Gabriel's Rapture

(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.

Scroll to /***/ for a review in Italian. I feel like there aren't enough words to fully express how much I loved this book. Gabriel's Rapture, the anticipated sequel to Gabriel's Inferno, lived up to all my expectations and gave me so much more than I could hope for. From the moment I set eyes on the first page, I couldn't tear myself away from the book, I just wanted to keep reading and never stop, because the beautiful and touching story of Gabriel and Julia captivated me in a way that no other book ever did. I was deeply moved by how the relationship between Gabriel and Julia evolves in Gabriel's Rapture. I couldn't help but shed a few tears in certain scenes because the emotional journey they go through truly left a mark on me. The love they have for each other is overwhelming and while reading you can really feel it. They bring their love to an even higher lever, by overcoming all the obstacles that are thrown into their path, by learning the real meaning of trust and forgiveness, by embracing the beauty of loving unconditionally despite our failings. This is a story that shows that if we let go of our pride and let love surround us, we're able to find our way through any obstacle and reach forgiveness and grace, or rather, they will find us, once we're willing to let them in. A story that touches your heart and stays with you forever. "I would have done whatever it took to save you." His voice and his expressions were grave. "Even if that meant I had to spend eternity in Hell." Thank you, Sylvain Reynard, for giving us such a beautiful story. I'll never forget it. /***/ 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...

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.

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.

Estou a adorar a história de Gabriel e Julianne