Gabriel’s Rapture

I loved this book couldn’t put it down. Gabriel told Julia what had happened between him and Paulina and why he considers himself a murderer. Julia told Gabriel what really happened between her and Simon her ex boyfriend. Gabriel and Julia woke up after making love for the first time in Italy were Gabriel was going to give a lecture at the Uffizi. When they went back to Toronto they continue seeing each other thinking that everything was alright. One day Julia received a letter telling her that the Dean wanted to speak with her because there was a complaint against her that she had violated the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Gabriel was also summoned because there was a sexual harrassement complaint against him. Gabriel kept telling Julia that everything would be fine that he would take care of it, but after the meeting in the boardroom everything went wrong. After not hearing anything from Gabriel for days she finally received an email telling her to not contact him and that it was over.

Although this is told in modern day, theres a very regency or renaissance type of feel, perhaps because their world is very academic, intellectual and artistic. Complete with passion, lust, love and all the feels, but with none of the crass or crude language or improper grammar when speaking. While Gabriel is not perfect, he is still a prototype gentleman for how men should treat their beloved because theres nothing he wont do for Julianne. And when theyre together, he always puts her first. Julianne started to demonstrate her own independence and Gabriel began to see her more as an equal partner although she wasnt treated that way initially. They learn to rebuild trust and honesty. Heavy on the romance and literary references, I felt swept away by their relationship.

I found this book to be very similar to the first one – namely, mesmerizing and intense. However, the things I disliked about the first book are still there…Gabriel is controlling and Julia is still nave and clueless. Also the sex scenes border on the cheesy with all of the references to book heroines and the tender “lovemaking” (a phrase that I find repulsive). Gabriel’s need to dress and feed Julia reduces her to an infantile partner in their relationship, which irritates me to no end…(Gabriel always “knows what is best”). Also, with all of Julia’s life experience you’d think she would have grown up a bit and gotten some insight into men…but no. So really, I would say that I am about 80% taken with this series and 20% annoyed! I will certainly read the last 2 books in the series, however. It is truly unique!

Gabriel and Julia have earned their happily ever after having been through quite the ordeal. Miscommunication, misconceptions, and simply misunderstanding each others needs leads to a painful separation. However, growth is essential for the survival of their fledgling romance.

It’s a frustrating read because you find yourself trying to shake the characters. Its inevitable though because they don’t respond to shaking! These two need to go through these “trials ” to prevail. I just hope they stay strong theough the next book!

This second book of Gabriel and his Beatrice was even better than the first. Gabriel was able to rise above the scandal that threatened to tear his relationship with Julia apart forever. Julia on the other hand was slow to change and maturity did not come so easily for her. It seems her trust in Gabriel was shaken and I was really disappointed that she readily dismissed his love for her. It was obvious to me that he was protecting Julia and that is what kept me in this book. Well, truth be told it was also the fact that whenever I pictured Gabriel in my mind, I was really seeing David Gandy, lol. Now on to book 3.

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