Now Available

Released On: November 28/2012

Fans of The Wild Rose Press are in for a treat with the launch of MAXIMUS - book I in the Imperial Desire series. Set in ancient Rome, Maximus is the story of an exiled soldier and the woman he wronged years ago.

Carissa Valeria distrusts the handsome soldier who rescues her reckless son from plunging to an early death. Recalling the man's heartless treatment of her from years ago, she itches to even the score, but her son hails the rescuer as a hero. When he becomes her neighbor, her son's friendship with the soldier threatens to uncover old secrets and place her family and her heart in danger.

Exiled to the countryside by the Roman emperor, Maximus Octavius is confounded by the brittle countenance of the woman he's willing to befriend. She's afraid, and he's determined to find out why. But helping Carissa and her son means confronting the guilt of his long-forgotten past and stirring the silenced passion in his heart.Can Maximus win Carissa before fear and revenge tear them apart forever? 

Four cubits away, a man idly leaned against a tree, watching her with a carefree grin on his face.

Maximus. 

“Have you come to finish the job, Ulla?” Carissa’s hand instinctively went to the knife. He shook his head. “That little weapon doesn’t scare me half as much as the arrow you had earlier. You’ve come without the protection of the bow this time. Why?”

Carissa held fast to the knife, estimating her chances at removing it before he reached her. “I’m looking for my boy, nothing else.” Her pulse raced, and her mind swirled in turmoil. She swallowed down her fear and held his gaze, desperately wanting to run away but knowing he would catch her easily.

“He is not here, as you can see.” The man’s intense blue eyes burned into hers, hungry for something she could name but preferred to forget.

“I’ll be on my way.” Rooted to the spot, she trembled. If she passed him, she would be unable to defend against an attack.

His grin faded, and he narrowed his eyes. “You don’t like me, do you? Is it all men or just me you have a grudge against?”

“Just you.”