see the story end so well, but feeling sad since they don't want it to end. Until her next novel, I will have to be content with rereading Illuminations of the Heart.

Joyce Di Pastena is a fabulous writer who really takes the time and energy to do extensive reasearch for each of her novels! She shares a wonderful adventure with the tingle of romance minus the "slutt"! As always an enjoyable read!

Wow I really liked this historical romance! The story was great. It was a great love story and well played out. I liked that the author kept everything clean but juicily and good! This is for Adults but it so clean a older teen could read it. Just a little heads up to read Loyalty's web first.

The will of Sirol de Calendri's late brother directs her to go to the county of Poitou, France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother's friend, Sir Triston de Brielle, who snatches her heart away with a kiss.

Triston carries guilt for the death of his late wife, Clothilde, and is hesitant to love again, especially since Siri looks like Clothilde. However, Siri does not act like Clothilde, because Sirol has a merry laugh and twinkling eyes.

Triston finds himself trapped between the rivalry of the king's sons and a neighbor out for vengeance. Siri will not live in another woman's shadow and refuses to let the man she loves cast her off.

I love the fact that Joyce tried to make this book as accurate as possible when including historical events. She even included a glossary of Medieval Terms at the back of the book. There is plenty of action, and it kept me on the edge of my seat many times.

C. LaRene Hall
Author: Martha's Freedom Train

This was fantastic - just as good as the last one! DiPastena has done it again - I fell in love with it from start to finish. I love the complex character of Tristan with his conflicted desires and responsibilities. He is so realistic in both his guilt and passion. Siri is a great, strong female character - though a little naive at times. Her character is rich and wise. Their spark and attraction is wonderful and there are so many twists and turns that you definitely stay on the edge of your seat. The side characters are great and create a full, complex world that sucks you in. This was a wonderful book and I would suggest it to anyone.

I loved this author's first book, Loyalty's Web, but Illuminations of the Heart was truly superb. I was hooked by the first line, and in love with the hero by the third page. Ms. DiPastena masterfully wove drama, romance, intrigue and adventure into a thoroughly-researched medieval story that includes some real people and places in history. I highly recommend this page turner that will stay with you long after the story has ended.

Illuminations of the Heart is an exciting tale of love and political intrigue. Ms DiPastena paints a vivid picture of the time. Her attention to detail in regard to Medieval garb, food, and politics is enough to give an accurate view of the time without being "textbook-y" or overly descriptive. She touches on several practices and beliefs of the time that are horrifying but refrains from getting too in-depth, thereby retaining the power that love possesses in all time periods. While this book is commonly described as "sweet"--and it is indeed sweet in regard to love scenes--I think there is enough reality present to keep one from thinking the time period was all fluffy romance and fantasy.

The characters, I felt, were believable, likable, and well-developed. We got a sense of Triston's feelings of guilt, his regret and his frustration. Siri's personality was strong without being the overbearing female so many authors seem to think a strong woman should be. She knew what she wanted almost from the start and when faced with opposition, she did what most people do: she made rash decisions. I found her to be quite realistically portrayed.

The story takes us from Siri's arrival at Triston's home, to his enemy's home, and to the palace of Duke Richard, a future King of England. There were no parts that felt choppy or out of sync. The story flowed along what felt like a natural path leading up to the HEA for Triston and Siri. Not to say there are no twists or surprises. But that is something you will have to find out for yourself.

Overall, I think this book was entertaining, well-researched, and a definite keeper. I am particularly pleased that the love scenes are not detailed and the main characters do not hop into bed together at the first opportunity. In fact, if you are looking for a book with sex, this is not the book for you. Everyone who enjoys the romance for the romance, give Joyce's books a chance. She does not disappoint.

Joyce delivers another great romance set in an entirely different time period from. And you know what? I learn new words from those time periods every time I read her books! In this book, the reader will learn what an 'illuminator' is and no, it's not someone who lights fires.

I enjoyed this story from the beginning, especially Siri; she's feisty and smart. I rooted for her through the book and really wanted her to get her man. And dang it Triston! I can't say any more about that person...
Joyce's book is smart and full of 'clean' romance, sword fights, bad guys, mystery and castles.

I fully enjoyed everything about this book, from the attractive cover which first lured me to pick it up, to the "illuminating" Siri who's beautiful both inside and out, to the richly described, medieval details and frequent plot twists which kept me turning page after page. Readers who like clean, historical, romantic adventure will not be disappointed.

Before I purchased this book, I figured it would be exciting as I am finding historical romances such a delight. But I was not prepared for what I gleamed from this book. I have never been a fan of midevil romance but my oldest daughter loves that period and I thought this book would be a good one for her. Castles, knights, wars, danger and all just never appealed to me. But reading this book left me wanting more and wishing I had read her first book.
One of the things I throughly enjoyed about this book was faith throughout it as well as all the knights and wars and such. You feel like you are walking through the story from beginning to end. When I got near the end, I had to stay up and give up my computer just to read the last 3 hours because you could not put the book down. It grabs you and holds you. I am now ready for another knight, ladies, lords, and all books. I'd even like to visit a castle. There are many surprises in store. When you think you have it figured out, watch out - it changes.
But to read a book during this period with faith entwined in it was a delight and uplifting and encouraging. It makes you realize you can endure more than you think possible. You keep holding your breath for Sirol to get her Tristen.