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The Slave's Secret
A historical D/s romance set in ancient Rome.
"Become my pleasure slave."
Samara is torn when the handsome Magistrate Marcus offers her a tempting deal which would make her a free woman. He’s different from the Patricians she’s met so far, and he’s definitely more charming than her abusive master Aaron. His nearness evokes previously unknown emotions in her, but the idea of sharing his bed is as intimidating as it is thrilling. Can she trust him, or will he turn out to be just as cruel and manipulative as her previous master?
Marcus is fascinated by the beautiful slave with the flaming red hair and the exotic, fair-skinned look. Disguised as the new magistrate, he has to get to the bottom of a conspiracy, before the real magistrate can take office. Hoping to gain valuable information from Samara, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, unknowing that she’s entangled in a web of lies that not only endanger his mission, but soon also both their lives.
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This story contains kinky sex, D/s power dynamics, and traces of BDSM, and is therefore only suitable for ADULTS.
"Become my pleasure slave."
Samara is torn when the handsome Magistrate Marcus offers her a tempting deal which would make her a free woman. He’s different from the Patricians she’s met so far, and he’s definitely more charming than her abusive master Aaron. His nearness evokes previously unknown emotions in her, but the idea of sharing his bed is as intimidating as it is thrilling. Can she trust him, or will he turn out to be just as cruel and manipulative as her previous master?
Marcus is fascinated by the beautiful slave with the flaming red hair and the exotic, fair-skinned look. Disguised as the new magistrate, he has to get to the bottom of a conspiracy, before the real magistrate can take office. Hoping to gain valuable information from Samara, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, unknowing that she’s entangled in a web of lies that not only endanger his mission, but soon also both their lives.
---
This story contains kinky sex, D/s power dynamics, and traces of BDSM, and is therefore only suitable for ADULTS.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2018
93 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Kimberley Jackson
2 books36 followersKimberley Jackson’s love for storytelling sparked in her earliest school days. While other children summarized tales for class, she couldn’t resist rewriting their endings—often to her teachers’ surprise. By 14, she had penned her first novel, a historical fiction. In her 20s, she discovered a love for weaving historical and contemporary erotic romances, and in 2012, she boldly ventured into the realm of science fiction.
Kimberley’s storytelling prowess has garnered widespread acclaim, with her derivative works winning multiple online awards. Her celebrated piece, Stargate Aschen, earned the 2016 Fanatic Fanfics Multifandom Award for All-Time Favorite Fiction and was even spotlighted on a Stargate podcast.
During the early 2010s, while finishing her degree in North American Studies with a focus on Literary and Media Studies, Kimberley honed her writing craft through years of collaboration with private editors and authors. While balancing a part-time job in Germany’s healthcare sector, she continues to pursue writing as a passion project, captivating readers with vivid characters and imaginative worlds.
When not writing, Kimberley immerses herself in diverse hobbies. She studies Japanese, likes drawing, dabbles in elegant handcrafts like lettering and wax sealing, and embraces her inner geek by building custom computers.
Kimberley’s storytelling prowess has garnered widespread acclaim, with her derivative works winning multiple online awards. Her celebrated piece, Stargate Aschen, earned the 2016 Fanatic Fanfics Multifandom Award for All-Time Favorite Fiction and was even spotlighted on a Stargate podcast.
During the early 2010s, while finishing her degree in North American Studies with a focus on Literary and Media Studies, Kimberley honed her writing craft through years of collaboration with private editors and authors. While balancing a part-time job in Germany’s healthcare sector, she continues to pursue writing as a passion project, captivating readers with vivid characters and imaginative worlds.
When not writing, Kimberley immerses herself in diverse hobbies. She studies Japanese, likes drawing, dabbles in elegant handcrafts like lettering and wax sealing, and embraces her inner geek by building custom computers.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 3, 2018
3.5 STARS!
The verdict? I'm glad I took a chance!
The plot in a nutshell: Samara is a house slave in a brothel. With her red hair and fair skin, she stands out; this is both her salvation (her master doesn't make her a pleasure slave) and her curse (her master keeps her to use and abuse for himself). Her life changes when a new magistrate is appointed to the town and she attracts his attention.
From there, a complex and twisty plot of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal unfolds.
The author did a good job of bringing the setting to life. Roman society and its structures were very much a part of the story. It made for a very interesting and different read.
I did think the writing in the first half of the book suffered from 'matter-of-fact-itis' . . . which, loosely translated, means that the prose lacked the emotional punch that should have accompanied some of the key events. There was a lot of telling rather than showing going on.
However, the second half of the story saw this improve dramatically, as if the author and her characters hit their stride. I became much more invested in Marcus and Samara's love for each other.
Unfortunately - for me - the author took a serious and responsible approach in portraying a D/s relationship. :-) Ergo, while there were plenty of decent sexy times, there wasn't any kink to speak of.
But of course that would probably appeal to a lot of you. Happy reading everyone!
One in a million. If only she weren't.So I read the beginning of the blurb on this one - A historical D/s romance set in ancient Rome - and for obvious reasons, I was SOLD! :D
The verdict? I'm glad I took a chance!
The plot in a nutshell: Samara is a house slave in a brothel. With her red hair and fair skin, she stands out; this is both her salvation (her master doesn't make her a pleasure slave) and her curse (her master keeps her to use and abuse for himself). Her life changes when a new magistrate is appointed to the town and she attracts his attention.
From there, a complex and twisty plot of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal unfolds.
The author did a good job of bringing the setting to life. Roman society and its structures were very much a part of the story. It made for a very interesting and different read.
I did think the writing in the first half of the book suffered from 'matter-of-fact-itis' . . . which, loosely translated, means that the prose lacked the emotional punch that should have accompanied some of the key events. There was a lot of telling rather than showing going on.
However, the second half of the story saw this improve dramatically, as if the author and her characters hit their stride. I became much more invested in Marcus and Samara's love for each other.
Unfortunately - for me - the author took a serious and responsible approach in portraying a D/s relationship. :-) Ergo, while there were plenty of decent sexy times, there wasn't any kink to speak of.
But of course that would probably appeal to a lot of you. Happy reading everyone!
Want to read
June 19, 2023💝FREE on Amazon today (5/6/2018)!💝
February 8, 2018
4.5 stars
This book is a great read. I was intrigued by the idea of bdsm in acnient rome. I have to say there isn't much classical bdsm practice in this book like in other bdsm books. There is no bondage or whips or toys. The relationship between the two characters still feels like that of a bdsm couple with lots of hot and kinky sex in the second half of the book. I particularly liked how the heroine slowly starts to trust Marcus despite her fears and past experience but part of me wondered why it wasn't easier for her after she learned that he isn't noble.
And also---
warning---this story has rape involved in the first two chapters which caught me by surprise. it isn't overplayed or graphic. Just shocking because so unexpected. It is unusual to see a heroine in a romance novel with another man but for me it enhanced the blossoming romance between the two main characters later in the story.
All in all I loved this story and couldn't put it down. Definitely a recommended read.
This book is a great read. I was intrigued by the idea of bdsm in acnient rome. I have to say there isn't much classical bdsm practice in this book like in other bdsm books. There is no bondage or whips or toys. The relationship between the two characters still feels like that of a bdsm couple with lots of hot and kinky sex in the second half of the book. I particularly liked how the heroine slowly starts to trust Marcus despite her fears and past experience but part of me wondered why it wasn't easier for her after she learned that he isn't noble.
And also---
warning---this story has rape involved in the first two chapters which caught me by surprise. it isn't overplayed or graphic. Just shocking because so unexpected. It is unusual to see a heroine in a romance novel with another man but for me it enhanced the blossoming romance between the two main characters later in the story.
All in all I loved this story and couldn't put it down. Definitely a recommended read.
April 15, 2018
Copy/paste from my Amazon review
I've read the author's Stargate fanfiction, and this story is much in the same vein. Great characters, good plot and nice action scenes, and really really good sex scenes. The setting (ancient Rome and Olbia) is nicely reconstructed as well as the social classes (slaves, Plebeians, Patricians).
I've read the author's Stargate fanfiction, and this story is much in the same vein. Great characters, good plot and nice action scenes, and really really good sex scenes. The setting (ancient Rome and Olbia) is nicely reconstructed as well as the social classes (slaves, Plebeians, Patricians).
February 2, 2018
Hot stuff!!! Beautiful story. Heart melting.
https://giphy.com/gifs/gv0VxwSgtvIJi/...
https://giphy.com/gifs/gv0VxwSgtvIJi/...
January 16, 2022
So I'm writing my first ever review here on goodreads... because I enjoyed this book soooooo much!
Not really a review though.. more of an attemp to decribe why I liked it and a desperate hope to get similar recommendations from the community. :)
I often have a hard time describing what "rolls my boat" exactly, but with this novel I come a little closer putting it to words... it does not contain classic BDSM scenes but evolves around a D/s relationship with all key elements of a natural (but gentle) Dom, a lovely submissive (with doubts and fears), in an historical environment (ancient rome) where slavery is a natural part of.
The first chapters of the book do contain rape and non-con-sex, which might upset some people. For me they are just making Sam's struggle and distrust more understandable.
An environment where slavery/property/punishment is a reality and not "just play" makes me so much more invested - emotionally.
Context like this makes me drool over the stern but merciful Marcus even more.. =P
I guess I have kind of a "mercy fetish" - does that make any sence?
For me there is another (much much darker !!) book, that takes a similar lane:
Asher Collins relation with his slave Grace in Kitty Thomas's "Tender Mercies" deals with an utterly traumatized sub who is finally in the hands of much more lenient dom (but a dom nevertheless). I guess I need to review this as well and stop writing about it in here... ;)
Not really a review though.. more of an attemp to decribe why I liked it and a desperate hope to get similar recommendations from the community. :)
I often have a hard time describing what "rolls my boat" exactly, but with this novel I come a little closer putting it to words... it does not contain classic BDSM scenes but evolves around a D/s relationship with all key elements of a natural (but gentle) Dom, a lovely submissive (with doubts and fears), in an historical environment (ancient rome) where slavery is a natural part of.
The first chapters of the book do contain rape and non-con-sex, which might upset some people. For me they are just making Sam's struggle and distrust more understandable.
An environment where slavery/property/punishment is a reality and not "just play" makes me so much more invested - emotionally.
Context like this makes me drool over the stern but merciful Marcus even more.. =P
I guess I have kind of a "mercy fetish" - does that make any sence?
For me there is another (much much darker !!) book, that takes a similar lane:
Asher Collins relation with his slave Grace in Kitty Thomas's "Tender Mercies" deals with an utterly traumatized sub who is finally in the hands of much more lenient dom (but a dom nevertheless). I guess I need to review this as well and stop writing about it in here... ;)
October 2, 2018
Great story
Loved the story about a Roman Commander and his slave and really loved the characters, especially the commander, Marcus. The author made him the perfect, kind man and in a time of slavery and brutality it was nice reading about a good man. He was also extremely sexy and dominant. Liked the h Samara too and even though I was bugged a few times when she kept questioning whether Marcus was going to hurt her or be cruel to her, I had to remember she was conditioned from a very young age that as a slave, she was worthless and a master could never truly care about a slave. The sex was hot!! So many times sex scenes are ridiculous and go on and on so I end up skipping through it. Not this time. Again, Marcus is hot. The only reason I didn't give the story a five was because there were just too many phrases and words that people in Roman times would not have said. For me it threw the rhythm of the story off. Still, it was a great and entertaining story and I wish the author had more stories like this one.
Loved the story about a Roman Commander and his slave and really loved the characters, especially the commander, Marcus. The author made him the perfect, kind man and in a time of slavery and brutality it was nice reading about a good man. He was also extremely sexy and dominant. Liked the h Samara too and even though I was bugged a few times when she kept questioning whether Marcus was going to hurt her or be cruel to her, I had to remember she was conditioned from a very young age that as a slave, she was worthless and a master could never truly care about a slave. The sex was hot!! So many times sex scenes are ridiculous and go on and on so I end up skipping through it. Not this time. Again, Marcus is hot. The only reason I didn't give the story a five was because there were just too many phrases and words that people in Roman times would not have said. For me it threw the rhythm of the story off. Still, it was a great and entertaining story and I wish the author had more stories like this one.
September 19, 2021
3.5
Spice level 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Contains graphic sexual torture/rape, slavery, D/s soft praise.
My feelings are so mixed, because I really do love these characters. Samara and Marcus are so sweet and good together.
I love D/s relationships where the dominance is being used to help the submissive grow, explore and come into their own. Marcus is observant, caring, and doing everything he can to heal the sexual, emotional and mental sounds of Samara.
The main reason it’s only 3.5 stars is the language. I was taken out of the story WAY too often because of modern language and colloquialisms. I read historical novels so I can be transported to the time, and then “wanna” “gonna” “damn yeah” pop up and I’m out of it.
Spice level 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Contains graphic sexual torture/rape, slavery, D/s soft praise.
My feelings are so mixed, because I really do love these characters. Samara and Marcus are so sweet and good together.
I love D/s relationships where the dominance is being used to help the submissive grow, explore and come into their own. Marcus is observant, caring, and doing everything he can to heal the sexual, emotional and mental sounds of Samara.
The main reason it’s only 3.5 stars is the language. I was taken out of the story WAY too often because of modern language and colloquialisms. I read historical novels so I can be transported to the time, and then “wanna” “gonna” “damn yeah” pop up and I’m out of it.
October 17, 2018
Imagine a legal translator (I mean that does even sound stiff upper lip an proper miss) writing a steamy book like this. At first there is a mystery who the hero is. And he has to solve something. But there are more secrets in this well written story. However I was most impressed by all the sex scenes that were very realistic unlike in most steamy romance stories: when forced it can hurt and climaxing can be difficult even with someone you love and you might need it a certain way. After all those whipping doms in recent romances this was a very nice surprise.
August 11, 2022
Loved it! Ended up reading it one sitting..
You kind of have to gloss over a couple of points, ie the language, but the author did a brilliant job at making it easy to understand the different classes of people with the way they spoke. And since the actual language of Ancient Rome was Latin it’s does work quite well for a fiction novel.
There are a couple sexual assault scenes but they aren’t too graphic and are to do with her back story, so maybe a trigger warning might help.
You kind of have to gloss over a couple of points, ie the language, but the author did a brilliant job at making it easy to understand the different classes of people with the way they spoke. And since the actual language of Ancient Rome was Latin it’s does work quite well for a fiction novel.
There are a couple sexual assault scenes but they aren’t too graphic and are to do with her back story, so maybe a trigger warning might help.
November 7, 2018
Loved this
The right mix of drama/ history/ romance/ erotica. I will be looking out for more from kimberly, I'm not giving any details here because spoilers do just that spoil...... Great book
The right mix of drama/ history/ romance/ erotica. I will be looking out for more from kimberly, I'm not giving any details here because spoilers do just that spoil...... Great book
October 26, 2020
Beautiful love story
The story was full of spice between the commander and the slave but it also show that it doesn't matter what station of life you come from when you love someone you will do what it takes to keep them.
The story was full of spice between the commander and the slave but it also show that it doesn't matter what station of life you come from when you love someone you will do what it takes to keep them.
April 9, 2024
DNF at page 130/30%. There was too much rape & other forms of abuse. Just is not for me. The MMC was too much of a coward in my opinion & not really that observant which one would assume he would be since he's supposed to be high ranked in the roman military/police.
September 2, 2018
I was really intrigued by this story. D/S in ancient Rome but I was put off a bit by the amount of physical abuse conveyed in there. But there was some good parts. It was good to know how the class system works.
June 23, 2020
Hot!
Decent plot. Lots of good twists. Very steamy. Also had a few surprises. It will be on my A list.
Decent plot. Lots of good twists. Very steamy. Also had a few surprises. It will be on my A list.
November 28, 2018
I admit it, I was cruising Amazon for romance freebies looking for a fix, when I struck upon this. I stayed up to read it all in a day.
Not sure about a lesser-known self-published author?
The writing is solid and well-paced. The story is fully realized and not a mere pretense for patched together sex scenes. You get historical social class tensions, a murder mystery, and a sweet love story. The class tensions fuel much of the restraint in the relationship, but there is consistent progress and payoff so you aren't teased for too long.
I noticed one or two typos, but it didn't feel sloppy in a way that affected my enjoyment. There is the occasional use of casual spellings such as "wanna" to represent the formal vs. informal speech of Latin. The author mentions this choice in her forward. I could see it being a pet peeve for some, but since it wasn't every other word, I accepted it as a translator's choice.
But... what about the sexytimes?
Oof. Let's just say my ovaries did flips in all the right places. Again and again. I liked getting the flipped perspective for both characters. This is a gentle and healthy take on a Dom/sub relationship, with teaching elements, and importantly, CONSENT. There is a distiction made between desiring to submit to a partner vs. being forced to submit - AKA: rape.
That said...
Warning: there is rape and violence towards women in this book. However, it is not fetishized, and the trauma and healing process is addressed.
Not sure about a lesser-known self-published author?
The writing is solid and well-paced. The story is fully realized and not a mere pretense for patched together sex scenes. You get historical social class tensions, a murder mystery, and a sweet love story. The class tensions fuel much of the restraint in the relationship, but there is consistent progress and payoff so you aren't teased for too long.
I noticed one or two typos, but it didn't feel sloppy in a way that affected my enjoyment. There is the occasional use of casual spellings such as "wanna" to represent the formal vs. informal speech of Latin. The author mentions this choice in her forward. I could see it being a pet peeve for some, but since it wasn't every other word, I accepted it as a translator's choice.
But... what about the sexytimes?
Oof. Let's just say my ovaries did flips in all the right places. Again and again. I liked getting the flipped perspective for both characters. This is a gentle and healthy take on a Dom/sub relationship, with teaching elements, and importantly, CONSENT. There is a distiction made between desiring to submit to a partner vs. being forced to submit - AKA: rape.
That said...
Warning: there is rape and violence towards women in this book. However, it is not fetishized, and the trauma and healing process is addressed.
March 26, 2023
That was a very well written erotic fantasy. Definitely deserving 4 stars, though I was even thinking about 5 in that category. It has a good mystery behind actual storylines, and the writer definitely did some research about Ancient Rome. I wish there was a second part, and if not - I do hope the author writes some more stories.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews