The Gladiator

by Carla Capshaw

He won his fame--and his freedom--in the gory pits of Rome's Colosseum. Yet the greatest challenge for once-legendary gladiator Caros Viriathos comes to him through a slave. His slave, the beautiful and mysterious Pelonia Valeria. Her secret brings danger to his household but offers Caros a love like he's never known.... Should anyone learn she is a Christian, Pelonia will be executed. Her faith threatens not only herself, but her master. Can she...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373828241
• ISBN13: 9780373828241
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Tender love story of an early Christian girl and her gladiator protector.

I first became interested in this book when an excerpt from it was featured at the end of Janet Townsend's romance novel [ASIN:0373875533 Silent Night in Dry Creek (Love Inspired)]] A fan of historical novels, I was drawn to the book because it was set in ancient Rome. It also is a story of a Christian girl whose example of love and forgiveness helped to soften the heart of a hardened gladiator. I couldn't help but remember the 1953 epic film The Robe. Of course in the movie Richard Burton as Marcellus is the one so loved by Jean Simmons character Diana that she is willing to accept certain death to not live without her love who has been condemned for refusing to deny Christ. In either case the love of Jesus and the refusal to deny him was intensely passionate. This is what drew me. At the conclusion of this short novel the author thanks her readers for reading her debut novel. She expressed a sincere hope that her readers enjoyed Caros (the gladiator's) and Pelonia's (the Christian girl's) story of love and faith. Indeed I did. The book is captivating and has a way of bringing you into another time. I couldn't help but visualize many of the movies I grew up in the 1960s where Christians were fed to the lions on a regular basis. Their faith was so strong. It saddens me that our faith as Christian people is not as strong as it should be. It seems sometimes we even lack the guilt for wrongdoing that we really should possess (as well as the desire to be forgiven). That lack keeps many a hardened invididual from drawing closer to Christ. I like, therefore, something that Caros reminded himself shortly after becoming a convert: "OPEN YOUR HEART AND ACCEPT THE LOVE OF JESUS. FORGIVENESS IS YOURS IF YOU'LL ONLY BELIEVE."

Can't Wait For The Sequel

This book is so good!!!! I had trouble putting it down. The author really pulls you in and keeps you there until the end. This book is definitely one of my all time favorites! I read on the author's website that she's planning on writing a sequel. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Courage in Rome

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.

The Gladiator

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.

Excellent debut novel by a talented new author.

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.