Finding Gabriel

Rachel L. Demeter

Aug 2015 · Momentum

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

Finding Gabriel was unlike any books I've read before. It was exquisite, personal, emotional and I just loved it so much. It took me a good six days to finish it but it never got boring. All I know is, I want to read more by this author! This book felt a bit like a mix between Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera. In fact I like this one just as much (if not a little bit more), which is a huge deal since I'm a huge fan of both those stories. The story starts quite shockingly with Colonel Gabriel de Laurent trying to kill himself. This is where Ariah Larochelle, a mother of a six-year-old girl, finds him, severely wounded. In spite of not knowing who is is, Ariah rescues him and brings him to her home to heal him. At first Gabriel finds himself angry with Ariah but the more he gets the know her the more he admires her strenght and feels a close connection to her, which Ariah also feels. My first thought when I finished Finding Gabriel was: this is utterly beautiful. And it really was for so many reasons. One of them was how both Gabriel and Ariah were broken, with scars inside and in Gabriel's case out. But when they found each other they slowly started healing. That was amazing. This book was really emotional, in my opinion. I must admit that I shed a few tears (which is something I almost never do with reading). I felt myself really invested in the characters and I wanted Gabriel, Ariah and her little girl to have the happy ending they deserved. This book was heavy on the romance but it wasn't too much, you know? It felt exactly right. Even when life got in the way for Ariah and Gabriel I still felt the love and connection they shared. I especially loved the scenes between Gabriel and Ariah's daughter Emmaline. They simply melted my heart. The writing also was gorgeous. Actually, that was one of my favorite parts of this book and I was practically inhaling every sentence because it was written in such a beautiful way. I'm definitely keeping an eye on the author's future books. I just want more stories like this!

What a story! Not only does Demeter take readers completely and fully into the past she tells a hard hitting tale that takes a look at subjects that are big news and utterly prevalent in today’s society but that were apparent yet ignored at the time. The historical accuracy of the tale allowed me to immerse myself in the novel while the intimate plot kept me coming back for more. Demeter’s gritty writing brought this hard hitting story out in vivid clarity. Her descriptions allowed me to feel the darkness of the time while also allowing me to experience a short while in the lives of her characters. The characters came to life in a vivid way, the darkness surrounding them crowding in throughout. At the same time, their strength of character shone through. Seeing them rise above their situations was fantastic. That said, it never disappeared. It became part of who they were and the relationship between them. Demeter has written a hard hitting, emotionally fulfilling novel full of historical accuracy. It was a fantastic read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to others. I’ll also be re-reading it time and time again. Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

What a captivating story! I loved Rachel’s first novel so when she asked if I wanted to read this one, I jumped on board and I wasn’t disappointed. The story is beautiful, full of passion, amazing characters, and so addicting that I read it in one sitting. So as you send the kids off to school, you’re waiting for classes to start, or whatever do yourself a favor and buy yourself a book that you’ll love!

About the author

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.



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