Customer Reviews

The Gladiator (The Roman Series #1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical #44)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I really loved this book. When I first heard about this story I wasn't sure this period would be one I enjoyed as much as others but I was so wrong. I really did enjoy this period and I have to say I found this book very thought provoking. Its set in the early Christian days in Rome when Christians are fed to the lions and worse. I hadn't really thought what that would be like but this book made me think about it. I am not sure I would have been as strong as the early day Christians knowing I could be fed to the lions or worse I would hope I would. It really made me appreciate the early Christians for there faith and stand. The story of Pelonia is very touching and her stand for Christ is very strong. Caros is a strong brooding hero who has been a slave and now has his freedom but still feels the stigma of it. Throw in a special cat (you have to read the story to find out about this animal) and you have a wonderful, strong and thought provoking book. Well done Carla on your first novel. I honestly can't wait for the sequel.

Carla Capshaw has captured my heart with this story of inspiration and her way of showing how her characters overcome the hardships that they encounter in life. She has a wonderful way of drawing a reader into her story and captures your heart with her writing. I couldn't put the story down until I finished. Can see lots of readers enjoying this story set in the days of turmoil in Rome.

This is one of my all time favorite novels and it is the first by this author. From the opening scene your attention is captured and you are drawn into the character of the heroine. Then she has the reader view things through the eyes of the hero and you sense that is who he is before he sees Pelonia. The plot thickens and you realize that it swirls around two very different people who are inexplicably drawn to each other. One a believer who would choose to die for her beliefs--one a non-believer who has paid his dues and bears the scars to prove it. Caros has vowed never to return to the arena or be anyone's slave again. At the climax, author Carla Capshaw, had me weeping with tears as the hero proves how deep his love for the heroine willing to change places with her, to do the very thing he has vowed never to do--not even realizing that his self-sacrifice will bring him to a greater love than he has ever known. I know if you are not a believer you would not appreciate the depth of this book; but you can still appreciate what true love can do. It is full of tender and edgy romance, twists and turns of plot, secondary characters that hint at sequels. The author makes this historical setting come alive. If you hadn't thought that you could enjoy the primitive setting of the roman empire, you will be surprised at the detail in description of scenery, clothing, artifices, and medicinal treatments throughout the story. You can almost feel and smell that you are there. Caros makes a ruggedly masculine hero and Pelonia an innocent and very feminine heroine--most definitely for your keeper shelf!

This was a romance and so much more. Carla brings us to 81 AD when to be a Christian was a lot more than just a phrase. It was life and death. It was unique to visit this Roman era.

Pelonia is traveling to her cousins wedding when her life takes turn. Their camp is attacked. Her father and all their servants are murdered. Only two survive, Pelonia and her Uncle Marcus. Then her uncle sells her to a slave traitor and she awakes as the slave of a retired Gladiator.

Caros is pulled towards this woman, his new slave. He feels a peace when he is around her. She says she has relatives but he does not want to give her up. He is even intrigued with this God of hers. With his past years in the ring though he does not believe her God would want him.

We see a love between these two but so much more. There is Cat the pet tiger. His past, her future. Jealousy, forgiveness, faith and tough decisions.

Carla gives us a visual of Christians in the arena with wolves. Knowing that was real back then and even today the persecution in some countries for Christians is something we would most like stay ignorant to but need to face. What would you do if you knew you would face death by claiming Christ?

Looking forward to reading The Protector & The Champion to revisit with other characters from this book.

I read this book over a year ago and it's still my favorite romance, especially in the Love Inspired line. I hadn't read books in the roman setting before this one, but I'm so glad I did. Caros and Pelonia are so romantic and the conflicts kept me hooked from the first page. After I read it, I kept wondering what happened to the characters because they were so real to me. It's an excellent book in every way!

I liked this little novel. I'm not really into romance novels but it was the time period that drew my attention to this one and compelled me to read it. The author is a talented writer and I was surprised to learn it was her first novel. I liked the pace of the story until the ending, which seemed a little abrupt, plus I couldn't image the characters talking as freely as they did in the middle of an arena...I just couldn't picture it in my head even after reading over the last few pages a few times. Other than that, it was very well written.

I was excited to read this book. It engaged me quickly, and I love this time period and theme. The faith in the persecuted church, their strength and witness is inspiring. The church grew like wild fire because of that faith in the face of horrible trials and death.
Pelonia has lost everything but her life and her God; if it were known that she was one of "the deviants," they would take her life as well. As it stands, she is a slave to the infamous Caros Viriathos, head of the gladiator training school and x-gladiator himself. When he first sees her, he is drawn to her instantly. He buys her from the slave trader, hoping to win her heart. She also feels for him, but vows she will not be a slave forever. He wants only to keep her near, while she wants her freedom.
It was a good story, an engaging and quick read. I had trouble reconciling some of the dialogue and actions to the characters and situations. Some of the things they said and did, or even thought did not seem believable; because of this, at times the romance felt forced. A slave and her master falling in love is tenuous ground and can be very exciting and emotional; however, I would have liked to see more justification to their growing feelings. That being said, the plot moved quickly. I loved the strong testimony of the Christian characters. There is a second one planned, and I would like to find out how the story progresses with the secondary characters. This is Capshaw's first novel, and I would imagine her next one will be even better.

a wonderful, warm, tender romance. this is the best book anyone has ever written about the first christians. i absolutely loved it.

This is one of the best romance novels I've read in a long time. I enjoy reading, but find it difficult to find books that truly capture my interest and keep it all the way through. The Gladiator did so from the start. I could hardly believe that this was the author's first novel. The characters and the plot line were so well developed that you almost feel as though you are part of the story. I found myself invested in the well-being of the main characters and their relationship almost from the time they meet. Two of the most common complaints that I often have with romance novels is feeling that the plot begins to spin its wheels about halfway through the story and disappointment over an unsatisfying ending. The Gladiator had neither of those problems. The plot flowed and moved forward from beginning to end and the conclusion of the book was wonderful. I noticed that the Gladiator's sequel, The Protector, is coming out in July. I can't wait to read it!