Return to Exile {by Lynne Gentry}

Title: Return to Exile

Author: Lynne Gentry

Series: The Carthage Chronicles, #2

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Received from publisher

A twenty-first-century doctor travels back in time to third-century Carthage to rescue her husband, but the arrival of a deadly epidemic forces her to make an impossible choice in this fast-paced second novel in The Carthage Chronicles series.
Dr. Lisbeth Hastings salvaged two things from her accidental trip to the third century: her mother's stethoscope and her child. Making a life for her daughter Maggie back in the present is difficult, but returning to ancient Carthage is impossible. However, when Lisbeth learns her husband is slated to die a martyr's death, she must find a way around the impossible to save him.
Cyprian Thascius returns from political exile a broken man. He's lost his faith, the love of his life, and his purpose. When Ruth, an old friend, proposes he marry her to restore his position and protect his estate, the disgraced nobleman accepts. But when Cyprian's true love suddenly reappears, his heart becomes as imperiled as the fledgling church.
As Lisbeth and Cyprian reunite to battle a new epidemic and save the oppressed community of Christians, the chasm between the two of them seems too wide to bridge. But when Maggie contracts typhoid, Lisbeth must choose: stay and save the man she loves, or return home and save her daughter?
Filled with gripping action and raw emotion, this incredibly compelling adventure of star-crossed lovers will keep you engrossed with every turn of the page.

I am actually not sure whether I liked this more or less than the first book, but ultimately, I still enjoyed it. It took me awhile to get into it, but once it picked up, I was intrigued. 

Lisbeth is back in the 21st century, but she cannot stop thinking about everything she left behind in the 3rd. So, with her daughter in tow, she makes it back only to find things are so much worse than she left it. 

Although Lisbeth has grown and changed, there were still parts about her I didn't like. She still tried too hard to play God, and got mad at everyone else when things didn't go her way. But she did try, and you could tell she had matured some since the last book. Not going to lie, her daughter kind of bugged me. She was super spoiled and just rude. I don't know if she was supposed to be bossy in a way that was endearing, but she came across like a brat instead. But she's a child, so I won't hold it against her.

I liked Cyprian in the last book, and while I liked him in the beginning, I don't know what happened. Not saying I didn't like him, but more that I couldn't really get a handle on him. I wasn't sure what he was doing, or thinking, or where he was coming from most of the time. But he does grow as well, and grows into the selfless leader everyone else thinks he can be. 

This story does go through many different points-of-view, which was nice. It added to the story, because we could see what was going on, and how that would come into play later on. It was full of action and intrigue. You could tell it was well-researched and historically accurate. I love anything from this time period, and it did a good job of portraying it. 

This was a satisfying read. If you like historical fiction, or Ancient Rome, or a bit of fantasy with the time travel aspect, then this book is for you. 

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Lynne Gentry:

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Healer of Carthage {by Lynne Gentry}

Title: Healer of Carthage

Author: Lynne Gentry

Series: The Carthage Chronicles, #1

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Received via NetGalley

A modern-day doctor gets trapped in third-century Carthage, Rome, where she uncovers buried secrets, confronts Christian persecution, and battles a deadly epidemic to save the man she loves. Dr. Lisbeth Hastings, a first-year resident, is summoned by her eccentric father to join him at his archaeological dig. She is hesitant to accept his invitation, but when a tragic mistake ends her medical career, Lisbeth decides the only way to redeem her failure is to care for her confused father.
While exploring the haunting cave at her father’s dig, Lisbeth falls through a hidden hole and awakens to find herself the object of a slave bidding war! She tries to escape her captor, a wealthy Roman lawyer named Cyprian Thascius, and discovers that the city she remembers as ruins has somehow become brand-new. Who restored Carthage to a thriving metropolis? And if she is in the third century, how did this happen?
Cyprian believes God called him to rescue the beautiful and strange woman being auctioned off as a slave. He doesn't understand why saving the church of his new found faith requires him to love a mysterious woman who seems determined to get him killed by her stubbornness. But who is he to question God?
Their colliding worlds spark an intense attraction as Lisbeth and Cyprian soon find themselves united in a battle against a deadly epidemic. Together they confront Christian persecution, uncover buried secrets, and witness the beginnings of a medical revolution, but they fear Roman wrath will separate them forever. Will Lisbeth save the man she loves and the family she longs for—or will their separate worlds pull them apart forever?

It's no secret that I love all things Ancient Rome. Which, of course, is why I had to read this book. And, I loved it. It was so rich with history and intrigue and was very enjoyable to read.

Oh Lisbeth. Our main character. Yeah, I couldn't really stand her. From the beginning, she was rude and selfish, and all-around disagreeable. Then, she somehow travels back to the third century, which is a miracle in itself, and doesn't take a moment to listen to anyone else or figure out what's going on. She rushes into things without thinking about it, thinking only of herself. And the way she treated her mother...yeah, Lisbeth wasn't winning herself any favors. 

But the other characters. I loved them. From Magdalena, who was strong even when having to live with a brute who abused her, to Ruth who was kind and helpful to Lisbeth no matter how rude she was. And of course, Cyprian, the kind Christian who was trying to help Lisbeth only to have her lash out at him over and over again. He was a new convert, keeping his faith under wraps to avoid persecution, even as he accepted many others into his home and helped them, even the sick. 

This book was filled with history, and was obviously well researched. Carthage came alive in this novel, from the descriptions of the buildings and places, to the people. The gladiator games, the Senate house, all were described in a way that made you feel like you were experiencing it. Everything was on point, even up to the wedding and the festivities that would occur. 

This was a very enjoyable, entertaining book. There is no preaching at you, instead the faith aspect comes at you very gently, as Cyprian and his people learn what their newfound faith means, and as Lisbeth slowly comes to terms with this "cult". Even with such a disagreeable main character, this book was very enjoyable to read.

A Perfect Fit, novella 0.5

Return to Exile coming January 2015

This review can also be found on   

Lynne Gentry:

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