hotreads

I don't want to come across as pro-Brett. Not yet. Everything rides on how he reacts to the sex tape and the news of the engagement. Will he become the ex who take the high road, like Magdalene? Or start fighting dirty, like Corrine? Presently, I think he's been fighting fair thus far, so I'm not putting him in the enemy camp yet. I put him in the "complication" camp.

 

Think about him looking at GidEva from the outside: After three years of wondering where she was and why she'd vanished, he found Eva one night hanging outside the stage door at a concert? She returned his passionate kiss. Then he found out about Gideon. A couple of days later, he used the Internet to track down where she worked? If he read gossip about her and Gideon, he'd seen the sudden news Gideon's ex-fiancée was back? At lunch, Brett asked Eva about her relationship, and could tell it was troubled? 100% true that day, that week. Eva took him to lunch, and she accepted his apology? He was honest he wanted to try to win another shot? And wasn't going to give up easily? Then he went back out on the road, and Eva began making the news as having been dumped?

 

A couple of weeks later, he returned to New York, and she agreed to accompany him to a high-profile publicity event? At the time, he believed she was single. At the event, he saw with his own eyes Gideon was trying to get another shot too? (Brett had no way of knowing GidEva already secretly were back together. All he could have been able to tell was Gideon was making a move for the first time?) So Brett decided to keep trying for his second shot too? May the best man win? Eva went out to dinner with Brett that night and invited him back to her place afterward, so as far as Brett knew, he still was first in line for a second shot, not Gideon?

 

That's how things stood when Entwined With You wrapped up on a Thursday night. But that night, GidEva went public as being back together. Brett's likely going to wake up Friday morning to the tabloids going crazy over the news Gideon and Eva are "engaged." At that point, will he think, "OK, Cross wins. I give up. She loves him, not me. Cross figured out he messed up badly, begged Eva for another chance, and won her back." ?????

sscrph,  

 

I know you have always been pro Brett but I don't agree as you know.

 

I don't know how Brett can't know about it.  We know the original video was taken to document Six Nineths rise to fame.  The cameras were put in place to document the behind the scenes activities with their knowledge.  Sam Y had to show the film to the group at some point and Brett had to comment on his "activities with Eva".  My guess is he didn't know that Sam put the "real" Golden video together but if Sam is marketing the video, how is it that Brett hasn't heard anything about it.  Don't you think Sam would try to sell it to Brett and/or the group first.  If nothing else Brett could have given Eva a heads up about what was on the original tape.   

 

Tossing out some ideas, maybe Sam found out about Brett's activities with Eva not directly from Brett, but rather, overheard Brett talking about Eva? Eva herself overheard Brett talking crudely about her and laughing -- that's why she vanished on him all those years ago? What if Sam did try to sell the video first -- but to Vidal Records instead of the band itself? The label would have far, far deeper money pockets than the band, especially because Gideon is the money man behind the record label? So does Christopher Vidal Jr. know about the tape? Is that how Deanna found out about it - that the tape existed and an "auction" was "imminent"? Found out in Times Square the night of the real video premiere? She was there covering that event. Is this also how Lizzie knows about Eva's past with Brett? Because Christopher Jr. or maybe Chris Sr. told her? Or did Deanna tell her? Deanna was at the fundraiser that final night in Entwined With You, the one where Lizzie threatened Eva?

 

So many possible connections. So so many ways this sex tape thing could play itself out in Captivated By You.

Nathalia, you got me thinking: what is Sam Yimara's present-day connection, if any, to Six-Ninths? Does he presently shoot video of Six-Ninths? In which case, does he directly or indirectly work for Vidal Records? Still work directly with the band members, including Brett? Or was he strictly from the pre-fame days when the band wasn't even Sixth-Ninths yet, but rather, just some local indie band in San Diego?

 

When Gideon said Sam's name to Eva, she described him as the band's "wannabe videographer." So she'd met Sam back around four years ago, when she'd been a Brett groupie? Gideon told Eva that Sam was claiming he'd "recreated" the Golden video with actual footage of Eva, and that Gideon knew the guy had authentic sex tape stuff. Gideon also claimed he'd gotten an injunction, out in California, to stop the release. Copyright infringement? Video piracy? If I had to guess, there hadn't been recent direct contact between Brett and Sam - that Sam the wannabee got left behind when Six-Ninths made the big leagues. But what happens when Brett finds out from Eva about the sex tape? It's her plan to tell him to his face in San Diego the upcoming first weekend of Captivated By You?

 

How's this for a fantasy: while in town in San Diego, Brett pays Sam a surprise visit and kicks the slimeball's a s s? Shows Sam some of the same barrroom brawl moves Brett showed Gideon? Or, how's this: Sam gets invited backstage to the Six-Ninths concert in San Diego, only to find himself face to face with Brett and Gideon both?

Great lyrics hotreads, I'm not a great country music fan but I do like Blake Shelton (and he's great on "The Voice"!

 

Stop me if you've heard this joke:

 

"What happens when you play a country music song backwards?"

Answer: "The cowboy gets back his wife, his dead pickup truck comes back to life, and his hound dog that ran away returns home to stay."

OK at the risk of poking the proverbial bear cage, I'm going to suggest Brett is not an enemy lured out of the shadows. Though I'm going to reserve final judgment until I read in Captivated By You how he handles the news of the sex tape. Especially because Eva plans to tell him face-to-face in San Diego during the opening weekend of Captivated By You?

 

 

I'm hoping Brett will gracefully throw in the towel on Eva like Maggie did on Gideon? Now that he has proof GidEva are back together permanently? I'm also hoping Dr. Travis, whom Eva plans to see during the San Diego weekend, will talk some sense into her? She needs to cut off Brett? I think she's still working through the issue of Gideon deliberately breaking her heart. It's been only two weeks. And until the last few days, Gideon still hadn't cut off all contact with his own ex. Hopefully, Dr. Travis could help Eva quit subconsciously punishing Gideon by her still having contact with Brett?

 

OK, have at it ladies. I know Brett's high up on the unpopular list here.

Love your elevator avatar, Shan. Made me laugh!

I think book 4 will spin our heads. book 5 will pull Gideon and Eva closer and we will get our happy ending

 

Reflected In You was very much about Eva's agony over her issues, and how she overcame it. I fear Captivated By You is going to be Gideon's turn at agony. And maybe end with another huge cliffhanger? But every single book thus far has ended with Gideon and Eva in each other's arms, and I'm sure Captivated By You's final page will have them together. And hopefully Book 5 with them together the whole time, no pulling away, Like Entwined With You had them together the whole time, no estrangements caused by their issues? Eva's already quit running. Now Gideon needs to quit shutting down.

As Gideon learns to trust Eva even more and so open up even more, I'm sure we'll learn more of the backstories of the characters like the Lucases. Gideon was the one who told Eva about Hugh. Then there's the possibility Eva will learn things about Gideon's past from other people, such as Lizzie if she continues to shoot her mouth off and make threats to Eva? How about Angus? Might he confide more in Eva, for Gideon's sake, now that she is Gideon's wife? The third way Eva will find things out is by directly witnessing things. Like her own face-to-face interactions with the Lucases?

Hi Hotreads & GLH, I think both of you have everything covered. Anything more will just crowd the books & I think we'll feel rushed & important issues will be incomplete. We don't want that. I hope Gideon's issues are dealt with in depth & also all of the other  problems/distractions that GLH mentioned. That's enough to deal with. Oh...and of course we need room in the books for more hot sex!!!

 

Definitely more hot sex!!! And even hotter sex!!! Honestly, I thought after reading Bared To You and Reflected In You one right after the other, there was no way to top the mind-blowing sex. But Entwined With You managed to be hotter still.

These lyrics below are from Mine Would Be You, by Blake Shelton. This is a new song currently on the Billboard 100 Hot Hits, which tracks the top songs across all genres. It's a country music song.

 

Lines I especially like for GidEva:

 

What's the greatest chapter in your book?
Are there pages where it hurts to look?
What's the one regret you can't work through?

 

And near the end of the song, "The one thing you'd rather die than lose?"
 

 

Here's the full song:

 

What's your all time high, your good as it gets?
Your hands down best ever make-up sex?
What's your guilty pleasure, your old go to?
Well if you ask me, mine would be you

What's your worst hangover, your best night yet?
Your 90 proof, your Marlboro Red?
The best d a m n thing you lucked into
That's easy girl, mine would be you

 

Chorus

Mine would be you
Sun keeps shinin', back road flyin'
Singing like crazy fools
Makin' up our own words
Laughin' 'til it hurts
Baby, if I had to choose
My best day ever
My finest hour, my wildest dream come true
Mine would be you

 

What's your double dare, your go all in?
The craziest thing you ever did?
Plain as your name in this tattoo
Look on my arm, mine would be you

 

Chorus

Mine would be you
Sun keeps shinin', back road flyin'
Singing like crazy fools
Makin' up our own words
Laughin' 'til it hurts
Baby, if I had to choose
My best day ever
My finest hour, my wildest dream come true
Mine would be you

 

What's the greatest chapter in your book?
Are there pages where it hurts to look?
What's the one regret you can't work through?
You got it baby, mine would be you
Yeah you got it baby, mine would be you

 

Mine would be you
Taillights fadin'
Daylight breakin'
Standin' there like a fool
When I should've been runnin'
Yellin' out somethin'
To make you wanna hold onto
The best love ever
Girl, can you tell me
The one thing you'd rather die than lose?
Cause mine would be you
Mine would be you

The worst of the bitter enemies in the shadows are dead: Nathan (for Eva and Gideon both.) and Hugh (for Gideon.) Among the living cast of characters, I think some definitely are bitter enemies and will remain so. Some probably will stay enemies, and some who currently are enemies could turn into allies in the end? And some, I just don't know - could go other way? Then there are the folks who aren't really enemies but are complications?

 

Definite bitter enemies permanently:

Terry Lucas (Gideon and now probably Eva?)

Corrine (Eva)

 

Now enemies and probably will stay that way:

Jean-Francois Giroux (Gideon)

Anne Lucas (Eva and possibly now Gideon?)

 

Now enemies but could turn into allies by the end:

Elizabeth Vidal (Eva)

Christopher Vidal Jr. (Gideon)

 

Could go either way:

Deanna (Gideon and maybe Eva?) - I struggled whether to put her on the enemies list. I go back and forth. She definitely started out as one, but did she turn ally at the end?

Tatianna Cherlin (Eva) - I struggled whether to list her too. Especially because she isn't from Gideon's nor Eva's past.

 

Complications:

Brett Kline (Gideon and Eva)

Detective Graves (Gideon and now possibly Eva?)

 

Anyone else want to jump in with thoughts and their own lists of who is in what category? I'll bet some would place Brett on an enemies list. Did I miss anyone?

I wonder whether in Captivated By You, we will meet more bitter enemies out of the shadows? Or if the main enemies have been introduced in the first three novels? Will the next two novels focus on Gideon's journey toward wellness, and during this, we learn more of the back story of the roles the various characters have played?

 

In the FAQ section of Sylvia's main site, is says "The first 2 ½ books were Eva’s story. By the midpoint of Entwined with You, Eva has confronted the reality of Gideon’s sacrifice, her skeletons are out of the closet, and she’s faced some hard truths about her parents. Now it’s Gideon’s turn. He really needed Eva to be strong in order for him to get his life together. The last 2 ½ books are Gideon’s story." I remember reading that originally, Crossfire was conceived as a trilogy, but that changed to five books in order to do justice to Gideon's own journey.

as far Deanna, she is gona dig up Eva's past as far as painting her as a pig.

 

That's a distinct possibility. Deanna knows serious dirt about Eva and Brett. The only way to hurt Gideon is to hurt Eva. If Deanna has figured that out, and she's still bent on getting revenge against him, then using Eva's sexual past against GidEva would do it. Whether or not Deanna could succeed is another story. Way back in Bared To You, Gideon vowed to destroy any journalist who tried to make Eva's painful past public. At the time, he was talking about the Nathan secrets. But this would apply just as much to Eva's promiscious past. Especially because Gideon understands why Eva used to be so wild. Because she had been damaged. She's not that way any more. Because she got help, and she got his love.

According to Gideon's system of rules, he never dumped a woman. So when Eva hit him with the remark "The Dumped By Gideon Sisterhood," he bristled and said, "Don't be catty." Did Eva hit a nerve?

 

Before Eva, he believed if he laid out the parameters at the very beginning, there shouldn't be "exaggerated expectations and disappointments." And early on, when Eva asked him point blank what his definition of "dating" was, he said "lengthy social time spent with a woman during which we're not actively f u c k i n g."

 

So by his own definition, he was dating Magdalene plus assorted other brunettes he was photographed with in social settings? Including Corrine those couple of weeks he used her as his cover? Didn't matter whether he was telling the women "just friends." He was spending one-on-one time with them. Plus, his public behavior made everyone assume there was something more? In Corrine's case, Gideon deliberately fostered that impression, and confessed as much to Eva, him feeling terribly guilty. In Maggie's case, she believed he was keeping her on hold until he got s c r e w i n g around out of his system. Him not sleeping with Maggie had her believing she had something special with him? In Corrine's case, she was deluded into thinking her chasing him was slowly working?

 

By  his own definition, he never dumped Eva, even though he led her and everyone to believe he'd thrown her over for Corrine. Eva came to the conclusion he was too much of a coward to come out and say it was over, so Eva did it for him. I'll bet he believes he never dumped Anne either -- sending her back to her husband didn't constitute dumping.

 

Gideon may know a thousand ways to make a woman come, but he sure can be clueless at times about how his actions out of bed make women come to certain natural conclusions. Because when a guy's words and actions don't match, women are going to go by actions.

 

Well, loving Eva opened his eyes to many things. He saw how his actions broke Eva's heart. Plus he's learned a brutal lesson about sending mixed messages to a woman he knew for certain was in love with him, Corrine.

 

As I see The Dumped By Gideon Sisterhood, and the members' justifications of wanting revenge, as things stood the night Eva hit him with the sisterhood snark:

 

1. Eva: he deliberately broke her heart and via his actions dumped her. She would have been more than justified wanting revenge. But she was above that.

2. Corrine: he deliberately sent mixed messages and broke her heart when he subsequently cut her off. She would have been more than justified being hurt and angry, but her revenge was totally inappropriate.

3. Maggie: he was clueless. She had a right to be hurt the first time she saw him on a date with Eva, and she did get catty that night. But she was above seeking revenge.

4. Anne: he deliberately manipulated her. She has a right to be angry, but does not have a right to do something psycho in revenge.

5. Deanna: come on. It was a one-night-stand! Her reaction of wanting revenge is waaaay over the top. Like something straight out of the film Fatal Attraction, she's gone bunny-boiler. And was putting herself in the same class as Eva, Corrine, Maggie -- accosting all three women in her revenge plot, hoping to enlist them? Well, definitely enlist Eva. Safe bet Deanna tried similar approach with Maggie. Who knows what Deanna was doing to mess with Corrine.

 

6. 7. 8. 9. 10. ... dozens ... hundreds? ........ however many other women are out there, from every single one he took to that hotel room, regardless of whether he stuck his d i c k into each, plus however many other brunettes he dated but never f u c k e d. I hope that now by the end of Entwined With You, "all the devils are here" as Shakespeare would say. We're not going to meet any more of Gideon's exes in Captivated By You.

well, techniclly Gideon hasn't really been "truthful"  Remember when the Dr. asked about sexual encounters and he replied at least twice weekly and earlier Gideon had said to Eva that he has had more sex with Eva in the past month than he has had in the past two years.  (he did explain the difference, but even if he didn't use his d**k, it still is sexual. 

 

also when he said he didn't mastu**ate.....when she gave him the towels.....he further explained that he stro**d off daily with shower, after Eva only once and she was there.....Really sometimes Gideon doesn't know the meaning of ":is" is.....

 

but I still love the series and just waiting patiently.

 

Gotta love our Gideon, but he's got such strange, narrow definitions of everything. Plus some serious double standards at times.

 

Eva danced with Stanton's nephew, and Gideon got p i s s e d and jealous because he believed the guy was attracted to Eva. Yet Eva's not supposed to think anything of all those dozens, maybe hundreds of women, Gideon used sex tools on but did not s c r e w.

 

Gideon gets justifiably p i s s e d that Eva simply kissed Brett. But he expected her to believe he wasn't s c r e w i n g Corrine again despite all the evidence to the contrary, most especially photographic proof he took Corrine to the f-pad hotel.

Totally agree with you sscrph about the sexual encounter. Gideon was honest about that night. Especially because what Gideon told Eva and then what Deanna said pretty much match.

 

I think GHL has got a point about something more going on between G and D. Main difference is GHL wonders if there is more in the past, and I wonder if there is more in the present. Not in a million years to imply G would ever cheat. But he keeps things from Eva to try to shield her. I don't trust D as far as I can throw her - she's up to something.

Hi GLH I totally disagree about Gideon and Deanna. Gideon does not lie to Eva and he specifically said it was just the one time and he barely remembered it. If Gideon starts lying to Eva now at this stage in their relationship then they have bigger problems than Deanna.

 

Gideon is scrupulous about every word he says to Eva is the truth. But a huge problem remains Gideon lies by omission. He's done "nothing but the truth" from day one. But his refusing to trust her with "the whole truth" almost destroyed what they had, and they're still dealing with the damage. hank God he's finally starting to open up. But for them to reach happily ever after, he's got to keep being completely honest with her.

 

Regarding Deanna, I believed the guy when he said he barely remembers the one-night-stand he and Deanna had how ever long ago it was in the past. Which he told Eva the night Deanna ambushed her in her apartment lobby, the night Entwined With You opened, the night GidEva reunited. But now at the end of Entwined With You, two weeks have passed with Deanna having inserted herself into Gideon's present life? Gideon has told Eva about some things now going on with Deanna. But I'm worried there are things about Deanna he's holding back on telling Eva? Deanna has been digging hard into his past. What else true dirty laundtry might Deanna know about besides the sex tape and the real story about the brawl with Brett? Stuff Eva could get blindsided by, and be hurt Gideon still is trying to keep things from her?

I'm very sorry to say that the release date for AFTERSHOCK has been moved out into 2014. At this time, I don't know which month or day. I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the publisher.

 

SPELLBOUND is locked into a December 3 release date and won't be moving.

 

I know how frustrating this is, believe me. This is why I've insisted that no release date be announced for CAPTIVATED BY YOU until it's set in stone.

 

 

I know it's frustrating not being able to preorder, but it's impossible to compare the handling of Crossfire to any other romance series. It's a massive undertaking releasing a book with the level of demand Crossfire has, not just for the publisher, printer, distributors, and vendors but also for me. We're all doing the best we can and I can assure you, the publisher is eager to get the book out as soon as possible. Crossfire is presently one of the biggest series in the world. They don't want to sit on it any longer than they absolutely have to.

 

You're the best! We're as huge in-real-life of fans of you as an author as we are fans of the fictional characters you created!

I mean, think about what the "familiar safety of the lives we’d had before each other" meant. Eva had a regular college student life once she got out from under Mommica's smothering? When Eva moved to New York that summer, her plan was to have as ordinary a life as a young woman could have. Entry-level job to start learning her field. Clubbing with her best friend. Not that her life was totally ordinary out in San Diego. At first, her issues made her lovelife a hot mess? But she got professional help for the reason why. Celebrity billionaire Gideon didn't have a regular life, but he had compulsively organized his life to protect himself inside as best he could? Including his lovelife. He never did get professional help as a grown-up. Because "professional help" as a kid is what damaged him. Finally, he is getting help, because of Eva's love. She is making him come out of that protective shell? To have the courage to go into his darkest places? But the risks are huge. I can see him backtracking at times? Maybe that's what the back cover wording means " ... love being tested ..." and at times " ... feel him slipping from my grasp ..." How the struggle for them to get beyond his dark past for their happily ever after?

 

All that time they stayed in together at home not only was precious but also kept her safe. Because at the very start of their relationship, his insistence on announcing to the world she was his girlfriend, including making sure there were pictures in the press, is what triggered all the danger? That's what lured bitter enemy Nathan out of the shadows. Eva was safest out of the spotlight, especially after Nathan was dead and the world was fooled into thinking she was just another one of Gideon's exes?

 

Maybe that's what's meant on the back cover of Captivated By You, "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." The vows they made will include a lifetime of her needed bodyguards? Gideon already is paranoid about her physical safety. It's a real insecurity he struggles with. He never was afraid until he found something, her, more precious than life itself. And for the rest of his life, he'll have to struggle with having killed to save her life? Before they met, their lives were incomplete but at least they were safe from harm?

 

Him parading her in public in front of photographers as his fiancée that last night of Entwined With You made me uneasy. Because his doing something similar when she became his girlfriend is what lured Nathan out. Yes, that last night of Entwined With You, what he did validated to everyone she is the one he's in love with. Made up for those press pictures of him and Corrine?  But maybe what was driving him was his insecurity and jealousy? He did it to make sure Brett Kline knows they're a permanent couple? Think about the timeline - Thursday in Times Square, pictures of Brett and Eva together. Next night, Gideon gets her to say yes to an immediate wedding?

 

I'm posting this for GiGi and anyone else that doesn't have FB. Sylvia put this up about an hour ago.

 

 

Along with the post she said:

 

"Be bad with me." - Gideon Cross, ENTWINED WITH YOU

 

Stay in or go out?

 

 

Stay in! Definitely! I hope there's more GidEva spending lots of time alone together in their lovenest in Captivated By You. I loved that time in Entwined With You - their hiding out together from the whole world was one of the best parts. They got precious time to focus on just loving one another. More important, Eva got Gideon to open up and talk about things.

 

But, I wouldn't mind them going for a return visit to the office at that nightclub. Seriously hawt, hawt sex in that office. Even better, well if that's possible, than the office sex in the Crossfire. Those two-way mirror at the nightclub office give exhibitionist spice to the encounter.

 

Loved this quote in Entwined With You!!! The picture is on Sylvia's Facebook page today, along with a comment from her, "Stay in or go out?"

 

Stay in! Definitely! I hope there's more GidEva spending lots of time alone together in their lovenest in Captivated By You. I loved that time in Entwined With You - their hiding out together from the whole world was one of the best parts. They got precious time to focus on just loving one another. More important, Eva got Gideon to open up and talk about things.

 

But, I wouldn't mind them going for a return visit to the office at that nightclub. Seriously hawt, hawt sex in that office. Even better, well if that's possible, than the office sex in the Crossfire. Those two-way mirror at the nightclub office give exhibitionist spice to the encounter.

No snippets but snapshots and quotes will do just nicely and hopefully soon a release date will come from penguin !

 

Hi ShazScott, question I hope you can answer - did Sylvia confirm no Crossfire snippets this time, somewhere such as Facebook? I asked on the "Ask Sylvia" thread here, because I saw she explained she wasn't going to post Aftershock snippets, per her publisher request. Different publisher though, for Afterburn/Aftershock.

Glad you liked my statement about Corinne.

 

But girl, you already know he has MAJOR SKILLS unless you skipped some pages or you have your own way of hitting all those spots.

 

It would not surprise me to see other women coming out of the woodwork in CBY.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. To miss that, one would have to skip over like, every other chapter. And not only does the man have major skills, he had toys. Too funny.

 

Seriously, I can see more women coming out of the woodwork. Who knows how many other members of the Dumped By Gideon Sisterhood that Deanna has been rabble-rousing. Eva knows for certain just two others besides herself: Magdalene (because Maggie told Eva herself) and Corrine (Gideon told Eva that Deanna paid Corrine a visit the night of Times Square.) I'll bet Deanna has been working her way down a list. And Gideon might know, too, about who else Deanna has been hitting up for dirt. Women that Eva never have even heard about, much less met. Yet.