The Flame Within

by Pamela Griffin

Raised the only child of an influential patrician in first-century Rome, Moriah has been sheltered from the worst excesses of her world. As Moriah mingles with the powerful elite, she hears whispers suggesting she is not her parents' child. Those who love her worry that her life may be in danger from political opportunists who will use the rumors to gain Nero's favor. To protect her from such a fate, her father may force her to marry a powerful man, twice her age, who is known for his hedonistic lifestyle. One person offers Moriah both physical and emotional protection - while also winning her heart. But she knows she can have no future with Aidan, her father's slave, whose heart burns for a God she knows nothing about.

Genres: Christian Romance

170 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Pamela Griffin lives in Texas with her family. She fully gave her life to Christ in 1988 after a rebellious young adulthood and owes the fact that she’s still alive today to an all-loving and forgiving God and to a mother who steadfastly prayed and had faith that God could bring her wayward daughter “home.” Pamela’s main goal in writing Christian romance is to help and encourage those who do know the Lord and to plant a seed of hope in those who don’t.

Reviews

[Roseanna Veredchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured 'The Flame Within' by Pamela Griffin! This captivating historical romance novel transported me to ancient Rome, where secrecy was a matter of life and death for Christians. Moriah, the protagonist, finds herself torn between her duty to her family and her growing feelings for Aidan, her father's slave. As they navigate the treacherous landscape of Roman politics and religious persecution, their love becomes a beacon of hope.

What I loved most about this book was the way Pamela Griffin balanced sultry romance with a sweet, Christian approach that wasn’t pushed past the G level. The chemistry between Moriah and Aidan is palpable, and their love story is a testament to the power of faith and devotion. The historical setting is richly detailed, and the characters are well-developed and relatable.

If you're looking for a Christian romance that will absolutely sweep you off your feet and transport you to another time and place, 'The Flame Within' is a must-read! With its tender yet passionate love story, this book will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

[ashbooks]

Dropped / Did Not Finish

I discovered very early in this book that I am not the intended audience of the book. So that's why I'm not giving it a rating. However, I will say a few things:

1) I did not like Moriah. For a character who is supposed to be treasured and quickly loved by those around her, she was not compelling. She was very woe is me and too aware of how pure she was and how devilish the pagans around her were. Her destiny to become a Christian was too strong. There was too little resistance and no logical reason why Christianity thriled her so much right off the bat before she was told anything about it by Aidan. She was not the type of be a rebel without a cause. Why not take the time to make it a slow burn? with the romance and the religion?
Maybe it's because I'm not religious that I'd rather be seduced into it as the reader.

2). I'll give this book credit where its due. It's very pictureque

3). Also the premise is fun!
But I do wish that it'd be more about tempting the innocent.
To be honest, I didn't get that far, but I can only assume based on the tone that was being laid out for me. It felt very accusatory and shaming.

4). I like the title and cover.