Blog Tour Review: My Wicked Gladiators – Lauren Hawkeye

My Wicked Gladiators by Lauren Hawkeye
Series:
Release Date:  June 1, 2012
Publisher:  Avon Red
Source:  Bewitching Book Tours / Edelweiss
Buy the book at: Amazon

Alba has spent her entire life pleasing others.

As an upper-class plebeian woman in Ancient Rome, that is her place in life. But when her husband Lucius, the owner of aprestigious gladiatorial school, uses her body as a bargaining tool to increase his fortunes, she is faced with doing as he demands, or finding herself on the street.

Forced to lay with masked gladiators chosen by Lucius, Alba is surprised to discover pleasure in being powerless. Only in the forbidden arms of Caius and Marcus does she find comfort, however temporary it may be.

But with Lucius’ demands looming and the threat of death for her gladiators ever-present, will Alba’s fleeting pleasures be enough? Or will Alba finally grab hold of her happily ever after, no matter the consequences? 

Alba and Lucius have been married for a number of years.  Lucius paid attention to his wife for the first few years they were married, but when their unions failed to produce a child, he deems she’s barren and seeks his pleasure in the house slaves.


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, also it did drag in places.