Lyn Randal

Leda is a gladiatrix, before she became a gladiatrix she was the daughter of a Roman Senator who fell in love with Marcus Flavius Donatus. That love led he to be exiled and disowned. When Marcus returns to take up his role as senator after his father's death he discovers her and decides that she's going to marry him.

Leda is now used to a certain amount of freedom and she's hiding quite a big secret. Marcus is also carrying around some serious baggage which needs resolving.

Now it's not a bad read but as a person who has read too much (and done a degree) in Classical Civilization there were parts that just didn't work. I'm very sorry but there is pretty much no way that the senator having Christian leanings wouldn't be a bigger scandal that it was made to be, and pretty much no way that some scions of the upper classes would associate themselves with the, then, religion of the slave and lowest classes. There were also a few other points that just didn't sit right with me, from a historians point of view, that lost it rating points. Still it was quite readable and the conflict and love between the characters quite believable.… (altro)

Lyn Randal has written an incredible historical novel set in both England and Spain. The book is full of mystery, intrigue, action, temptation, love, lust......just about everything a reader could desire. For me it was a new beginning as I don't usually read historical books and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed one!

Pirates, high sea adventure, forbidden love, good twin/evil twin, a priest fighting for control of love and lust for his brother's future bride? All of these and more are captured in Tempted by Innocence. The Castillo twins are as different as night and day; Diego has left his former country and has become a priest because of his past sin against his twin Damien. In his youth, Diego bedded his twins promised bride, and she died because she aborted the child a result of their union. Now Damien is engaged to be married a second time to the lovely English Celeste, an alliance for England and Spain and to provide an heir to the Castillo family.

Damien is abducted and his father sends Celeste to find his long departed twin Diego and to bring him back to Spain and stand in for his twin in a proxy marriage. Because Celeste needs this marriage to not only help the King of England and her ill brother, she adores the Castillo family and only wants to help all involved. Never does she count on nearly drowning and being saved by a strong and handsome man who she later learns is not only a priest but also her soon to be husbands long lost twin, Diego!

Lyn Randal weaves an intriguing and very powerful love story, set aboard the high seas. Pirates, lots of adventure, the forbidden, and heartbreaking all in one! Besides the Castillo family, you'll meet a warm and amazing African bodyguard, a Spanish priest, Diego's long time friend Ricardo, her lady in waiting Hattie an amazing cast of characters. I certainly look forward to reading more of Lyn's books as this one was extremely entertaining.… (altro)