Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Inferno

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well-respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.
When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.
An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love, and redemption, Gabriel’s Inferno is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man’s escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible—forgiveness and love.


Comment: After seeing so many opinions about this book in the Portuguese forum I participate in, I've decided to try the book. I was a bit unsure about it tough, because of its similarities to 50 Shades of Grey, which I haven't - or plan to - read. But I now I don't want to now about more BDSM stuff so I stay away from it. This book people said wasn't like that and it was quite romantic, so knowing it was different from something I don't intend to read was a plus for me. I got it in July but well, same old story ever, it stayed behind until now.

This is the story of Gabriel Emerson, he's a reputed professor in a college in Canada. He's a specialist in Dante's studies and he hides a past that shames and makes him feel unworthy.
In comes Julia Mitchell, a young student attending his class and working on a thesis on Dante and other themes. They don't seem to get along at first despite Julia being a friend of Gabriel's family back in the US but after some time things can't e ignored anymore between them and they start a relationship but before they can admit their feelings they must tell their secrets...

Well, the buzz around 50 Shades was more than enough to one see the close details about this story and that one. I wasn't put off but it still annoyed me a bit. How weird is this, to dislike something without having read it and to feel annoyed at something we do read because it might be similar? Someone cares to discuss?

Anyway, his story started quite well for me, that first chapter where Gabriel demands an answer in class from Julia and she's too shy and nervous to reply made me thin we'd have one of those stories where they can't seem to connect despite all clues saying they do... I like this kind of plots because the couple must have chemistry in order for this to work. While this idea didn't come true in a way I'd have liked I was still happy enough with the way the plot evolved. But I'll say this, it did annoy me a little bit more than what I wanted to see so many details, from the clothes they wore to what they were eating and how many times they went to each of their huses and then the other's and I don't know what else, but it got tiring...perhaps a good less 50 pages could not exist but for this, which was exaggerated in my opinion.

In terms of the plot, I was mildly unhappy because it went from the I can't stand you to you're the only one I'd ever love and cherish in a way that didn't convince me much, but overall, I can't say it was bad, because it did allow them to explore their issues and it was a good start for their story. The writing was fluid enough and apart form that annoying habit of puting too many details, I didn't dislike the reading experience. The sex only happened once which was quite the surprise. Not as good was the sex description because at that time I was so bored with how long it too them to address their passion I found it not passionate enough! Maybe in the next book they'll be more hot together.

Julia and Gabriel have different pasts and experiences. I liked how each one overcame what seemed like dreadful prospects to become someone and be worthy in the eyes of those they cared about. Many mistakes in there but who doesn't make them? So, I liked how they did talk abut their problems and fears and doubts and in the end the story felt more solid because of this. Their romance wasn't as romantic as I thought, but it had the elements needed to work out.

In the end, I was happy enough like I said, but this wasn't the amazing book I thought I'd get. Still it was done good enough to entertain. With a little less detail and a little more passion it would have been wonderful, I think.
Grade: 7/10

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