Title: Finding Gabriel
Author: Rachel L. Demeter
Publisher: Momentum (Pan Macmillan)
Genre: Historical Romance
Ebook Release Date: August 27, 2015
Paperback Release Date: September 24, 2015
Blurb
Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.
After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon’s army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.
But fate has a different plan.
Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she’s moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.
Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah—and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah’s own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts—or will the cycle of history repeat again?
Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Ice and Judith James’s Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.
After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon’s army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.
But fate has a different plan.
Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she’s moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.
Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah—and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah’s own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts—or will the cycle of history repeat again?
Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Ice and Judith James’s Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.
Book Trailer
Excerpt
“Look at me. Look at what you have saved.” Gabriel released Ariah’s chin and tore away the bandage in a harsh movement. As his eyes bore into her own, pale moonlight fell upon the deformity, illuminating the twisted flesh and grotesque welts. The sight reminded her of a beautiful chateau . . . a stunning fortress situated along the coastline . . . one that had fallen into ruin and neglect. The skin was concave, destroyed, cavernous – a remnant of former glory. And the surrounding features – his burning eyes, the right side of his face, his powerful body – dwarfed the disfigurement with a striking beauty.
“Look at the monster you have created. Look upon my face, Ariah.”
She shivered at the sound of her name; slightly muffled from the injury to his mouth, it slid from his tongue with equal parts venom and hunger.
“I was supposed to die that night . . .” The last of his words ended in a choked whisper. His face fell forward in despair until his forehead was pressed against her own. He was impossibly close. And he appeared every gram a flesh-and-blood warrior – coarse and ruthlessly untamed. Sweltering heat radiated from his body and engulfed all five of her senses. She was suffocating. Visions of that long-ago night echoed in her mind until she could perceive nothing else. Ariah gave a shallow cry as she struggled to free herself once more.
“Don’t. Don’t leave me. Please.”
Her movements ceased. The words struck a chord deep inside her chest. She connected her gaze with his and was rendered speechless by the naked anguish in his stare. Regret and desire were etched in every line of his face – but what stole her breath was something entirely different. For the second time, it was neither anger nor resentment that radiated from his eyes, but a longing so intense that it nearly overwhelmed her: hope
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Review
Also by Rachel L. Demeter
This book was a good read.
It did take me a bit to get into but the story is really good. This story takes place during Napoleon’s
reign and tells the story of two different people and their struggle to come to
terms with things that happened in their past.
Gabriel lost his wife and daughter and blames himself for it. If only he would have been a better father
and husband maybe they would still be alive.
He joined Napoleon’s army and hoped that each battle would be his
last. Ariah’s is struggles with things
that happened to her after her father died.
Her husband Jacques taught her to trust again but she couldn’t seem to
open her heart to him. Jacques has been
gone for several years serving in Napolean’s army. Ariah and her daughter Emmaline and waiting
for him to come home. Ariah find’s
Gabriel on the banks of the Sein on the brink of death. She brings him home and is determined to save
him and help him heal. At first Gabriel
is mad that he was saved he just wanted to die and be with his daughter. After some times he realizes this is his second
chance and he isn’t going to waste it.
Ariah finds herself drawn to Gabriel like no man before. With the fate of Jacques unknown this is hard
for Ariah. She feels like she is
betraying him in some way. She isn’t
even sure that he is alive though.
Gabriel fought in battle with Jacques and is startled when he realizes
that Ariah is his wife. Gabriel and
Ariah recognize the sadness in each other.
They help each other move forward and work through their pasts. Will they have a future together? Will Jacques come back? I enjoyed reading this book. As I said it took me a bit to get into but
once their pasts were laid out and they began to move forward and help each
other I really started getting into the book.
I felt for Ariah so has been through so much. Gabriel is a true soldier through and
through. He was overcome with the need
to protect Ariah and Emmaline. Realizing
that he couldn’t do anything to change his past and that he would never forget
his wife and daughter Ariah helped him work through his grief without even
realizing it. He helped her as
well. He showed her that not everyone is
the same and that she could like intimacy.
This book was so sad at times.
There were some twists I didn’t see coming and enjoyed them a lot. I look forward to reading other books by
Rachel L. Demeter in the future.
Also by Rachel L. Demeter
Author Bio
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.
Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.
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Thank you so very much for the lovely spotlight and review! I truly appreciate your support. <3
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