Book Review: Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter

Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter
Genre: Adult (Historical Romance)
Date Published: August 27, 2015
Publisher: Momentum (Pan Macmillan)

Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.

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 by Rachel L. Demeter was a truly emotional read on so many levels. You have Gabriel who's seen and experienced heinous things not only at war, but in his own home. Then you have Ariah who was orphaned and then betrayed in the worst way by the only person she trusted and loved. These two are a mess to say the least. The writing paints a vivid, dark, and horrific picture of their experiences. It places you in these moments with the characters. Finding Gabriel had a Beauty and the Beast feel to it. I think both characters displayed a little beauty and a little beast in them. It's how they've survived. There was tremendous character growth between Gabriel and Ariah as individuals and together. There is light in their darkness, and it was beautiful watching them come to terms with their demons.

Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter was kindly provided to me by Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.

Click here to see an excerpt, book trailer, and a couple more teasers!

Also check out my reviews of more fantastic books by Rachel L. Demeter!

Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader's emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel's passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.

Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.

To learn more about Rachel L. Demeter and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.