Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter

Finding Gabriel

Rachel L. Demeter
Historical Romance
Published in 2015

H/h - Gabriel de Laurent/Ariah Larochelle
Setting: Paris, France, 1815.

Read in September, 2015.

My rating:

                                                   [spoiler alert]

Rachel L. Demeter’s Finding Gabriel promised something dark and bada$$. Even comparison to books like Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Ice and Judith James’s Broken Wing were made. Then there was the $0.99c release sale, so no wonder I grabbed it when it was released!

Both Lord of Ice and Broken Wing are straight 5 stars books, aptly deserved as I absolutely loved both. However, Finding Gabriel, IMO failed to deliver what it promised. Yes there were quite a lot of dark and depressing matters in the story but they never worked out the way I wanted them to. Since this was my first book by the author, I went in totally blind and felt the unadulterated shock of disappointment. I’d go into my full review later but first, here is what happened in a nutshell...

Colonel Gabriel de Laurent has seen it all, done it all in his 30 yrs. life. Born in a noble family, he wasn’t supposed to serve Bonaparte but he went to the army when tragedy struck his family down and there was no one left to mourn him. After his parents had passed, Gabriel married the girl he was betrothed to quite dutifully, being the only heir to their legacy. Both were young (late teens) and totally inexperienced. And they didn’t suit at all. Soon, after the birth of Lisette, their only child, Gabriel and his wife drifted apart. There were numerous affairs on both sides. From what little shown in the story made me feel that both were to blame equally for their failed marriage. When not submerging into the charms of his next mistress, Gabriel was drinking away. His wife was depressed, resentful, always looking for the next lover, never finding the peace that eluded her in her own marriage. And that brought trouble at their home; a jilted lover who wanted revenge. I won’t go into the details but Gabriel lost his whole family on one single night, in a quite gruesome way. He would’ve died himself had he not killed the perpetrators equally brutally and left home, never to return again. His conscience, the urge to be a good husband and father, came a little too late... there was nothing left to do anymore.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Our Love of the Tortured Hero by Rachel L. Demeter, Author of Finding Gabriel

Today, I'm hosting this guest post by author Rachel L. Demeter as a part of the blurb blitz for her recent historical romance release, Finding Gabriel, a story set in France, 1815. I hope you enjoyed this guest post as much as I did. I mean, who doesn't like a tortured hero... is that even a question? *raises both hands and feet!* LOL

Rachel L. Demeter will be awarding a Momentum bundle of 3 romance titles chosen by the winner to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

Our Love of the Tortured Hero

“If I am the phantom, it is because man's hatred has made me so. If I am to be saved it is because your love redeems me.”

― Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the tortured hero. I fell deeply in love with poignant, Gothic stories such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and Wuthering Heights. I remember watching The Phantom of the Opera stage play at age seven with a mixture of horror and shared pain. Later, in my teen years, I read Gaston Leroux’s Gothic novel in a single night and found myself falling in love all over again.

Something about the vulnerability, desperation, and raw yearnings of these dark protagonists opened my eyes and forever touched my soul. They were much more than mere characters or elaborate passages in a book; through their fatal flaws they had transformed into living, breathing human beings . . . people who I knew intimately, people who ached to reach out and heal. I identified with Erik’s loneliness and his need for companionship. I understood Jean Valjean’s hunger for redemption, for a second chance. I, too, saw Fantine’s dream shatter into a million pieces . . .  and I wept on behalf of Heathcliff’s wretched beginnings and his unrequited love for his Cathy. These individuals and their tragic plights continue to fuel my inspiration and have made a lasting impact on my own stories.

This led me to ask myself the following question: what is about the tortured hero that leaves a lasting imprint on our minds and hearts? In spite of their damning choices, cynicism, and oftentimes cruel nature, why do we continually find ourselves rooting for these damaged men and women? What draws us in—mind, body, and soul—in spite of their every imperfection?

There is something genuinely captivating about a damaged hero or heroine.

He is much more than a Gothic personality once found in the pages of literary classics. The tortured hero is still very much alive and well. “Antiheros” are currently on the rise—something which is evidenced by the abundance of dark romance novels and edgy television series (a warm nod to my two personal favorites, the phenomenal Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones).

I think one of the strongest reasons, or attractions, is our ability to identify with the tortured hero’s flaws and imperfections.  In the realm of storytelling, identifying with a character is everything.

By definition, tortured heroes contain at least one fatal flaw. These imperfections dictate their personalities, fears, and desires. These defects can appear in a variety of forms: physical scars, internal scars, severe emotional damage, and heavy burdens or baggage. By exploring the things that make the tortured hero tormented, we gain an understanding of how they evolved into their current personalities.

This is a very intimate venture, as the reader is granted access into the most private, vulnerable, and painful crevices of their being. And when we gain a true understanding of a character, we are much more likely to connect with their plight. We know the agony they’ve endured, we recognize the reasons why they might appear cruel, callous, or cynical—and we ache to see them overcome these shortcomings and become whole.

Furthermore, tragic flaws oftentimes embody universal fears. For example, nearly every person fears being alone. Because of his disfigurement, The Phantom has been cast out of society and sentenced to a life of darkness and solitude. As readers, we personally relate to his isolation and need for companionship.
 

In short, we recognize the tortured hero’s shortcomings and either subconsciously or consciously utilize them as a personal, internal mirror.

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: The Frost of Springtime by Rachel L. Demeter

Today, I'm featuring a promo spotlight on Rachel L. Demeter's historical romance The Frost of Springtime as a part of the blurb blitz tour that is currently going on. Find the promo and an excerpt in the following post. Don't forget to comment as it'll increase your chances of winning!

Rachel L. Demeter will be awarding a $15 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, plus an autographed bookmark will be awarded to 5 randomly drawn winners (US ONLY)

The Frost of Springtime

Rachel L. Demeter

To rescue her was to rescue his own soul.

On a cold Parisian night, Vicomte Aleksender de Lefèvre forges an everlasting bond with a broken girl during her darkest hour, rescuing her from a life of abuse and misery. Tormented by his own demons, he finds his first bit of solace in sheltering little Sofia Rose.

But when Aleksender is drawn away by the Franco-Prussian war, the seasons pass. And in that long year, Sofia matures into a stunning young woman—a dancer with an understanding of devotion and redemption far surpassing her age.

Alongside his closest friend, Aleksender returns home to find that “home” is gone—replaced by revolution, bloodshed, betrayal—and a love always out of reach. Scarred inside and out, he’s thrust into a world of sensuality and violence—a world in which all his hours have now grown dark, and where only Sofia might bring an end to the winter in his heart.

Inspired by the 1871 Paris Commune, The Frost of Springtime is a poignant tale of revolution, redemption, and the healing power of love.

Watch The Frost of Springtime Book Video!!

Buy Links:

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