The Wolves of Gaul by Rena Butler

Titus, a Roman soldier put in charge of a group of allies that turn out to be wolf shifters. Can they complete their secret mission while skirting danger and the growing attraction between Titus and the leader of the shifters?


From the blurb:

58 BCE. Titus Laelius Thrasea is a legionary in the Roman army, at war to defend Rome's allies. Commanded to lead a reconnaissance mission with a group of “barbarian” Gauls, he is warned that they have a special magic—but he is not prepared for what this expedition will uncover.

Suddenly thrust into the wild forest with an unlikely team, Titus has to rely on Coro, their leader, who reveals the secret behind the pack—that they have the gift of shapeshifting into wolves. Unlikely allies, Coro the Gaul and Titus the Roman will have to push past their differences when they face the ultimate challenge of war, espionage, and fate. Their mutual attraction is forbidden, but will Titus be able to tame his own desire—and the wolf in front of him?

The Wolves of Gaul is a thrilling historical tale of opposites forced to fight together, work together, and in the darkest times, love one another.


SNik's review:

Standalone. Historical paranormal. Novella. Found family. Slow burn. Single POV. 

A loyal Roman soldier, Titus is tasked with leading a small group of allies on a secretive surveillance mission about the movement of enemy troops. He certainly doesn’t expect the group he is traveling with to be wolf shifters, nor his attraction to their leader Coro. 

The immersion into the Roman army structure in the midst of war is immediate, and if you can press through and embrace the unfamiliar terminology of the time, this story quickly becomes engaging. The main characters Coro and Titus, as well as the supportive characters are interesting, loyal and committed to their cause, and the importance of their mission held my attention throughout. Full of danger, camaraderie, and a growing attraction (with a bit of spice), this was an enjoyable and entertaining story.


The Wolves of Gaul is currently available as an e-book