CritiqueCorner

The Gladiator's Mistress

By Jennifer D. Bokal

The Gladiator's Mistress

By Jennifer D. Bokal

  Summary

Phaedra, a dutiful daughter of Rome’s most influential senator, has no choice but to marry a man chosen by her father. But a chance encounter with handsome gladiator Valens Secundus sends her pulse racing—and, for the first time, makes her wish she could choose her own fate. They make each other a promise: she’ll insist on having the right to select her next husband, and he’ll do everything within his power to win his freedom.

A gladiatorial champion, Valens has fought his way up from poverty to become a star in the arena. The only two things he craves are his freedom and the luscious Phaedra, both seemingly far out of reach. But four years after their fateful meeting, Phaedra returns to Rome and soon becomes a widow, and Valens answers to no one but himself. They’re finally free to explore their fiery passion—while evading a powerful and wealthy new suitor of Phaedra’s—until Valens must return to the arena one last time. And in order for Phaedra to control her own destiny and claim her love, Valens will need to survive the battle of his life. 

Review

I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.  

This book was good. Great with historical information. The author made you enter the time period with great descriptions of the sights, sounds, and clothes which made the book come alive. The downside was that it dragged the pace of the story at times. I wanted the author to get to the point sometimes. The villains were definitely evil and I found myself almost shouting at the book at the unjustness of the situations that the hero and heroine got themselves in. It is a good read and it will be interesting to see where the author takes the series.