Illuminations of the Heart
by Joyce DiPastena

    ILLUMINATIONS OF THE HEART by Joyce DiPastena
    Category:  Historical
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  6/22/09
    Publisher:  Walnut Springs Press
    Reviewed by:  Joan Stradling
    Rating:  5 Stars


    After the deaths of her husband and brother, Siriol de Calendri is directed by her brother's will to travel to France
    and live under the guardianship of her brother's friend, Sir Triston de Brielle.

    Unfortunately, Siri is nearly identical to Triston's late wife, Clothilde, and to make matters worse, her brother's will
    requested that Triston find a husband for Siri.

    Siri wants to put her training in illumination to good use and earn her living in an illuminator's shop, and besides, she
    has no desire to marry anyone else; she's in love with Triston. But can he get past her resemblance to his first wife
    and learn to love her for herself?

    Using some of the characters introduced in LOYALTY'S WEB, DiPastena paints a tale of sweet romance in twelfth
    century France. In the classic romance format, the characters lives are entwined and twisted together with difficulties
    at every turn until the reader isn't sure they'll be unraveled in the end.

    It was my pleasure to be drawn in by ILLUMINATIONS OF THE HEART and once I started Siri's journey, I
    couldn't put it down until I reached the last page . . . and then I still wanted more.

    While this is an adult title, I believe it's appropriate for teens, as well.