"Cardillo's (Island Legacy, 2017, etc.) latest book is a sweeping historical epic and a sensitively observed exploration of the passionate friendship between Colonna and Michelangelo . . . . Ambitious in scope, the narrative covers 1500 to 1547, shifting between their relationship and Colonna's childhood and adolescence on the island of Ischia, her marriage to Ferrante and his betrayal of her trust, and her development as a poet. While Colonna and Michelangelo's friendship forms the emotional center of the novel, the poet's story and her journey as a woman and a writer are dynamic and multilayered. . . . A stirring and emotionally resonant portrait of a pivotal relationship in the life of Michelangelo."

- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

". . . an elegant portrayal of the friendship between the poet and the artist who stirred her from solitude. Intimate and perspective-driven, it explores faith, love, and the lines where public and private life converge...For all its courtly manners and Renaissance intrigue, Love That Moves the Sun distills into a delicate portrayal of one woman's search for depth in herself and her relationships. Vittoria's passions, constrained as they were by her time, speak to a boundless spirit that is inspirational even now."

- Foreword Clarion Reviews

“Linda Cardillo’s writing is exquisite, inviting the reader into total immersion in this life story of a challenged and challenging woman who left an indelible mark on Italian and spiritual history.”

– Historical Novels Review

“… an intimate, rich, engrossing glimpse into the life of one of the most celebrated poets of the Renaissance and her extraordinary relationship with Michelangelo.”

– Susanne Dunlap, author of Listen to the Wind, Émilie’s Voice and Liszt’s Kiss