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Romanus #1

Romanus

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2nd Edition

Stopping to offer help one sultry summer night, Mason James is unprepared for the change that this simple act of kindness will bring. After giving an old man a ride home, Mason discovers a new, magical, and even dangerous world he cannot hope to understand. But he also finds Luc Toussaint and is intoxicated at first sight... and even the secret Luc protects won’t be enough to keep Mason away from the truth of his heritage and their love.


1st edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2010.

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2010

67 people are currently reading
627 people want to read

About the author

Mary Calmes

125 books5,015 followers
Mary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
361 (19%)
4 stars
643 (34%)
3 stars
660 (35%)
2 stars
166 (8%)
1 star
48 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
Profile Image for SheReadsALot.
1,861 reviews1,266 followers
June 17, 2016
Audiobook Review - 3.75 Hearts--Well hello Mr. Greg Tremblay!




I've read so many testaments that this narrator is one of the elite. And being an audiobook neophyte, I didn't pay attention much. I didn't know.

I figured why not try this narrator out with a book I've already read and written by an author I enjoy.

Tremblay made the book an even better experience.

This is gargoyles, Calmes style! And she even followed up with a new story, Chevalier this year. (Which I definitely will be reading)

To be honest, I prefer Calmes' contemporary the most BUT Romanus was one paranormal story I really enjoyed. Possibly because the length and gargoyles. But it had the items that makes a Calmes...a Calmes. Possessive hero, everyone is drawn to the other hero, melty kisses.




Firefighter Mason does what he thinks is a easy rescue job on his way home in Kentucky one night. Instead, he discovers the gateway to changing his life upside down. He discovers a gargoyle clan and finds a mate in Luc, a soldier of the clan. Luc and Mason heat up the pages with their chemistry. They find a balance because Luc wants to be the one and only right the fuck NOW, but Mason puts his foot down...while starting something with the other man.

And public sex.



Growly possessive public sex.

Okay, so the story hit my buttons. Tee-hee.

Now I see the difference great narration does for a book. Tremblay did different, distinct voices. He did the accents, he really narrated the hell out of a 3.5 star book for me. He made it magic. I could visualize every action and he made it better. So much so, I'm bumping up my rating to 3.75 Hearts because the narration was a 4 Heart job...the story was basically the same, so I'm not going to get rating crazy.

I had the same feels for the plot twists - couldn't stand the jealous supposed friend and the 'action'/kidnapping plot was a little out there. But it works because this is paranormal. I am happy for the sequel because there were a few questions I had that I wanted answered three years ago when I originally read Romanus - who were Mason's parents? what can a Romanus do? what will happen with a gargoyle/human pairing (secondary characters)?

Still think gargoyles were cool, loved how Tremblay did their accents (think French)! Oh la la!

This is a quick read for readers who are in the mood for alpha possessiveness, hot sex, and gargoyles!




I recommend listening to an audiobook by Tremblay.

This will not be my last.




****

Initial Reading - (2/4/13) THREE & A HALF STARS-- *smacks lips*

Just what I needed, a solid paranormal Mary Calmes story featuring a sexy alpha gargoyle named Luc and an average main character named Mason. I felt the length hindered the quality of the story...it felt rushed at times. The ending left me wanting more and I enjoyed the gargoyle mythology introduced.

This author seriously has the gift of creating characters you just want more of or secondary characters you wish to have their own book too.

I really liked Mason & Luc together, the one scene in the park? Hotness!!!
Profile Image for Barbara➰.
1,661 reviews459 followers
April 24, 2019
Okay this was strange. It just felt so incomplete. There was very little background. And, I expected Mason to balk just a little when he “saw” Luc. I dont know...it was just weird to me. Definitely not one of my favorites of MC’s.
Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,107 followers
May 29, 2017
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might contain spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Mason “Mace' James and Luc Toussaint met, and Mace is totally mesmerized by the man. He can't stop looking. Even though he's so tired he could fall asleep standing, he just want to look at Luc. Luc's not human, he's a goji—gargoyle, and apparently Mace has goji blood in him and he is a Romanus (a seer). Overall, the story is a story of insta-love and apparently not freaking out when it turns out your lover is a gargoyle — Mace just smiled. Alrighty then. I feel like Mary Calmes' stories goes like this: “Well, hello.” “Hi, we're mates.” “Really?” “Yes, you're mine.” “I'm yours.” “I love you.” “I love you, too.” Awesome. Not. God, me and insta-love does not get along. And this review is awful.
“How do you simply accept this new truth of our
existence so easily?”
“Seeing is believing.” I gestured at him. “But at some
point we’ll have to figure out how I managed to have gargoyle
blood in me and never know it...”

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book One (Short Story)
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Sariel.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - I just keep coming back to Mary Calmes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - No.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 1.5/2 stars.
Profile Image for Susan.
2,349 reviews456 followers
August 17, 2016
The perfect narration of Greg Tremblay was the only reason I didn’t DNF this one.

I can do shifter stories, but this gargoyle story was confusing and just plain weird.

Firefighter Mason encounters a naked old man in the streets. He gets the man to get into his truck and takes him home. He gets taken to a house in a clearing, where it seems like a bunch of naked people are sitting around a bonfire.

The people there are acting very strange and the only reason Mason stays is because he is struck by the beauty of one man, Luc.

The guys hit it off, there is sex, there is some talk of MINE blahblablah. Oh, and Mason just shrugs when he finds out Luc is a gargoyle and that Mason is a descendant of gargoyles himself.

This was the insta-est of insta love romances. It was weird, it was awful. Thank god it was short.

description
Profile Image for Karen.
1,860 reviews91 followers
October 28, 2017
I'm feeling a little out of sorts right now...

I have to admit I'm a little taken aback by how I'm feeling about this story. I was sure this would be a win. I love Mary Calmes and Greg Tremblay narrating one of here books is a sure thing and trust me it's not the gargoyles because hell, when my son was little I sat and happily watched that cartoon with him and truthfully when it comes to paranormal it's probably the least explored concept but it's one of my favs. I'd rather have gargoyles than vampires and some shifters any day.

I've enjoyed all of this author's paranormal series...her Warders, L'Ange and her 'Change of Heart' series so much so that I have them all on both e-book and audio. I guess it was inevitable that I'd eventually come across something that didn't work well for me and this was it. I loved the premise and Greg Tremblay's narration of the audio book...eeerrrr...story, it's just under 2 hours, so really I can't in good conscience call it a book and honestly even if this had been longer and more filled out I'm not sure it would have worked any better for me but considering all the hours of reading and listening pleasure that this author has given me...well, this one's just a blip on the radar and as far as I'm concerned Mary Calmes stories are still a guaranteed happy place for me.
Profile Image for Bubbles  Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions .
1,314 reviews279 followers
December 28, 2010
3.5 to 4 stars.

I enjoyed the story and really Liked Mason and Luc all though it was also really confusing for a lot of it, to me other people might understand the paranormal aspect better than I did.

I do not understand how Mason could possibly continue to be friends with Eli after Eli sleeps with all of Mason's dates and then just walks into Mason's room and starts touching his date while the date is sleeping naked in mason's bed.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,030 reviews100 followers
June 20, 2016
***Audiobook***Narrated by Greg Tremblay***Very interesting. Not my normal read. My first gargoyles, in fact. I will definitely read or listen to the sequel. I need to know what happens with Mace and Luc!
Profile Image for Anna Zedda.
263 reviews13 followers
September 2, 2017
3,5 stelline.. l'inizio era promettente ma poi la brevità del racconto ha lasciato troppi interrogativi .. spero che nel secondo libro della serie venga spiegato qualcosa in più
Profile Image for BWT.
2,250 reviews244 followers
June 5, 2016
Belens Audio Book Review

Greg Tremblay gives such good audio. *sighs*

When firefighter Mason "Mace" James stops to help a naked old man on the side of the road one late night he doesn't expect his good Samaritan duty to change his life forever. Coming off a double shift, he's exhausted and the strange people and sights when he returns the old man home are just plain weird. When he ends up agreeing to stay the night, it's mainly because he meets Luc Toussaint and is intoxicated at first sight.

When things get a little more weird than Mace can explain away, even in his exhausted state, he quickly leaves and goes home. But events have now been set in motion, and Mace can't run from his man or his destiny.

An interesting paranormal romance, Mace finds the love of his life, learns he is a Romanus, that gargoyles are real and he can see their true forms, and that not everyone is happy for the Romanus to have been found.

Greg Tremblay showcases the confusion, wonder, and heat of the story all while drawing the listener in and wrapping them up creating this cocoon until the last seconds of the audio.

As with any Mary Calmes novella I find myself wanting more as soon as I get to the last page. Romanus felt a little unexplored, like there was so much more story to tell, but there's good news for readers as Mace and Luc's story continues in Chevalier.

Ultimately I was thoroughly entertained by the audio, with Greg Tremblay giving another fantastic performance. Recommended.

Audio copy of Romanus provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Profile Image for Jennifer☠Pher☠.
2,970 reviews273 followers
April 3, 2016
Of course, as is normal with a Mary book, not nearly enough. I always want more.

This just wrapped up way too quickly for my liking. There is the potential for so much more story! I need more story!

Looks like in May 2016 I will get my wish. Thank goodness!

I love, love, love gargoyles and can't wait to dig more into this world.

Profile Image for Serena Yates.
Author 104 books768 followers
January 29, 2016
A new, magical, and even dangerous world discovered by hunky, kindhearted firefighter Mason? Sign me up! This story starts harmlessly enough, not a trace of the supernatural. It sucked me in, curious for the “big reveal” Mason was about to unearth, but what I got instead was a most delicious gradual unveiling with small mystery after small mystery pointing in the direction of “something is going on here” – but no clarity about the details until almost the last possible moment. Masterfully done!

Mason is a really great guy. No matter how tired he is after a double shift, he stops for the old man wandering around in the dark, then ensures that the slightly confused guy makes it home safely. But what Mason finds there is more than odd: a group of people around a bonfire, naked guys all over the place, and a woman who treats him reverently just for bringing home her grandfather. The mysteries and riddles just keep coming, and nobody seems willing to give Mason a straight answer.

Then there is Luc. The man is gorgeous to the point of being beautiful, slightly arrogant at first, and definitely intriguing. When it is all too weird for Mason and he flees, Luc follows him. A few intriguingly mysterious statements later they fall into bed together, and Mason begins to feel possessive. And when Luc finally reveals who and what he is, who his people are, it’s only the beginning of an even more astounding adventure than Mason could have ever imagined.

I read this book's first edition many years ago, but coming back to it hasn’t reduced my fascination with the world Mary Calmes has created here. And yes, I am STILL hoping for a sequel. I think there is potential for a few more stories.

If you like paranormal stories with unusual touches, if “a mystery on top of a riddle wrapped in an enigma” is your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that contains a touching love story as well as an intriguing journey of discovery, then you will probably like this novella as much as I did.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Profile Image for Bookwatcher .
746 reviews117 followers
December 28, 2010
The plot

Mason James, a firemen, in the middle of the night, going back home after work see a naked and frightened old guy running
He stop, help him, and taking him home (the old guy point a direction, and Mason take him there) will be stunned by his "friends", almost all naked. There he will know Luc Toussaint, a incredible gorgeous guy that seems not be very certain about how much he is handsome, and why Mason like him so much.

I'll not spoil telling what Luc and all his friends are. The mystery is what will made you read this story. All book is in Mason POV so you can't guess what is happening and why everyone from Luc's "village" call him Romanus.

I liked it, a lot and enjoy very much this book but lately I read some short stories and I can say how much I hate when the plot is not very much explored. This short story has everything to be a BIG story, so the fact it's so short left a huge void in the plot development (showing Luc flying, for example, was a thing I would love to read ) and obviously the romance too.
Everything happened to quickly, and I think more pages (and more time expended developing the story) would transform this 3 stars short story in a 5 stars full book.

In my view something was missing, BUT I certainly recommend it to all. Incredible funny characters, and very good paranormal story. I just think (very personal opinion) the romance was rushed, and I didn't feel the love between the main characters.

So 3 stars, and I really would love a long story with this topic.
Profile Image for Serena Yates.
Author 104 books768 followers
June 26, 2010
I really liked this unexpected story of riddles. I was glued to the pages as I followed Mace in his discovery who the people really are that he accidentally ran into when he saved an old man from being run over on a road. Luc is a bit of a mystery at first, though his attraction to Mace isn't. I would love to find out more about those two. The world building and sense of background history let me hope for a sequel.
Profile Image for Relly.
1,648 reviews28 followers
March 5, 2019
Better

re read

3.75 ⭐️

I found this one better on the reread. It wasn’t as confusing the second time. I liked Luc and enjoyed that he was just a solider. Mace is your typical Mary MC but that works for me.
It finished kind of abruptly and left a lot of questions unanswered
Profile Image for The Novel Approach.
3,094 reviews136 followers
July 13, 2016
Well, there is a lot of information packed into this one hour and fifty-seven minutes. It was hard to keep up, so I ended up buying the eBook just so I could keep my facts straight.

Having said that, I have to say I loved the story. It was sexy, dark and raw. The scene between Mason and Luc were very intense, hold your breath intense. A favorite part of the book, besides the sex scenes, was when Luc said to Mason, “You astound me. You have joined with a beast,” and then goes on to say, “By joining with me, you agree to be bound to me until I take my last breath.” Mason’s reply, “Nuh-uh, but we can date and see where it goes.” So funny!

Greg Tremblay’s narration is spot-on. Wow, he added so much to the intensity to the story. He gave it texture by varying his pace, using a slower pace when narrating Mason’s voice, and a punched-up delivery for the voice of Luc.

You really can’t go wrong with a Mary Calmes audiobook. I can’t wait for Chevalier, the second book in the series, to be recorded. This time I will be ready, having purchased the book first.

Reviewed by Kathie for The Novel Approach Reviews
Profile Image for Meggie.
5,330 reviews
April 20, 2024
This novella was way too short and way to undeveloped.
2016/June/2 - 4-star rating
I'm so glad this series continues on, I mean AMAZING!!
I had a pleasure to enjoy this novella in an audiobook edition, YAY!
Great short work!! Recommended series
2011/December/13 - 4 star rating
Damn this story is definitely to short. Even if I'm re-reading it two or three times, I feel the same. Why was it so short? I want more, more, more from this plotted world.
Seriously now, I really liked this story. It was short, sure, but really good. The plot was comical and animalistic, if we consider the sex. I Hope someday we will get some new stories from this plotted world.
Profile Image for Makhda.
877 reviews146 followers
November 22, 2016
Re- read. Before getting into the next book. Because I'm forgetful like that.

This is gargoyle shifter story. Very original. Not like I have ever read before. I really liked the chemistry between them. If it's PNR, I welcome insta-love all the way. Yum!
Profile Image for Raff Duk  * The Goddess.
659 reviews11 followers
August 16, 2017
3.75
la regina dei racconti brevi: pochi come lei riescono, in poche pagine, racchiudere tutto XD
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews

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