Cocktails and Books
Written on May 1, 2012
In order to ensure his family is able to maintain the status quo, Lucius negotiates an alliance with another wealthy Roman. His stipulation, he will not enter into the agreement unless Lucius is able to get his wife, Alba, with child. Due to the family physician's assumption that it is Lucius who is barren and not Alba. Because the alliance is important, Lucius decides he will mate Alba with a gladiator of his choosing in hopes that she will become pregnant.
Alba doesn't like being treated as a possession, but she secretly hopes that she will be mated with one of the two gladiators that she's attracted to. While she agrees to the terms Lucius set for her matings, she soon finds herself looking forward to her mating days with her lovely gladiator, Caius. But he isn't the only one that Alba wants. She has also been with Marcus and longs to have a relationship with both men.
This was an interesting story, because it had me wondering if women in Ancient Rome would actually have the type of freedom that Alba had in this story or would be able to dictate the change in her life the way Alba did.
Sex is rampant in the book, but that shouldn't be surprising considering the time period. Men with women, men with men, women with women, it was pretty much a free for all. However it was slightly disturbing to me the way certain women of the upper class would treat the male slaves. I don't know why them being used sexually should have surprised me, but it did bother me (especially since I don't like to see anyone being used like that if they don't want it).
If you ever wondered what life would be like for a woman during ancient Roman times, this book could give you a good idea. Overall it's an enjoyable read, although it did drag in places.