The Only Good Roman Returns by Christine Elaine Black my review

Review Courtesy of April Hollingworth

The second part of this wonderful saga opens with Darius imprisoned and in pain, wondering if he will ever see the love of his life and unborn child. This story is written with such passion and beauty it leaves me breathless. My heart bleeds for them as they fight with every breath in their bodies to reunite with one another, even though neither knows if the other is still alive or theirs. The story of Darius and Lia is one that will stay with me forever, beautiful and unique, I can’t express how much I adore this beautiful and enchanting saga.

Opening Scene:

Khaganata (Land of the Balanites)

Blackness! It surrounded Darius and the air smelled damp and salty.

The Review:

Darius is held captive by a foreign queen, and awaits a chance to escape his fate, a fate that may hold his execution. Lia flees from Commander Gaius after the birth of her child. His sudden anger upon seeing Darius’s and her baby is unexpected and frightening. Without any way of knowing if Darius is alive, she accepts the help of a Roman Governor who claims to know her husband’s family. Can Darius’s and Lia’s love withstand the tests thrown at them, or will their love crumble into ashes by the forces around them?

Notable Scene:

Darius staggered back as the woman raised her head. Lia! His wife stood in the middle of the room, smiling at him as he stood by the door rooted to the spot, dumbstruck like a fool. The same beautiful face he had first seen in the governor’s house, two years ago stared at him curiously. Acutely aware of his injury he gaped awkwardly, unsure of himself. The perfection of her face and body swept over him like a gust of wind. All men must be equally struck standing next to her if they suffered any form of inadequacy, whether they be old, infirm, unattractive, uneducated, or like him, maimed in battle. To stand near her and not be awed was impossible. Darius faltered at her unexpected arrival but recovered quickly. “This is your place, after all.” Her beautiful green eyes, tense and wary, watched him. “What are you doing here?” He struggled to think straight. “I searched for you after the battle in Carsus. Forty thousand men died and only four thousand survived. I had to know if you were among the living.” Darius stood rigid against the wall by the door. He dare not move and betray his hand. “Why?” The question sounded foolish; he should kick himself for asking. Her brows creased. “Every man left alive suffered a crippling loss of leg or arm, or both. Men were blinded and crippled. I went to fetch you, to return with me to my father’s place.” She looked him up and down, her gaze flicking over him in disbelief. “You must be the only soldier to escape Carsus in one piece. I asked every single man if they knew what happened to you and only one remembered the sight of a man thrown over a Balanite horse.

FTC Advisory: Christine Elaine Black provided me with a copy of The Only Good Roman Returns by Christine Elaine Black. Published through Christine Elaine Black. Kindle Edition. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.