ebook
Published May 2012 by Omnific Publishing
ISBN13 9781936305551
Read July 2012
Goodreads IndieBound and Amazon
I wasn't sure if I would read the sequel to Gabriel's Inferno. Not because I didn't love Gabriel's Inferno but because I've had a bad streak with sequels lately. Plus, after how it ended I wasn't sure if I would be able to read Gabriel's Rapture. My long time readers know I can only stand so much sex in a book. Gabriel's Rapture also was top of Erotica Bestseller List at Amazon when it came out. Yet, I loved the love story of the first book. When Sylvain offered to have a copy sent to me, I couldn't say no. I sat on it for a bit as I tried to read through my back log. Unfortunately, I just couldn't resist the temptation, the lure of the Professor.
I'm so glad that I read it. It was exactly the story I was craving. Now you may remember I did Cocktails with Gabriel's Inferno. I wish I could have done Italy with Gabriel's Rapture. While Paris may be the city of love, I believe Italy is the country of romance. I don't think I would want to travel there alone. So, the closest I will come is this photo:
Now I won't lie and say there wasn't sex in this book, but it was tastefully done and not all consuming. If you have voyeuristic tendencies, then you will enjoy it. The scene against the wall in Italy was described in such a way that I felt like I was intruding. More so in Gabriel's Rapture than in Gabriel's Inferno, I felt that the narrator was more of its own character. It gave the story something extra. I can't quite put it into words. It reminded me a little bit of the narrator of Our Town but whereas the narrator of the play is a real character, the narrator of Gabriel's Rapture is not truly a character.
I thought Gabriel's Inferno was more along the lines of a classical romance. Gabriel's Rapture was more contemporary romance. There was still "old fashion" lines from Gabriel that juxtaposed oddly with the modern setting.
The main conflict in Gabriel's Rapture is done well. Though I was afraid that with all the separate parties that were out to get Gabriel and Julia that the plot would soon have me rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness, it never got to that point.There was a plot thread that was left dangling, perhaps it will be picked up in the third book.
Oh, back to the fact it was on the Erotica Bestselling List. I was surprised by the amount of religious discussion. It is understandable that there is some since it is mirroring Dante's Divine Comedy, but it was still odd to see such indepth discussion. I was pleased with how it was handled. So often in secular novels, redemption is work-based, but in this book grace is the saving quality. With the religious elements aside, I do not believe Gabriel's Rapture is erotica. It is an exploration of love in all its forms, not just a focus on the sex, which is typical of the genre. I'm happy to see that it is now on the appropriate Bestselling Lists at Amazon.
Again, Sylvain Reynard has painted a beautiful love story with his words.
Florence, Italy photo credit: K. Sawyer Photography via photo pin cc
Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links. A free book was obtained from the source mentioned above in order to provide an honest and free review.
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