Tag Archives: Berkley

Review: Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

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Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard
Series: Gabriel’s Inferno #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: May 22nd 2012
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student, Julia Mitchell. Sequestered on a romantic holiday in Italy, he tutors her in the sensual delights of the body and the raptures of sex. But when they return, their happiness is threatened by conspiring students, academic politics, and a jealous ex-lover. When Gabriel is confronted by the university administration, will he succumb to Dante’s fate? Or will he fight to keep Julia, his Beatrice, forever? In Gabriel’s Rapture, the brilliant sequel to the wildly successful debut novel, Gabriel’s Inferno, Sylvain Reynard weaves an exquisite love story that will touch the reader’s mind, body, and soul, forever.

I enjoyed this much more than the first book! Thank god Gabriel’s Rapture was shorter than Gabriel’s Inferno. I really liked GI, but it was just too long. But, GR being shorter wasn’t the only reason I loved reading it! This sequel perfectly captures the very essence of Gabriel and Julia’s beautiful love story. They have their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, these two are perfect for each other, and they belong together.

“The only tragedy would be losing you,” he said, kissing her lightly.
“You’ll only lose me if you stop loving me.”
“I’m a lucky man then. I’ll be able to keep you forever.”

Gabriel’s Rapture picks up right after Gabriel’s Inferno, and Gabriel and Julia have finally made love. They avoided this when Julia was still Gabriel’s student, but now Julia is done with his class, and they’re free to openly show their relationship. They’re so sweet and adorable together, and Gabriel is his usual smooth, classy, charming, and seductive self. And oh gosh, he says even more things that made me blush and fan myself. I really started loving Gabriel in GR. I wasn’t a huge fan of his in GI, but in GR, he really stepped it up, and I didn’t see him as a jerk anymore. He’s just so freaking sweet and loving to Julia!

But, not everything is rainbows and butterflies. When Julia and Gabriel come back from their trip to Italy, it’s the first time their relationship is out in the public in their hometown. And they get in trouble by the university administration. Christa, a vindictive bitch who wanted to get into Gabriel’s pants, has ousted their relationship, accusing them of having an affair when Julia was still Gabriel’s student. This causes complications for them and their relationship. Both Gabriel and Julia go through heartbreak and separation, and SR did an excellent job bringing out both of their heart-wrenching emotions.

“I’ll love you forever, Julianne, whether you love me or not. That’s my heaven. And my Hell.”

Gabriel’s Rapture’s writing is still as stunning as it was in the first book. I adore the writing, the feel the author gives the book. It perfectly matches Gabriel and Julia and their romance. The Gabriel series is truly one of the most beautifully written books and has one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. It’s captivating and hooks you in from start to finish. You become invested in Gabriel and Julia’s romance, and you want them to have their happily ever after. And even though there is a third book, if the series had ended with GR, it would have been a heartfelt, incredible ending for Julia and Gabriel.

“I want to be your first and your last. I love you, Julianne. I offer you my heart and my life.”

4-hearts

lacey

Reading Order: Gabriel’s Inferno series

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard

#1 ~ Gabriel’s Inferno: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Gabriel’s Rapture: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Gabriel’s Redemption: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Review: Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

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Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
Series: Gabriel’s Inferno #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 4th 2011
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

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.

So I’m reading this series in time for the release of the third and final book, Gabriel’s Redemption (out today!), and… I’m not really sure how to feel about Gabriel’s Inferno. On one hand, I really liked the story and the characters and the writing, but on the other, it was just so freaking l o n g. It’s about 500 pages or so, and my lord, I’m not sure it need to be.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in Gabriel’s Inferno, but what I got I ended up really liking. The writing is pretty different than what I’m used to. It’s more sophisticated, if a bit pretentious at times, but overall, I really liked the feel the author gave the book. Everything was very slow and sensual, which fit perfectly for Julia and Gabriel’s story.

Julia is a very, very shy and innocent 23-year-old who is in grad school studying to become a Dante specialist. She has to take a class taught by Professor Gabriel Emerson, who is a cold-hearted, strict man, despite his charming good looks. Even though Gabriel is intrigued by Julia’s innocence and sweetness, he’s contemptuous of her. He doesn’t want to care about some lowly, poor grad student, and so he doesn’t. He was a bit hard to like in the beginning, since he’s so arrogant and cold and just a gigantic jerk, but he slowly grew on me once his and Julia’s romance started.

Julia is the quintessential pure, good, virginal girl that I had a hard time liking at first, but somehow, her shyness worked. I got used to her innocence, to her goodness, and she was a perfect contrast to Gabriel, who has a very dark past.

“Why not think that sometimes–just sometimes–you can overcome evil with silence? And let people hear their hatefulness in their own ears, without distraction. Maybe goodness is enough to expose evil for what it really is, sometimes. Rather than trying to stop evil with more evil.”

It turns out that Julia and Gabriel have already met before, and only Gabriel has forgotten that meeting. Julia was only seventeen, but she fell in love with Gabriel, her best friend’s adopted older brother. They met and talked at an orchard, and they were so sweet with each other. Gabriel called Julia his Beatrice, who was the love of Dante’s life. It was a magical, beautiful night that changed the both of them, but Gabriel has no recollection of it, and Julia is hurt. But she toughens up her heart against Gabriel, which is very difficult for her, due to both her shyness and his overbearing attitude. But they can’t fight the attraction they have for each other, and once Gabriel remembers who Julia is, they begin their romance, even though it’s against the rules for student-teacher fraternization.

Gabriel has a tragic, heart-breaking past that is alluded to throughout the book, and it’s the sort of past that shaped Gabriel into the kind of man he is now. He used to sleep with a different woman every night, get drunk all the time, but now, Julia changes things for him. He falls in love with Julia, and he’s such a romantic man. He worships Julia and treats her like a queen, even as he believes he doesn’t deserve her.

“You deserve better. You deserve everything, and that’s what I’m going to give you.”

They have a ten year age gap, which wasn’t too bad for me, and it made sense for Gabriel to be a bit older since he’s a college professor. And oh my goodness, I could go on and on about the sweet things he says to Julia. Gabriel does a total 180 from the beginning of the book, and he kept making me go Aww and blush.

“When I told you that I was intending to worship you with my body, I meant it. With all my heart. I will never take from you. I will only give. In my bed and outside of it.”

Gabriel and Julia have a whirlwind love that is so powerful and passionate. They open up to one another, body, mind, and soul, and their romance had me hooked from start to finish (even though the book was crazy long!). Gabriel’s Inferno is raw and dark and gritty, and I’m glad I read it, because it’s such a unique, captivating read.

3.5 hearts! Although I totally give a 5 for all the mushy stuff Gabriel says. Sah-woon!

3.5-hearts

lacey

Reading Order: Gabriel’s Inferno series

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard

#1 ~ Gabriel’s Inferno: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Gabriel’s Rapture: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Gabriel’s Redemption: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Review: Bully by Penelope Douglas

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by

Bully by Penelope Douglas

Bully by Penelope Douglas
Series: Fall Away #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: June 17th 2013
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads

My name is Tate. He doesn’t call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all.We’re neighbors, and once, we were best friends. But then, one summer, he turned on me and has made it his mission to screw up my life at every opportunity. I’ve been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to hide from him. I worried about what was around every corner and behind every door.

So I left.

I spent a year studying abroad and bathed in the freedom of life without Jared. Now I’m back to finish up high school and get the hell out of here forever. I’m hoping that after a year of breathing room, he’s moved on and forgotten all about me.

But even if he hasn’t changed, I have. I’m not interested in avoiding him or turning the other cheek anymore. We’re going to go head to head, because neither of us wants to back down.

Yesterday lasts forever.
Tomorrow comes never.
Until you.

Oh. My. God. I LOOOVED this book. Absolutely, whole-heartedly loved it! It was incredible! It made me smile and laugh and made my heart pound, and I can’t believe I waited so long to read it! Gosh, Penelope Douglas, you have written such a great romance. I fell in love and swoon so hard for Jared. Bad boys just can’t get any better than him 😉

I wasn’t sure how I would like a romance where the male lead is, well, a bully. And he truly is a bully. Jared is mean, cold and cruel to Tate. He laughs at her, taunts her, spreads rumors about her… So how did I find a way to look past his cruelness and fall in love with him? Well, to be honest, I’m not even sure! All I knew was that I never truly hated Jared for the way he treated Tate (and he was pretty horrible to her). I always thought in the back of my mind there had to be a reason for his cruelness. You just don’t go from being the best of friends when you were young, to practically enemies. Jared left Tate one summer to visit his father, and when he returned, gone was the sweet best friend. Only a bitter, cold-hearted boy came back. And all Tate can think is, What happened?

Tate used to let Jared’s cruelness get the best of her. She’d cry and run away, but the start of her senior year is different. She’s standing up for herself now, and standing against Jared. She’s not going to let him bully her anymore, and she sure as hell isn’t ever going to let him make her cry again.

“You’ve already made me cry countless times.” I raised my middle finger to him slowly, and asked, “Do you know what this is?” I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it. “It’s me, wiping away the last tear you’ll ever get.”

From that point on, when she said that, I totally loved this girl. Tate grows a backbone, and she’s so kickass. Sure, she goes a little over the top with the way she retaliates against Jared, but I thought it was completely warranted. After all, Jared did treat her like shit. But then she realizes that treating Jared as badly as he treated her isn’t the way to go. Plus, there’s that insanely strong attraction they have for one another. *fans self* Their sexual tension is off the charts! Holy hell, the way they react to each other, it’s just the. best. It’s sexy and exciting and so fun to read, because you never knew exactly when they’d blow and start kissing the crap out of each other 😉

My absolute favorite quote:

“You were my tempest, my thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”

*Sigh* Tate is just too great. I loved her character. She and Jared are perfect.

Ahem. So, Jared. We all love stories about redemption. And Jared is the ultimate redemption story. He’s bad and makes no excuses for it. And how can Tate ever forgive him for the way he treated her? We start to see the other side of Jared, the part that’s not mean or cold or cruel. And, well… it’s hard not to fall in love with him after seeing him without the hard exterior. And Tate has a hard time not falling in love either.

“I want to touch you.” His words were against my lips now. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine.”

Tate still misses her best friend, and when I kept reading (because I COULDN’T STOP) and found out why Jared changed, it broke my heart. I wanted them to have their HEA desperately, because they both deserved one, and they both deserved a happy ending together. Because they’re meant for each other, and always have. Their love is so sweet and heartfelt and romantic. *Sigh* It kept making me smile and clutch my heart, because they’re so good together.

The amount of angst in the book is perfect! My heart was going crazy for Jared and Tate. If you haven’t read this book, GO! It’s amazing. It’ll take you on a roller coaster of emotions.

And oh gosh, I’m SO ecstatic to read Until You, which is Jared’s POV of Bully. AH! Can’t wait to read it! It’s high up on my wishlist 🙂

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Fall Away series

Bully by Penelope Douglas Until You by Penelope Douglas
Rival by Penelope Douglas Falling Away by Penelope Douglas Aflame by Penelope Douglas

#1 ~ Bully: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Until You: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rival: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Falling Away: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Aflame: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads

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Early Review: Sweet by Erin McCarthy

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by

Sweet by Erin McCarthy

Sweet by Erin McCarthy
Series: True Believers #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 15th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (InterMix) in exchange for an honest review

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house.

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself.

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

I’ve never read a book that made me change my mind so drastically about how I felt about the characters! I honestly hated the characters at the beginning, but later on, as I kept reading… they grew on me, and I started to care for them, and even love them. I haven’t read the first book in this series yet, but now I’m definitely going to, and I’m so looking forward to the next book!

I didn’t click with the beginning of the book. At all. Jessica and Riley were both huge jerks to one another, and I was wondering how on earth either of them would fall in love with each other. But… as I kept reading, they became less harsh and mean, and more snarky and sarcastic and funny. The more I read, the more I fell in love with them and became invested in their story and their HEA.

Jessica is a party girl whose parents are very religious. They push her to be someone she’s not, and she wants to get away from them. In comes Riley, the older brother of Jessica’s best friend’s brother. He offers her a place to stay at his house he shares with his younger brothers, despite the fact that the two of them hate each other. And sparks fly! The tension between the two of them is high, but what I loved was the constant humor and camaraderie between them, all the while pretending to still hate each other. They didn’t jump each other’s bones or give in to their lust. They slowly became friends, got the chance to know each other better, without the complication of sex.

I totally fell for Riley. He was hard to like at first (I just do not like jerk-y boys!), but as we get to know more about him… *swoon*. He’s the oldest of the four Mann brothers, and he’s had to take care of them all since their parents died a while ago. He took on the burden of three younger brothers without complaint, giving up everything for them. And if that doesn’t make you love him, I don’t know what does. He’ll do anything to make sure his brothers live the good life he never had, working nonstop to provide for them. He may not be a perfect adult model figure, but he loves his brothers with all his heart.

Jessica is hilarious! I found myself laughing hard at random parts of the book because of her, and laughing even harder at Jessica and Riley and their antics. The things they do are so adorable and I loved them together. They complemented each other perfectly, balancing each other’s traits and faults. And for a major part of the book, they still haven’t gotten together yet! Even though them getting together would be the cutest thing in the world, I was glad they took it slow. But once they realize how much they care for each other, and how much they want a relationship to happen, it’s perfection. I honestly loved every part of their relationship. Jessica’s not afraid to admit that Riley is different from the tons of other guys she’s hooked up with, and Riley is the sweetest boyfriend ever. There are a few misunderstandings, of course, that strain their relationship, but I had no worries.

I highly, highly recommend this for contemporary romance lovers. The name of the book absolutely does justice to the story. Although you probably should start with the first book in the series, unlike me. 😉

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: True Believers series

True by Erin McCarthy Sweet by Erin McCarthy Believe by Erin McCarthy Shatter by Erin McCarthy

#1 ~ True: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Sweet: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Believe: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Shatter: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Review: Everything for Us by M. Leighton

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Everything For Us by M. Leighton

Everything for Us by M. Leighton
Series: The Bad Boys #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 3rd 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing. 

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

Even though I don’t spoil anything for Everything For Us, there WILL be spoilers for the previous two books, so be forewarned!

I’d been eagerly awaiting this new release because I’m a huge fan of the series. I mean, come on, it’s called The Bad Boys series, so how could I not love it? The romance in the previous two books is so thrilling and exciting, and Everything For Us is no different, even though it focuses on a different couple. So it’s goodbye to Cash (!!) and Olivia, and hello to Nash and Marissa.

As much as I adored Cash and his bad boy-ness, I had even higher expectations for Nash. He seemed to be even more bad, dark, intense, and might I even say, sexy. And in Everything For Us, he absolutely lived up to my expectations. *Sigh* Nash. I loved him. He’s just so totally Alpha-male and in complete control of everything that you can’t help but fall for him. And you also can’t help but feel for him once you find out how he came to be such harsh, dark person. He went through such hell during his exile for seven years, and he was only a teenager when everything went bad for him! He was dealt with horrible circumstances, and tried his best to do what he had to do to survive, even if it turned him into a not-so-good man. It was sad though, seeing how beneath all his revenge for his dead mother, he was just a lonely man. He doesn’t trust anybody, not even his twin, and he has no one he can really count on. And it’s so gratifying and satisfying to see him finally falling for a woman he can trust his heart to.

Of course, it’s not that easy for Nash, the stubborn man he is. He really, really resists letting his heart get anywhere near Marissa. Which was a bit frustrating. A lot of the time, I was just thinking, Just admit your feelings already, Nash! Grrr. But despite all this, he’s still one delish man. He’s protective of those he loves, and knows how to be deadly enough to protect them. And he’s so determined! When he wants something, there’s absolutely no stopping him from going after it. *Swoon*

Marissa turned out to be someone that I really, really liked. She was a horrible bitch in the other books in the series, but an abduction is sure to change anybody, including Marissa. Throughout the book, I started liking her more and more, every time she’d stand up for herself against her father. I felt for her when she realized that because of who she’d been in the past, just like Nash, she really has no one to be herself with. So of course these two scarred, lonely people would gravitate towards one another to try to find a little bit of happiness.

Everything For Us didn’t disappoint. There was sweet and tender, there was sexy and thrilling, and there was action and suspense. Everything connected so smoothly, and the characters stand out so well. The romance was a bit slow,though, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I highly recommend this series, and I’m really hoping for a book for Gavin! *fingers crossed*

4-hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Bad Boys series

Down to You by M. Leighton Up to Me by M. Leighton Everything For Us by M. Leighton

#1 ~ Down to You: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Up to Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Everything for Us: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads