| Title | : | Captivated by You (Crossfire, #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published November 18, 2014 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Romance (2015) |
The vows we'd exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn't sure I was strong enough to bear.
At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we’d worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we'd had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream...
Captivated by You (Crossfire, #4) Reviews
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The final verdict is out by the readers - This book isn't worth it. Fillers and Sex. No story. Wait for book 5.
Well, I say FUCK IT.
I am 98% dumping this series.
~
5 books spread across 5 years is soooo YA Sci-Fi!!
~
LOL!! No date yet.
SERIOUSLY!!!???!!!???!!!
Its bloody pissing off how much the storyline of this series is being stretched when its not even fucking needed.
Sex scenes are like fillers in this series, they take up 90% of the story :P
One more book? My reaction is more of being pissed than happy that we are getting a 4th book.
•The first book really nice; like kinda FSoG but still really nice.
•The second book was so fucking stretched; it was not even needed... like only the last 10-15% of the book was up to the mark.
•Then we wait for more than 6 months for the 3rd book because it kept getting pushed after the Dec 31th 2012 date promised.
Released in mid 2013, and it was good! So I'm happy there :)))
• And now there is a 4th book. YAYIE CANNOT FUCKING WAIT
• and maybe a bloody book 5 too. WOW. 2 more books for a stupid hea with a used and abused story plot. SUPER!!!
Btw, I will still read it because I am a crazy person and I like reading and series are my weakness. hehe -
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ::: 5 STARS!!! ::::
My casting for Gideon & Eva ^^^
SQUEEE!!! I absolutely LOVED this book!!
I love this series. I love these characters. I love the writing. I love the story. I love the intensity of Gideon and Eva's love for each other. I love their passion. I love the character development. I've loved everything about the Crossfire series from the very beginning and this was another fantastic addition!! 5 STARS!!
This is the fourth book in this series and continues Gideon and Eva's story than began in Bared To You. In order to prevent spoilers, I'm not going to discuss the plot at all, just my feelings about this book so you're perfectly safe to read this review even if you haven't yet read the book. -- NO SPOILERS HERE!!
Gideon and Eva's relationship is one I feel for so strongly. I love their dynamic -- these two damaged souls, who both make their fair share of mistakes, but who love each other with every fiber of their beings, more than anything else in the world, and that love gives them the strength and courage to face their fears and work together to create a healthier and stronger relationship and future.He buried his face in my throat. "Love you."
Tears stung my eyes…
"Tell me again," I begged, holding on to him.
His mouth found mine. "I love you."
Having the added bonus of Gideon's POV in this book was such a thrill. The story is told in dual POV and I felt that seeing both sides of the story added so much depth at this point in the series.
When Sylvia Day first announced that this series would be extended to 5 books ages ago, my honest reaction was that, as long as she stayed true to these characters and didn't create an "drama for drama's sake" then I was quite happy that their story would continue on because quite frankly, these characters are SO complex and their relationship still has SO potential for future development that I'm thrilled to know what I'll be able to follow along every step of their journey and not have it be rushed. So far, I've loved everything that Ms. Day has written and have absolutely no complaints about any part of this series. As long as the story continues in this fashion, then I'd be happy to read even another 50 Crossfire books.
I honestly just have so much respect for the way she's handled the entire storyline of the series so far. Everything she's written has just served to strengthen the story and the characters. I love that at the core of this series is centered around the idea and effort of building a stronger relationship, not tearing it down. The angst and heart-racing intensity comes from how much you care and feel for these characters. Gideon and Eva certainly are not perfect people, but I feel like their flaws make them feel that much more real, and their love and way they support each other is absolutely beautiful."Despite all he'd been though, he had such an amazing capacity to feel and to love. He'd saved me, in so many ways. I was going to do whatever needed to be done to save him, too."
In every way, Captivated By You was a true Crossfire book. Even though I didn't re-read the other books before starting this, I instantly reconnected to the characters and lost myself back in their story. I read the book in one sitting and could not put it down at all. The ending is exactly the same "kind" as the first 3 books. It leaves you at a point in their relationship where things are looking up for them and you feel like they're headed in a better, stronger direction. At the same time, it leaves you eager for the next book, without leaving you hanging. I love the way these books end and have always been happy with them.
Gideon has been one of my favorite book heroes since Bared To You. I love that even though he's powerful, successful, and dominating, we are also shown his vulnerable side too. This was made even more clear through his POV. This is a man deeply scared by his past, fighting nightmares in his sleep and memories when he's awake, who has fallen desperately, passionately, all-conumingly in love with a woman who not only is the love of his life, but who also understands his pain and his past on a deep, personal level."I told you I was going to fuck this up. I'll fuck up again. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but God… I love you. I love you so fucking much. I can't do this without you. I can't live without you."
Their path towards building a healthy relationship has never been easy but the strength of the foundation of their unwavering love for each other has given them a base to not only build up from but also to fall back on. No matter what, their love stays strong. And I love that. Theirs is a beautiful, intense, heart-wrenching journey filled with both mistakes and failures and accomplishments and progress. It's passionate, addictive, and truly one of the best I've ever read. I absolutely adore this couple, I've loved every part of their story so far, and I can't wait to see what comes next for them."You'll never be without me. We're going to grow old together. Die together. I'm not going to live a single day without you."
Rating: 5 STARS
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3 I'm being generous here... and Only Gideon Stars
Take me. Take all of me. The good and the bad. Everything. Take it all.
So, finally we are here. Almost a year and a half since book 3 we are getting more Gideon, drama Eva, drama, sex, unnecessary drama and their merry band of family, exes, friends and enemies. So lots of...
Got it? Of course you do and I got a migraine from the sheer amount of it.
My worst fears came true. Stretching the plot thin might have worked with our Gideon addiction (who sane woman with a a working pair of ovaries can ever get enough of him?) but it didn't do justice to anything else. I liked the involvement of their families in this one but it came rather late in the books to believe in it. Enemies and exes are coming vengeful out of nowhere and I feel that Gideon and Eve are fighting just on principle. Come on girl! Submit and have his babies to get over with it!
If you ask, yes I am reading the next. To drool over Gideon. But I lost my investment in these books. I no longer care and when I do the next, hopefully before my hair turn gray, I will mainly do so to criticize it. Not with malicious intent. Never. But as someone in love with the heroes I feel that I have the right to care for what is happening to them.
I LOVE YOU GIDEON CROSS
Please keep reading for my pre-release rant...
2 more books in the Crossfire Series....
Hold on a bloody minute....
2???? Freaking 2????
2??
Why? Why stretching the story? Why overuse and ultimately abuse an amazing couple? Why not ending the series, in its peak?
Well.... hell! At least, that means more Gideon!!!
Pic by the amazing Joana... Hon, you are taking my wildest imaginings and you are turning them into gifs! ❤
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★★★★★! Entwined with you (book 3). The continuation of Gideon’s and Eva’s epic, spellbinding & addictive story with suspense, challenges, self-discovery and their intense dysfunctional love!
“Gideon was a force of nature, his magnetic self-possession so powerful it put everyone around him in his shadow.”
Best experienced, The Crossfire series is Gideon’s and Eva’s epic love story, both broken, flawed and co-dependent and yet so determined and relentless for their elusive happily-ever after. Follow them through sky-high ups and rock-bottom lows as their relationship is tested with demons from their pasts, envy, jealousy, secrets and lies. Yet their biggest obstacles will always come from within. It’s their journey of self-discovery and fulfillment and about pushing all limits and surrendering it all for love.
Books in the Crossfire series must be read in order:
Book 1:
Bared to You
Book 2:
Reflected in You
Book 3:
Entwined with You
Book 4:
Captivated by You
Book 5:
One with You
For me the theme song for Gideon’s and Eva’s story is:
♫ Listen to Otis Redding’s soulful rendition of “My precious love” ♫. The lyrics so simply depicts the intensity of Gideon’s love and need for his Eva.
Gideon Cross is my ultimate hero. His combination of larger-than life personality and uncanny good looks; enigmatic and elusive; intense and in-control; broken and flawed; ruthless and unyielding, yet when it came to his Eva vulnerable, relentless and human.
“Honestly, Gideon Cross had been designed to fuck a woman right out of her mind.”
Six words to describe Gideon: Unforgettable, intense, ruthless, enigmatic, dominant and captivating.
Like it or not, but Eva Tramell is everything Gideon needed. Five words to describe Eva: Endearing, needy, tenacious, smart and fragile.
“Reminds me of the red dress you wore the first time I had you. That was it for me, you know. You devastated me. There was no coming back from that.”
Entwined with you (book 3), just like book 1 and 2, is very much a rollercoaster; Suspensefully told it’s filled with villains, surprises and shockers, but also beautifully depicting an against-all-odds love and of course in true Sylvia Day fashion plenty of sinfully steamy sex scenes. I like the direction she took in book 3. Ms. Day is a master at spinning a story and she has succeeded with artfully tying in events from previous books without making it feel like a synopsis. Though it did not end with the cliff-hanger of all cliff-hangers it had an abrupt ending. But had I known beforehand I would still have read it! And considering everything that has happened it makes sense to have another two books to wrap it all up.
Epic! Spellbinding! Captivating! Addictive! Unforgettable! In my humble opinion likely to become one of the best love stories of all times!
“Gideon was a man who’d lived an entirely solitary life, and yet he’d accepted me into it so completely that he could envision a future I was afraid to imagine. I was so scared I’d only be setting myself up for a heartbreak I couldn’t survive.”
***
Hero rating: 5+++ stars
Heroine rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5+ stars
Sex scenes frequency: 5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: N/A
*******************************************
Overall rating: 5+ stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes. -
*This is just a matter of opinion guys.*
I like this series, I do. But was it just me or was being in Gideon's POV just feel a tad off? I don't know, I just felt disconnected with him.
Also... while you do see Ava and Gideon making progress in regards to their relationship, there was no substantial anything that occurred in this book. It just felt flat and redundant throughout.
*sighs* Sorry, I may be being a tad hard on this read but I didn't feel it matched up to the hype it had been given.
Strangely enough, I DO plan on reading bk5 though when it comes out. I figure, why not finish what I already started? Right?
Anyway, a mixed read for me.....Not wonderful, yet, not horrible either.
THE END. -
ZERO FARK GIVEN STARS *RAGE MODE*
♥ Most epic Buddy Read with my funny ladies: Eda, Flo & Supreet! Thanks lovelies, couldn't have done this without you! ♥
In today's lesson on how to ruin an initially great series, here's an easy step-to-step guide.
Step 1: Write a trilogy and announce at the end of the book that there'll be more books to come!
Step 2: Make your readers wait for 1 and a half year for the next book to be out.
Step 3: Releases said book to only find out later that it's filled with nonsensical bored out of my freakin mind filler plot.
Step 4: Charges $8 for said book.
Step 5: Ends the book by saying the next one is coming soon. WELL, RINSE AND REPEAT PEOPLE.
Well now that's outta the way, I'm not even gonna say it's a huge disappointment because clearly, I give ZERO FARKS about this series anymore.
But to sum this book up for me, basically this is what I honestly think SD felt when she wrote this book.
SD: Oh dear, my readers love Gideon & Eva so much, I can't let this trilogy end yet. Perhaps I should write more books and continue this series. But what else can I write about these two anymore? HMMM.
(6 months later)
SD: Oh gosh, I'm still stuck but I need to write SOMETHING soon. Perhaps I should let my readers wait a little longer.
(Another 6 months later)
SD: Okay they're all hounding me, I'm gonna do this! Gideon and Eva...okay I'm just gonna leave them to their dysfunctional ways and have them yelling back and forth at each other. Now let's throw in some jealousy, everyone loves a good drama. Okay Corrine and Brett, it's your time to shine again!
SD: What else...how about some more filler scenes with Cary, Gideon's mummy and stepdaddy. Family drama is always so much fun! And let's throw in Megumi too although I'm sure no one cares about her. Oh and of course, let's not forget those sex scenes! Office scene anyone?
SD: Now for some emotional scenes, get my readers to ache for Gideon's awful past and his damaged self. And Eva dear, let's make her a crazy insecure wife that drives Gideon mad because she's so damn good at it. I think my readers will love watching these two getting so frustrated at each other, it'll be so fun!
SD: Anddd voila! Now that'll satisfy my readers long enough to keep them waiting for the next one :D
And there you have it. It truly felt like the author couldn't even be bothered to write a proper book after making her readers wait for what seems to be an eternity. What a complete joke. The writing and plot was completely half-arsed and almost like she wrote the book JUST BECAUSE SHE HAD TO. Boring, boring and for crying out loud, AWFULLY BORING.
Gideon and Eva's relationship was in a constant loop of insecurities and basically rehashing the same old shit over and over and over again. "Oh stop hurting me!" "I can't live without you!" "Let's just fight and have awesome make-up sex!". And although the descriptive sex scenes were cut down, it was still all "let's just have sex everywhere because it fixes all our problems". Yup, we're talking morning sex, bathroom sex, kitchen counter sex, limo sex, office sex etc AND ALL WHICH I DON'T GIVE A FLYING FARK ANYMORE.
This could have easily been Entwined with You 2.0 where basically it was all filler and no progression. What's new?
Nothing. Nothing at all *yawns*
I have ZERO respect for this author anymore and I think I speak on behalf of all the readers that felt cheated by this awful filler read after making us wait for so long. And not only did she write a book that isn't worth the money we paid for, she didn't even bother to thank her readers in her acknowledgements. Instead she thanked her damn publishers at the end...like WTF? Are they the ones giving her sales or we are?! Smh.
So congratulations SD if you're trying to drive this series into the ground so deep under that it can never recover because you think you can earn a bucketload by playing us readers.
Aaaand I'm done. Sylvia Day, you have officially lost a reader forever. And for the record, I'm giving this NEGATIVE 5 STARS because I can #sorrynotsorry. -
The fourth book in the 'Crossfire' series, 'Captivated by You' proved to be a somewhat underwhelming reading experience for me. Maybe I've outgrown the billionaire Dom subgenre that became so popular after the success of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' or maybe this series is just dragging on too long to hold my interest. Whatever the reasons, this book didn't hold the appeal for me that the earlier books in the series did.
Gideon and Eva are back on...then off...then on again. For most of this book I felt like they were just going in circles, rehashing the same old, tired arguments and not getting anywhere. I just feel like this book was stagnant. I was hoping that I'd see some big leaps and bounds in Gideon and Eva's relationship, but there weren't any meaningful developments until the very end.
That being said, there were some interesting developments toward the end when Gideon's actions nearly cost him his relationship with Eva...again. I was interested to see where Gideon's new path of healing would take him, but it was hardly explored before this book ended. So, it was something...but not nearly enough to satiate me.
Although the narrator for Gideon's voice didn't creep me out as badly this time, the narration still left much to be desired. Nothing about the narrator's voice conveyed the sexy, dominant man that is Gideon Cross to me. There was nothing appealing about his voice in this audiobook.
Despite this book's short-comings, I will probably continue this series at some point. This series has lost much of it's luster for me. However, after reading four books, I feel too invested in this series to hang it up now. Much like I can't DNF a book, I have this compulsive need to finish a series if I've read past the first book or two. (I should probably get medication for that!)
That being said, I can only hope that the next book is better than this one was. This book was just "okay" for me and lacked the intense appeal that the first couple of books had. Maybe it's the series...maybe it reflects a change in my tastes. Either way, this book was kind of a disappointment for me. -
I too will not be reading this as OMG what a total farce to keep dragging this out for financial gain. Let's face it book 3 was so full of repetitive crap that it shouldn't have been a book 3 in it's own right but should have been part of book 2 and half of book 2 should have been book 1. So come on Sylvia Day give us some credance to having brains, we are not your money train and show us some respect as what your doing with now having 5 books is leaving us with very little respect for you.
-
WHYYYYYYYYY WHAT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????
(were 4th and 5th really necessary O_O?????)
well,more Gideon for me :P
p.s. edit:
as i stated in my review for
Entwined with You (Crossfire, #3) , it would be fantastic IDEA if this book happened from GIDEON'S POV or ALTERNATIVE POVS, because i cant stand to be in Eva's head anymore.
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MY CROSSFIRE REVIEWS:
◉
Bared to You (Crossfire, #1)
◉
Reflected in You (Crossfire, #2)
◉
Entwined with You (Crossfire, #3) -
♥ Epic Buddy Read with my lovelies
JASMINE,
SUPREET and
FLO ♥
** 1 "#NotEvenGideonCanSaveThis" STAR **
When an author decides to stretch her world-famous series into 5 books and makes her fans wait for it FOR 17 MONTHS, you can’t help but think ”Whoooo! Something epic must be coming, yeah?”
Well, something epic did come my friends. Because this right here, is an EPIC FAILURE.
I’m not gonna say ”I’m so disappointed with this book.” or something, because I had no hopes for it to be any good anyway. After the disastrous
Entwined with You re-read and seeing even some of my more optimistic friends not exactly loving this book, I was damn near sure I’d hate it, so I’m not surprised at all.
I’m sorry but I won’t even try to sugarcoat it:
Sylvia Day totally screwed us over.
She just made all her fans, these people that have helped her get to where she is in her career today, pay 8 DOLLARS for a book that is BASICALLY A REPEAT OF BOOK#3.
How is it even possible that NOTHING substantial happened in 368 pages? I would have enjoyed reading my 2958 pages long “Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine” textbook —which I actually will need to read for my upcoming exams. Moving on.— more than this repetitive loophole of sex, jealousy, pining, sex, ridiculous arguments, sex, therapy nonsense, sex, family drama, sex, filler and some more sex.
If you haven’t read the book yet and plan on actually doing it later —which I wouldn’t recommend to even my worst enemy— you should stop reading this review right away. I am too pissed off to care about spoilers, so don’t say I didn’t warn you…
A. The ridiculous amount of drama about side characters that once again over-dominated the book
Dear Sylvia Day,
NO ONE GIVES A DAMN about Megumi and Mark and Steve and Shawna and Will! I couldn’t even give a rats ass about Anne, Corinne, Christopher Jr, oh or even Ireland —who was actually kinda sweet!!
I really don't care or even like half these people!
So please…PLEASE stop trying to drag Gideon & Eva’s story on with all this crap.
B. The extreme amount of sex I had to endureSome couples punished each other with pain or deprivation. Eva and I, we punished each other with pleasure.
~ GIDEON
I am an Erotica reader, so it pains me when I say “ENOUGH WITH THE SEX ALREADY!”
We get it, these two need the physical proximity to survive, yeah, these two can’t breathe without each other. Sex is a necessity in their relationship, WE GET IT. I am SICK AND TIRED of having to re-establish this over and over again in every book!
You can’t just screw your problems away, so please JUST STOP.
C. Cary, the extremely dependent BFF, constantly whining and complaining ‘bout Eva ignoring him, like a 12-year-old
I don’t like Cary —never have, never will . What a selfish pr*ck he is! Buried deep into his own problems, he doesn’t get that Eva has a life apart from him!
Just so the precious little bisexual boy doesn’t feel deserted, Gideon wants Cary to move in with them to the penthouse.
No words, man. No words...
Oh and how about Cary's comment about ”wishing Trey was bi, so that they could both be banging Tat and each other, therefore having it all”?
Someone should throw him under a bus. STAT.
D. Eva, the patronizing, hypocritical, judgmental and cruel b*tch
1) The way she expects Gideon to be perfectly okay with her being “confused” about Brett Kline…“Don’t be like that. Don’t get all icy and freeze me out.”
“You’ll have to forgive me. Listening to my wife tell me she’s confused over another man doesn’t put me in a good mood.”
…but getting pissy when he comments about “helping out Corinne’s confusion”. She even claims that, while Gideon made that comment deliberately to hurt her, she ”had hurt Gideon, yes, but could sincerely say she hadn't consciously intended to do so”.
YEAH. RIGHT...
2) Oh and let’s not forget about Eva’s reasoning for rejecting Brett Kline —the egotistical b*stard that is butthurt because of Gideon being chosen over him, and trying to destroy Eva’s marriage just to prove a point.“I couldn’t go back to you, Brett. Not after Gideon.”
“You say that now.”
“He makes me feel like he can’t breathe without me. I couldn’t settle for less.”
So you see, she is choosing Gideon NOT BECAUSE SHE LOVES HIM INSANELY, but because GIDEON LOVES HIM TOO MUCH, therefore stroking her over-the-top ego better.
That marriage is grounded on a wonderful foundation. *sarcasm*
3) After a very emotional talk between Gideon and Chris, Gideon is going through one of the biggest nervous breakdowns he has ever experienced, and you know what happens? While Eva is supposed to help him get better, she succeeds in making it aaaaaall about herself and Gideon ends up comforting HER.G: “Yes, I was different! You made me different.”
E: “And you hate me for that.” I started crying.
G: “No.” He wrapped himself around me.
E. And lastly…Gideon Cross, who disappointed me more than anyone else in this awful book
I wish we never got to read from Gideon’s POV. Now, I have lost my only reason to bother to read this series. GIDEON IS OFFICIALLY NOT ON MY TOP 5 BOOK BOYFRIENDS LIST ANYMORE.
When has Gideon turned into a pansy, frantic school-girl?“You’re the reason I breathe, I can’t turn it off. I think of nothing but you. All day. Every day. Everything I do, I do with you on my mind. There’s no room for anyone else. It kills me that you have room for him.”
I wouldn’t want my man to turn into this obsessive loser, that can’t even go the toilet without holding my hand. Would you?Gideon said to me once, that he’ll live with me loving another man just as long as he had me.
~ EVA
I wouldn’t want my man to be weak enough to still want me if my heart ever beat for someone else. Would you?“I’m sorry,” For everything. For all you’re giving up to be with me.
~ GIDEON
I wouldn’t want my man to have such a low self esteem that he would constantly apologize for not being enough for me. Would you?I texted her constantly. Pleas for her to call me. Notes about nothing. Comments about work. And most of all, I love you. I typed them a lot. Over and over again. I didn’t want her to forget that. Whatever my faults and fuckups, everything I did or thought or felt was love for her.
~ GIDEON
I wouldn’t want my man to become a dysfunctional excuse of a man every time we fight. Would you?
Will Eda be reading Book#5?
Lastly, here’s the one and only beautiful quote that earned the single star this book got from me:“I’m hanging on by a thread, Eva.”
“You don’t have to hang on. Let go. I’ll catch you.”
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5 *CAPTIVATED* stars
It's been a while and I almost forgot how much I enjoy Sylvia Day's effortless writing! This [to me] was flawless. The story, the writing, the pace, the flow of events, everything ...
I planned on skimming through book 3 because I didn't remember much but, as I started reading 'Captivated by You', it all came back. Very emotional and super sexy à la Sylvia, this is my favorite book in this series so far but the stage has been set for so many events that I bet grand finale would be just that - grand!
If you are a fan of the series, I think you'll really enjoy this installment.
Cheers!
'Captivated by You' mini-trailer -
Just don't know if I'm gonna read this one or not. For me, this series has lost a lot of its momentum with the release dates being so drawn out. Originally I thought it would be a trilogy and the story got dragged out over several more releases and it's kind of lost it's sparkle.
I have to add that I did love the first couple of books and may well need to restart the series to fully enjoy this one. It feels like years go by and we don't have a new Crossfire book! -
Is there such a thing as getting enough of Gideon Cross I mean really. I can read 10 books about them and still be tempted to read the 11th.
I can't wait for the 4th and 5th books to come out. Sylvia Day is a amazingly talented writer and I am sure what ever comes in the 4th and 5th books will be just as good as the rest.
Can't wait!!!!!! -
4 Solid Stars
Captivated by You wasn't as "captivating" for me as the first three books in the series were, but I still very much enjoyed reading it.
I won't lie; after finishing the previous book, I was concerned there wouldn't be enough relevant story plot left to sustain two more books. I'm happy to report I was wrong. The plot remained focused on the relationship development between Gideon and Eva and didn't resort to clichéd or contrived plot devices to keep the plot moving along. Amazing, considering this is the fourth book in a romance series about one couple.
As other reviewers have mentioned, this book does have a bit of a "filler" vibe, but not enough that it hinder my overall enjoyment of the story.
Captivated by You is a well written and provocative addition to the Crossfire series. I'm glad I trusted Sylvia Day's talent as an author to continue to give me a couple worth rooting for. -
Español - English
Por fin Eva y Gideon se han casado, aunque en secreto, pero esto no les ha aportado mejora en su felicidad.
Este libro tiene mucho drama y sexo (y hasta falta de sexo) innecesario.
Lo que lo mejora es que la mitad del libro está narrado desde el punto de vista de Gideon y es fascinante.
--
Finally Eva and Gideon have married, although secretly, but this has not brought them an improvement in their happiness.
This book has a lot of drama and sex (and even lack of sex) unnecessary.
What improves it is that half of the book is narrated from Gideon's point of view and is fascinating. -
I read a few of the comments bellow and I'm quite surprised. If you loved the first three books than you shouldn't have a problem with book four or five. The author feels like there's more to the story (or just doesn't want to end the success of the series) so there will be more. Nobody says that you should read it. If Entwined with you's ending is enough for you, just don't read the rest. I'm having a hard time letting go of the characters I love so I'm happy that there are going to be more books.
Can't wait to see what else will happen.
EDIT 18.02.2015
I read it. I LOVED it. I don't know what to do now that it's over.
I knew that it's going to be interesting because it's still a story about two characters I love so much and I knew that it's going to be intense because their life always is but I didn't know just how much I'll love it.
For the past couple of days I've been staying up late, reading only when it's dark and trying not to read it in one sitting but it was hard to stop. I was sucked into the story as I've been the last three times and it was just as amazing and just as entertaining.
Now I don't want to give anything away but this book was more problems than solutions. I guess it was all bound to happen at some point but all the bad from Gideon's past is coming out to bite him and they already know that Eva is his soft spot.
This was the base of all the problems that the couple had because Eva doesn't like to be taken care of and Gideon wants to protect her from everything and anything.
It was quite the journey they went on this time and it was great story to read. I just don't know how to wait for the next one.
Everyone who has been a fan so far and is hesitant to read this one, you have to understand that the story isn't finished yet. The troubles these two face everyday are making it all feel so real and I loved that about the book. It doesn't pull it's punches just because it's a fictional story and the happy ending is going to cost the characters a lot of pain and hard times. I believe that it'll all right itself in the end but I enjoy reading it so far and I can't wait for the next one.
-
4 stars!
I would set the world on fire to clear a path for her, if thats what it took.
The fourth installment of the Crossfire series wasn’t perfect, but it was still an entertaining and enjoyable read for me. It had it’s ups (ANYTHING with Gideon. Elevator. Sex swing. Cary) Then some downs (The bickering, and there were some little things towards the end that rubbed me the wrong way). I listened to the audio version of this book and I thought the narrators were awesome. They did a great job bringing Gideon and Eva’s story to life.
If you asked me to sum up my feelings for Mr. Cross, I would have to take a line right out of the book to do it. This describes him perfectly.
He was complicated and sexy and damaged and perfect.
Gideon Cross. I can’t get enough of one of my favorite damaged men. The way he’s able to be completely alpha, powerful and domineering, yet also broken and scarred, he’s just one of my original favorites. Eva isn’t perfect. There have been times she’s annoyed me, got under my skin, but overall I do like her. I love how she’s just as crazy for Gideon as she is for him.
The majority of this book is the couple adjusting to being a married couple. There is some drama with both of their ex’s, some drama with their friends, some drama with their jobs, and some family drama. But up till the end, not a ton of drama between them. Which I found refreshing.
This couple is trying hard to build a healthy relationship, a healthy marriage. It’s not easy. They aren’t perfect. There is going to be some bickering and conflict. Not only do they both have some major issues, but they haven’t been together very long on top of that. Some bickering and stupid choices that would have really driven me crazy in other books I kind of let slide here. Because I feel it’s realistic. Any new couple with all these issues would go through problems and have fights. That is normal. Even though they’re relationship isn’t easy and there is a lot thrown at them, they fight together.
Some of the drama with the ex’s I could have done without. I did like the way the story went when it came to Gideon’s family. There was a scene between him and his stepdad that brought me to tears. And I love his little sister. My favorite secondary character is and always will be Cary. He’s got a lot going on right now. I’m hoping he makes some good choices in the next book and gets his life straightened out as well. My favorite line of the book came from him, cause lets face it... it’s not only LOL funny, but very true!
“You two are wackjobs separately, together, you’re a goddamn nut house.”
Sylvia Day knows how to write sexy and she knows how to write damaged characters. Many consider this book a ‘filler’ book and I can see where they are coming from. I, however am happy that we got one solid book (that wasn’t the final book) with them married and working through their issues. I’m hoping this means the next book will have far less bickering and they will be on more solid ground. Captivated by You wasn’t near as strong as her first two books in the Crossfire series, but personally I liked it better than book three.
I’m excited to see how the final book goes and how Eva and Gideon’s story will conclude. And here’s to hoping it’s released sooner rather than later!
-
So, it was supposed to be a trilogy and damn, she wrote another book. Guess what? I don't give a flying fuck. No, wait, I actually do. Sylvia Day could write 10 more books about Gideon and I would still read them.
Ah, we had to wait for this part for almost a year and a half.... yeah, I don't care either. It's not like I didn't have wonderful books to read in between.
The story is being dragged just for the sake of releasing books? I say, hell yeah, keep dragging Sylvia Day because I will never have enough of Gideon. He was first book boyfriend that I truly fell for and Crossfire series, along with FSoG, were the books that brought my love for reading back, so you can understand me being a bit sentimental here.
Gideon is still possessive, rough, alpha male, but he can also be soft and almost sappy when it comes to Eva. And how I love that about him, how I love that this reserved and introverted mogul can change for the woman he loves. He is ready to fight the whole world to keep Eva safe and he wants to do it all alone. It bothered me a bit that while trying to protect her, he kept things from her. I totally see why she would be pissed off and fight him on this, why she wanted them to act as one, because that's what the relationship is all about. And they have a lot to be worried about, there are people from their pasts lingering, trying to hurt them, to break them apart, there is their broken past, there is Gideon's family drama and his inability to open up, there is Eva's insecurity, her family and friends' problems and so much more... I get why Eva would have second thoughts about their relationship, why Gideon's obsessive love would sometimes scare her, scare that she might lose herself along the way. But I loved that in spite of the doubts, she also knows that she can't live without him and that they have to work hard to be together no matter what.
There is not much going on, true that, but this is exactly what I loved in this part. Sometimes, when there is too much drama and MCs finally solve their problems, that's it, there is HEA but I actually miss the relationship and its development between MCs. I loved that we got to see the actual relationship between those two, when they fight and make up, when they spend time with their friends and go about their daily life, when they have rough sex and make sweet love. And they do that a lot here. For real, their sex is off the charts hot, Gideon and Eva know how to tear the sheets together."You have to stick with me. You promised. I told you I was going to fuck this up. I'll fuck up again. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but God... I love you. I love you so fucking much. I can't do this without you. I can't live without you."
As I said before, I will read anything with Gideon in it and I am already excited for the next installment.
-
3 Hot Stars.
Okay, in this fourth book the story of Eva and Gideon continues… and well, as f*cked up as ever. I won’t tell you exactly what happen not only because it is too much on too little time. But as they try to go on with their married life (while trying to keep it a secret), the media, their past and their family don’t give them a rest, and they need to find out they keep together when hits to separate them are coming from every direction.
I have a love/hate relationship with this series. I love Gideon, but the story is dragging so much is making me losing my interest… even in him. Waiting 17 months for a book in a series isn’t good either… there’s a lot I don’t remember and I didn’t want to lose time going back to re-read. I’ve said it before: this should have been a trilogy. Now, with the amount of unnecessary drama in this book, some of it completely ridiculous, this is just a series that is taking too long to end and losing interest with each book. Or Sylvia delivers an epic ending in the next book, or not even Gideon is going to be able to save this.
Rating: 3 Stars.
Characters Development: Well, Mr. Cross is a sexy beast although his “alphaness” borders the obsession. He’s the broody and broken guy we can’t help to love. Eva is annoying and stubborn as ever, although I’m happy to say she was better in this one.
Steam: HOT!
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA: -
1 I need to bleach my brain STAR
Disclaimer: If you like this book...STOP READING NOW!!
If you happen to be a fan of the series or SD...STOP READING NOW!!
I'm serious, this is going to offend and I don't want to lose my dear friends...;P********************************************
Posted before the read:
BR with the most fabulous girls around...
Jasmine, Supreet and Eda!
Not looking forward to read this particular book, but our epic BRs make everything better. So this should be at least highly entertaining. ;D
********************************************
Posted after reading:
MY REVIEW:
If you know me...it was fairly predictable how I would react to Captivated by you, but honestly I was hoping and even praying a little that a gazillion years between publishing the last book and this one would help Ms. Day to find some actual plot. Unfortunately...no such luck.
First off...
That little gif above just shows my overall reaction to everything that happens here, from start to finish. I was angry and so damn pissed off. On the one hand I'm mad at myself for actually reading; on the other hand I was so shocked and stunned how bad a book can actually be. Yes, I'm looking at you Ms. Day and yes that's a judgy look you're receiving...
There is no point to map out the events that follow, or even hint at what to expect when you go in, because honest to god NOTHING happens. Absolutely nothing.
Except for me getting angry at useless fights, even more useless scenes with filler friends, talking in circles and nothing substantially happening.
Now let's talk about Eva!
I don't think I've ever had such a strong reaction to a female character in any book. I'm just going to say it...look away if you don't want to know:
She is a hypocritical-insecure-selfish bitch! And that's actually one of the nicer things I have to say about her.
For some reason she is under the impression that she can treat people with disrespect, but once they turn the tables the gloves are off. WTF? I actually felt sorry for Gideon during that particular conversation involving Brett and Corinne.
Girl, get a grip on reality and get over yourself. Also grow up and don't run away every time something doesn't work out the way you want it to and most of all get hormones under control...just one word...Brett!
But then again Gideon isn't one bit better...
Seriously, cry me a river, Gideon! Going in I was excited to see Gideon's POV...I mean after being unsatisfied with my re-read of book 1 to 3 a little change in modus operandi is the way to go, right? Yeah, didn't work.
Actually, I take that back...we learned quite a lot in the chapters written from his POV. He is whipped, dependant on bitch face Eva and whiny. OMG, I think Jasmine said it...he comes across like a girl. He was supposed to be that super-alpha-male and then we get this? No, just NO!
There goes the favourite book-boyfriend material. ;D
And together those two nut-jobs need a lot of help and probably different people in their life. My tip...RUN...and in different directions!
But the most disappointing part is that after reading this book we are back at square one...the same lurking drama and problems that have been around for two or three books are still unresolved. It's like sitting on a roundabout seeing the same conflicts, fights and scenarios replayed over and over again. And you know what the definition of insanity is, right?
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome...and yet it never appears.
And in the end I only have one more thing so say...
I am not going to read the next book. This was the limit. All I can take. Never again!
Peace out bitches!
-
4 - 4.5 Mr. Dark and Dangerous Stars
My love for Gideon goes way back, he basically had me from this moment:
“Because I want to fuck you, Eva. I need to know what’s standing in my way, if anything.”
I remember reading that line and thinking SHIT JUST GOT REAL. I have loved Gideon since and I anxiously await every release in this series. This particular release I hunted down the paperback book just to read it a few days early…FAIL.
A lot of people would classify this book as filler and honestly I have to agree, however I don’t even care. I would gladly continue reading about Gideon indefinitely. So onto the actual review of this installment.
Captivated by You begins where things left off. Gideon and Eva are married, but as all married people know the ring and vows are not majestical things that fix your problems. Not to mention Gideon and Eva have had a whirl wind romance and things have moved very quickly. Throw in the fact that both of them have past emotional and physical abuse…it’s pretty disastrous. I think Cary said it best:
"Sure. You two are whack jobs separately. Together, you’re a goddamn nut house.”
Sure this is probably true, but nothing worth having comes easy, and this couple is completely dedicated to making it work.
While reading I was getting frustrated with the bickering, but I had to remember this is a new relationship and they are both damaged. Truthfully, I respect the fact that Day isn’t just magically fixing their problems. We read so many books that are drama, drama, drama and then the epilogue they are magically fixed - no drama, perfect couple. That isn’t realistic. So I do commend her for stay true to her characters and showing their struggles.
As always these two are burning down the house in the bedroom. This book is so damn hot! I love Gideon and Eva’s chemistry.
While we didn’t get to see everything in this one, it is foreshadowed that more trouble is on the horizon. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Gideon and Eva.
If you are a fan of the series, I highly recommend reading this one. -
*****3.5 STARS*****
{BR with Mel, Dee, Sharon, and Tiffany}
I can't believe it took me five days to finish this book!
It felt like an eternity since I had read "Entwined With You". I was upset that Sylvia Day decided to make this a 5 book series, but not enough to give up on it. I was dying to get my hands on this book.
I'm so very sad that this book just didn't win me over. I found it to be kind of slow for the most part. I didn't like the unnecessary drama with Brett, Corinne, and the other two women from Gideon's past. I pretty much disliked Eva the entire time I was reading this book.
I am only rating Gideon a FIVE!!
I loved him and his passion & devotion for Eva. He would do anything to make her happy and to keep her safe. My heart broke for him that he still struggles with his nightmares and that he feared his issues would eventually have Eva leaving him.
Also the sexy time scenes were INCREDIBLE!!!
It was worth the many nights of falling asleep on my couch to get to the sex swing and elevator scenes!!
The drama at the end had me so heartbroken for Gideon and disliking Eva even more. I think she needs a dose of her own medicine.
So even though I was bored to tears throughout the book, the fact that I do love Gideon and the sexy time scenes were extremely panty melting, I couldn't see rating the book below 3.5 stars.
What I hope for the last book is that we don't have anymore of the unnecessary drama from ex lovers. I would like to see Gideon find peace from his painful past. Hopefully Dr Peterson will help him and his mom needs to own up to being an absolute failure as a parent. I was disappointed that this book wasn't better, seeing as the author had over a year to write this one, but I am optimistic that she can turn things around with the last book!
I end this review with a GIF that accurately depicts how the last four nights ended up for me while trying to read this book. :)
-
Two steps forward; three steps back
(Spoilers only if you haven't read the first 3 Books)
Captivated by You is the perfect springboard for a finale, but didn't quite deliver the punch expected from the Crossfire series... I think it's fair to say I'm Captivated by Eva & Gideon's story... Due to that fact, I also think I hold Sylvia Day to a different standard than other authors. Reading is subjective that way....
The true strength of the Crossfire series is found in the complexity of the characters - Deeply and tragically flawed... Their struggle humanizes a tale which could easily be lost in the extravagance of a well-worn plot.
Stop me if you've heard this one...
An alpha-male billionaire with a dominant streak who seduces a reluctant and intelligent young girl.
He relentlessly pursues her with a singular focus which borders on obsession.
She's the antithesis of his usual type, and he's forced to break all his rules for her.
He doesn't feel worthy of her, he's never been in a genuine relationship, he keeps women at a safe distance.
He's broken...
Her love will heal him...
I know, right? I don't think I was the only reader worried about getting tangled in overused literary tropes when I picked up the first book of this series back in 2012...
I also know I wasn't alone when I became completely entranced by Eva and Gideon's whirlwind romance.
I was left with a nearly lethal book hangover from the first books. I even re-read the books in preparation for each subsequent publication... Count it out. That means I've read the first book FOUR times...
So here's an important question; will I re-read Captivated by You before the release of
One with You (whenever the fuck that happens)? Absolutely not. There wasn't much substance here to warrant a thorough re-reading...
However, it was a delightful tease to keep me interested in Eva and Gideon.
There was a dual point-of-view element here which I found fascinating - the POV alternated between Gideon and Eva with each chapter.
All the sizzling heat I've come to expect from the Crossfire series was there in spades. And, as usual, it was an emotional roller coaster...
This is my favorite fictional, twisted, mentally unstable couple...
Gideon Cross
He didn’t see in himself what I saw— a generous soul who wanted so much to belong to something greater than himself. He didn’t recognize what a miracle he was. When he didn’t know what to do in a given situation, he let instinct and his heart take over. Despite all he’d been through, he had such an amazing capacity to feel and to love.
Gideon has his prize - after chasing and struggling for several months, Eva is now his wife. The rest of the world might not realize that Gideon and Eva have tied the knot, but there's no mistaking that she is his.
Gideon Cross once stood as the unbreakable Master of the Universe. He made many enemies as he built this corporate empire. There are countless people who would love to take him down a peg or two.
Those who wish to see him suffer for the sins of his father...
Business adversaries crushed under his ambition...
Countless women he callously tossed aside...
For all those people, Eva Trammel now represents a long-sought weakness for Gideon. One they intend to exploit.
Eva Trammel
For now, Gideon and I had secrets we could share only with each other, and that kept us isolated and codependent. It wasn’t only innocence our abusers had taken away from us; they’d also taken our freedom. Even after the abuse was long over, we were still caged by the false fronts we lived behind. Still caged by lies, but in a different way.
Eva is still struggling with the fact that Gideon keeps silent about his troubles. He doesn't share the content of his nightmares. He keeps secrets, and tries to remain an island. That doesn't work for her anymore. If they're going to be married she expects an equal partnership, but Gideon can't seem to deliver.
He manipulates her with sex and silently schemes with behind the scenes tactics. Eva knows that Gideon does this with the most honorable of intentions, but is the result really worth the emotional turmoil he repeatedly puts her through?
Still, Eva is hopelessly dependent on her emotional connection to Gideon.
He loves her deeply...
He has killed for her...
He tries so hard to make her happy and keep her safe...
He continues to work diligently to destroy all threats against her...
Those threats came out of the woodwork for this installment of the Crossfire series. Even though Eva's abuser is dead, ghosts from both Eva and Gideon's pasts line the streets of New York City waiting to strike them down.
Side Note:
Cary's presence was a highlight of this book. He is struggling through some difficult situations of his own - he's caught in a love triangle between the man he loves and a woman he accidentally got pregnant - but his raw honesty with his best friend was wonderful to read. As always, the scenes with Cary infused a much-needed element of humor into this emotional book."...Love should be easier than this,” I complained.
Scenes like that were reminiscent of the classic 'Fortune Cookie' scene from book one and reminded me why I love this series.
“If this were a romantic comedy, it’d be called Love Actually Sucks.”
“Maybe we should’ve stuck with Sex and the City.”
“Tried that. Ended up Knocked Up. I should’ve gone for being a 40-Year-Old Virgin, but I had way too much of a head start.”
“We can write a manual on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Weeks.”
Cary looked at me. “Fucking perfect.”
As I said before, it's fair to say that I hold Sylvia Day to a different standard. She has already earned my loyalty to this fabulous series...
When a series encompasses a single narrative I tend to judge it based on the whole rather than the individual books. With that in mind, I feel that Captivated by You is merely the calm (relatively) before the storm. A bit washed out in comparison to the vibrancy of the prior books.
Was this an entertaining read?
Yes.
Did the writing quality live up to my expectations?
Absolutely.
Was I sucked in immediately?
Hell yes.
Was this book worth the wait?
No.
Will I continue this series when the next book goes live?
You bet your ass.
I look forward to seeing what Sylvia Day has in store for us next with this series.
Aaaaaand now we begin the arduous wait for the fifth book...
"You can tell yourself that Eva and I are incompatible," I said tightly, "That we're either fighting or fucking with nothing of substance in between. But the truth is that she's the other half of me..."
If you'd like to test this book out before you buy it, you can read the FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ON
Sylvia Day's Website for FREE! -
1.5 Procrastination Killer stars
Okay, it takes A LOT for me to give a book anything less than 3 stars. Seriously, go to my profile and look at my stats. It's a rare thing for me. I was literally choosing to write papers for graduate school over reading this book. I finished a damn 20+ page paper in 2 days because I was avoiding reading this book.
My biggest issue with the book? I was bored. That's right, BORED!
Gideon and Eva were boring! I still kind of can't wrap my mind around this. After the whole not a trilogy controversy after the last book, I was willing to give this one a chance. But nothing happened in this book. Honestly the only real plot development was . So needless to say I am off Team 5 Books.
Will I read the next book? Probably. I've invested this much time into the series. Will I buy it like I bought this one? Hell, no. I'll be getting it from my local library. -
I have decided to stop reading this series. It was originally ADVERTISED as a trilogy but after the success of the first 2 books the author became greedy and decided to release a 4th and 5th book. I am so disgusted and disappointed by this author. She is clearly taking this opportunity to make a quick buck and thinks nothing of the fans that are responsible for her success. For now I will no longer read ANY books by this author. Maybe when I've calmed down that will change but for now all I can say is, "SHAME on YOU, Sylvia Day!"
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5 ANGEL MINE STARS
OK so I have seen many reviews and lots of frustrations about this book. YES, it took forever and a day to get here...YES it had a lot of questions to answer...YES, it had a lot of hype...for many it did not satisfy many of their needs or wants from the series.
But GUESS WHAT? I don't give a flying hoot! I flipping loved the book! Start to Finish, I could not get enough of what Sylvia Day was laying down.
I have followed the tumultuous relationship of Eva Trammell and Gideon Cross from inception in Bared to You until now and I could not be happier. I have many questions as to the future, and I have many scenarios in the my mind that still need worked out. But for me, this book was more about the relationship of Gideon and Eva. We all know is was fast and furious full of fight and F***! Gideon Cross is a hard nut to crack...dominant, powerful, and possessive. He is also manipulative, smart, and pushy. What I love the most though is that he is a man in hard LOVE.
I have no shame in saying Gideon is quite possibly my all time Favorite "damaged male." My love for this book lies in the deeper emotions I finally got from this man. He is so deeply into Eva it is as if his next breath depends on her. As he says, it is so much more than LOVE. From his primal lust and libido that she drives, to the simple flirty smiles and relaxed cuddles he has evolved so much. Sylvia Day literally breaks him down in this book and gets to the heart of his soul...with tears, fear, and courage Gideon and Eva are making it ever so slowly and doing it the only way they know how...with ridiculous kindle melting HEAT and PASSION!
I know there are many loose ends still open...especially with the crazy that went down at the conclusion of book 3. I know that many new threats to their happiness were laid out. It seems as if there are miles to go before they can just "BE." People wonder why Sylvia Day is bringing MORE books...I just don't care. I got 300 some pages of Gideon Cross...300 more would be welcome and read over and over and over again!
-
“You okay, angel mine?”
“I’m in your arms. Life doesn’t get better than this.”
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me as a reader that the Crossfire series is my own personal kryptonite. No other series has kept me as emotionally invested for such a long time as these books have, having re-read each one of them countless times and always discovering new layers to the story, new details that I might have missed or skimmed over on that first…or tenth…or twentieth re-read. This is one of the most powerful, passionate love stories that I know of, Gideon and Eva being two such meticulously developed characters that we cannot help but want to talk about them over and over again, psychoanalysing their every action, their every word, their every breath, because they feel that real to us. This fourth instalment in the series is possibly my favourite of the lot, encompassing every single element I hoped to find in it, in particular the careful attention that is paid to these characters’ emotional growth and change. There was not a moment that I did not understand the motivation behind their actions and reactions, and there was not one scene that did not make my heart race or skip a beat. Every word in it counts, every emotionally charged scene plays a vital role in the overall storyline, and every part of the puzzle is fundamental to our deeper understanding of the key players in it. This book was everything I wished it would be, and so much more, my mind still reeling from the mere brilliance of the way these characters are brought to life. Bravo, Ms Day!“Are you in love, Mr. Cross?”
“Irrevocably.”
They may have known each other for just a few months, but Eva and Gideon’s tumultuous relationship has survived through enough trials to last them a lifetime. But even after exchanging vows in secret and promising their forevers to one another, they know that there are still many obstacles before them, most of them stemming from Gideon’s past and the painful memories he refuses to address. Their unique connection is their biggest strength—their almost visceral bond and need for each other being their greatest weapon against the world that questions their commitment to one another and tries to pull them apart—but that connection is also their greatest weakness as it isolates them from others, making them codependent and essential for each other’s happiness. As we finally hear Gideon’s voice in this book, we get to see firsthand the depth of his love for Eva and how her presence in his life has changed him. Her unwavering devotion, her protectiveness of him, and her every touch silence the demons that devastate him through his dreams and affect his every human connection.“You’re the reason I breathe, I can’t turn it off. I think of nothing but you. All day. Every day. Everything I do, I do with you in mind. There’s no room for anyone else.”
As the limelight is put on the their young relationship, their private moments in each other’s arms are what drives that relationship forward, their intimacy with one another growing with each sexual encounter, every kiss, every embrace. Behind closed doors, they are one, both physically as well as mentally, completely in sync and vulnerable only to one another. They understand the other person’s needs and addictions better than anyone else in their lives, their frequent and very intense lovemaking sessions sustaining and temporarily satiating their hunger for one another. No part of themselves is hidden, no sexual act is off limits, and their physical as well as emotional addiction to each other only grows. And within their unique dynamic, sex still remains their primary mode of communication.“She was every promise, every hope, every fantasy a man could have. And she was mine.”
But as they work on improving themselves in order to have a functional and healthy relationship with each other, old foes from Gideon’s past keep resurfacing, relentlessly set on destroying him and making him pay for his past sins. For the first time in his adult life, he has shown the world his only weakness—Eva—and they are willing to hurt her in order to get to him.“She’s the chink in your armor, you heartless piece of shit. You’ve got ice in your veins, but she bleeds … It’s time to pay, and your billions won’t cover the debt.”
We watch our fearless hero battle his past, fight for a future with the woman he loves, all along navigating through marital waters he never imagined himself embarking upon. Nothing in their marriage is left to chance, their every energy dedicated to honouring their commitment to one another, to being what the other needs, craves, wants, and to shouldering each other’s burdens. But every step comes with a hurdle, every achievement with a mistake, and every lesson learned with a hefty price attached to it.“I would set the world on fire to clear a path for her, if that’s what it took.”
There is an extraordinary self-awareness present in these characters that makes them incredibly fascinating to watch, overcoming their personal hang-ups being their greatest challenge both personally as well as a couple. I was enthralled start to finish, reading slowly in order to absorb every emotion, swallow every word. Ms Day’s writing style is unmatched, her confident and sophisticated prose pulling us in and making us feel every emotion she wishes us to feel. I walked away emotionally drained, with the biggest smile on my face, thrilled for everything that my two favourite characters achieved in such a short time span, but more than happy to wait for their grand finale as their story concludes in the next book.“I’m hanging on by a thread, Eva.”
“You don’t have to hang on. Let go. I’ll catch you.”
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I LOVE Gideon!
The Crossfire series is special to me in so many ways.
Bared to You, (Crossfire #1) is the very first book I experienced on my beloved kindle and I've never looked back. It was originally planned as 3 books but, luckily for us, Gideon took on a life of his own, he's adored by so many and this author decided to breathe life into a larger series. FIVE books! I will take as much Gideon and Eva as I'm offered. For me their story is effortless reading. It's beautiful, erotic and sensual. Their love affair is carried out with fierce conviction and heart breaking vulnerability. They will be forever in my book heart.
It’s been quite some time since the last Crossfire episode but fear not reader, if you're a lover of Gideon and Eva you’ll easily remember plot points with Sylvia Day's well placed reminders about previous events and characters.
Captivated by You is the continuation of Eva and Gideon’s romance. Their delicious, and highly erotic, sexcapades. Their trials, tribulations, inner turmoil and struggles. Their saga is one that I cherish like one would a meeting with old friends. It doesn’t need to be dramatic or highly angst ridden because a simple sentence, a reference makes me feel so much.
Gideon said things that made me well up with emotion. We clearly see the pain of his life and it made my heart ache for him…. And my tears fell.
I love Gideon's developing relationship with his sister, one which Eva helps to nurture. Indeed, all the supporting characters add to the mix perfectly.
Eva is his everything.
Gideon is her all.
I love getting the point of view from both Gideon and Eva. His voice is delectable his words.... divine. Gideon described through the eyes of Eva is wondrous. They are a match made in heaven for readers of erotic romance and I LOVE them. Eva's heart pours into her descriptions and thoughts providing us with such a clear picture of Gideon and her love for him.
They are gloriously flawed characters. Those flaws bring them together but could equally tear them apart. Their vulnerabilities have the power to feel like open wounds…. Is their love for each other strong enough to overcome anything?
So HOT!
Sylvia day really is the epitome of erotic writing. Sex has restoring power for them, it’s a cure all ointment that's intensely passionate and HOT as sin. I love how they can completely wind each other up, irritate the hell out of each other, and then come back together with healing sex.
With Captivated by You I very much feel like I'm reading a serial drama….. That comforting feel-nice-inside-vibe. Seeing your favourite characters in various scenarios, going through different things. Think of every beautiful word and description and times by a million to have an understanding of the way I feel about these characters and the wonderful way in which this author presents them to us. I feel very much that Captivated by You leads us down a certain future path and I really hope my thoughts are realised..… I want to see the magical ‘Gideva’ fairy tale continue to thrive and be the glorious spectacle of love, hope and courage that I’ve become so very fond of.
I will NEVER tire of reading about Gideon and Eva together. Their trials and tribulations rock my world!
♥ BR with Deanna PinkLady, Irene and TeriLyn -
***Possible Spoiler Alert-(whispers "although nothing new happens")
*Yawn* Was there a purpose to this book? Unless the purpose behind this book was an attempt at driving this series into the ground, then congratulations, it was a success. This book is similar to ordering a box of candies from a company that you’ve trusted in the past, and they send you a huge box, and you think that it’s going to be filled with all sorts of goodness, but then you open the box, and it’s filled with nothing but packing peanuts, and you keep searching thinking that you’re going to find something, and finally after going through all the packaging, you find a caramel. The packing peanuts in this book are the sex scenes, and try as you may to search through all of them, but you aren’t going to find a caramel, maybe a piece of butterscotch candy. Because I enjoy erotica, it pains me to say “Enough with the sex”, please, we get it, we also get that they need each other to survive, Gideon is the yin to Eva’s yang, he can’t breathe without her, his body hurts not being inside her, they feel each other’s presence before they see each other, their skin aches when they part, WE GET THIS, IT WAS ESTABLISHED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER IN ALL THREE PREVIOUS BOOKS. Seriously, they have sex before work, while on the way to work, while at work, and then after work, at this point I would be happy just to see either one standing at the water cooler talking to a co-worker about the last episode of The Walking Dead, fucking anything but the two of them fucking. It would be nice to read one of having an independent scene without the other waiting in the shadows. It would be interesting to see Eva going to California without Gideon trailing, as it would to read about Eva going to lunch without Gideon waiting a table close-by, it would have been interesting to read any scene without them together, because as we all find out, they can’t be together without engaging in sex. That’s is all there is to this book is the sex, and although I like sex scenes, it would be nice to have a little storyline to go along with it. I skipped through dozens of pages because the sex is a yawn fest.
This series began with beautiful, wealthy, interesting yet flawed and damaged people. It has turned into a series about beautiful co-dependents that I seriously doubt can take a piss without the other one holding his/her hand. I now loathe Cary, instead of him being a supporter and friend to Eva, all he thinks about is how her every move is going to impact him. This book is essentially the three of them having sex, making each other miserable, whining and complaining, but can’t be away from each other for longer than an hour. C’mon, how ridiculous is it that Gideon wants Cary to move in the penthouse that he and Eva are having remodeled so that Cary doesn’t feel deserted. Gideon has turned into a pansy, frantic schoolgirl, but instead of passing notes of “Do you like me, yes or no?”, he sends texts. Corrine having sex with Angus would be more interesting than to reading this, watching paint dry on the walls would be more interesting than this.
As with book three (Entwined with You) in this series, nothing was resolved, nothing new occurred, it was basically a repeat of book three. The name of this book should have been: Entwined with You Version 2.0, or Gideon Fucks Eva Again and Again and Again and Again and Again and Again and Again and Again.
Save your money folks, nothing new going on here. -
Gideon & Ava’s story continues in part four of this series. Returning to the real world, secretly married but having to keep it under wraps. As news of their engagement breaks, these two navigate planning a future while Ava is trying to help Gideon put the past to rest.
I know that there are a lot of readers out there that were upset about the expansion of the trilogy to five books and the timeframe of the release, but for me, that never mattered. Sure I wanted the book sooner – but having to wait wasn’t going to stop me from reading the story. The fact that I get five books instead of three, well that’s just a bonus. Although Gideon and Ava reached a place where they overcome a lot, there was still just too much of the story left to be told. I want to know all of those pieces and getting two books gives me a chance to discover them all.
Now for this installment, it is short in timeframe and we get a few clues as to Gideon’s past – still no clear answers or resolution, but we did get a glimpse into the man himself. Getting a chance to get Gideon’s POV was amazing. I melted when he tried to explain how much he loved this woman and adored seeing him completely fall apart. As much as he wants Ava to just accept things the way they are and move forward, you can clearly see just how damaged he remains, why it is still so important for her to get him to a place where he can accept his past and gain closure.
As for Ava. Well she sort of pissed me of a bit at the start of the series. Her hang up on closure with Brett was driving me insane. I wanted to slap some sense into her. But even Ava has some growth that needed to be made. Closing the door on her past allowed her to hold a little tighter to her future. Realizing that her relationship with Gideon wasn’t falling into the same patterns of the past, but breaking free of those choices.
I loved this book, part two still remains my favorite of the series – but this one showcased the characters perfectly. Setting up the conclusion of the story, showing you just how broken Gideon is and just how much he’s willing to give to ensure that he can keep the woman he loves. And the alpha-moments.... fucking swoon. We got pure caveman style Gideon and it was heaven.
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Although the wait for this book is going to kill me, I am very happy about this series extending. Book 3 was only a few weeks worth of time and cramming a HEA into a few extra pages would have ruined the feel of the story. A 5th may stretch it a bit, but that all depends on how book 4 goes.
So many seem unhappy to get more Gideon...*SMH*
If we can get answers to the new questions that came up in book 3, possibly some resolution to issues discovered in books 1 & 2 and get closer to a more secured HEA for Eva & Gideon...all the better.
Sylvia Day's writing style is fanfuckingtastic so I have no fear that her adding to the series will do anything to harm it.
