Fountains and Secrets — Lisa E. Betz

In bustling, affluent ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius, status matters-yet some dare to ignore it. And some dare to defy social conventions. Inspired by Jesus's radical views, unconventional Livia Aemilia cares little about stuffy Roman dignity. She'd rather help others and solve crimes. But when her new husband forbids her from sleuthing, she continues in secret and soon learns that dishonesty doesn't work well in a marriage. His face and reputation scarred from an old betrayal, Memmius Avitus cares about justice. Although from a respected senatorial family, he takes pride in helping underprivileged clients win legal battles over more privileged opponents, to the annoyance of his peers. When Avitus's mentor is murdered, Avitus investigates undercover because he doesn't want his inquisitive wife to get involved. His attempts to conceal the truth only cause more problems for his reputation-and his marriage. Eventually the couple forms a tenuous alliance, but when Avitus learns the mastermind behind the crimes is a ruthless longtime enemy, he fears for Livia's safety and orders her to stop. His reluctance to explain why only infuriates her into reckless action. Fountains and Secrets, book 2 in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries, is quirky, fast paced, and clever, showing readers that trust and honesty are more important than winning the battle of the wills.