RICHARD LINFIELD has taught film, literature, writing and philosophy in college and has been a journalist, an editor/publisher and a musician. LEILANI DARLING is an attorney, a minister and a personal growth counselor. They welcome visitors and messages at their website, http://www.loveandempire.com.

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In war-torn Judea, merchant Samara has enriched her family, yet money can't mend her broken heart. The Romans exiled her fiancé Caleb for defying their iron rule, so she's been lashing out at Rome, supporting the underground rebels. Roman ruler Valerius hunts down the terrorists while struggling with bitter memories of a bad marriage and an unnerving conflict with his brother Marcus Aurelius, soon to be Emperor. Valerius meets Samara on a Jerusalem street as she tries to help an injured boy. His loyalty to Rome is overruled by his passion for her, while her love for this Roman oppressor fills her with shame. Her father is forcing her into a noxious marriage for business reasons, so she asks Valerius to flee with her to Alodia, an African land ruled by women. Can she escape the arranged marriage and wed the handsome, powerful Roman who has stolen her heart? Their flight is halted when he discovers a shocking truth about her, leaving him no choice but to lock her in a Jerusalem dungeon