From the shelf: Gabriel's Rapture

Title: Gabriel's Rapture
Author: Sylvain Reynard
Genre: Romance, Adult fiction
Type of book: e-book
Date read: December 05-06, 2012

Summary (cr: goodreads):

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 Review: (also in goodreads)

The sequel picks up where Gabriel's Inferno left off, the aftermath. The waiting and the longing in the first book was satisfied in the first few chapters. Everything is so perfect that time stood still for the lovers. And even the term 'sex god' not only surprised Gabriel but me as well. I was so amused that I almost fell off my chair laughing.

But of course since everything is so perfect there will come a time that they have to face the inevitable reality. Time to address everything in their past and hurdles in the present to pave the way for the possible future.

I find Julia quite stupid in the trial, seriously. I know that she's in love and wants to be on equal footing but sometimes emotions cloud rationality. Though Gabriel is such a knight in shining armor and that it's endearing and lovely, too much is sickening. Anger spoken in haste is regrettable and I do think that all of the things happening between the protagonists did benefit them. They needed the time-off to sort out everything and be together.

Too many emotions were drawn out while I was reading the book and I was carried away but it only means that it was a good read. Reading the Gabriel series and its references to literature felt like I was being re-acquainted again. I found out that there would be a final installment in the Gabriel series, and I can't hardly wait.

Love these Gabriel quotes:

"Julianne - my beloved is mine and I am hers.." 

"To my Beloved, My heart is yours and my body. My soul, likewise. I will be true to you, Beatrice. I want to be your last. Wait for me.."

“I’ll love you forever, Julianne, whether you love me or not. That’s my Heaven. And my Hell.”

“I want to be your first and your last. I love you, Julianne. I offer you my heart and my life. Marry me. Be my wife, my friend, my lover, and my guide. Be my blessed Beatrice and my adored Julianne.” His voice wavered slightly. “Say you’ll be mine. Forever.”

"Gabriel's Rapture" gets: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Can't wait for the final installment...

Till the next read...