*REVIEW* "Gabriel's Rapture" by Sylvain Reynard

Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student, Julia Mitchell. Sequestered on a romantic holiday in Italy, he tutors her in the sensual delights of the body and the raptures of sex. But when they return, their happiness is threatened by conspiring students, academic politics, and a jealous ex-lover. When Gabriel is confronted by the university administration, will he succumb to Dante's fate? Or will he fight to keep Julia, his Beatrice, forever? In Gabriel's Rapture, the brilliant sequel to the wildly successful debut novel, Gabriel's Inferno, Sylvain Reynard weaves an exquisite love story that will touch the reader's mind, body, and soul, forever.

______________________________________

My Thoughts

"Gabriel's Rapture" is book #2 in the Gabriel series, and in my opinion, is even better than book 1 (Gabriel's Inferno). After Gabriel and Julia finally get themselves together at the end of Inferno, we get to see where this not-so-new relationship goes after its "allowed" to happen. We delve WAY deeper into the characters, including some more aspects of Gabriel's past. 

But of course, once a relationship starts going, there are bound to be issues. Some of these issues, you could have never guessed were coming, some were obvious, and all in all, it adds so much to their story, to their bond. 

"I love you, Beatrice. I'm not going to leave you. You know that, right? It would hurt so much more to lose you now."

But when certain situations come to light, Gabriel and Julia are severely tested in their relationship. Their hands are forced to do things that test their love, and especially their communication. 

"She is not my equal; she is my better. She is my sticky little leaf."

There is a ton of action, a ton of guessing, in Gabriel's Rapture. It leaves you on edge, and wondering where it is all going to go. And how their relationship can survive the situations being thrown at them. But it also shows their devotion towards each other, how far a lover would go to hold on, keep what they have. But how much is too much for one "new" relationship to survive? 

"When you showed up outside my apartment I didn't know whether to hit you or kiss you."

I definitely felt even more connected with Gabriel and Julia in this book. Not that I didn't connect with them in book 1, but here we watch Julia flourish, and Gabriel soften. We get more sides of their personalities, and I loved that about this one. The first time I read this book was a year ago, and that year long wait for book 3 was a killer haha. I am THRILLED to now have read book 3, Gabriel's Redemption. Check back on December 7th for my blog tour stop and review of Gabriel's Redemption.

Favorite Quote:

"Wait for me..."