Fourteenth-Century Constantinople

The Ottoman Empire is rapidly expanding, forcing Byzantium to live under the constant fear of conquest. Theadora Cantacuzene, the daughter of the emperor of the decaying Byzantine Empire, was given to Orkhan, the Ottoman sultan as his third wife. Adora is placed in a convent at the time of the marriage because she is still a child. While in the convent, Adora falls in love with Murad, Orkhan's son. However, before Murad and Adora can express their love, she is summoned to consummate her marriage to Orkhan. When Orkhan dies years later, Adora is forced to flee Murad. Murad has decided to add Adora to his harem but not as his wife.

Adora flees to Constantinople under the protection of her sister Helen and brother-in-law, Emperor John Paleaologi. There she again meets Alexander, Lord of Mesembria and marries him. Alexander was once a pirate known as Alexander the Great, and he kidnapped Adora and her young son when she was married to Orkhan. Betrayed by her sister Helen after Alexander's death, Adora is sold to Sultan Murad. Will the youthful passion they once shared for each other heal the wounds of the heart each has received, or will Adora spend the remainder of her life a prisoner of one man's desire?

This book is not an average, everyday romance. It's refreshing to read a book where you get to view a person's whole life. I really enjoyed the way the Ms. Small built and developed the characters throughout the course of the book. She provides such intense detail of their lives, not to mention some hot sex scenes, that you feel you know them. You will fall in love with Adora and cry when she does, love when she does, and hate when she does. I would definitely recommend this book!

Adora was originally published in the early 1980's. It is a story about history, heartbreak, revenge, sensuality, and love. It starts with Adora as a young girl and ends up with her as an old woman. ADORA is truly an excellent read; it made me laugh and cry.

Kimmy Lane