Thane is the last royal of the Trinovantes Tribe. His success in the gladiator ring has made him a living legend. He has chosen to live a life of slavery to protect his two young daughters. Their safety is all that matters to him. When he receives word that his daughters have been abducted and sold into slavery he is determined to rescue them.
There is much more to Phaedra than meets the eye. She harbors a terrible secret that if discovered could mean not only her brother’s death but her own as well. When she learns that her secret is about to be uncovered Phaedra and her brother decide to flee to Rome. She knows that they cannot survive on their own. Her only hope is to convince Thane to help her escape.
Despite their mutual doubts Thane and Phaedra agree to undertake the dangerous journey to Rome and to work together to achieve their mutual goals. Will the sizzling attraction between them prove too strong to deny?
THE GLADIATOR PRINCE is the third novel in Minnette Meador’s CENTURION series. I love the way a good historical novel can transport a reader to a different time. Although, I have not read the other books in the series I found the story easy to follow. I was drawn into this novel right away. Once I got started I could not put it down and I read it all in one weekend. The author’s world-building skills are considerable. As I read this novel I truly felt immersed in the time period. The plot is filled with romance and plenty of action. It held my attention all the way through to the end. I couldn’t wait to find out the big secret and it took me by surprise when it was finally revealed.
Ms. Meador has also created some intriguing characters. Phaedra is a strong and appealing character. She has a lot of courage. She has had to bear the burden of protecting her brother all on her own. I admired her loyalty to her brother and her determination to protect him no matter the cost to herself. Thane is also an intriguing character. The life of a Gladiator is extremely difficult. His survival shows a great strength of character. I also admired the love and loyalty he has for his daughters. These two characters are well-matched and I enjoyed their interactions which are often adversarial but filled with sexual tension. The heat between them is palpable.
Ms. Meador has written a captivating and realistic historical romance. I highly recommend this novel to romance and historical fans alike.
