The concept is fantastic and the historical research often sings. The portrait of daily life in Rome and the perceived Christian threat is well realized . In the flash forwards to Valentine's death in the ring there is a strong, somber urgent voice I wish had driven the whole story. While a very interesting debut but I did find the tone anachronistic to the serious subject matter. People chuckled and giggled and groaned a lot. Their stomachs rumbled constantly They exchanged puns and quips more of our time. This makes for an accessible read of a tragic but hopeful tale but did draw me out of the story several times. For someone who had so little to go on, Ogle fleshes out a vibrant Roman world populated with a tapestry of characters who all have a part to play in the legend of st Valentine. Fans of Connilyn Cosette and Francine Rivers will be at home. Truthfully I'm surprised this is the first we're seeing of this story in mainstream CBA fiction and I hope Ogle attempts another unique-to-the-market story again soon