The Unwilling Vestal

Book excerpt: "The Unwilling Vestal" is a historical romance novel that brings us back to the times of the Roman Empire, in the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It tells the story of a young girl from a noble family who refuses the proposed marriage of a rich Roman and chooses to be a Vestal virgin for 30 years instead. Brinnaria, the main character, hates her role, but she is in love with the young nobleman Caius Almo, whom she dreams of marrying after her 30-year service as a Vestal Virgin. Meanwhile, the girl gets into the turbulence of political intrigues, brings mighty friends and enemies, has to save the life of her lover, who became a gladiator, and finds her way into the cruel world of Roman politics.