DESCRIPTION:
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.
"Loving Lucianna" is the first in Joyce DiPastena’s new "Hearts in Autumn" romance series, medieval romances revolving around heroes and heroines “in the autumn of their years.” Because you’re never too old to fall in love!
My Take:
4 STARS!
I am finding I enjoy Historical Fiction more and more, the more I read. The cover of this book really appealed to me, (I know! Don't judge a book by the cover! LOL!) but after reading the description, I had to read this one! I love stories that take place during the Medieval Times, and talk about escaping reality! Of course this is a Historical Romance, with a little mystery and suspense to it as well. It is a clean romance, which is refreshing, and was just released on October 11th, 2014, and it takes place during the Autumn, and in the Autumn of their lives as Lucianna and Sir Balduin de Soler were older, Siri called it 'in the Autumn of their lives'. I thought that was pretty neat the author planned the release during the Autumn. Older people can find love, too.
This book is number two in a series, as the first book is "Illuminations of the Heart". I wish I had read that first because that would have tied up a lot of loose ends in this book that I didn't quite understand. Although, this author really does us a great favor (unlike any other I have ever read before) and in the front of the book, she gives us a 'Cast of Characters' from the first book! We are able to flip back to it in case we forget who is who, and I 'did' use this! I thought this was terrific! It was helpful as I did find myself flipping back there a few times while trying to figure out who was who, and what part they played, good, bad, or just a relative. Their names are Italian and French, so they are difficult names to follow/remember. Bless her for doing that!
Lucianna Fabio grew up in a convent and we first meet her when she was nine years old. She took a younger girl under her wing, Elisabetta, who did nothing but weep from the first day she was left there. This really helped Elisabetta, now long gone. Lucianna has an incredible talent for embroidery. The nuns at this convent at times would allow her to just sit and sit embroider she was that talented. Lucianna loved doing it. She would stare at the bolts of silk threads and the fabrics waiting to be sewn upon. I can relate to how she felt about these because I love embroidery, too. There is an almost 'craving' to want to touch and sew with these threads upon these fabrics, and while doing so, you can retreat inside yourself and feel enjoyment that is indescribable to most other people who cannot embroider or sew. I loved her mentioning this throughout the book. This was magical for me.
This story picks up in the Autumn somewhere in the 1100's, the Medieval Times, when she is with her fiance', Sir Balduin de Soler who is in his fifties, and she is in her forties, so we have an older couple which is a change from what I've been reading. It is nice to show that older people fall in love just as much as the younger people do. They were to be married in three weeks. They are currently shopping for fabrics a christening gown for a Siri's new baby who would be here soon. She is a young woman Lucianna had mothered for so many years, and this would be her first child. Lucianna wanted extra special fabrics to make the christening gown with, and she planned to embroider on top of it, too, white on white.
Lucianna notices a man she knows and does not want her fiance' to see her with, but she must talk to him and get him to leave. He is trouble. She has some secrets about herself that would ruin her life if anyone found out, especially about this man, Serafino. Serafino just gave me a bad feeling and I didn't like him. It turns out my gut feeling about him is correct as we later learn.
This happens to be Lucianna's second marriage.
There we have the set-up of this story with more to come, but I must leave the rest to you so you can enjoy it! I am looking forward to going back and reading the first book, and any others after this one. This author has written quite a few books that take place during the medieval times, too. You'll have to check out her Author Amazon page! Enjoy!
I received this book from the author in exchange for a review neither positive or negative, just my own opinion.
ebook: $2.99
print: $9.42
I agree with you. I read this book and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Also, like you, I had not read the first one and I was a little confused about some of the comments and details mentioned. I am usually not a fan of romance stories but I enjoyed this one.
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