New York Times bestselling author Sylvain Reynard returns with the fourth installment of the beloved Gabriel’s Inferno series. When Gabriel and Julia Emerson first lay eyes on their newborn daughter, Clare, they realize life as they know it will never be the same. Gabriel has vowed to be a good father when he suddenly receives an invitation to give a series of lectures in Edinburgh, … in Edinburgh, Scotland–an opportunity of high prestige—but that would mean leaving his wife and child in Boston. Hesitant to bring it up, he keeps the opportunity from Julia as long as he can, not knowing she has a secret of her own.
When a frightening situation arises that threatens their new family, both parents must make sacrifices. With the family in danger, the looming question remains: Will Gabriel pursue his lectureship in Edinburgh, leaving Julia and Clare vulnerable in Boston, or will he abandon the chance of a lifetime in order to ensure his family’s safety?
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“He was Clare’s father, and perhaps that was Professor Emerson’s most important title of all.”
For all of you that fell for the sometimes snobbish and affluent professor, just wait until you see him as a father. His baby girl has him wrapped around her tiny finger and could convince him to do just about anything. No, of course, he doesn’t do baby-talk. He’s a scholar and that just wouldn’t do, right? But, oh my, prepare to have your ovaries explode…sigh.
As was established in the very first book in this series, Gabriel and Julia have an unexplainable connection. “—he reached for her instinctually, as if their souls were so in tune with one another, he could sense her presence even while sleeping.” They are soulmates that for some reason can’t just enjoy being together, they must continually be challenged and forced to fight for each other.
Gabriel’s Promise continues in the same way. Their studies and careers, as well as their lives, are threatened and they must decide what is most important and face separation…again. Will they sacrifice their careers to be together? Will they sacrifice being together for their careers?
I really enjoyed spending time with Gabriel and Julia again. Their love is inspiring and their dry humor is amusing. Their baby girl brings out the best in both of them and the three of them together had me melting into a puddle of goo. I can only guess, but things are pointing to the series continuing as there are quite a few unresolved issues that left me with unanswered questions.
Gabriel and Julia are in the thick of it again. Their careers, family, and relationship are tested. Will they be found lacking?
The answer is no. However, this book may not be for all Gabriel/Jules fans. I had the unique experience of getting a copy of Gabriel’s Promise before it released. It motivated me to finally start the series; Gabriel’s Inferno having been on my TBR for quite sometime. I read all the books in an end of year binge around Holidays and illnesses. I developed a fondness for a certain grumpy professor and his muse. I enjoyed learning all about Dante, googling Italian, and dreaming of going to Italy along side these two. So it was with great enthusiasm that I started Gabriel’s Promise on New Year’s Eve but as I type this on New Year’s Day having pondered it for quite some time, I have to say I’m disappointed.
Reynard types Fin at the end and in the case of Gabriel’s Promise it clearly isn’t the end. Each of the books in the series has ended with Fin but in this case I think to be continued is more appropriate. Gabriel’s Promise lacks the pretty packaged, brightly wrapped ending we normally get. Its plagued with unanswered questions that would drive our beloved Professor conpletely batty. Even Wonder Woman would bot be amused by the many unanswered questions and unsolved problems.
I understand that I am most certainly not the author and in no way drive the story but I feel like Reynard let all those on Team Emerson down this time. I’m sure her intention was to spark interest in her other series (it worked to an extent). It certainly made me ponder purchasing them but I feel like the story lines should be forced on the reader and that perhaps the author is trying to lead us around on a leash. I am too stubborn to be dragged into reading it at this time because I’m too frustrated with the end of Promise.
I want to devour all things Gabriel And Julia Emerson. I want to be a part of their story. I just feel like this novel was the author’s attempt at throwing us a carrot when the readers need a substantial bone to sink their teeth into. It’s as though we are being given a gorgeous meal at one of those ridiculous restaurants that Katherine Picton hates. Some tiny little quater of a truffle is the meal we have been given when we thought we were getting a five course feast.
Was it a fun read? Yes. If you can get past too many things still up in the air.
Will I continue to read future Team Emerson books? I honestly don’t know.
4.75 Stars
This fourth book starts right where book 3 ended. In the hospital with baby Clare and new parents Julia and Gabriel.
Once we’re released it’s all about baby, godparents, diapers, waking up in the middle of the night, family, friends, work.
But there’s also this very suspicious car that Gabriel sees driving by the house a few times.
But we don’t really have time to worry about that too much, because we need to decide if and how Gabriel can accept this new amazing job opportunity in Scotland without leaving his family behind!!
A very exciting time for the Emersons ….
What will happen with Julia & Gabriel?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
We’re FINALLY back in Gabriel’s world.
An amazing world full of Dante, grouchy professors, adorable babies, exciting and sexy moments and so much more.
I wanted to read this book in one sitting …
but I also wanted to take my time! I never want this series to end!
I really enjoyed reading it.
I re-read the first three books to prepare for this one, because my Bookalzheimers is just way too bad. I couldn’t remember most details about wha happened to our darlings!
I loved this fourth book. I adored the baby and daddy moments. Gabriel is just the most amazing & hilariously ridiculous daddy!
I also loved the whole mystery about the possible danger that this car might bring into our happy new lives. And all those problems about his work, her work, combining the two. Plus we have another little health mystery – we hope that nothing bad will happen there!!
I really loved this story. BUT now I have to say what I hated.
The first ?? 30% or so of the book … ugh. I wanted to throw the book out the next window on page 2 in the first chapter. And then again in almost every chapter. I HATE RELIGION! I know the Emersons are religious. There was some of that – ok, a lot – in the previous books, but it was so much worse here. At least it felt like that to me. There was so much talk about god and praying and faith. I really wanted to stop reading. If it had been any other book, I would’ve stopped and I would’ve rated it 2 stars and I would’ve told the author to stop selling it as a romance, but to instead put it on the christian cult recruitment shelf. It was really bad. American readers will probably not have a problem with it, religion is so much bigger in America, but I just hate everything about it! I don’t want it in my romances! Period!
End of rant!
Two more tiny little things I hated. Julia. Why don’t you just tell your husband things?!?! Life would be so much easier if people in books would talk to each other right away!
Plus, there was a bit too much professor-y-show-off Dante stuff in here. I didn’t sign up for a college course. I wanted to read an amazing romance and not chapters after chapters of Dante and hell and faith and whatnot! I love the prologue – the tiny little heartbreaking glimpse into Dante & Beatrice, but that would’ve been enough for me!
BUT – as I said before… I loved this book!
And Dante and religion just have to be in this series. And because I love Gabriel and Julia so much, I didn’t get too upset about all that stuff. I loved reading it and I can’t wait to see the first book turned into a movie next year! #Passionflix
GABRIEL’S PROMISE was a perfect addition to this amazing series! Adorable, funny, mysterious, sexy, Dante-y. I loved it!
P.S. I think due to the relative ‘openness’ of the ending … we might get at least one more book!!! EEEEP!!!!
All these years later, and the story picks up right where the initial trilogy ended. I do wonder what caused the author to continue their story though. Regardless, in the first three, we were given a picture of Gabriel, and I think in this one, we really get to see that image change, in ways that even Julia could not do. Fatherhood really suits the man.
The thing I disliked about this book is how bored I was through it. I felt like much of it repeated itself. I was not hooked into this, like I was the first three. There is a lack of plot. There’s a bit of a mystery over the stalking and break in, and unless I missed something….this is never resolved, making me even more confused. Maybe she is hoping to drag this out into one more book, but it is ridiculous.
Good addition, but definitely should be the ending to the series.
I loved this book!! The entire series has kept me coming back and this one did not disappoint. I want more!!
3.5 Stars
I could not get enough of the first three books in this series. I loved both the plot and the characters which makes it harder for me to say that I did not enjoy this one as much. I still loved the characters, but I felt like there were a lot of things left unresolved which makes me think that there will be another book.
Gabriel’s Promise shows how Gabriel and Julia are coping with being parents. And let me tell you, there is nothing more sexy than seeing Professor Emerson being a daddy. We are talking about the guy that freaked out when a stranger’s child peed on him in book one. He underwent truly amazing change and he really came a long way from being that person. He could not be more attentive when it comes to Clare and he even changed a diaper! Although he was complaining about it the whole like and calling Clare’s poo “nuclear waste”. Some things never change!
There was some intrigue, but it was quite poorly done which makes me wish the author did not include that in the book at all. I expected more to come out of it but it did not go anywhere and it only made Gabriel’s Promise seem incomplete. Honestly, I think the book could have been left at Book 3 , it would have been better off.
Although this one fell a bit short for me, I would still recommend reading this series as a whole because it is really great series and everyone deserves to get to know Professor Emerson.
When I saw that Sylvain Reynard was giving us another peek into the life of Julia and Gabriel I was thrilled I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I loved their story from the first word of Gabriel’s Inferno until the last word of Gabriel’s Redemption.
In Gabriel’s Promise we see how their family is evolving with their beautiful little girl, Clare, but some things are still what we have come to expect and love. The heat, the passion, the deep devotion, the miscommunication, and the suspense.
This is the fourth book in the series and it needs to be read in the order in which it has been released in order to follow the growth in this beautiful love story.
Now I will admit that I read this book a few months ago and for some reason didn’t write my review which is terrible on so many levels. But if I had I wouldn’t be able to add this: I got to see Julia and Gabriel come to life this weekend thanks to Passionflix which will be bringing the series to us and it just reinforced my love for this series. I cannot wait for the next installment.
I was sooo looking forward to this book! I loved the previous books in this series. I was hoping that I would love this book just as much. I found myself getting bored while reading. Just when you thought this book was finally going somewhere it didn’t go anywhere. So much build up to nothing. I am hoping that this book was a set up for another book in the series. This book will leave you with a lot of questions and no answers. If there is another book I will definitely give it a try because I need closure!
received an arc for an honest review
I absolutely love this series. I really liked this book and loved seeing Gabriel and Julia as parents. There was a bit of drama but there always is some in their lives. There is a bit of a mystery surrounding them and by the way the book ended leaves me to believe there will be another book. Which is good because there was a lot of unanswered questions. I loved visiting these characters again and look forward to more.
The Professor and Julianne continue to be one of my favorite couples. Their love and devotion know no bounds. Reading their story gives me a sense of contentment and warmth especially during these stresses times.
This series pulls me in every time. I love Gabriel and Julie. Their love story was epic, and seeing them with the baby felt like the next step in their life. Of course, they have trials to overcome. I loved it!
Rating: 4.5/5
I adored this series and was super excited for this book, but was left wanting.
Gabriel’s Promise was beautifully written and intriguing. There were just a few unanswered questions left in the end that were a bit unsatisfying; I like nice, clean endings. On the other hand this gives me hope that there may be a book 5. Here’s hoping.
Overall it was a good read and I would definitely recommend.
***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***
This is the fourth installment in the Gabriel’s Inferno series. It was wonderful to get to go back and see Gabriel and Julia and the life the crafted together. The two have become parents in this book, and Gabriel is just as sweet of a father as he is a partner to Julia. In fact, some of the more breathtaking moments in this book were during scenes when he’s with his little girl.
Reynard’s writing is, as always, poetic and beautiful. He paints pictures with words and sets readers down amidst the world he’s built. As with the other books in this series, some things are shrouded in mystery and we find out piece by piece as the story unfolds.
While this book didn’t necessarily advance the storyline a lot, it was nice to get to spend time with these characters again. I love how far they’ve come as a couple and how much each has developed over the course of the series.
If you’ve been following this story, grab this book and give it a read.
Four stars!
Once again, Sylvain Reynard is at the top of his game. This book picks up where the trilogy ended (Gabriel’s Redemption) and it did not disappoint. I strongly recommend reading the first three books in order before reading this one. I don’t think this book would be appreciated without knowing Gabriel and Julia individually before they were the couple, Gabriel and Julia.
You would miss out on the transcendence of Gabriel from being a dark, moody professor who fraternizes with women of questionable morals and proclivities to being a devoted husband and father. A man that would sacrifice everything to protect his wife and daughter. To watch him morph into this caring, loving man was a sight to behold.
In Julia’s case, she went from being shy, simple, undemanding, and pretty much a wallflower to this woman who knows what she wants and works hard to get it. She’s a doting mother, loving wife, and on the heels of Gabriel being a Dante expert. She doesn’t want his help, even though he’s in a position to give it and wants to give it. She wants to accomplish her dream on her own with him at her side.
In this book, there is more mystery than romance, although the love scenes were smoking hot. There were a few fade-to-black, too, but there’s so much to these two that it didn’t matter. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. The mystery is intriguing and seeing Nicholas Cassirer was a real treat (See The Man in the Black Suit, another outstanding novel by Sylvain Reynard). He was on the case and doing his best to get to the bottom of the situation on his end, but the mystery remains unsolved. Maybe there’s another book in the works to tie up the loose ends. Could be. I don’t know.
This story is character driven, is filled with passion (not just physical, but emotional and mental, too), suspense, sacrifice, and true love at its best. I love this book and I love this series. The series just keeps on getting better and better.
This is the list of books in the series:
1. Gabriel’s Inferno
2. Gabriel’s Rapture
3. Gabriel’s Redemption
4. Gabriel’s Promise (this book)
And try The Man in the Black Suit
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Gabriel’s Promise” by Sylvain Reynard, Berkley, January 7, 2020
I was so thrilled to see that Sylvain Reynard, author of “Gabriel’s Promise” was writing the fourth installment of the Gabriel’s Inferno series. It has been at least 5 years since the last book, and the first three books are in the process of being adapted for film. The Genres for this novel are Contemporary Fiction and Contemporary Romance. The author describes his characters as complex and complicated. The timeline for the story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. Sylvain Reynard’s writing style includes vivid descriptions of literary characters, art, music, and architecture. The author also usually writes about love, redemption, and family.
Professor Gabriel Emerson ( I picture Henry Cavill with dark hair, or model David Gandy), is now married to his former student Julia. The Emersons now have a baby girl Clare. The Emersons are much more mature, and Gabriel promises that his wife and baby will always come first. The Professor is still involved with lectures on Dante, and Julia is finishing her coursework of Dante. Life in academia has political concerns, problems, and stressors.
There are certain situations that arise that are concerning and dangerous. Will it be safe for Gabriel to fulfill his obligations, and leave Julia and Clare in their home?
I was thrilled to visit these characters again, but I am very disappointed that there were some issues where there was no resolution, and I felt like I was left hanging. I am not sure if there will be another novel, but there was significant information that was missing that had me upset.
I think that one has to read the other 3 novels to understand what is going on. If you don’t mind being left “hanging”, I would recommend reading “Gabriel’s Promise”.
Another beautiful book. The way it ended makes me believe that there will be at least one more book. I love the characters. I love how all the series are bridged together. It brings in other beloved characters. Shows how small the world really is. I can’t wait to see what is next for Gabriel, Julia, and Clare. A must read series for everyone!
I waited a whole year for this book and was not disappointed!!!! A beautiful continuation to one of the best stories I have ever read. Cannot wait to see this couple come to life. Hope to read more in the future!
It has been quite awhile since I read Gabriel’s story, so I was excited to hear that he was getting another book. I couldn’t wait to see what he and Julianne had been up to. Unfortunately, it had been too long because I felt a bit lost. I couldn’t remember a lot of the previous storyline, so I was not able to reconnect with them as I had hoped. Despite my lack of memory, I should have reread beforehand, I did enjoy Gabriel’s Promise. I think fan’s of Gabriel’s will love him as a husband and father. Especially when it comes to keeping what’s his safe. He wasn’t as intense, married life has definitely tamed him, but he was just as swoon-alicious. I definitely recommend to fans of this series. For those who have not met Gabriel, you must start at the beginning. He is worth it!
Review by Lys
It has been so long since I’ve read the original three books, but when I picked this up, it was as if I’d never left their world. With every paragraph more and more came back to me. This wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but it gave me a lot that we were missing before!
Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I loved so many things about it. I absolutely loved the sense of family in this book. There were so many rocky parts to Gabriel and Julia’s relationship with their families, that it was so heartwarming to see everyone together so much. We got to spend a few different holidays, and the birth of the beautiful Clare. Bringing in Katherine and Rebecca, who also were like family, it was so great!
Speaking of Clare, my absolutely favorite part of this book was Gabriel’s devotion to Clare. He was the perfect father, the father that we’d hoped he’d be, and the father that he feared he wouldn’t be. Per the usual, Gabriel was equally devoted to Julia. Seeing him be the perfect father was everything I had ever wanted for him. The amount of love that Julia and Gabriel have for each other is definitely a love of the century.
Their referral to Julia being Gabriel’s Beatrice was something special too. I have loved learning more about Dante and Beatrice through these books and we got to see a lot more of those references in this one. I am not familiar at all with Dante and his work, so I really appreciated the explanation and stories that were told. It really made things click for me, much more so than before.
Just like the others, there were so many layers to this story. From the family problems, to a crazy stalker, to drama in the Dante teaching world. I was on my toes all of the time, and par for the course, we still didn’t get all of our answers. I really hope that she continues this journey for us!
I’ve missed Gabriel and Julia a lot their story is breathtaking and beautiful and this book really brought so much back of what I’ve been missing. The romance, the angst, the love everything that Julia and Gabriel always have when they’re together.
Gabriele’s Promise it’s an intimate look on Gabriel and Julia’s marriage, we get to dive deeper into their lives now as a married couple and with a beautiful daughter. The love for each other is very palpable since the very first pages of the book, Gabriel continues to be in control but at the same time, he is more aware of everything now that he has so much to care about. The ups and downs that constantly surround them, are not helping them to have an easy life, the mystery of things that keep happening is Bringing back old fears from their past that is coming back to hunt them.
Gabriele’s promise is a confirmation that no matter how much life, circumstances, and people are trying so hard to separate Gabriel and Julia, Gabriele won’t let this happen. He will do whatever is in his hands to protect what is really valuable for him. even if he had to reject the offer of his life, his family is first.
One of the things that I really love about this book is that we get to see a more mature and stronger Julia, in the past she was way more fragile and usually Gabriel will save her but in this book, she is tired of people dictating her career and future, she fights and speaks her truth, she is more bold and way more eager to speak her truth.
The feeling that I got while reading Grabriel’s Promise was of suspense, I always felt like something was going to happen, it felt like they were constantly overserved or follow by someone, that really kept me super intrigued at all times thinking something was about to happen.
Old characters stop by and make an appearance to help and make this story more enjoyable. like Katherine, Richard, and Rachel but definitely Clare is the one who takes the whole attention of the book. Even if she is small she brings so much light to these pages.
Great book, Great Characters, Gabriel and Julia keep making us falling in love more and more with their story.