Blog Tour: Loving Lucianna by Joyce DiPastena

by Sarah Reads - 5:00 AM

Author: Joyce DiPastena
Title: Loving Lucianna
Genre: Medieval Romance
Release Date:October 11, 2014

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 my 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!”

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.

Rating: 4 of 5 Hearts

Everyone deserves to fall in love no matter their age and Author Joyce Dipastena tells a beautiful story of just that. She brings the world of Lucianna to life as she tells the story of Lucianna finding love and acceptance when she least expected it. This story is well written and full of character. I had to know what made the snarky heroine Lucianna Fabio running.

You cannot read this story without wanting to hug Lucianna and growl at her in the same sentence. This woman makes being stubborn look easy. She is full of life and has a tongue that will give anyone a good lashing if you cross her. But deep down she does not mean to sound so cross with everyone.

Lucianna Fabio had written off love. She cannot risk her past being discovered. The pain of her past keeps her tight lipped from the people dearest to her heart. She never wanted to marry after past almost caught many years ago. She’s been running ever since. But a sweet man captures her heart and she takes a leap of faith.

Sir Balduin de Soler had given up on love as well. He never thought he would be blessed with a wife until he meets Lucianna. He falls head over heels for her. He wasn’t the best at expressing his love. You could tell he loved her more than anything. A few times I wanted to hug him when his romantic gesture was thrown back at him by Lucianna. He could not figure out what was chasing her to push him away so much. Every time she pushed he would just try harder to prove his love.

The way Sir Balduin never gave up on Lucianna made me all swoony. It was about understanding his woman not taking her growls to heart. He knew she wasn’t telling him something he just did not know what.

Oh. And little Perrin is such a cutie. I think now every time I do not like something I shall say “blah!” It’s fun and will get my point across.

I do not want to give away some of the main plotline. It will ruin some parts for you. Just know that if you enjoy a great medieval read this book is for you.

You will laugh and fall in love with this story. I know it.

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. She lives with her two cats, Clio and Glinka Rimsky-Korsokov, in Mesa, Arizona.