Author: Sylvain Reynard
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Kindle, 656 KB
Buy this book on Amazon: Paperback Kindle Edition
Author's Website: http://www.sylvainreynard.com/
Synopsis from Goodreads
Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student, Julia Mitchell.Diving in...
Sequestered on a romantic holiday in Italy, he tutors her in the sensual delights of the body and the rapture 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 be forced to share Dante’s fate? Or will he fight to keep Julia, his Beatrice, forever?
WOW! I don't even know where to start with this review. I was so happy to receive an ARC copy of this book from Sylvain Reynard's publisher. I think I read this over the course of maybe 5 hours, it was hard to put down when I had to tend to other things.
This book starts right where the first one left us, the morning after. As with the other book, I am not going to post any spoilers in this review so it will probably be kind of short. I absolutely love Gabriel and Julia together, they just fit and it's apparent from the very beginning of their story, but they have a long way to go. This story sees them through some pretty difficult times. This story is a roller coaster ride, the ups and downs, twists and turns just keep coming for this couple.
They return from their whirlwind trip to Italy that seems just too perfect. They spend Christmas in Selinsgrove where Julia has a mini-showdown with Natalie. Just after this incident they have a run in with Paulina! The hits just seem to keep coming while they are with their families.
They settle back into life at the University when things start to fall apart when they are left to deal with the aftermath of their forbidden romance. Things progress to a point where they are both brought up on charges in front of the Dean and the heads of Gabriel's department. They have some allies in the University, but at times it's hard to know who they are.
This book is an emotional one, but it's not as dark as the first one. Gabriel makes a significant change in this book and it's a beautiful transition. He has to learn to forgive, ask forgiveness, and to be okay with the things that have happened in his life. He grows tremendously in the last 1/3 of the book, it's hard to see sometimes, and it's sad, but the end result is so very much worth it. Julia does less growing in this book, but she doesn't have as far to go, as far as I am concerned. She does need to learn to love herself and to see herself the way that Gabriel sees her so that she feels worthy of him. This is just her own self esteem issue though and it's one that we see from the beginning of the 1st book.
This is the one passage that I highlighted while reading this time.
To my Beloved,I cried when I read this, I cried through several parts in the last 1/4 of the book. As someone who has lost a mother, I was especially moved by the scene with Grace.
My heart is yours and my body.
My soul, likewise.
I will be true to you, Beatrice.
I want to be your last.
Wait for me…
I am curious to see if this is the last book for Gabriel and Julia. I was more than happy with the ending, but I am not quite ready to give up the Professor. I would like to see what the future holds for them even if it's just a short novella.
I was pleased with the literary references in this book, as with the last one, they have me scrambling to learn more. I want to study Dante in more depth. This book was just as beautifully written as the first one and Sylvain Reynard has a fan for life in me.
As far as content, this one went right along with the other one. A little profanity, not much though. This book has more steamy love scenes, but they are tastefully written and very sensual.
This series is going into my favorites file on my Kindle!
Rating 9/10
Great review, Shelly! I too was moved during the Grace scene....got chills and teary eyed.
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