Saturday, September 15, 2012

Sylvain Reynard's Gabriel's Inferno


Move over Christian Grey...........I've found something much better and much better written with a surprise twist!  Gabriel’s Inferno has just the right mixture of complexity and sensuality to make it a stunning read. Much like other books in its genre this book has the deeply troubled hero and heroine, but what sets it apart is the sheer beauty of watching as this pair unfolds into something beautiful.
“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.
Julia has suffered abuse in all shapes and forms from the time she was very young and continuing into her young adulthood. It has turned her inward into this meek shell of a female. Her torture at the hands of her ex leaves her feeling unworthy of her Dante’s love. Early on Gabriel Emerson a Professor at the University of Toronto comes off as a very dark and hateful man. Who out right lashes out at Julia in class early on in the story, and yet quickly he unfolds into this very troubled enigma of a man. Soon he realizes that Julia just might be the “Beatrice” that he’s been seeking. They are strangers or so they seem, little do either realize that they’ve known each other at a much deeper level for many years. Throw in many interesting and important secondary characters whose stories demand to be told, and a non fraternization rule and you have the makings for one fascinating story.
If you are looking for a steamy erotic, you are going to be hard pressed to find it in this very realistic and thought provoking novel. What Gabriel’s Inferno lacks in the steamy bed scenes it makes up for it in the sensuality and the sheer beauty of its story. The story is about redemption, forgiveness and love. I fell in love with this book by the sheer passion and understanding feelings this author’s writing creates. Sylvain Reynard clearly took his time developing and plotting out characters and a story that worked very well together in a story that demands to be told. The sheer levels of jealousy, heartbreak, humiliation, and romance he blends together that will leave you clinging to the end of your seat begging for more!
Easily a 5 Star Novel.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Teasing Novella!


A Season for Sin is a preview novella for Vicky Dreiling’s upcoming Sinful Scoundrels series. A novella is typically a short story with all the elements of a book including a beginning and an end. While  A Season for Sin is short, it is a sample of what's to come from Ms. Dreiling’s upcoming spring release What a Wicked Earl wants, it is a story in itself. The novella introduces us to Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham and his friends Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire and Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore.  It also introduces us to Laura Davenport, Lady Chestfield, who has been a widow raising her step-son Justin for some time.  Justin, Viscount Chestfield is a wild handful in need of a male’s presence, thus begins Laura’s novel solution to this ever growing problem.  Laura is forced to make a deal with the devil himself, thus hooking the reader into wanting to grab the entire book right in that moment.           
I have loved all of the books penned by Ms. Dreiling and I’m sure that What a Wicked Earl Wants will be no exception of the rule, as a rule I am not a fan of novellas because of their briefness but this one is worthy of your time. If you are a reader that cannot wait to get your hands on the next of Vicky Dreiling’s writings then this is a great way to tie over you appetite. The novella does have all of the wonderful elements that the author is known for, witty dialogue, interesting characters, and sizzling romance. It is a fantastic teaser, but a teaser it is.
4 for the briefness, 4 stars for the writing.
ARC Novella provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley

Monday, September 3, 2012

Strong Romance and High Octane At Its Best!!


Wow! Hold on to your seat for a sexy and wild ride in Joan Swan’s Intimate Enemies.  The book hooked me in right from the start. Set in Ensenada Mexico, Cassie Christo discovers she is about to have more than her fair share of trouble.  Desperate for answers following a mysterious yacht explosion that killed her mother and step-brother, Cassie sets off an investigation by asking questions that many do not want answered. The one thing she didn’t expect was the one person who offered her comfort and kindness during her darkest hour. Rio is an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and has been working on the biggest sting of his career. He has never forgotten the short time he spent with Cassie and quickly discovers that the attraction he felt all those months ago is still alive and well. However, Rio doesn’t have time for Cassie, he is determined to put a close this sting operation.  Little does Cassie know how close to this case she is as her step-father is one of the masterminds behind the illegal human trafficking network. All Rio wants is for Cassie to go home where she can be safe and out of his mind. Sparks soar as these two strong willed individuals come together in a wild ride.
Readers are sure to fall in love with this strong willed pair. Intimate Enemies is one of the best black ops books I’ve ever read. If you love authors like Cindy Gerard and Lora Leigh, then this is definitely the book for you. Fasts paced and sexy are the two words that come to mind when describing Intimate Enemies; it is full of high octane and searing romance.  Joan Swan has once more easily written a 5 star book. I know that I for one cannot wait for the next book in this thrilling series.

Advance Copy Provided by the Author