| Title | : | Finding Gabriel |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 415 |
| Publication | : | First published August 27, 2015 |
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.
Finding Gabriel Reviews
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***5 "You are my light" stars***
I just finished this magnificent story and i'm kicking my a$$ because i didn't read it earlier...
This book deserves to have a place among the classics.
It was a beautiful story about redemption and liberation from the invinsible chains of a tortured past...
Gabriel and Ariah were both tormented creatures whose pasts were holding them prisoners...
They were fighters, they were kindred spirits that needed each others presence to reach into their liberation...
I shall never forget this story.
Gabriel and Ariah touched deeply a piece of my soul and they will live with me for the rest of my life...
"Us. Today, tomorrow, and always."
Colonel Gabriel De Laurent fought in Napoleon's side for nearly eleven years and he was seeking just one thing...
To end his life, to stop the torture of his past, but he never got what he was wishing for in the battlefield.
Now, back in Paris, he is determined to take his own life, and he is pressing the trigger with the hope of ending his inner torture of what had happened before many years...
“You are a soldier. A fighter. And now you must fight. Not for the emperor, not for France … but for yourself.”
Ariah was an orphan girl who had tons of ugly things that was hunting her down... Things that are holding her forever imprisoned in the past...
Her only consolation is her daughter who is very ill. She and her sister are trying to manage their life as good as possible, even with the absence of a manly figurine by their sides...
One night, as she is taking a walk near to the river, she is finding an awfully wounded man in his face and she decides to take him in her home to take care of his wounds...
And that's how Gabriel and Ariah's paths collide...
“I can see it in your eyes.”
“What? What do you see?”
“The same things I see each night when I close my own eyes. Pain and darkness.”
As you can understand, Gabriel's suicide attempt went terribly wrong... and he is so devastated for his failure.
The ghosts of his past doesn't stop visiting him, even the presence of an angel by his side. And except the ghosts, he is doomed to live forever scarred, not only innerly but outside also.
His half face is forever destroyed!!!
“Yes. You are quite right. I … I am afraid. But it’s not your face I fear. Not your face, and not this cruel façade you force upon me. How blind do you think I am? You do not fool me, Gabriel. My fears run much deeper than your scars. The thing I fear lives inside me.”
Even though Gabriel is too grumpy in the beginning, he and Ariah are starting to come really close and to develop feelings that they shouldn't feel. The circumstances that they are living don't aloud them to be together, even thought the feelings that burning inside of them...
They both have darkness to linger into them and secrets of their pasts that hold them prisoners.
Is there a hope for those two to get rid of their ghosts and to be happily together???
But the past had deep roots and it's returning to hunting them.
Can their love be the winner after all????
"Gabriel had feared he’d only bring her pain and torment. His past had taught him as much – but now he realized that he had much to offer her. He could be good for her.
“We are not our pasts. Neither of us,” he said in a low rumble. “It is you who taught me that. And I shall never betray your trust...”"
Well, i adored both Gabriel and Ariah.
Gabriel was a proud and strong person. Yep, he had made a mistake in the past that costed him everything in life. He was so tormented by the memories that made my heart ache for his behalf.
Ariah came into his life like a ray of light and helped him see that there is hope for him...
Even though his disfigured face, he continues to be this powerfull man that he used to be before the accident...
"“I am not beautiful, Ariah.”
“But you are … And you mustn’t say such things.” One of her hands settled across the uneven beat of his heart. “You are beautiful to me.”
Gabriel cursed himself while he felt tears resurface. And in that suspended moment, he reclaimed his identity again. He was Gabriel de Laurent, his father’s beloved son and heir … a proud, loyal, strong, and compassionate individual who’d lost his way in the darkness. And now he’d been found."
Ariah was so strong, fiesty and kind. She was so compassionate and she proved that by entering a stranger into her home. He took care of him and she looked not once at him with disgust...
Even though the obvious injury in Gabriel's face, she was seeing just Gabriel... The beautiful man that he used to be, even though she had not once in her life saw him before!!! And i admired her for that.
Her life wasn't easy, but she was so proud and so capable to taking care her people!!!
Ariah and Gabriel together were such a wonderfull matching! They were so good for each other. They were each other's salvation...
The sexual tension between them almost drove me crazy in some point...
“I won’t pretend that I deserve you. I am faithless. I have done unforgivable things. And I am broken.” He gestured to his face and body with trembling hands. “I know you see past these things when you look at me … but I hope I can be enough for you.”
“What? Enough for me? Gabriel, you are everything.”
Except those two, i really liked Miriam and especially, Emmaline. She was such an amazing kid.
I loved the way she was around Gabriel and i adored Gabriel for the happiness that he brought to her...
For Jacques, I honestly don't know what to say... I pittied the poor guy, but still he brought too much devastation to Ariah and Gabriel and i didn't like it!!!
As for Geoffrey, i have mixed feelings. I don't think that he was bad, but his actions were bad and totally unfair!!!
That's all from me...
If you like historical romances with some glimpses of Paris in Napoleon's times, this is one book that you don't have to miss!!!
***ARC generously provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review*** -
“There is no paradise on earth, but there are pieces of it. What there is on earth is a broken paradise.” – Jules Renard
Writing this novel was a deeply personal experience and a true emotional rollercoaster. At times, the subject matter forced me into uncomfortable and often brutal territories–and the road to Gabriel and Ariah’s Happily Ever After is certainly paved with an abundance of loss, discovery, hope, and, of course, searing passion and relentless love.
Every word emerged straight from my soul; I was connected to both Gabriel and Ariah on such a profound level ... more than I ever imagined possible. When I typed “The End,” I broke into tears. They were no longer characters, but real people and beloved friends.
I hope that Gabriel and Ariah's journey through darkness touches your heart as much as it did my own!
I want to take a moment to express how proud and humbled I am to be a part of Momentum's amazing and dedicated team. I can’t wait till we unleash Gabriel and Ariah’s love story upon the world. :) ♥“Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Finding Gabriel was unlike any books I've read before. It was exquisite, personal, emotional and I just loved it so much. It took me a good six days to finish it but it never got boring. All I know is, I want to read more by this author!
This book felt a bit like a mix between Les Mis��rables and The Phantom of the Opera. In fact I like this one just as much (if not a little bit more), which is a huge deal since I'm a huge fan of both those stories.
The story starts quite shockingly with Colonel Gabriel de Laurent trying to kill himself. This is where Ariah Larochelle, a mother of a six-year-old girl, finds him, severely wounded. In spite of not knowing who is is, Ariah rescues him and brings him to her home to heal him. At first Gabriel finds himself angry with Ariah but the more he gets the know her the more he admires her strenght and feels a close connection to her, which Ariah also feels.
My first thought when I finished Finding Gabriel was: this is utterly beautiful. And it really was for so many reasons. One of them was how both Gabriel and Ariah were broken, with scars inside and in Gabriel's case out. But when they found each other they slowly started healing. That was amazing.
This book was really emotional, in my opinion. I must admit that I shed a few tears (which is something I almost never do with reading). I felt myself really invested in the characters and I wanted Gabriel, Ariah and her little girl to have the happy ending they deserved.
This book was heavy on the romance but it wasn't too much, you know? It felt exactly right. Even when life got in the way for Ariah and Gabriel I still felt the love and connection they shared. I especially loved the scenes between Gabriel and Ariah's daughter Emmaline. They simply melted my heart.
The writing also was gorgeous. Actually, that was one of my favorite parts of this book and I was practically inhaling every sentence because it was written in such a beautiful way. I'm definitely keeping an eye on the author's future books. I just want more stories like this! -
This is the first book I've read by Rachel L. Demeter and I have to say that I am really impressed. I must confess that when Momentum sent me a copy of Finding Gabriel I initially picked it for review for the hot model in the cover xD Don't judge me I'm kind of a cover addict. But after reading the blurb I knew had to dive in its pages. And I am really glad I gave it a chance because its been months since I read such a good historical novel. It is accurate in its historical events and I love that it doesn't focus just on the romance story but also takes her time to, as I said before, made every little fall into place with the historical accuracy.
This story is full of despair, anger and darkness. It deals with PTSD when it wasn't even diagnosed and shows us the struggle of depression but also how a moment or a someone can change everything by bringing light into the darkness. Mental illness or just a traumatic past can influence life in such a way that it's even harder than body scars itself. That's what Rachel L.Demeter tries to show in Gabriel's character who is both physically and mentally scarred after a tough life. Ariah, the female character, has also deep wounds that have marked her as a person. And miraculously both characters together with the help of young Emmaline will help each other shining light in each others darkness, turning despair into hope, anger into happiness and darkness into brightness.
There are really sad parts in this book that made me shed tears uncontrollably for the injustices of life, specially at that time when women rights were practically nonexistent. There were twists and turns in the plot that got me glued to my computer screen for hours wanting to know what will happen. I would really recommend this book to all romance lovers wanting to experience a bit of a change with a rough but lovable war hero that faces his hardest battle till date trying to win his happily ever after with the woman he loves. -
Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter is a 2015 Momentum publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“There is no paradise on earth, but there are pieces of it. What there is on earth is a broken paradise.” _ Jules Renard
Sometimes I just can't find the words to convey my personal experience with a book, and this may be one of those times.
This is a dark, often painful story, on the one hand, and on the other it's a romance deeply drenched in true love, hope, forgiveness and redemption. I was on the edge of my seat, stunned by anger, moved by grief, and uplifted by love's power to transform and heal.
Gabriel is a French soldier who has lost everything a man could lose, he's torn, broken, and dead inside, knowing nothing but blinding, all consuming heartbreak. Out of his mind with grief, he puts a gun in his mouth and pulls the trigger. However, his life doesn't end there… in fact, it's just beginning.
Ariah, an orphaned girl, having known nothing but hardship most of her life, tortured by the past, is raising a sickly child alone with her sister, while her husband has gone away to war. When she finds Gabriel in the River Seine, she pulls him to safety, saving his life.
She brings the stranger home and nurses him slowly back to health. While in the beginning she is only concerned with keeping Gabriel alive, once the danger has passed it's impossible to deny the connection they have, each knowing they are kindred spirits - One disfigured physically, the other emotionally.
As time passes they will forge a deeply moving bond, will fall madly in love, and we will see the pain and scars from the past begin to melt away right before our very eyes. But, the ghost from the past will come racing back with a vengeance, haunting them in ways they never imagined...
Be still my heart! This is the type of book I seek out, but seldom find. An author that defies current conventions and trends, unafraid to write about harsh crimes, tackle the deep, emotional pain of loss, of tragedy, and recreate the brutal reality those living in France endured during and after the war. Topics addressed here range from coping with post war trauma, abuse, death, murder, forbidden love, and dire living conditions, giving the reader a realistic and authentic look at the stark reality Gabriel and Ariah are living in.
“ Hope is nothing more than a poison… venom that seeps into your veins, slowly consuming your mind, body, and soul…”
The writing is simply beautiful, haunting, and striking, verging on literary prose, which captured my attention and kept me riveted and immersed in the story.
I enjoyed the change of perspective by having the novel set in France and appreciated the author's obvious research which helped create the engrossing atmosphere within the country during the climax of the Neapolitan War.
Categorizing this book alongside the standard historical romance out there at the moment, may not be doing it justice, because the thing is, Gabriel and Ariah have real and weighty issues to deal with. They must face true adversity and draw up the strength and courage to face it, to deal with it, and survive it. There is no defiance of polite society's rules, no pompous rakes or rouges, no silly, simpering, spoiled virgins, no shallow romantic conflict, because the conflict here is life or death, it's soul searching; it's thought provoking; it's harsh, grim, even gritty, but the reward is that much sweeter because of it.
“Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Antoine de Saint- Exupery.
But, isn't this a romance novel? Absolutely!! The real thing.. love, deep, and true. The kind that last forever, the kind that will weather any storm, the epic kind, the kind you always remember more.
“Consume me. Make me yours today, tomorrow, and always.”
I admit tears stood in my eyes on more than one occasion as I watched these people go through a transformation only the power of love could manage. My heart broke on some occasions, but in the end, I was smiling through the tears.
“ I see a man who is still handsome, who is noble, and who is, above all, a fighter”
I love the disfigured and tortured hero and the strong female heroine whose strength, mental toughness, and fortitude led the charge! Ariah's character is a prime example of quiet inner strength that she doesn't ponder on repeatedly. She only reminds herself that she's a survivor, and soldiers on no matter what life tosses at her and does so with grace and dignity.
This type of historical novel is rare, and sadly the sweeping and epic sagas of bygone days have all but disappeared, which has sadly reduced the historical romance novel to a hollowed out and gutted, tepid shadow of what it once was.
Maybe like trailblazers before her, Rachel has the power and talent to set a new precedent, one historical romance is in dire need of, in my opinion, to put it back in the groundbreaking role it once held, where it took a risk, held no prisoners, did what no one else dared….
This story has all of that and I loved it from beginning to end!
5 stars!
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You know that sensation when you begin a new book and it instantly sinks into your heart? Finding Gabriel hooked me from the first scene with its shocking and wonderfully descriptive opening. And once Ariah and Gabriel met and begin their beautiful love story, the romance was gorgeous and had my heart beating from my chest! <3 Demeter's writing was lush and lyrical... Almost poetic at times. Loved everything about this story - the complex characters, the dark setting, the unusual plot and its many twists. Just breathtaking and a real gem of a historical romance!
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4.5 we are not our pasts stars
"Gabriel de Laurent was far from a superstitious or spiritual man. And yet the feeling he had was unshakable. Ariah Larochelle had found him for a reason."
So let me just start off by saying this- I have never really been a fan of historical romances. For some reason, I just couldn't get into a lot of them. But, thanks to
Rachel L. Demeter, I do believe I can now call myself a historical romance fan! This is the second book I have read from her, and I have loved both of them.
Her writing is just beautiful; it's pure poetry. The book completely immerses you into Gabriel and Ariah's world and you truly feel like you are living in the early 1800's right along with them. You feel the emotions they feel and your heart aches for ALL of the characters in the story, even the secondary ones!
Gabriel is a former soldier who can no longer deal with the ghosts of his past. Hoping for a way out, he puts a pistol in his mouth and watches as his world fades to black. Ariah happens upon him half submerged in the Siene and bleeding profusely from what she later finds out to be a self inflicted gunshot wound.
Ariah is a young woman whose past demons haunt her as well. A wife to a soldier whom she hasn't seen in years in no easy feat, especially since she alone is left to take care of her ill daughter and her half sister, Miriam.
Gabriel is none too happy with Ariah when he awakens due to the fact that he was certain he had killed himself. "Reality set in at full force. This was no angel. She was a burden, a barrier, a naive child. She was an unwanted interference in his life- an intruder who'd stolen his chance for peace." Bitter and resentful, Gabriel does his best to push Ariah away, but she is more strong-willed than he could have ever imagined. Can these two lost souls find solace in each other or will their demons eventually be their downfall?
I TOTALLY recommend this book to all of my fellow lovers of romance novels! I absolutely LOVED this book I cannot wait to read more from this author!
ps: Miriams story needs to happen... ::hint hint
Rachel L. Demeter!!! -
Blaming himself for a brutal murder, Colonel Gabriel de Laurent returns to the battlefield to fight alongside Napoleon. For ten years, feeling he has nothing to live for, he has hoped the war will claim him. However, with the war over he finds himself in Paris and very much alive. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he stands on the banks of the Seine, swallows the barrel of his pistol and pulls the trigger.
Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned as a child and victim to a devastating crime she trusts no one. But when she finds a seriously injured soldier in the waters of the Seine she has no hesitation in rescuing him and taking him home.
This was a totally absorbing story. Ariah is a tough and strong-willed character, one who always tries to find good out of a bad situation. She is determined Gabriel will live, despite the horrific injuries to his face. When he regains consciousness, even with the help of medication, he is in a great deal of pain. Now he not only has to deal with his inner agony, but the physical results of his attempted suicide. Ariah nurses him back to health and welcomes him into her small family, who live in a poor part of Paris. Her six year old daughter Emmaline, Oliver the adopted stray dog and Ariah’s step-sister Miriam all play their part in turning Gabriel’s life around.
Ariah and Gabriel’s characters are beautifully and sympathetically written. There is an initial battle of wills, but gradually Gabriel comes to realise through the love and support of this little family he can escape the ghosts of his past. The story at first centres around Ariah and Gabriel, switching between past and present, enabling us to see how they have both become the damaged souls they are today. They fall passionately in love and just as you are thinking ‘happy ever after’, the unthinkable happens! A wonderful story – I didn’t want it to end! -
Rachel L. Demeter, you did it again! You skillfully bring your reader thru a heady experience, no emotion goes untouched. Historical Romance is truly your genre. You definitely do your homework, the historical accuracy is so acute, the slightest nuances brought to the readers attention, and the romance is Ooh La la! Reading Finding Gabriel I felt transported back in time and Paris comes alive with all your delicious characters.
You remind me of one of my favorite authors Diana Gabaldon who wrote the Outlander series, I liken your writing to hers in the way you develop your characters and how your gifted in your ability to transport your reader to another place in time and if I might add it was the best vicarious sex I've had since reading Ms. Gabaldon's novels! Looking forward to reading your next book. -
Finding Gabriel is a novel that takes place in France during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte and the War, it starts out in 1815, but flashes back and forth between ten years before that time.
In the opening pages we come across a man, Gabriel De Laurent, a greatly decorated soldier who has gotten back from the war. Gabriel is so disillusioned, so broken and so alone, with nothing to live for, that he can no longer stand all of his haunted thoughts and memories, and the loss of his family 11 years ago. So Gabriel goes down to the river's edge and decides to do away with himself. He pulls out his flintlock pistol and sticks it in his mouth and pulls the trigger. Now What?
A young 22 year old woman, Ariah Larochelle, happened to be walking out alone that night. This young woman lost her beloved father when she was 12 years old and became orphaned, as her mother died in childbirth so her father was all she had. Taken in by horrible people, she is also a victim of a vicious crime and at the age of 15, becomes a single mother. Her half sister, who has a horrid life as well living with a vicious mother, decides to run away with Ariah, and they live together now, along with Emmaline, the daughter of Ariah who has been very sick with whooping cough for a very long time. She is so lonely for friendship Ariah even brings an old hungry and skinny dog home for her to play with.
When Ariah was walking along the river, she saw Gabriel laying half in the water, so she pulls him out and he is almost dead, but she gets him to her home and starts to take care of him. The whole left side of his face right under his eye is pretty much blown off. When the doctor comes to see about him, knowing how innocent and good Ariah is, he worries about her keeping the man there in her home, and encourages her to bring him to a place that takes care of people such as this man, but she firmly refuses to leave this man's fate in the hands of someone or somewhere that would not really care, like she went through when she became an orphan.
When Gabriel finally starts coming around, he can't believe he is still alive, but with patience Ariah has started nursing him back and sensing that she is as lost as he is, he quietly starts having feelings for her, feelings he quit having a long time ago. He admires how strong she seems to be no matter what is going on, and he can't believe she is not repulsed by his horrible scars! To Gabriel, Ariah is like an angel.
They both have horrible memories of things that have happened in their lives, things they are not willing to share, old ghosts, secrets that can keep any kind of relationship impossible until they confide in each other. Indeed Gabriel on several occasions has yelled and cried out in his sleep and when he was delirious from all his pain, and he can see that lost and broken, look in Ariah's eyes.
This book was so wonderful and so well written. This author takes the time to describe everything in detail, from what they eat to their way of dress, to what the place is like where they live. There is a lot of atmosphere in this story, which kept me enthralled and hanging on to every paragraph. All the characters are well developed and you feel like you can step into this book and be a witness to everything that is happening first hand. There were a lot of plot twists along the way that always kept the story moving, and I hated putting the book down, when I could no longer stay awake. I could not help but feel so much empathy for each and every character in this book.
Read this book and finds out what happens to all these people, and see if there is any way that anything good can come out of their lives especially when old characters start showing up, see what happens!
I gave this book 5***** beautiful stars and am so glad I got a chance to read a book like this, I know I will read this again and again from time to time. -
2.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A soldier with nothing to lose has everything to sacrifice.
With his emperor imprisoned, the most important battle Colonel Gabriel de Laurent has left to fight is with his self. On a dark night by the Seine, his demons win and in full dress uniform he takes his pistol, places it in his mouth, and pulls the trigger. While it looks like he lost this battle, he has not yet lost the war. Ariah, wrestling with her own past, comes upon Gabriel and wanting to atone for misdeeds brings him home to care for him. In a defeated Paris, a different kind of war is being fought in a little house tucked back into a poorer neighborhood but can Ariah and Gabriel break free from their self-imposed imprisonments?
Now his face would match the tattered depths of his soul.
Finding Gabriel was a different toned historical romance, instead of the very common English soldier story we have a French soldier from the Napoleonic Wars hero, a heroine who is married, and the French feelings of defeat, loss, and what happens now bleeding into and helping to create the story's atmosphere. The book description mentions Les Miserables and I would definitely agree it has that feel as I felt like the overall dark and murky story took over from the characters at times. This was a combination of fiction and romance but in a way that I felt romance readers would want more focus on the romance and fiction readers would want less. Especially in the beginning, I felt the story was overwritten, in the way that everything is over described in a flowery way; think poetry. There were a lot of flashbacks for our main characters weaved into the story and in the beginning they were a bit jarring at times. We don't get Ariah and Gabriel's full stories of why they are broken people until around the 60% mark. I started to feel like I was reading the diary of a teenager who was going on and on about how hard a life they have lived but didn't want to tell me to keep feeding off the drama.
A frown creased her lips as she echoed the word, "This…" Her finger skimmed his greatcoat, traveling from decoration to decoration. A trail of heat formed wherever she dared touch. Swallowing deeply, he stiffened and tightened his grasp on the bowl. It soon threatened to shatter against his damn palm. "And what precisely is this?"
Swept with emotion, Gabriel shook his head and struggled to form a coherent answer. "Defeat."
With being introduced to Gabriel as he is committing suicide, he definitely came across as a dark and tortured character. He is a bear to Ariah in the beginning but it all read natural and fit into the story. Ariah veered into martyrdom a few times with her saintliness but her will to keep fighting, what I imagine many a woman would have been forced to endure during these times, will endear her to many readers. The majority of the story takes place in Ariah's house but I strangely felt like Ariah and Gabriel didn't spend enough time together but what I think I was really missing was Ariah and Gabriel talking to each other instead of around each other; they are in their own heads a lot. There were sentences and sentences of descriptions but I wanted our characters to physically take part in the story, too.
The thing I fear lives inside me.
Secondary characters did a wonderful job of rounding out the story and broadening it more. Ariah's daughter worked well with Gabriel to help bring him out of his mind more and wake him up. Miriam, Ariah's sister, had her own, very tiny, romance story but only popped in enough to minutely play devil's advocate in regards to taking care of Gabriel rather than being a full bodied character. Ariah's past demon represented by the character Geoffery and her lost at war husband Jacques, helped to add more to Ariah but on their own felt like hanger-ons in the story. The climax of their story comes on a little too quickly and wraps up a little too perfectly.
A way to find beauty in the darkness.
Overall, I liked this story because of its differentness in regards to the typical romance genre story and the outline of Gabriel's character (I felt the author approached the line with Gabriel's attempted suicide but didn't fully commit with leaving out how having a gaping hole, with bone fragments protruding, in one's cheek would cause difficulty in eating, kissing, and drooling) but the writing style just didn't jive with my personal tastes. I needed more action and less description, this reads to be a highly emotional story but I didn't feel a connection to the characters.
Indeed, the greatest pieces of artwork told stories, offered beauty, and whispered painful truths.
If highly descriptive writing with a dark and murky feel and slower moving, in fact I imagine the author writing this story on parchment with a quill and sonatas blasting in the background, is to your liking, then this would be worthy of a read. Also, Napoleon escapes in time to make an appearance and pines over Josephine for a spell, something readers who favor history will delight in. -
War, a battle of political egos fought with the flesh, blood and heart of soldiers. Survival and coming home should be wonderful, but do you think PTSD is a modern day discovery? For Colonel Grabriel de Laurant, ten years fighting beside Napoleon is his own personal suicide and atonement plan. When he couldn’t be killed on the battlefield, he attempted to end his private suffering with a bullet. Another epic fail as, with his life’s blood pouring into the Seine River and his face damaged beyond repair, he is taken in and nursed back to health by a tiny woman with a heart of gold and a will of steel.
Ariah has lived her own personal hell, orphaned, a victim of a heinous attack, she trusts no one, watches her back and protects those she loves like a fierce lioness. Did Fate have a plan for these two kindred souls to meet? Will they be able to heal the wounds of the past in each other? Ariah needs to learn to trust, Gabriel needs to learn to forgive. Together they need to look to the future with a ray of hope.
Rachel Demeter has poured rich detail, fierce emotion and a piece of her own soul into Finding Gabriel, a historical romance in one of history’s darkest times. Allow yourself to be swept back in time, and see the lives these two have led prior to their meeting. See each begin to bloom like a delicate rose as their own healing begins when they draw upon each other, an arthritic dog and the sweet innocence and joy of Ariah’s young daughter.
I was transported to a time and place that felt bleak, dark and raw. Rachel Demeter has reason to be proud of her work, as she breathes life and hope into two lost souls fighting for reasons to go on and thrive. Not your typical bosom-heaving romance, this feels like a genuine piece of history shared in contemporary times.
I received an ARC copy from Rachel Demeter in exchange for my honest review. Highly recommended!
Publication Date: August 27, 2015
Publisher: Momentum
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 366 pages
Available from:
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I admire authors who push the boundaries of the established norms of historical romance and Rachel L. Demeter does just that in this dark and intensely emotional story. I found myself totally immersed in the compelling world she created and her fascinating, flawed characters.
…the only journey worth traveling starts from within.
Gabriel is full of despair and all-consuming guilt following the horrific deaths of his wife and child for which he feels responsible. When he finds no solace in drink, he joins Napoleon’s army, not for honour or glory, but as an act of self-punishment, believing he will surely die on the battlefield. Instead of death, he becomes one of Napoleon’s esteemed regiment commanders, highly decorated and applauded for his bravery. On his return to Paris, however, he cannot escape the past or the cold numbness he feels inside. So, standing by the dark waters of the Seine, he resolves to take his own life –
Now there would be no more pain. No more nightmares. No more agony.
– only to have fate send an ‘angel’ in the form of Ariah Larochelle.
Ariah may look petite and fragile but she has spirit and determination. Despite being orphaned at the age of 15 and betrayed by the very person she came to love and trust, she is a survivor. However, the past has left its mark.
Perhaps there was a darkness behind her pure façade that equaled his own. Only her scars were internal rather than flesh wounds.
She’s raising her 5 year old daughter, Emmeline, and has also provided a home for her half-sister, Miriam. The scenes between these three are charmingly portrayed. I love how Ariah’s compassion overrules her fear of taking in a stranger when she finds the badly injured Gabriel.
Ms Demeter doesn’t shy away from scenes that are often harrowing and brutal but I was riveted to the pages. Whether it’s descriptions of Gabriel’s horrific injuries, the brutality of battle or the sweeping landscape of Paris, everything is brought vividly to life. My only criticism is that sometimes I felt that her descriptive prose was a little too verbose.
The speed with which Gabriel’s recovers from his facial injuries does seem unrealistic but it didn’t detract from the overall impact of the story.
The romance between Gabriel and Ariah was emotional, heart-rending, poignant, dramatic and passionate and I’m sharing a few of my favourite moments which also showcase Ms Demeter’s beautiful poetic prose.
Ariah lifted a hand to his looming face and gently grazed a fingertip over the marred flesh. It was rigid and coarse, twisted and corrupt. And yet it concealed a delicate soul that was in jeopardy of fading away forever.
~~~
“Yes. I see much pain and darkness. But more than that, I see an internal war: strength and vulnerability … love and hatred … tender memories mixed with sadness. And beneath those conflicting emotions I see something much greater: hope.”
~~~
But Ariah’s true beauty lay within; it was her fierce spirit, determination, and kind heart that he’d fallen deeply, irrevocably in love with.
~~~
Somewhere along this strange journey, hope had emerged from the depths of despair.
~~~
Both have to face their pasts in different ways and this leads to a series of dramatic events which threaten their fledging love. There is a harrowing climax but I think it was the only way the story could be resolved to bring about Gabriel and Ariah’s happy ending.
The scenes between Emmeline and Gabriel are delightful and reveal his gentleness and sensitivity. I love the kindly Doctor Mongeau and the scene where Ariah realises that he is saying a final goodbye is so poignant. The scene where Oliver, Ariah’s old dog, pees up nasty neighbour, Madam Dupont’s front door provides a welcome touch of humour.
The historical setting, Paris during the period following the defeat of Napoleon, definitely bought an interesting perspective to the story, especially with a cameo appearance by Napoleon himself.
I picked this final quote because I think it so beautifully sums up the essence of the story.
Here they stood, two shattered souls made complete through each other.
MY VERDICT: If you enjoy a dark, intense romance with an original plot and unforgettable characters, then you will definitely want to read FINDING GABRIEL. I will certainly be looking to read more by this author.
REVIEW RATING: 4/5 STARS
**I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review**
This review is also posteed on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com... -
Can't recommend this book enough. I enjoyed every moment - even the moments spent crying and coiling in horror for the lovely Gabriel and Ariah. The emotional scope portrayed in this book is stunning!
This is an epic love story which teaches us that no matter how horrible life gets, no matter hopeless things may seem, with the right person to love and love you back, you will not just survive but persevere and grow stronger. Be still my beating heart! -
Originally posted on
http://mikkysworldofbooks.blogspot.fr...
Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of historical romance and, any well-written book that bears this label, has always been close to my heart.
The story Rachel L. Demeter has chosen to bring to life – that of a tormented man saved by a woman, who manages to convince him that he isn’t the person he thought he was – became one of the best I have read so far.
After losing his family and experiencing the tragedy of wars and countless fights, Colonel Gabriel de Laurent makes up his mind and decides to kill himself. Without any trace of faith or hope, the last thing he expects is to be saved from his own doing and be given a second chance.
“Broken and alone, Gabriel had returned from the battlefields months earlier. And he’d departed for the war fully intending to die. But things hadn’t gone according to his plan.”
Ariah Larochelle has been through a lot in her life, but she still has a lot of goodness left in her soul. When she stumbles across a wounded soldier who only has minutes left to live, she immediately decides to take him under her roof.
Both Gabriel and Ariah are survivors of awful events that marked their lives and themselves. Their relationship unfolds beautifully and, together, they heal each other’s wounds.
“Thoughts of Ariah and his past invaded his mind, refusing to grant him rest. He wanted to hate her – non, he wanted to despise her – for thwarting his plan. He’d finally mustered her courage to do what should have done long, long ago… then she’d appeared.
Indeed, she’d appeared within the darkness, like a lighthouse among the jagged sea cliffs, steering him away from destruction.”
I fell in love with their story immediately. Gabriel’s stubbornness and passion and Ariah’s compassion and capacity of love made this book even more marvelous. Also, the other characters made the book even more endearing to me.
The author’s writing is simply alluring and flows naturally as she vividly portrays her characters and the Paris of the nineteenth century. I highly recommend it! -
Desperation and despair makes Colonel Gabriel de Laurent want to end his life. Resolved to end it all, Gabriel winds up along the River Seine on a snowy night with a pistol in his mouth. Unfortunately for him, the pistol does not do its job very well and Gabriel winds up on the brink of death.
Ariah Larochelle has had a difficult life, to say the least. Left an orphan at a young impressionable age then betrayed by her best friend, she has had to fight to survive. Trust is a serious issue with this now mother of a young daughter. Ariah lives among poverty awaiting the return of the husband who left for war years before. When she comes across the barely alive Gabriel, her survival instincts flip into high gear as she takes him to her modest home and tasks herself with saving the stranger's life.
Gabriel's injuries are disfiguring, but that isn't the least of it. Ariah's beloved Dr friend tells her that from the wounds, it is obvious there was no foul play involved,but that what occur ed was bu his own hand. Ariah struggles to understand what could bring someone to do that. Even with all that has happened to her in her short life, survival was always the only choice for her. Nursing Gabriel back to health is a job for a saint, for at first he resents that he is still alive and permanently scarred not only on the outside, but to the very depths of his being.
The more the inconsolable Gabriel spends time with Ariah and her little family, the more he comes to appreciate the second chance he has been given, but those dark secrets of his past still chip away at his soul and it seems the only one who can bring the light to his dark is Ariah. She holds secrets in her heart as well that have shaped the way she has become, but with Gabriel's presence, Ariah sees that there could be a chance for her to trust and love.
FINDING GABRIEL by Rachel L. Demeter is a gut wrenching tale that tugs at the reader's heartstrings and brings tears to your eyes. This story is not for the faint of heart. It is gritty and real and will evoke emotion. I couldn't put it down. Both Ariah's and Gabriel's stories prior to their meeting are emotional roller coasters. Ms. Demeter's sweeping description of the times and the characters feelings is brilliant, I felt like I was right there alongside Ariah and Gabriel. FINDING GABRIEL is a story that will remain with me for a while for the journey to that HEA almost broke me. Bravo Ms. Demeter for such a memorable tale.
~KIMBERLY~ -
If you love broken, well developed characters & descriptive writing, this one is amazing!
-
4 Solid Stars!
WOW. THIS WRITING.....
I want to kick myself in the head for not finding Rachel L. Demeter before now. Her writing is a whole new level of phenomenal!!!
Okay, time to get serious. I was enthralled from the first word upon the page and I couldn't put it down. Gabriel and Ariah are such well written characters who felt real. Their chemistry was amazing and I loved reading about them. Also, Geoffrey was such a complex villain and I love how she wrote him.
Suicide or attempted suicide is such a hard and touchy thing to write about and you can either bomb it so bad, the readers can't help but cringe or you can hit it out of the ball park that your readers are able to understand the motive and purpose behind those actions. You, Ms. Demeter, hit it out of the DAMN BALLPARK!
This author creates such imagery with her words and her prose that I honestly felt like I was actually IN the story and I could actually see what is happening in the book so clearly.
Why is it missing a star? Okay, so this is because I felt that it was at a standstill for quite a bit, I felt that nothing was happening and that was due to his recovery but it still made me take a bit longer to read it because of this period of inactivity.
I honestly am enamoured with Rachel L. Demeter's writing and I cannot wait to read more from her! -
After a horrible incident caused Gabriel to join the French army, he runs into every battle seeking only his own death. What he receives however, is every accolade for bravery possible. After a decade of war he returns to the banks of the Seine with the intent of killing himself. His plans of dying are ruined by Ariah who finds him face down on the banks of the river and slowly nurses him back to health.
Ariah herself is hiding many secrets and a lifetime worth of pain. Waiting for her husband to return from the same war Gabriel has been fighting, she has carved out a pleasant, if simple, life for herself, her half sister and her young daughter.
As the now disfigured Gabriel comes to terms with living and battling the demons inside, he finds much more than medical attention from Ariah. Both are hurting and hiding for respective reasons but soon a connection is found and hope is found in each other.
I rarely read anything in the Historical Romance genre, in fact I try not to. A fact I now have to reconsider because I almost missed out on this beautiful story. Often brutal in its descriptions this tale deals with some extremely difficult issues and it was quite an emotional read. Through the many twists and secrets they both hold there were some tender moments shared and through their connection, both found hope and redemption.
I loved all the characters in this story. Gabriel for his sensitivity and often cute moments of vulnerability hiding behind a gruff façade and his force of will. Ariah in turn was incredibly strong and yet kind and the interactions between them were great. They complimented each other wonderfully taking turns to be either forceful or commanding when the other needed it. There were also a host of quirky secondary characters that provided some much needed lighter moments in this very dark and emotional story.
I think classifying this book as a purely Historical Romance does it a disservice as I feel the subject matter in this novel transcends time to become just a really emotional and beautiful romance. Finding Gabriel held none of the things that usually annoy me about books of this genre and I would recommend this to anyone, regardless if they be a HR fan or not.
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review) -
I received a copy from the author for an honest review.
It's a timeless love story that's been told many different ways but I want to read it again, it was just that beautiful. This one is about two broken people that have been hurt, betrayed, beaten and left alone in the past and how they find the ability to trust and let go with each other.
First off I am not complaining but it would feel like I read most of the book but when I looked it would only be about 10%, the detail was good. It was enough to make you feel like you were experiencing it but not so much that it felt like it was dragging. I loved it! The descriptions totally made the movie in my head that much better, it felt like I was actually there, seeing what the characters saw. At times it was almost poetic, the way it was written. All the detail and what I call big words, like bourgeoisie (I only know what bourgeoisie is because of Phineas and Ferb lol). And the characters....I'm going to miss my friends now that I'm done. I shared their pain, joy, laughter, growth, and love. -
This is the second historical romance I've read this summer and it really felt like one. The settings, the medical methods and characters were a great representation of the era.
The story was dark in some instances and very bright in others.
Colonel Gabriel wants to die but fate has other plans. When a suicide attempt goes wrong, Ariah is thrown into his path.
Disfigured but alive, he struggles to find meaning in his life. Love will bind them together but will it be enough?
I loved Ariah; she was strong but very compassionate.
Gabriel had his dark moments but I was very fascinated with his character.
I loved the writing and the descriptions. My only complaint is that I felt that the story could've been shorter. I felt that it dragged at times, but overall the great writing made up for it.
4 Stars from me.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
What a captivating story! I loved Rachel's first novel so when she asked if I wanted to read this one I jumped on board and I wasn't disappointed. The story is beautiful, full of passion, amazing characters, and so addicting that I read it in one sitting.
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Find this and other reviews at:
http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of Rachel L. Demeter's The Frost of Springtime from the Historical Novel Society in early 2014. I greatly enjoyed the narrative, but I've never been particularly happy with the review I penned for it. Much as I love HNS, their magazine limits word count and asks their reviewers to incorporate a basic outline of the plot in each commentary they submit. I understand the need for such restrictions, but I personally like to write longer, more detailed reviews and tend avoid re-hashing story lines. I mean no disrespect, but offering up a summary of events does not constitute a review in my eyes.
I received Demeter’s sophomore release, Finding Gabriel, under very different circumstances and am quite free to elaborate however I see fit, but please understand that my comments regarding Demeter’s style and tone apply equally to both narratives. Demeter’s sophisticated command of language and prose is indisputably poignant and I’d hate to imply that the author’s second effort was superior to the first as each stands to illustrate a rare aptitude the evocation of gothic sensuality and classic intrigue.
I thought the story line fairly simple and ultimately predictable, but that aside, I felt Demeter’s characterizations of Colonel Gabriel de Laurent and Ariah Larochelle exceptionally emotive. Each struggles to overcome their own trials and tribulations, but I loved how Demeter brought these two troubled souls together and how she illustrated their journey to find light in the darkness of their solitary lives. I've no idea what went into the story, but their pain is authentic and their heartache intensely relatable.
The novel itself is somber in tone, but haunting and expressive. Demeter deftly manipulates her audience with richly drawn situational drama and intimate moments of raw, unfiltered emotion. Much of the concept material is painful and dark, but Finding Gabriel is ultimately a tale of hope, redemption, and love. I rarely agree with sales pitch comparisons, the thematically I think marketing hit the nail on the head likening Demeter's work to classics like The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.
When all is said and done, I found Finding Gabriel a powerfully vivid novel and greatly enjoyed the time I spent with it. The book left me somewhat drained, but all things considered I think that fact serves to compliment both the artistry of the story and creativity in its telling. -
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Gabriel and Ariah are haunted by their pasts.
Gabriel has guilt over many things, his parents and brother dying from the plague, not being able to save his beloved daughter from being killed and the many horrors he saw in War.
Ariah became an orphan after her beloved father died. She shortly stayed with her fathers mistress and her half sister but her step-mother hated her and sent her to a foster home at 12. The only friend she has in the world is Gregory and eventually they run away and live on the streets. At 15, she experiences another tragedy and runs away.
Seven years later Ariah, her daughter Emmaline and her half-sister Miriam .live in a small home. Her husband Jacques has been away at war for several years and she hasn't heard from him in several months.
One evening Ariah takes a walk and comes upon a gravely injured man, her first introduction to Gabriel. One side of his face has been terribly damaged. She brings him home to try and save him.
Gabriel awakens confused and in excruciating pain. At first he doesn't remember what happened and when he does he is angry. He sleeps off and on for days from the Laudanum. He remembers the voice, the voice of an angel, Ariah.
Will Gabriel live? Will they overcome the tragedies of their past?
I had debated on reading this book. The cover really intrigued me though and made my decision. It is a dark story but it is wonderful! The writing is so very intense and detailed. When I read about Gabriel's physical injuries, I have to admit my stomach did a little flip from the description.
The writing is absolutely wonderful as I stated above, very detailed without being too wordy and repetitious. You can feel thee emotions of all whether they be good or bad.
I felt for Gabriel since it has been such a very long time since he has felt any happiness. He was so proud to be a soldier for Napolian but the death and cruelties of war dimmed that.
Ariah was such a good kind person. She was so full of love. She was a survivor as was Gabriel.
Gabriel and Ariah go through quite a journey. It is a journey you will enjoy. There are quite a few twists and turns that were unexpected. It is a journey you should take with them! -
Rachel Demeter has delivered another captivating novel!
I was immediately drawn in by the distraught hero, Gabriel, and his desperate attempt to escape his tortured life. Enter Ariah, the heroine, and I was hooked! Both characters are introduced with a resounding sadness, which makes it hard not to pull for their happiness. The tug of war involving emotions progresses in an interesting manner, and the bonds that form are beautiful.
The secondary characters help make the story whole, and the writing is exquisite. Setting is brought to life with extraordinary talent, and the sensual scenes are breathtaking. I was heartbroken as Ariah suffered a not-so-unusual mistreatment during the era, and on pins and needles as the lovers face an expected obstacle.
I couldn’t put this down, but I’ve come to expect greatness from this author. She never disappoints!
An extraordinary Historical Fiction that I highly recommend!
PTSD, suicide/suicidal tendencies, murder, trauma, violence, and sex make this content for Adults Only!
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. -
What a beautiful, heartbreaking story. The intensity of the emotions in their story is breathtaking. I found myself smiling often, or my eyebrows scrunching in concern. And eventually, a few times, Ariah and Gabriel's story made me cry.
When you begin Gabriel and Ariah's story, you wonder what kind of hell a man like him had gone through to make him want to die in battle for the last ten years, and then finally trying to pull the trigger himself. And then you wonder what could possibly move a woman to drag a half-dead man into her home, with her sick daughter, her anxious sister, all while her husband is away from home. But let me tell you, when those flashbacks come around, on top of the building relationship between all of the characters in the present, you begin to fully realize just how perfect for each other their whole family is.
The world building was phenomenally done. It draws you in, and really makes you feel like you are in early 19th century France. I have always been a reader of historical fiction, but this story of what one might call an 'average' man and woman was even more gut-wrenching, and relatable, than most of the fictional stories of royalty and mistresses I normally read. (Although, I will admit that Napoleon's cameo in this story really made me see him as a man, instead of the caricature that history generally paints him as.)
I must say, my favorite character in the whole story was Ariah's daughter, Emmaline. That child is so adorable, kind, loving, observant, and definitely not afraid to ask questions. She made me smile and laugh so many times while reading Finding Gabriel!
Anyway, this story is most definitely worth your time! Go read it!
Your Not-So-Anonymous Book Junkie -
Finding Gabriel
By: Rachel L. Demeter
Rachel L. Demeter is a new author for me. This was the first book I ever read and I must say after reading this book I have found a new author and new books to add to my to be read list. I received this book in advance for an honest review.
May contain spoilers
"The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants"
I loved this book and I loved the two character Gabriel and Ariah. I loved their love story. They are both battling their own demons of the past that always seems to come back and haunt them in one way or another.
Gabriel is haunted by his family and war he struggles on the verge of ending his life. Deciding what is there left and sticks the barrel of a gun in his mouth. Not realizing that somewhere out there was his angel who would run to his rescue no matter what society thought and what hardships may follow while trying to nurse Gabriel back to life. A life that could still go on.
Arian who does not trust anyone let alone love anyone but her sister and daughter. Not even her husband Jaques who has loved her since she was a child. Being off at war and not heard from him in months she wonders if he will ever return. Ariah and Gabriel fall in love and they both struggle with reality. With a husband that may return home from war can their love last?
