Gabriel's Rapture: 2 (Gabriel's Inferno)

Thoroughly enjoyed Garbriel's Inferno that i could not wait to read Gabriel's Rapture. Got it at 9am and finished it at night. Enjoyed every page. It turns very sad in places but what an ending. I do hope SR continues their story. The book continues where Inferno finished and what a perfect time they have together, then back to normality and all changes with drastic results which leads to lots of heartache that wasnt indended or needed. I just had to finish the book in one go to releive myself of the pain, but so glad i did. you wont be disappointed. Wonderfully written by SR again.

An absolutely wonderful sequel to Gabriel's Inferno. These books moved me to want to be a better person,learn more and live life to the full. The Professor has his issues,but he's very endearing none the less. It's so very well written,i adore it. I have been recommending this and G.I to friends and family and i'm pleased to say they have fallen for the story just as much as i did. An amazing read from start to finish.

I'm rather reluctant to write this review. I've been putting it off for a day really thinking about what I wanted to say, finally here we go. Gabriel's Inferno was one of my favorite books of the year, I couldn't wax on about it enough, so I was so looking forward to Rapture, so much that I downloaded it at 12am on the morning it was released. Right from the first few pages I knew that this book wasn't going to live up to it's predecessor. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of really good writing, Sylvain Reynard is a talent there is no denying that, he continues to weave his intellectual magic through his prose, (though his narrative voice isn't as sarcastic as previously, which I miss) and Professor Gabriel Emerson is as entertaining as ever, intense, sexy, infuriating at times; the perfect romantic novel hero. Where this book fell down for me was in the dialogue, I, more often than I'd have wished, found it immature and at times pedantic. The whole book also felt very rushed, or maybe just badly thought out/edited. For instance there were pages given over to scenarios that did not particularly moved the plot along or added any value to the experience,(Paul in Vermont at Christmas, wrapping presents, why?!) but then mere mentions/asides of important scene which we never got to read (Gabriel's final discussion with Paulina, I would have been really interested in being "present" for that chat), I'm not sure if we needed a word for word account of Gabriel's Uffizi lecture, yes it gave Reynard a chance to impress us with his knowledge/thorough research on the subject but it's a specialist topic, one in which not every reader would necessarily have been interested. I would have like to have read the scene where Gabriel had dinner with his family when he returned home for the Rachel's wedding and had to explain his actions; these are the kind of editing choices I didn't understand. Finally my feeling are that Rapture was a contractual obligation that needed to be delivered on time, with a certain amount of pages and tick certain amount of boxes and that is what it does; but it doesn't feel "loved" the way Inferno did, I wonder if there was maybe too much editorial interference, because unlike Inferno which started it's life on a fan fiction site and as such was completely the work of the author, Rapture might have had more imput from outside sources ie Omnific Publishing. If you've already started the series then it would be a disservice not to complete it and as such I am glad I took the time to read Rapture, I just wish it's effect on me were more reminiscent of Inferno (I read that book cover to cover around 4 times!) I do though look forward to reading whatever else Reynard comes out with after this.

In my humble opinion, this and it's predecessor Gabriel's Inferno gives the Fifty Shades trilogy a run for its money (and I loved Fifty Shades). It is far better written and Professor Gabriel O. Emerson has stolen my heart from Mr. Grey. This book was as fabulous as the first and I couldn't put it down. Few books make me cry, but Gabriel and Julianne's continued journey managed it once again (I sobbed buckets reading Gabriel's Inferno much to my husband's amusement). I feel a bit bereft having finished it! I sincerely hope Sylvain Reynard writes another book. I'd like to think The Prof has more to say...

I felt that this sequel is at least as good as Gabriel's Inferno. I really felt the pain and anguish that each of the main characters endured in their search for true love, compassion and redemption. The story itself is truly absorbing and even more so when you envisage the backdrop. I enjoy a book that enables you to picture the scenery so that you can imagine yourself there and Sylvain Reynard has a wonderful ability to do just that.

It was a full follow on to Gabriel ‘s inferno. A continuation of the story. Very good.

Credo che non ci siano parole adeguate per esprimere quanto abbia amato Gabriel's Rapture, sequel dell'acclamato Gabriel's Inferno. Quest'ultimo ha riscosso un enorme successo in America e in Europa e tutti i lettori di Sylvain Reynard erano in trepidazione per l'uscita del sequel. Sono contenta di dire che Gabriel's Rapture ha soddisfatto ogni mia aspettativa ed è andato ben oltre. Gabriel's Rapture riprende da dove Gabriel's Inferno ci aveva lasciati: Il Professor Gabriel e la sua amata Julia stanno trascorrendo la loro vacanza nella città di Firenze e qui Julia sperimenta la passione dell'amore e del sesso, grazie a Gabriel. Ben presto però la loro relazione viene messa alla prova dalle regole dell'Università, dall'invidia di altri studenti e dalla gelosia di un' ex-amante. E sopratutto ci sono dei fantasmi del passato che non smettono di tormentare i due innamorati. Riuscirà l'amore a trionfare o Gabriel sarà costretto a seguire il destino di Dante e a perdere la sua amata Beatrice? Sylvain Reynard non delude mai con il suo modo di scrivere unico, che appassiona il lettore tenendolo ancorato alle pagine del libro. Ho amato seguire la storia di Gabriel e Julia, e sono rimasta profondamente toccata da come la loro relazione si è evoluta. Mi sono commossa in molti momenti durante la storia, perchè il modo di scrivere di Sylvain Reynard ti tocca il cuore, riesce a fari sentire ciò che i personaggi stessi provano, il loro amore, le loro preoccupazioni, i loro dolori; è come se il lettore diventasse partecipante attivo in ciò che accade. Sia Gabriel che Julia vanno incontro a un cammino di redenzione che avrà i suoi ostacoli, ma che li renderà più forti nell' amarsi e nell' amare gli altri, nel perdonarsi e nel perdonare. Come in Gabriel's Inferno, anche in Gabriel's Rapture sono molti i riferimenti alla letteratura,( in primis la Divina Commedia e La Vita Nuova di Dante Alighieri), alla musica e all'arte e ancora una volta mi sono lasciata trascinare dalla loro bellezza e istruire dalla loro grandiosità. Gabriel's Rapture è l'ultimo volume della serie, ma l'autore ha lasciato aperte ancora molte strade da esplorare. Che ci possa essere un terzo volume in futuro? Lo spero, perché non sono pronta a lasciare andare Gabriel e Julia. Cosa certa è che questa serie mi ha segnata profondamente e non potrò dimenticarla. Lasciatevi rapire dalla toccante e meravigliosa storia del Professor Gabriel e della sua amata Julia. Non vorrete tornare indietro...

This story is so well written that I could feel the love and pain that the characters felt. I could not put it down ! Sylvia Reynard has once again written and amazing story that makes you feel like you are right there in the book!

When I first read Fifty Shades of Grey it was out of curiosity since romance was not my genre of fiction reading, I then read it several times, bypassing the bdsm (was educational) but it does not float my boat, thought this was an exceptional and erotic love story and the best romance story I ever read. Subsequently when I could read no more, I suffered from withdrawal and bought several authors who all came out of the woodwork to capture the FSOG audience, I threw all those books in the garbage. There are currently 6 authors I will re-read in this quality of romance and Sylvain Reynard (SR) is at the top of the list. Not into bdsm romance, chic lit, YA, paranormal, vampires etc. Stumbled over the Gabriel Inferno/Rapture and stayed up till the break of dawn enthralled with this erotic love story, with an intellectual point of view. I love books that have a takeaway, and the Gabriel series did that for me, I am so intrigued with Dante and Beatrice and Renaissance art and literature I was left wanting to know more. Not particularly inclined to poetry but am open to experience what I never learned. Some might balk at the religious inference but the life of Dante was during the 13th century was when religion and politics influenced each other, keeping in mind Dante's questioning of his life and his redemption was based on biblical teachings and it was obvious Dante was of the catholic faith. I loved the life of St. Francis of Assisi even though I am not of the catholic faith; the current Pope is an example of St. Francis. The Gabriel series made me yearn to visit Assisi. I thought SR captured the relationship between Dante and Beatrice and skilfully wove it into the lives of the Professor and Julianne and made it current. Who did not fall in love with this troubled, enigmatic, sexy Professor? His sartorial elegance seemed to be a cover for how conflicted he feels about himself and his demons. I loved that he was not a pretty package and that he was so highly educated and intellectual and enjoyed the finer things in life, some of which was not so complimentary. I was somewhat perturbed by the way he `worshiped' Julia, as if she was the epitome of perfection, which she was not. But it later turns out he was seeking redemption - maybe thru her own goodness and spiritual beliefs, he somehow finds the better parts of himself as his love for her evolves and escalates into a heated affair to the exclusion of jeopardizing his job and tenure the University of Toronto. Thought the Professor's choice of radio stations were boring......CBC and BBC!! I loved that the Manulife building is a place I have known and all the familiar sights and sounds of Toronto, what a pleasant change to most books written in and around the U.S. Julia with her innocence and her abiding love for Gabriel who captured her heart at 17 and influenced her career as a Dante specialist, takes us on her tumultuous journey from her troubled childhood to becoming Gabriel's post grad student unbeknownst to him at the time. I loved that she never gave up on him no matter what, or maybe until she thought he deliberately broke her heart. I loved all the intellectual bits and pieces and the reality of politics even in academia. I loved the whole premise of love, forgiveness, faith, redemption which gives us all hope thru our own belief system. I loved the whole courtship until it was no more, loved all of the experiences in Italy, made me want to pack my suitcase and take off and go drink some wine in Italy. I loved the storytelling between these two and how healing her love was to Gabriel who was trying to escape his demons. Courtship today is unheard of. Looking forward to the release of Gabriel's Redemption and the continuation of this most passionate, romantic love story that just grabs your attention from the first go and doesn't let you go. Well done SR, you are a keeper, now have purchased the whole trilogy for my bookshelf.

(Warning: Spoilers ahead!) There's a longstanding belief that sequels don't live up to the original, "The Godfather Part II" notwithstanding. That makes it all the more pleasurable to read "Gabriel's Rapture," because the book disproves that axiom so thoroughly. It takes the superb groundwork set in the first book, "Gabriel's Inferno," and builds upon it to give the reader a rich and rewarding continuation of Gabriel and Julia's story. We meet up with the couple where we left them at the end of "Gabriel's Inferno:" in Florence, where they've deepened their passionate affair while immersing themselves in all this cultured city has to offer. Sylvain Reynard draws us into the beauty of Italy and makes us feel as if we're experiencing everything along with Gabriel and Julia. Glorious artwork, most of which is housed in the Uffizi museum, is highlighted. A number of musical selections provide a lovely accompaniment to the couple's tender moments. There are romantic dinners, and even more romantic and erotic tangos in museums and their hotel room. The reader sees and feels these perfect touches, and it's another testament to Reynard's writing that it's a sensual experience for us, too. When Gabriel and Julia have intimate moments in Florence or Umbria, readers feel as if we are right there with them, and it makes us wish all the more that we could be. Even as we're enjoying this sojourn in one of the loveliest countries in the world, we get the sense that it can't last. Vacations never do, right? Neither does that heady sensation that comes when you find your other half and love them body and soul for the first time. Surely enough, shortly after Gabriel and Julia return to Toronto and their daily lives, they find that reality has intruded in the form of a complaint that threatens to reveal their love affair, which is prohibited by University of Toronto policies that forbid fraternization between teachers and students. As the investigation into their relationship grows more serious, it becomes apparent that Julia's career will be short-circuited before it even starts. In order to spare her, Gabriel sacrifices himself at the altar of academic bureaucracy, but the ultimate penalty is that it means the end of their relationship. It's heartbreaking to see the bitter turn of events, particularly since we know both Julia and Gabriel bear responsibility for what happened, though Gabriel seems to shoulder more guilt. (As the professor and academic mentor, and certainly the more experienced of the couple, he's probably right to do so.) After so many struggles to acknowledge their love for each other - so many misfires and miscommunications, so much anger and fear over their past - they finally fulfilled the destiny ordained by their night in the orchard so many years ago, only to have it denied by the very institution that, ironically, reunited them. And yet...and yet...I came away realizing that if they hadn't gone through this separation, they may not have survived as a couple despite their great love. They were better off because they grew individually and were forced to mature emotionally on their own. The heartbreak they endured gave them a better respect for what they had and almost lost. It's an astonishing thing to see because as you're reading it, you realize how rare it is. They acknowledge that the first rush of love, while real, couldn't be sustained because they'd pinned too many of their dreams on it. And in the process, they'd idealized each other in a way that also couldn't be maintained, and ultimately, could have undermined the strength of their genuine bond if the University hadn't interfered. In a way, they owe Toronto a debt of gratitude for it. Julia is understandably devastated by the separation. Having been so careful to trust Gabriel, she feels as if she's been duped and begins to doubt that he ever loved her. She tries to reach him but the only communication is a brief e-mail from Gabriel that bluntly tells her to stop. She even goes to his condo and finds that everything is gone, except for the clothes that he'd bought for her just months ago, when their feelings for each other still lay just under the surface of their skin. It's especially heartbreaking to watch Julia's efforts to complete her Master's degree in Dante studies, a subject that's an emotional minefield considering that it reunited her with Gabriel. But she perseveres and even thrives under the supportive friendship of Paul and the firm, guiding hand of her advisor, Katherine Picton. Gabriel embarks on a journey he hoped he would never have to take; one where he's alone, without Julia. Before their relationship, Gabriel lived an empty, dissatisfied existence - one with professional fulfillment but without hope of finding the love and grace he truly craved. He's forced back into that existence now that he and Julia parted, and it's especially cruel for Gabriel. Having finally known true joy and unselfish love, he feels the loss all the more bitterly. Reynard skillfully draws a picture of a man again skating along the edge of his own destruction, driven to despair by the loss of a woman who inspired the redemption he believed was always out of reach. But just as we worry that Gabriel's old vices will again draw him under, we see that the virtues learned in his time with Julia have had a lasting effect. He returns to Italy, at first to mourn, but then to find faith and grace in his circumstances. We also see another facet of the Professor's genius as we gradually realize he'd planned a way out of their situation that would help both of them. But the real victory - the real uplifting part of this story - is Julia's newfound strength. She mourns, too, but is determined to forge ahead with the life's work she's chosen for herself and her studies. A romantic alternative is offered to her, but Julia knows it would be unfair to both of them for her to settle when it comes to love. Even when Gabriel returns, she doesn't accept him easily. She's wary, careful; though her heart is sure he's its ultimate destination, she has now seen too much to fall back into old patterns. On the one hand, it's almost humorous that she makes him work so hard for it, but on the other, it makes perfect sense, and it's brilliant. Julia comes out of adversity and heartbreak a smarter, stronger woman. And she knows what's at stake. If she and Gabriel are to truly flourish together, they need to confront their weaknesses and the issues that they tend to repress. I came away from this book loving Julia almost as much as Gabriel does. At the end of the story, I thought of one of my favorite quotes, from "Zoo Story" by Edward Albee: "Sometimes it's necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly." Julia and Gabriel were forced away from each other, but they were smart enough to appreciate the lessons learned from the experience. They loved each other enough to allow it, and they put those lessons to good use once they returned to each other. There are literary and artistic references within the sequel, as there are in "Gabriel's Inferno." I found these genuinely enhanced my reading experience, as they often sparked an interest in finding out more about a painting or in reading a book I hadn't considered before. One last thought: Gabriel's Rapture is again told through the eyes of the Snarky Narrator. His wry humor and asides are a welcome part of the series. I'm really fond of him, and I've come to think of him as the couple's guardian angel. Even though he's as pointed and sarcastic as ever, you sense that he wants the best for Gabriel and Julia.

Estou a adorar a história de Gabriel e Julianne