Carla CapshawCritiques

In 81 AD, a Christian (Pelonia Valeria) is sold into slavery by her evil uncle after her family and servants are killed by marauders on their way to her cousin’s wedding. Ex-gladiator, Caros Viriathos, who is now a gladiator trainer, buys Pelonia as a slave. He is attracted to her, and once he hears her story, he is compassionate. In the past he was also sold into slavery and forced to fight in the arena, or die. He won his freedom, eventually, after doing so well in the ring. Pelonia wants to be set free, but how can Caros let her go when he is falling for her?

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was so good! I loved the unique storyline and the setting, in ancient Rome. The story had great descriptions and atmosphere. There was the horror and tension of the Christian slaves being murdered in the arena. Caros, trying to understand Pelonia’s devotion to Christ. The building trust and love between Pelonia and Caros. I also liked the secondary characters, some who have their own stories in other books in this series, which I look forward to reading.

A romantic, different, and exciting read by Carla Capshaw.

As usual Carla Capshaw is able to deliver very well-written literature!

Amazingly written.

I was expecting this to be the usual light, quick Christian romance. The story grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't out it down. What a great way to start off the year!

A real page turner. Loved the characters. Author did an amazing job with the setting.

A cute story. Carla Capshaw really gets in the middle of the setting in a fantastic way. Very entertaining.

Tibi knows what she wants, and she's aware of her worth much to the disappointment of her father, who finally snaps and orders Tibi to the temple of Obis to be a priestess and out of his way. Tibi feels she's destined to marry for Love and not for the political gain of his father, not wanting to go to the temple she escapes to the friend of their family, a gladiator Alexius, a know womanizer.

Alexius had sworn to his friend, cousin of Tibi, that he was to not take Tibi into his bed, she's off limits, which is one of the reasons he feels so stongly about her, but now that she's at his gladiator school he can't help but fall just a little harder for the strong willed, chamelon like girl.

I loved this book! I love historical Rome, so this was a perfect match for me! The city and the customs are colored on to the page in a way that you don't for once forget where you are at and with who.

I loved Tibi's charcter even though she was still little green around the ears, but she was lovely, quick witted and brave, a very good match for Alexius who was smooth, suave and powerful - and um former gladiator. Yum. ;)

This was more of a sweet love story than a hot steamy read, there was plenty of forbidden touches, forbidden emotions and temptation, it was really all about the seduction and not the act itself.

If you love historical romance and Rome then this is for you, a beautiful love story definitely not lacking in passion, lust and expectations of the time.

I dare say that I could quite feel my heart beating out of my chest at times through out this adventure. The revolutionary war era is my favorite historical time period and I hardly find a novel entwined in that time that I enjoy, but that was not the case with this novel. I very much so enjoyed the experience of reading into the lives of Duke Drake Amberly and his true love, the espionage Fox for the Patriots Elise Cooper.

The things that one would do to save the life of her sister ...more I dare say that I could quite feel my heart beating out of my chest at times through out this adventure. The revolutionary war era is my favorite historical time period and I hardly find a novel entwined in that time that I enjoy, but that was not the case with this novel. I very much so enjoyed the experience of reading into the lives of Duke Drake Amberly and his true love, the espionage Fox for the Patriots Elise Cooper.

The things that one would do to save the life of her sister meet with the things that one would do to receive vengeance for the life of his brother and they are stalled with the question of is their love strong enough to endure the past? Knowing from the beginning that they would fall in love, it was difficult not being able to turn the pages fast enough. Such a complicated situation, it is hard to even suggest what the outcome could be.

Author Carla Capshaw kept my attention wrapped around each page and continuing chapter and I am so glad to have entered her into my favorite author list. I enjoyed this novel and I will definitely be on the look out for more.

*Thanks to Carla Capshaw for sending me a copy!*

Seventeen-year-old Pelonia is a young Christian woman living near Rome in 81 AD. She lived a comfortable life, sheltered from the dangers faced by Christians in Rome, until her greedy uncle had her father murdered and sold her into slavery. She is brought to Rome, where she is purchased by Caros, a former gladiator. Though still a young man, Caros has lived a difficult and violent life. After witnessing the horrific deaths of his family, he was sold into slavery at the age of fifteen and trained as a gladiator. Having won his freedom in the arena, he is now a lanista and runs a school where he trains gladiators.

When Caros sees Pelonia for sale, he is drawn to her beauty and innocence, decides she must be his, and purchases her to be a slave in his household. But he is unwilling to force her, and begins something like a courtship with her, determined to win her heart. Soon, he realizes she is the only person with whom he truly feels at peace. But although she is attracted to Caros, and realizes that she does truly love him, Pelonia fights her feelings, because he is not a believer in her faith, and she is determined to escape and find her surviving family so she can live as a free woman again.

The Gladiator is a wonderful story of faith and love set in Ancient Rome, a unique setting for a historical romance. Although a first time writer, author Carla Capshaw does a wonderful job of bringing the setting and characters to life, and I look forward to reading more from her. I highly recommend this book to readers who like inspirational romances or historical romances with unusual settings.