Tainted by Christina Phillips

By: Unknown on Monday, November 07, 2016

Title:  Tainted
Series:  The Druid Chronicles #4
Author:  Christina Phillips
Publication Date: November 7th 2016 by Phoenix 18 Publishing (first published August 28th 2013)
Length:  360pgs
Genre:  historical romance
Shelf:  review
My Rating: ★★★★
Book Links: Goodreads – Amazon(US) – Amazon(CA) - Kobo - Indigo

Back Cover Blurb:

A dangerous love that Rome will never allow…

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king, Druid warrior Gawain abandons his gods and vows to destroy the Roman invaders by any means possible.

Nothing and no one is more important than protecting his fellow Druids from the enemy until he meets the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she fascinates him like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt. His touch stirs a passion she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

My Review:

Phillips has put together yet another breathtaking portrayal of forbidden love during the Roman expansion into Britannia. Her fluid writing draws you in and paints a very vivid picture for you. As a reader you can walk along with the characters through their very unique tale. Illusion runs rampant as Phillips builds scenes that you can walk through and trials you feel like you’ve experienced yourself. Everything combines in a racy, provocative, emotionally charged novel you’ll love.

It was very nice to be able to immerse myself in the perspective of both the male and female leads of this story. It gives a very well rounded feel to their relationship and the story as a whole. Not only do we get the views of the opposing sexes, but we also get the views of two different cultures at war. And from the ruling class of each to boot! This gives the readers a unique look at the time period and it’s challenges while keeping you thoroughly entertained.

I also absolutely love the characters in this novel. They’re so well developed that you can’t help but get to know them as you would your friends and neighbours. The naivety combined with worldly experience that Phillips presents through her characters is a heady combination in this story.

Overall, political turmoil mixes with romance and personal dilemmas to create a hot story you won’t soon forget.