Book Tour for The Gladiator Prince by Minnette Meador (w/ a GIVEAWAY)

Before we get to a guest post by author Minnette Meador and a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, I want to thank Goddess Fish Promotions for letting me be a part of this tour.  Thanks too to Minnette for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit my blog.  And now I hand the reins to Minnette to discuss sex and gladiators in ancient Rome (ooh la la)....

SEX IN ANCIENT ROME – THE GLADIATORS

Bahar dodged a quick swipe of Thane’s weapon and caught the blade before it could hit him in the rear again. He jumped back out of the way of another swing. “The fact that you are a slave does not preclude you from the desires of women, Your Highness. I have seen the lines to your chambers.”

Thane snorted and twisted his lips. “You exaggerate. Besides, it is not by my choosing… your father likes his purse full, and the women pay well for me.”--The Gladiator Prince, Chapter II

Interestingly enough, gladiators were treated extremely well, even if they were slaves. They were given the best food, the best wine, and the best women. Some were even allowed to marry and the wives would pay their husbands conjugal visits. In addition, the gladiator could pick from among the female (or male) slaves that belonged to the Lanista. In the case of many of the gladiators (especially those that pleased the crowds) high ranking women paid for the pleasure of lying with them. Gladiators were the celebrities of their day and to have lain with one (discretely of course) was considered by many women as a triumph (although they were usually careful not to let a husband know of their dalliance – a husband could kill the gladiatorial lover and have his wife severely fined for sleeping with a prostitute (yes there were plenty of male prostitutes), an actor, or a gladiator).

In a few moments and without a single word, she crawled off his lap, stumbled to her tunic, picked it up and slipped it over her head with her back to him. 

Taking a few deep breaths where she stood, the woman crossed to the entrance, almost turned her head back to him, but instead, lifted her chin and left the way she had come in.  As he watched her go, a pang of loss rushed through him. Was that all there was going to be? A parade of rich wenches who needed nothing more than the touch of his mouth and the lunge of his rod?--The Gladiator Prince, Chapter IV

In Gladiator Prince, Thane is sold to a woman for a night of enjoyment. She uses him for sex then leaves without so much as a glance. This was actually a true dichotomy in Rome during the first century. Although the gladiators were huge sex object and practically worshiped as celebrities, they were still slaves and considered beneath common society by both men and women. Basically, no better than animals in their view.

Gladiators, like Roman soldiers, practice a strict discipline of training for 8-10 hours every day, a deeply ingrained code of ethics and behavior, and a definite esprit de corps they shared with other gladiators. I was fortunate to have a very special martial artist choreograph my battle scenes in both Centurion and Edge of Honor. Gene was the head of The American Renaissance Martial Arts Association and his specialty was Roman fighting style. He told me once, that although his black belts were Special Forces, Navy seals, and the like, they couldn’t hold a candle to the common Roman soldiers or Gladiators of that era. Talk about hunks… Roman soldiers and gladiators were the originals… :o)

The Gladiator Prince:

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.

To Buy:

KINDLE:    http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Prince-Centurion-Three-ebook/dp/B005O1AITI/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316487178&sr=1-3

NOOK:     http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gladiator-prince-historical-romance-centurion-series-minnette-meador/1033891034?ean=2940013390867&itm=1&usri=the%2bgladiator%2bprince

Author Bio: 

Somewhere between thirty and dust...red hair, blue eyes...six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time... wanttabe hippy... wanttheirmoney yuppie...pro musician and actress for 20 Years... native Oregonian... lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

You can find Minette here:

www.minnettemeador.com
http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com

 

GIVEAWAY:

-This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (for everyone) and is for a $25 Amazon gc to a random commenter from all the tour stops.  So the more blog stops you make a comment on, the greater your chances of winning.  A list of stops can be found here.

-Make sure to include your email along with your comment.

-Ends on October 4th at 11:59 pm.