Pompeii is a gripping, moving, and emotionally packed story filled with corruption, political intrigue, fighting, love and hope! As one of T.L. Higley's Seven Wonders Series, it shines and begs to be read and discussed.As a young Jewish slave, Ariella (Ari) chooses to cut her hair and disguise herself as a young man in an attempt to hide from Valerius.
Cato is an aristocrat escaping from Rome, where his political ambition was unsuccessful.
Both Cato and Ari are escaping current circumstances and struggling to make their separate ways to Pompeii where they hope to start over. Unknowingly, they will face more political and religious challenges, will have to fight for their future, and the hope that their love will save them and their family from destruction.
It was easy to see that T.L. Higley did a tremendous amount of research in order to draw readers so deep into this story surrounding Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. There were many times I held my breath in anticipation of what was happening, and I didn't want to the story to end.
I have also had the pleasure of reading Higley's Guardian of the Flame: A Seven Wonders Novel, and I have absolutely loved both books! She writes with such passion and authority, drawing readers into richly researched and detailed stories. It becomes easy to lose yourself in these amazing ancient stories of wonders from the Bible. And while there is an undertone of Faith and Hope, and the stories are Faith-based historical fiction, they are gentle in their beliefs and don't come across as pushy or preachy at all, rather a testament to a strength in faith that is easy to accept.
(A Novel)by T.L. Higley
B & H Books; Original edition (June 1, 2011) ~ 368 pages
Fiction / Historical Fiction / Inspirational
Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the publisher, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review with this CFBA Book Tour!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Now the author of nine historical fiction novels, including the popular Seven Wonders series, Higley isn’t just transporting readers: She’s transporting herself, too.
“My Iifelong interest in history and mythology has taken me to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Rome, Turkey, Jordan and Israel, where I’ve gotten to study those ancient cultures in rich detail,” says Higley. “It’s my desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past, and I figure what better way to do that than to visit the cultures themselves?”
In addition to her accomplished novelist career, Higley is a business entrepreneur and a mother. In fact, for Pompeii, she brought her daughter along with her to Italy for the research trip.
“We gave it to her as a graduation present, not only because Italy is terrific, but because I believe in exposing children to global cultures,” says Higley, who became a student herself again this year. She’s now a graduate student at American Public University, earning her master’s degree in Ancient and Classical Studies.
When Higley isn’t traveling on research trips, writing her novels, or studying for class, she operates four online retail companies, including KoolStuff4Kids.com – a family-run business that began as a way for her oldest daughter to make some extra money for camp. Today, it is a go-to site for parents, children and teachers all over the country, looking for beads and other kid-friendly craft supplies.
Higley lives with her husband and her three other children (aforementioned daughter now in college) just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
ABOUT THE BOOK
For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom.
But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political corruption, religious persecution, and family peril threaten to destroy Ariella and Cato, who are thrown together in the battle to survive. As Vesuvius churns with deadly intent, the two must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love, before the fiery ash buries Pompeii, leaving the city lost to the world.
Watch the book trailer:
If you would like to read the Prologue of Pompeii, go HERE.
*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)
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