BooksChatter: ☀☄ℚ Finding Gabriel

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Finding Gabriel, a Historical Romance by Rachel L. Demeter (27 August 2015, Momentum, 366 pages).

PREVIEW: Read the first two chapters with Amazon Look Inside.

Check out the book's trailer, synopsis and excerpt below, as well as a Q&A with author Rachel L. Demeter.

Rachel L. Demeter will be awarding Momentum bundle of 3 romance titles (chosen by the winner) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

Trailer | Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

Synopsis

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.

Teaser: Excerpt

Ariah’s eyes blinked open. Their heads were mere centimeters apart, mouths sharing the same breaths of air. She took in the irregular features of Gabriel’s face – half achingly handsome, half a testament to years of torment. Tears threatening to surface, she pressed her lips against the uneven skin, not daring to leave a piece of him unloved. A salty tang flavored her tongue – and she realized that he was weeping.

Clasping both of her hands in one of his own, he stepped backward, leading her away from the railing. She followed without thought, her soul carrying her feet. Those powerful, haunted eyes never left her face as he edged toward the center of the roof. What a breathtaking and surreal figure he made, silhouetted against Paris’s eternal night sky. A light breeze ruffled the material of his greatcoat. Carried by the wind’s breath, the greatcoat billowed around his body like a pair of colossal wings. Beneath this light, he resembled a fallen angel. Her legs grew heavy, each one weighed down with desire and anticipation.

His hand slipped free, and Ariah’s knees nearly gave way at the loss of his touch. Then he stripped away his greatcoat, eyes still locked on her own, and suavely smoothed the material across the flooring. Gabriel lowered to his knees and held out his hand, beckoning Ariah forward with the raw magnetism of his eyes.

Pulse thrumming, she moved forward until she stood on the edge of the greatcoat. Moonlight flashed against his raven hair, brightening the locks to a rich amber. His shoulders were strong and wide, and Ariah was struck with the desire to feel his muscles constrict beneath her fingers. Indeed, he resembled a crouching panther – dark, smooth, and infinitely powerful. Admiring his silhouette, she wordlessly stared down at him. She attempted a smile, but her dancing nerves prohibited the simple movement. “Touch me. Touch me, Gabriel . . .”

Finding Gabriel - available NOW!

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Author Q&A

Welcome, Rachel. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

"Thank you for having me on your blog today! Simply put, writing is my life’s blood, my passion, and my greatest obsession. It has always been and always will be. I’ve actually been writing before I physically learned to write. As a child, one of my favorite pastimes was imagining stories and characters while my mom would record them for me, Now, at the age of twenty-seven, my passion for creating dynamic worlds is stronger than ever before.

Aside from writing, my interests and pastimes include researching history (especially 19th century France and the Middle Ages), reading, singing, cooking, health and fitness, playing the violin, videogames (I’m truly a bit of a nerd at heart), philosophy, and animals."

Please briefly summarize Finding Gabriel.

"During the chaotic ending of the Napoleonic Wars, two tortured souls struggle to overcome adversity and find hope in the wreckage of their pasts. Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, Finding Gabriel is an evocative journey through darkness and light, loss and hope, searing passion and relentless love . . . "

How would you describe your style and author’s voice?

"I hold a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. You'll find that my stories are different than most mainstream books, and my style holds a distinctly Gothic flavor. I love challenging romance conventions and I pride myself in creating a unique experience with every story and character."

Is there a certain type of scene that you particularly enjoy writing?

"The scenes I usually enjoy writing the most are the ones with the highest emotional stakes. In Finding Gabriel, these include Gabriel and Ariah’s healing moments and some of the flashbacks, which delve into very personal and painful territories for both characters.

I also loved writing the interactions between Gabriel and Little Emmaline—they really highlighted his soft side and melted my heart in an unexpected way. In my opinion, few things are more breathtaking than watching one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s hardened, renowned commanders waltz with a young child."

Would you consider writing another book in this series with supporting characters as protagonists? (As is so popular in this genre).

"Although this is currently written as a standalone, I’m very tempted to write a sequel featuring Emmaline as the heroine. The story would take place at least 10+ years from the ending of Finding Gabriel, so little Emmaline wouldn’t be so “little” anymore—she’d be at least 18. Historically speaking, this timeframe would work nicely, as it coincides with the 1830s uprisings in Paris. Emmaline has experienced quite a lot of heartache and losses, and I think she’d make a very enduring and identifiable protagonist!"

What are you working on at the moment?

"Lots! I have several stories in the works, including a historical romance/horror hybrid set in a Victorian asylum, a medieval historical romance, some contemporary romances, and a horror novel. A Kindled Winter, my heart-warming contemporary holiday romance, is scheduled for release on November 1, 2015—so stay on the lookout! :-)

It’s a very exciting and busy time!"

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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