Beloved

by Bertrice Small

Beloved of the Gods. Beloved of men. Zenobia. Her deep gray eyes, magnificent body, and astonishing beauty rival the qualities of her legendary ancestor Cleopatra, and indeed, at her birth, her stars proclaim she will be lucky - and very accomplished - inthe arts of love and war. The daughter of a powerful desert cheiftain, beautiful raven-haired Zenobia, a descendent of Cleopatra, witnesses at an early age the shocking brutality of renegade Roman soldiers and vows to hate all of the blue-eyed strangers forever. Despite that pledge, she falls hopelessly and passionately in love with Marcus Alexander Britanus, a Roman. And it will take all her cunning and skill in war to keep the precious erotic rapture she can find only in his arms....
"Bertrice Small creates cover-to-cover passion, a keen sense of history and suspense."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Royalty, Egypt

465 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.

Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.

Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.

Reviews

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book as a teenager and then it was taken away when my mom caught me reading it. I was so desperate to read the rest that I argued with her that there was nothing wrong with reading a romance book. So, she told me I could read the rest if I read a passage aloud to her and my dad. But it had to be one that she picked out. I just couldn't bring myself to do that, so I found the place she hid the book and managed to finish reading it. Needless to say, I remember the story very well because of those circumstances.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bertrice Small is one of the few romance novelists I find worth reading, primarily because her books are infused with so much historical detail. Her stories are driven by interesting plots, hard situations, and real political figures, rather than a "will they or won't they" dynamic exclusively, and her heroines tend to be very strong, practical women, who make the best of their situations and use their resources wisely. This one, about the Bedouin queen Xenobia, has always been one of my favorites.

[Orishaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as romance authors goes Bertrice is one of my all time favorites. Her women are strong, the stories are always entertaining and her sex scenes are hot!

[Sonia N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful and sensual love story! Zenobia is a beautiful and strong Queen.
She hates Romans, until Marcus, the gorgeous Roman!!!
Ms. Small writes her magic with such details, and passion. This is an exotic and of coursr, beautiful love story!
I read this book such a long time ago. And now I am listening to it on Audible! I finished it and I fell in love with it again!

[Monica Hills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love strong female characters and Zenobia is definitely that. HOWEVER, I am extremely frustrated with what takes place in the middle of the book. I know this book was written awhile ago but it does not excuse the fact that no woman enjoys rape. I am disgusted that the author would even try to justify and say that it was just lust or that she couldn't control her body's reaction. This book was based on a real woman and we don't know the exact details of what she went through but I guarantee that if she was raped she never enjoyed it. Rape should never be romanticized. It is NOT OK!!!!!

The overall story was ok. I have read other books about Zenobia and I enjoy her story. This book could have been much shorter and it would have been a much better book.

[LaverMank · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Beatrice Small, but this one was just.. so r*pey. It was the first book from her where I struggled to finish and I kept losing hope.

[Isabelle Müller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book because the "heroine" Zenobia annoyed me greatly. What a spoiled, shallow, stupid brat! Within minutes of her husband's death she hooks up with Marcus. She gets pregnant, gives birth and when her attendants tell her that the child is a girl she shouts that she doesn't want it because she usually gives birth to sons. I'd give Zero stars if I could.

[Denika Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

I loved all of the characters they came alive for me. The way Zenobia sat for 18 hours and watched as her mothers killers died... Epic

[Susan Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read a few chapters. I just couldn't read about a 15 yr old having sex. I know those were the times but that's not what I want to read.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF after about 5 hours.

Was it really necessary to let us experience Zenobia "fall in love" with her husband? He was not mentioned in the description. And after the horrific event of the childhood that lead to her hating blue-eyed romans, i was looking forward to see how she would heal and overcome her trauma as she falls for a man who looks just like that.

All the way up until the marriage was consummated was I expecting her to change her mind and call off the wedding, or that something would happen that would prevent her from marrying the prince. Because the Prince was not a blue-eyed roman.

Why was there a sex scene with someone other than the love interest mentioned in the description? Is this even a romance? How can I take the coming relationship with the blue-eyed roman seriously after that? Because now I'm rooting for the husband!

This book will not work for me as soon as the other romance starts, and I thought I'd spare myself the hairpulling. Either the husband dies or she becomes a cheater. Neither is acceptable for me.

[Tholoana Sibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zenobia is one of the most pathetic and frustrating FMC I have ever read. Zero intelligence, arrogant and weak willed although she masks it with fake bravado. Apparently also the first woman ever to enjoy being raped.

[BlueBootedBiblioGirl]

Have both soft and hardcover - hard is 1983 book club edition

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this often. It’s among my favorite books.

[Mehwish M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine was married for years, having two sons and all that time, marcus loves her and was her companion. Slept with him on the day her husband died and forgot about it the next day. They were together for years without being married, and then she got kidnapped and became Caesar mistress. Too much triggers. Should've been better read if stay only between H and h. It's not the romance but more historical fiction with every bad situation you can imagine happening to women.

[Zaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ini novel lama. Keluaran tahun'83. 6 tahun sblm aku lahir ni buku dah terbit. Ga sengaja pula nemuin novel ini wktu kk teman kuliah 'obral' 2nd semua koleksi buku2nya. Karna 'tergiur' dgn interracial romance plus diibumbui dgn background historical so aku coba beli dgn harga yg relatif murah. Ga dinyana novelnyan enak dinikmati. Agak2 menyerempet seperti kisah roman Cleopatra & Julius Caesar but overall berbeda. Dua tokoh sentral - Ratu Zenobia & Marcus Sama2 memiliki karakter yg kuat. U know I loved strong character(female/male). Erotisme didalam novel ini pun lumayan 'erotis' walau masi terbilang explicit. 4 stars for this novel!

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almosted finished with this romantic novel. Wanted a quick read. The begininng has too many my darling and her slender waist. Some parts were too typical to enjoy.

Finished it today. I can not say this boook is totally unenjoyable. It was just okay for the most part. A few times, I felt the auther did not stay true to the time period.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice Small is one of my favorite authors of Romance. She knows how to tell a story to make you laugh and cry all a tthe same time. She makes you fall in love with the heroes and heroines and absolutely loath the villans. She is truely amazing and you would be entranced to read any one of her books. I know I am! I can't wait for her new ones to come out!

[Chris]

Ned. Titel: zenobia, prinses van de dageraad

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical romance about Zenobia Queen of Palmyra. I enjoyed immersing myself in an ancient bygone era.

[Shelley]

boring, not a strong story line for me, very predictable.

[Greyland Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Zenobia is probably one of my east favorite heroine's from Small.