Monday, October 24, 2016

Romanus by Mary Calmes Audiobook Review


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.

Length: 1 hr, 57 mins
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

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Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook  ~  Audible  ~  Dreamspinner Press



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela☆☆☆☆☆
I am absolutely addicted to this audiobook. There is something about the combination of the story that Calmes has penned and Tremblay’s narration that has resulted in me listening to it every day for a week, sometimes twice a day. The fact that it’s just under two hours long makes it possible to listen to it daily, yet I’ve refrained from writing my review just so I had a semi-plausible excuse to listen to it again and again and again. I’ve always been fascinated by gargoyles, yet I think this is the first M/M gargoyle romance I’ve read (or listened to, in this case) and that has probably contributed to my addiction as well. You’re likely laughing at me or scoffing at my claim of repeated listening, but it’s so true that I received the Silver Repeat Listener badge from Audible, which is earned for listening to the same audiobook at least 10 times. Obviously, I have a problem and were it not for the fact that I want to get Romanus and its sequel, Chevalier, blogged this week in the leadup to Halloween, I’d probably still be putting off writing this review.

Of course, the problem with addiction is that oftentimes it’s difficult to explain why you enjoy the thing you’re addicted to so much. In the case of Romanus, that is only partly true for me because while there is an elusive quality to it that keeps me coming back for another listen, there are several specifics I can readily identify. Calmes manages to pack a lot of story into a novella and through the events that take place, builds the world that Mason has suddenly found himself a part of. From Mason’s first interaction with Fabron, we learn much about the kind of man Mason is – kind, patient, and possessing an honest concern for his fellow man – and the author continues to use Mason’s interactions with others, including his friends, roommates, and the gargoyles to show us his character. I found it to be a clever way to both develop his character and move the storyline along. The author also drops bits of information that help to explain Mason’s instant attraction to Luc Toussaint, although the extent of their connection isn’t revealed until the end of the book and is still left up to the reader to ponder just how strong their connection will be. Calmes uses an opposing faction within the gargoyles’ champ (the downside of audiobooks is not knowing how to spell unfamiliar words, which bothers me a lot) to add an element of suspense and action to the storyline that felt natural instead of forced for the sake of drama, which can happen when an author tries to put too much in a novella. Being as Romanus is a novella, there was not a lot of character development for Luc, so I hope that we will see that take place in Chevalier because I loved the chemistry between him and Mason and I’m looking forward to seeing that relationship progress further. Romanus was a sexy gargoyle romance that sunk its talons into me so thoroughly that I didn’t want to leave, while at the same time made anxious to begin Chevalier so that I can find out what will happen to Mason and Luc next.

P.S. – As an aside, I did take issue with Eli’s attitude that it was acceptable for him to stroke Luc’s back while Luc was asleep in Mason’s bed. Mason shouldn’t have had to tell him not to do it in the first place, but then for Eli to do it anyway, that just irked the heck out of me.



MARY CALMES lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and two children and loves all the seasons except summer. She graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will so not happen. She loves writing, becoming immersed in the process, and believes without question in happily ever afters, and writes those for each and every one of her characters.

Connect with Mary

Facebook  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Romanus (Romanus #1) by Mary Calmes, Narrated by Greg Tremblay to listen to and review.

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