This is the fourth book in the Gabriel's Inferno series and you really do need to read these books in order to fully understand and appreciate the storyline. I read the first books in this series FAST when they came out. They instantly ignited my attention (bad pun) and had me turning the pages until I reached the very end. This one not so much. The first three books also ignited my curiosity and I did pick up Inferno by Dante (2X) after reading the first book in the series. That was WORK. Whew! The first time I attempted to read it, I thought …. I honestly don’t know what got this duo so jacked up while reading this book. Of course, they were reading it in Italian, and I was attempting an English translated version. I thought I was going to bleed from my eyeballs. But then I found another version (in English) and this time the translation really worked for me and I really enjoyed it. So, I do have this series and the Author to thank for expanding my reading taste/experience. Obviously, there is a lot of Dante talk, they are academics after all and Dante Is their shared passion (well, maybe not their only shared passion).

Although, this book did not have me flipping the pages as fast as the earlier books, I still enjoyed this one. This book does pick up where the third book leaves off and shows Gabriel and Julia adjusting to parenthood, their careers and of course, an unknown danger which lies just around the corner. I would have liked to have seen some of the issues raised in this book be resolved. Things are left open-ended and I'm sure they will be addressed in the next book. This book left me wanting more and not in the I-can't-wait-for-the-next-book way but in the I-can't-believe-there-are-no-answers-way. But it was nice to check in on the Emerson's. I also wanted to shake both for their secrets. I did get a kick out of the flamingos (what?) - read the book!

Reynard's writing continues to be beautiful and poetic.

There is also a movie in the works. Passionflix has optioned the first three books in the series. Yes, that's right folks.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I re-read this series, three times, I enjoyed it that much!! I was super stoked when I saw Sylvain Reynard was coming out with the next installment, Gabriel's Promise.

This book was such a good addition, a beautifully written addition to this amazing and wonderful series!! I am so excited for the Passionflix film to be out!!!!



If you've read the previous books in this series, make sure to pick this one up upon release in January

4 stars
I have been a big fan of Gabriel’s series by Sylvain Reynard. I read them years back but I recall being enthralled by the story, the torment., the emotions, the love and the beautiful prose.

Gabriel’s promise is a different story from the other books, more “mature” as Gabriel and Julianne are now parents. I think seeing them as a married couple was both a blessing as Sylvain Reynard truly did a masterful job at painting parenthood and a curse. A curse as some of the uncertainty in their relationship disappeared, leaving out some of the hottest and angsty moments of the former books.

I want to praise Sylvain Reynard for writing so deftly about parenthood. All the emotions, the protectiveness, the wonders at being parents were extremely realistic. I loved how Gabriel was doting on his daughter. I loved how he worshipped Julianne. I loved how devoted he was to his family.
This is a time for reflection, for looking back on your life. With a baby your perspective in life is changing. Your relationship and the dynamic you have with your parents is changing.
This is the age of maturity. The age of serenity. Professor Emerson is at peace, finally.
“He listened to the gentle tide of his wife’s breathing and the soothing quiet of the household. Then Gabriel slept.”

Being a mother, I could totally relate to these first days, weeks, months with your newborn.
It truly was a delight to read.

On the other hand, even if Sylvain Reynard took care to show us their passion still intact and even added some dangers and angst in the story, the intensity, the despair that affected me so deeply in the previous books was absent or muted. I must also confess that the intricate discussions about Dante and the other theories …lost me. I love learning more about Italian culture and art but it was just too complicated for me to follow everything. Add to this what I believe is an open ending as one of the book’s mystery is still unsolved and you have the reasons why I did not give this book a 5 stars.

But it would not be fair for this book if I didn’t mention how Sylvain Reynard stayed true to his characters! I loved how Gabriel was in love with refined pleasures! His need for luxury gave us some funny moments when Julianne tried to guide her husband on a less privileged path in a need to avoid raising a spoiled brat!
“As soon as I’m better, I’ll introduce you to the magic of Target. We can browse the aisles with a large red cart, sip a Starbucks coffee, and do everything ourselves.” “You and I have different understandings of the term magic,” said Gabriel imperiously.

Should you read this book? If you have read the other ones certainly! Sylvain’s prose is still magnificent and reading about Gabriel and Julianne’s “Happy Ever After” warmed by heart.

4.75 Stars

This fourth book starts right where book 3 ended. In the hospital with baby Clare and new parents Julia and Gabriel.

Once we're released it's all about baby, godparents, diapers, waking up in the middle of the night, family, friends, work.

But there's also this very suspicious car that Gabriel sees driving by the house a few times.

But we don't really have time to worry about that too much, because we need to decide if and how Gabriel can accept this new amazing job opportunity in Scotland without leaving his family behind!!

A very exciting time for the Emersons ....

What will happen with Julia & Gabriel?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

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We're FINALLY back in Gabriel's world.

An amazing world full of Dante, grouchy professors, adorable babies, exciting and sexy moments and so much more.

I wanted to read this book in one sitting ...

but I also wanted to take my time! I never want this series to end!

I really enjoyed reading it.

I re-read the first three books to prepare for this one, because my Bookalzheimers is just way too bad. I couldn't remember most details about wha happened to our darlings!

I loved this fourth book. I adored the baby and daddy moments. Gabriel is just the most amazing & hilariously ridiculous daddy!

I also loved the whole mystery about the possible danger that this car might bring into our happy new lives. And all those problems about his work, her work, combining the two. Plus we have another little health mystery - we hope that nothing bad will happen there!!

I really loved this story. BUT now I have to say what I hated.

The first ?? 30% or so of the book ... ugh. I wanted to throw the book out the next window on page 2 in the first chapter. And then again in almost every chapter. I HATE RELIGION! I know the Emersons are religious. There was some of that - ok, a lot - in the previous books, but it was so much worse here. At least it felt like that to me. There was so much talk about god and praying and faith. I really wanted to stop reading. If it had been any other book, I would've stopped and I would've rated it 2 stars and I would've told the author to stop selling it as a romance, but to instead put it on the christian cult recruitment shelf. It was really bad. American readers will probably not have a problem with it, religion is so much bigger in America, but I just hate everything about it! I don't want it in my romances! Period!
End of rant!

Two more tiny little things I hated. Julia. Why don't you just tell your husband things?!?! Life would be so much easier if people in books would talk to each other right away!

Plus, there was a bit too much professor-y-show-off Dante stuff in here. I didn't sign up for a college course. I wanted to read an amazing romance and not chapters after chapters of Dante and hell and faith and whatnot! I love the prologue - the tiny little heartbreaking glimpse into Dante & Beatrice, but that would've been enough for me!

BUT - as I said before... I loved this book!

And Dante and religion just have to be in this series. And because I love Gabriel and Julia so much, I didn't get too upset about all that stuff. ☺ I loved reading it and I can't wait to see the first book turned into a movie next year! #Passionflix

► GABRIEL'S PROMISE was a perfect addition to this amazing series! Adorable, funny, mysterious, sexy, Dante-y. I loved it!

P.S. I think due to the relative 'openness' of the ending ... we might get at least one more book!!! EEEEP!!!! ☺☺☺

I've loved this series since it's inception. And while this may not be my favorite book in the Gabriel series I still enjoyed it. Seeing some of my favorite characters again and watching their lives unfold was really very satisfying. Seeing Gabriel and Julianne continuing to grow and evolve in their new roles both personally and professionally continually put a smile on my face. These are the same characters that I fell in love with initially only continuing to get better. Gabriel as a parent is a joy to read. I highly suggest starting this series if you've not met the Professor and Julianne and if you're lucky enough to know these characters then it will feel like a homecoming. There are references a plenty to the amazing words we've read in the previous three books.

Thank you for giving me a chance to review Gabriel’s promise. I loved the book! I didn’t want it to end. The love Gabriel and Julia have is so special. I want another book on this couple and baby Clare. I will never look at pink flamingos again and not laugh.

I was sooo looking forward to this book! I loved the previous books in this series. I was hoping that I would love this book just as much. I found myself getting bored while reading. Just when you thought this book was finally going somewhere it didn't go anywhere. So much build up to nothing. I am hoping that this book was a set up for another book in the series. This book will leave you with a lot of questions and no answers. If there is another book I will definitely give it a try because I need closure!!

This is the ARC of the fourth book in the Gabriel series. I liked it., I was hoping for a few hundred more pages but pleased with the results.

Hugely disappointed in this book. I read and loved the initial 3 Gabriel books, they were riveting and I couldn't put them down. This was slow and quite frankly boring. Finally at about the 50% point the pacing picked up but the book ended with a whole lot of unanswered questions. I was under the impression this was an extended epilogue to the initial series, but it felt more like the beginning of a new series and it's not one I am interested in continuing.

I'm sad I didn't love this book. It was good but the writing felt off. I loved seeing the characters again but the story just didn't flow for me. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Arc

2.5 STARS

As a huge fan of Gabriel's Inferno series, this must be one of the hardest review I have ever written.

It has been years since I have read initial trilogy so it is hard to recall the details. But I clearly remember beautiful prose, easy flow of the story and emotional impact that books had on me. Sadly, all these aspects are completely missing in this fourth instalment. Dialogues felt rigid and forced, storyline dragged. So even though it was lovely to revisit my beloved characters, I can't help but feel that this book has no added value to the series.

Moreover, all that unnecessary drama that was brought on just for the sake of the drama made this novel look cheap in comparison with the perfection that were first three books. Especially, considering that some parts of the storyline were not even resolved by the end of this book. Which means that (a) there is going to be fifth book or (b) Mr. Reynard did kind of a sloppy job and left some parts with open-ended ending. Either way I am not happy with the result.

Don't take me wrong, there were some good parts but nothing that would make my heart race as was common with previous books. So if you are huge fan of this series like myself, I suggest to give this book a chance to see for yourself. Maybe you will like it better than I did. But make sure to lower your expectations...