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Carla Capshaw
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The Gladiator (The Romans, Book 1) Paperback – November 10, 2009

by Carla Capshaw (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 145 ratings
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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 convince a man who found fame through unforgiving brutality to show mercy? And when she's ultimately given the choice, will Pelonia choose freedom or the love of a gladiator?
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Love Inspired Historicals
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    4 x 0.75 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0373828241
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0373828241
  8. See all details
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From the Back Cover

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 convince a man who found fame through unforgiving brutality to show mercy? And when she's ultimately given the choice, will Pelonia choose freedom or the love of a gladiator?

About the Author

Carla Capshaw is a Florida native who grew up dreaming of traveling the world and writing novels.

After visiting numerous countries, Carla began writing novels in earnest and eventually won two Golden Heart awards as well as a double Rita nomination for her first novel, The Gladiator. Carla loves passionate stories with compelling, nearly impossible conflicts. She's found Inspirational Romance is the perfect vehicle to combine lush settings, vivid characters and a Christian worldview.

Although she still lives in Florida, Carla is always planning her next trip and plotting her next novel. Visit her at carlacapshaw.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Love Inspired Historicals; Original edition (November 10, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0373828241
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0373828241
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4 x 0.75 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Carla Capshaw

Carla Capshaw

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Carla Capshaw is a Florida native who grew up dreaming of traveling the world and writing novels.

After visiting numerous countries, Carla began writing novels in earnest and eventually won two Golden Heart awards. Carla loves passionate stories with compelling, nearly impossible conflicts. She's found Inspirational Romance is the perfect vehicle to combine lush settings, vivid characters and a Christian worldview.

Still living in Florida, Carla is always planning her next trip and plotting her next novel. Visit her at www.carlacapshaw.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
145 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cynthia Danute Cekauskas, LCSW
5.0 out of 5 stars Tender love story of an early Christian girl and her gladiator protector.
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2010
Verified Purchase
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   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."
3 people found this helpful
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Rachel Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2012
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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!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer X
4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Love Story
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2010
Verified Purchase
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.
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Kari
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2011
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Wow. What a refreshing read!

I love books from this time period anyway, but this one was one of the best I've read from that era!! It reminds me a little bit of the Mark of the Lion series Book 1. But I enjoyed it better, actually. There's plenty of romance, action and suspense, and a great dose of faith. It humbled me to know that, while this was a fictional book, the martyrdom of Christians at the hands of blood-thirsty Romans was very real during that time.

I loved everything about this book. Gripping story all throughout with a great ending. I found myself saddened near the end just because I didn't want it to be over! I can't wait to get my hands on the last two books in the series. I ordered them this evening.

I highly recommend this book!
One person found this helpful
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EmilyA
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2012
Verified Purchase
I downloaded this book to my Kindle on accident, so after paying for it I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! I could not stop reading as I was drawn into the story immediately. I learned a lot about this time and place in history (Rome 81 AD) through reading the Gladiator, and gained more appreciation for what Christians went through as followers of Christ in a world full of harsh persecution. The story line itself was very interesting, and I was not able to determine how it would end until the last page. It was nice to read a story that did not have the usual predictable ending. I also very much appreciated the fact that there were no inappropriate and embarrassing scenes to skip over. I cannot wait to download and read the next two by Carla Capshaw.
2 people found this helpful
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Kathy
5.0 out of 5 stars Scripture Based stories
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023
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Each stories characters are facing troubles that they over come. The scripture is very well suited to the story and the need of the person for guidance. All the Love Inspired books, there's no foul language or sexual encounters. Straight forward romance with all the excitement without the bad language or sexual undertones. I recommend them to anyone.
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Top reviews from other countries

j mason
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2021
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This is a marvellously written historical novel. It is inspirational and is as much about finding God's love as it is about the hero and heroine's attraction for each other. From reading other reviews there are a few criticisms of it, but being neither an expert on Roman history or Christian theology I can't comment on those, what I can say is that the storytelling is flawless. I can't fault a compelling story like this and I am amazed how polished it is given that it is a debut novel. I have no doubt Carla Capshaw has a God-given Gift. Superb.
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csa
1.0 out of 5 stars Not beneficial for me
Reviewed in Canada on March 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
The books in this series unfortunately remind me of secular romance books that I've read in the past (and I wish I hadn't). Although I used to be very much into them, I've become extremely uneasy with the elevation of romance in some "Christian" books to the level of idolatry, like in secular books, or very close to that level. And I say this in spite of the presence of more "Christian" content in this book than in some other Christian romances, which sometimes isn't saying much.

If God grants us romance in our lives, that's a blessing, but it should never be our main source of comfort and wellbeing. This is the danger of books focusing mainly on romance rather than books focusing on our carrying out the perfect will of God for our lives, whatever our marital status, during the serious spiritual war we're all in down here. Some Christian romances get this focus right, but many don't. I appreciate the stories that encourage me to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
One person found this helpful
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Daigen
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED THIS BOOK!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
This author is now one of my favourites! I loved this story and the characters. For a debut novel this is really good and I can't wait to read this author's other works. I really loved how the author wove the story portraying the hero Caros as a hardened gladiator but with a soft heart yearning for peace and the heroine Pelonia as a feisty but gentle lady able to see beyond Caros hardened exterior into his wounded soul and share God's TRUE love with him. It's a lovely romantic story. Thanks Carla!
One person found this helpful
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