Book Review for The Legend of Valentine by Sheldon Collins

The Legend of Valentine by Sheldon Collins

 I’m excited to share Sheldon Collins’s The Legend of Valentine, a novel that blends history, romance, and faith into the unforgettable story behind Valentine’s Day.

Published:  February 14, 2025 by Hutchinson & Collins Publishing LLC

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

The novel transports readers to Rome in 268 AD, a city scarred by violence and ruled by fear. At its heart is Valentine, once a feared warrior who abandons his brutal past when he falls in love with Agatha, a woman whose blindness only strengthens her resilience. Inspired by her, Valentine secretly marries Christian couples, openly defying the emperor’s orders. His acts of defiance draw him ever closer to martyrdom, but they also ensure that his story will live on for centuries as a celebration of love. Sweeping and emotional, this historical epic reveals the origins of a legend while asking what one man is willing to risk for true devotion.

 

My Thoughts:  This book… I am not even sure where to start.  It is not my usual read.  I am not even sure that I have ever read anything set in Rome 268 A.D.  But I felt like I was living right beside Valentine, seeing the world through his eyes, and making a difference in a world full of violence.

The Legend of Valentine is an inside look at the Roman rulers and their strong dislike of anyone who does not fall into line with the emperor’s belief of Roman Gods.   Anyone who worships a Christian God is believed to be against the Roman Empire and should be killed.  I enjoyed seeing Valentine find his point of view from what he was taught to what he believes.   He is a character to be respected and looked up to.  

There is a lot of details and history in this book and it is not a quick read, but it is a book that I wanted to continue reading.  I wanted to read every single word so that I did not miss any details.  For a true history reader this is a great book for you.  I recommend picking up your own copy, even if it is not your normal read.

Thank you Author Marketing Experts for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/legendvalentine

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217405700-the-legend-of-valentine

Meet the Author: Sheldon Collins began as a Hollywood filmmaker, earning awards for screenplays and films that were featured at international festivals and broadcast on premium television. With The Legend of Valentine, his debut novel, he extends his storytelling to fiction, also co-directing the multi-cast audiobook edition. Collins lives in California with his wife and daughter, where the natural beauty of the outdoors inspires both his writing and his love of activities such as biking, skiing, surfing, and hiking. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a BA in Rhetoric and the American Film Institute with an MFA in Directing, he brings both narrative expertise and cinematic vision to his work. Learn more on his website or on Instagram.