Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard

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, 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?

Book 4
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in this utterly enchanting series – and I have just reread the first three in anticipation of further goodness. I was delighted at the renewed pleasure of reading Julia and Gabriel’s story – and finally finding out what happened next! I would highly recommend that anyone new to these books do the same, and start at the beginning – truly, you need to know how far they have travelled – but if it has just been a while, then there are enough pointers to remind you of any past events that your brain has forgotten.

Seeing Gabriel and Julia as parents is a real joy, and along with the reality of dealing with a new infant, we see their shift in priorities, and their growth together. Of course, there are hurdles to cross, and once again the past threatens to spoil their present – but they have a number of faithful friends, though none more so than Katherine Picton. I love that she continues to play a significant, if not seminal role in the couple’s lives.

I will not divulge any more, but promise, along with Gabriel, that this is the book we fans have all been hoping for, and I have loved spending a few days catapulted back into that world that I enjoyed so very much over half a decade ago.

Thank you, Sylvain Reynard, thank you.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
When I saw that there was another book coming out about Professor Gabriel Emerson, I knew I had to read it. I fell in love with the good professor from the very first book and my love for him is still going strong. Although I will share him with Julia and baby Clare.

When Gabriel receives a prestigious invitation to lecture in Scotland, he is conflicted about leaving Julia and baby Clare at home. Julia has a few concerns of her own after having the baby and she hopes they disappear before she has to tell Gabriel. But when a frightening situation happens at home, Gabriel is thinking about declining to go to Scotland so he can keep Julia and Clare safe.

Will Gabriel tell Julia his concerns and they decide what would be best? Will Julia explain her concerns before they get worse? Will the frightening situation continue to plague them?

With the way the story ended, I wonder if there might be a chance for another book? I hope so! I enjoyed seeing Gabriel and Julia adjusting as parents, Gabriel is even sexier as a daddy. I highly recommend you read from the beginning so you don't miss a delicious second of the good professor. So sit back and enjoy all that is Gabriel's Promise.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

I absolutely loved the first three books in this series. They are must reads, especially if you want to understand what's happening in this story.

We find ourselves back with Gabriel and Julia. They have just had their first child and while trying to figure out how to parent and continue with their careers, they have to navigate being married too.

While we get to see their lives more in depth, this book lacked something for me. It was more just a story about what was happening, rather than furthering the story along. And while there is some mystery within the story, I didn't really feel the pull that I did with the first books.

Hopefully the next book won't take too long, because I would love to see where their lives go.

Sylvain Reynard is a Canadian writer with an interest in Renaissance art and culture and an inordinate attachment to the city of Florence. Reynard is the New York Times bestselling author of Gabriel’s Inferno, Gabriel’s Rapture, Gabriel’s Redemption, Gabriel’s Promise, The Raven, and The Shadow.

Connect with Sylvain

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SR’s Fox Den Facebook Group

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4) by Sylvain Reynard to read and review.

The Raven by Sylvain Reynard

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery...

Raven Wood spends her days at Florence's Uffizi gallery restoring Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semiconscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attackers' screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her...

Cassita vulneratus.

When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. Upon returning to the Uffizi, no one recognizes her. More disturbingly, she discovers that she's been absent an entire week. With no recollection of her disappearance, Raven learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history--the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the police identify her as their prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence's wealthiest and most elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets...

Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I love the sense of place and the sense of history in Sylvain Reynard’s writing and the way he captures Florence in this story is magnificent. Even as the centuries and characters blur, the city and its art remain fixed and somehow separate from time.

There are many familiar vampire tropes in this story. The urban fantasy element of the series isn’t its strength. Very little of the worldbuilding is original and women are often reduced to tired virgin/whore/crone stereotypes.

It took me a while to like Raven. For someone with a PhD tasked with restoring some of the world’s most precious art, her self-confidence is awful and her view of herself and her disability feels unnecessarily reductionist. I enjoyed her interactions with William and I liked the way she became more confident as the story progressed. She’s possibly too much of a vulnerable victim for me at times, but I’ll withhold judgement until I finish the series.

William is a character full of contrasts. I enjoyed the conflicting elements of good and evil in the Florentine prince. He’s an intense character and I’m still not certain I understand his motivations. He is a more interesting character than Raven, but I’d like to see some power rebalance in the next books, so they feel more like a matched pair than hunter and prey.

I loved the city and the art in this story. I love the author’s writing style. I’m not certain about the vampire lore or the relationship between Raven and William, but I’m engaged enough that I want to immediately download the next book in this series.

I am honoured to have had my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists.

I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. Gabriel's Inferno was a Semifinalist for Best Romance in 2011 and Gabriel's Rapture was a Finalist for Best Romance in 2012, in the Goodreads Choice Awards, as well. The final novel in The Gabriel Series, Gabriel's Redemption, debuted at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was a Finalist for a 2014 Goodreads Choice Award as Best Romance.

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition – particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, food, drink, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House.

Recently, Huffington Post Books ranked Gabriel's Inferno as the best teacher/student romance novel.

Connect with Sylvain

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


Brought to you by

Sarah reviewed her personal copy of The Raven (The Florentine #1) by Sylvain Reynard for this post.

The Man in the Black Suit by Sylvain Reynard

Acacia Santos excels at her job as concierge at the prestigious Hotel Victoire in Paris. When her superior, Marcel, is attacked in a supposed random mugging, she is tasked with serving one of the hotel’s most mysterious and attractive guests.

Nicholas Cassirer checks into the hotel under an assumed name every three months. Usually, he stays in the penthouse suite with a beautiful female companion but on this occasion, he arrives alone and is displeased in having to deal with someone new. A match of wits ensues as he tests Acacia’s expertise with a series of almost impossible demands. Her intelligence and creativity rise to the challenge, earning his respect.

They strike a tenuous accord until Acacia discovers a famous stolen painting in his suite, she contacts a former boyfriend who works for the elite BRB, a unit of French law enforcement that deals with art thefts.

Nicholas is questioned by police and released when it is revealed the painting is a reproduction. Irked with her behavior, Acacia’s supervisor demotes her threatening dismissal and the cancellation of her work permit.

But Acacia has already attracted Nicholas’s attention. Remorseful that she may lose her job on his account, he offers her a choice – she can wait until her supervisor dismisses her, or she can leave the city of lights behind and become his personal assistant.

Acacia initially refuses his offer, but Nicholas is persistent. He reveals himself as a man who quietly acquires stolen art in order to restore it to its rightful owners. Faced with mounting familial debts and the possibility of dismissal and deportation, she agrees to work for him.

Nicholas opens up a whole new world of beauty and intrigue to Acacia as they travel the globe. Soon the line between employer and assistant is blurred, and the two lonely people embark on a passionate relationship.

Buy Links

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Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This was a wonderful treat from a new-to-me author. It’s a story about secrets, espionage, and revenge – with more than a little romance for good measure. From the start, secrets are everywhere. I spent the whole novel not quite knowing who to trust – never anticipating the many twists and often expecting subterfuge where there was none.

Acacia is a fantastic main character and we spend much of the novel trying to figure her out. She’s ambitious, highly educated, and well connected but she holds her secrets close. I admired her intelligence and her independence. However, my one reservation about the novel is the way Acacia behaves erratically in her relationship with Nicholas – playing hot and cold and adding superfluous drama to an already tense and exciting story.

I’m not sure I can write about any other characters or events without giving away key parts of the story. The storyline has been meticulously crafted and even the most innocuous details become important at some point.

I love the pace and I love the tension in this book. I also love the sensual language used to capture the places, the artwork, and the people in this book. There are some truly beautiful passages that elevate this story beyond the usual romantic suspense.

This is my first book by Sylvain Reynard, but it certainly won’t be my last. I’ve already purchased another of the author’s books to review for Wicked Reads’ BYOB in January.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Nicholas is trying to figure out where he fits in the world. He has created a persona that exemplifies fierce, dangerous, and in charge. While he has trauma in his past, it's his future that we follow.

Acacia is the embodiment of class. She doesn't let herself be a doormat, but she is also kind to anyone who she encounters. She is also running, but you don't really know from what. She tries very hard to resist Nicholas, but when things take a turn, she has nobody else.

Nicholas and Acacia find themselves on a journey together but for very different reasons. I think that they have fairly organic chemistry – it isn't an instant love connection and it actually takes a lot of work for Nicholas to get Acacia to open up to him.

As we follow their path, we discover so much about them individually that it makes them that much stronger together. I think that this was a good romance, but found that it was more of a mystery than anything. Not quite a who-done it, but it felt similar as there were so many people and situations throughout the story.

Overall, I thought this was a very well written, developed story.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Reynard is a consummate storyteller and this is another wonderful novel from the author’s pen. I cannot admit to how many times I have read the Gabriel trilogy, but I can say that this will also be added to my 'Must re-read' list.

I read it from cover to cover without pause – well I think maybe a comfort break, but it was in the room with me! I was totally captivated by both Acacia and Nicholas, and as the layers upon layers were revealed, they became all the richer.

This is a thriller, wrapped around a love story, inside a tragedy, or two. It is beautifully paced, and skillfully plotted. It is also incredibly passionate and intensely romantic. From the very first scene in the museum, the tension rises, and we are again under Reynard's spell. The revelations, which if handed out in the first chapter would shock and confuse, instead are given at a rate with which we can forgive, understand, and even rejoice.

It is only fair to give a mention to Rick, and to Nicholas's mother, who are unexpected heroes in the tale, alongside the couple – and now I feel guilty for not mentioning Kate, Claude (the cat), and Luc...

Highly recommend this lovely story – but make sure you have a free window, as once you start... you will not want to stop.

I am honoured to have had my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists.

I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. Gabriel's Inferno was a Semifinalist for Best Romance in 2011 and Gabriel's Rapture was a Finalist for Best Romance in 2012, in the Goodreads Choice Awards, as well. The final novel in The Gabriel Series, Gabriel's Redemption, debuted at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was a Finalist for a 2014 Goodreads Choice Award as Best Romance.

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, food, drink, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House.

Recently, Huffington Post Books ranked Gabriel's Inferno as the best teacher/student romance novel.

Connect with Sylvain

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Man in the Black Suit by Sylvain Reynard to read and review.