Gabriel’s Inferno (Gabriel’s Inferno #1) by Sylvain Reynard

Genre: Adult Romance, Steamy Romance
Publisher:  Berkley Trade
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Star Rating:  3/5
Links: Goodreads  Amazon

Synopsis

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.   

My Overall Impression of the Book

Okay.  This is a book that I hate to give a low review to, but I must. This book was so highly recommended.  I am surprised the book has received such good reviews. The book is about Gabriel, a sexy and mysterious professor and his student Julia. The book puts you in the mind of FSOG but has its own original story.  The book started really strong and I loved the beginning.

About halfway through the book the story fell flat. Gabriel character made a complete 180 and it got really sappy.  I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall at least six times...really…I counted!!

If you are looking for hot sexy scenes in this book…you will be disappointed because it is not happening here.  Furthermore, Julia …the heroine in this story, was so weak it was sickening.  How many times can you look pale and ill about what someone says to you...I mean seriously!!   The writing was good so I will not take that away from the author.

Characters:

Gabriel - In the beginning Gabriel was a complete jerk, but he was at least interesting. When they changed his personality I was disappointed. I expected him to change some, but not as much as he did.

Julia – So weak and pathetic that I cannot reference her again in this review.

Plot and Writing:  I think the book had potential to be such a great story but it really fell flat to me.  I am a sucker for trilogies but I cannot see myself reading the second book unless I am extremely bored.  I almost did not make it through this book.  If you are a fan of FSOG or Beautiful Disaster don't even waste your time with this book.  The writing in this book was exceptional.  If you are a fan of Dante’s Inferno books/culture you may appreciate this book more than I did.