lwasinger1163

Hello everyone, I’m new to the group and have enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and opinions. In anticipation of the release of CBY, I re-listened to the first 3 books  and I think I’m ready to contribute my opinions as well, so here it goes:

 

Gideon: I enjoyed Gideons POV. I liked knowing what he was thinking and feeling while putting on his “steel façade†for the world, like when he negotiated with Mark on the Monday morning after his split with Eva. I was also glad that we were introduced to some of Gideon’s “friends†in this book. It gave us a look at a more relaxed side of him, but I was disappointed that none of his friends were just friends, and not employees or business associates. Arash is awesome, so glad to meet him,  but he is still Gideon’s employee. He can call Gideon on his sh*t but he still has to jump when Gideon says jump. Because of that they can never  really be “no strings attached†friends. Same with Arnaldo, yes he cares for Gideon very much, but he also owes Gideon his life for saving him after a bad break-up and financially backing him in the restaurant venture.  I think that on some level Gideon understands this and feels that without Eva he is truly alone, which would explain his sheer panic everytime he feels he may lose Eva. So glad he is opening up, even if he felt forced to. That is the only way he will heal. Hope he finds peace in the 5^th book.

 

Eva: We have to remember that Eva is only 24 and had a difficult childhood. it is amazing that she has overcome so much and is still strong enough to go toe to toe with Gideon,  while attempting to drag him from the very dark place that he has hidden himself in for so long. But her youth and immaturity shows. For example she behaves badly in from of Arnoldo, but then is upset that he does not care for her.  She knows that Gideon has an empire and he had already told her that she should work for him so they could continue to build his empire together, but also it would eliminate the possibility of her inadvertanly working for any of his competitors. She knows this, and still either ignores or somehow does not know that that the Phaze one project  is in direct competition to her husband. That’s immature and irresponsible and naïve in the extreme. And yes Mark is talented but he is still a Junior associate and she should have known something was up because Gideon did the same thing with the Kingsman Vodka campain. Gideon offering Mark a job, knowing that It would result in Eva losing hers, was maybe not the best approach, but he is a ruthless business man and is not used to asking for permission before making a business decision. I can understand her fury but she should have already realized that life as she knew it to that point is essentially over as soon as she said “I doâ€. And honestly would she have said “Sure Gideon go ahead and offer my boss a jobâ€. Duh!! Of course not. That would have caused a huge fight as well. I understand Sylvia had to create a catalyst to force Gideon to finally open up, but I do hope we see some growth in Eva in the 5^th book as she is getting tiring. And frankly I don’t enjoy seeing Gideon on his knees.

 

Brett: I do believe that Brett was manipulated by Christopher from the moment Eva was outed as the Golden girl, so I feel a bit bad for him in that respect. I think Brett thinks he has real feelings for Eva. I don’t think that his bad judgment about the video was done out of real greed, but out of manipulation by both Christopher and his band mates. Given Eva’s behavior in their past he may truly believe that she will be ok with the video. That he did not anticipate Eva’s reaction shows how little he truly knows her. I think he will make one last attempt, but will realize quickly that there is no hope.  There are just too many larger story lines to be resolved and I think, or hope this one will be resolved quickly.   I do think Brett will go some distance in redeeming himself with  re Christopher, and he has already taken steps in that direction by demanding that the video be re-done.

 

Cary: He was much more damaged than Eva because rather than a mom who swept in to remove the threat the way Monica did with Nathan, Cary’s damage was directly caused by his mother. Major damage. Eva was the first person who cares for him despite his beautiful packaging and the bonus was a new mom, Monica. I think that Cary’s pride, what he has managed to build of it, is taking a hit since moving to New York with Eva. I think the apartment and Monica and Richard’s generosity does weigh on his conscience and he  feels he needs to accept Gideon’s “pity†apartment because he cannot afford to live on his own with a baby on the way, again a hit to his pride. Further, being a model, he is back to being admired and valued only for his outside packaging. His anchor, Eva, is absent. She gives him value. She has a right to her life, but Cary, being so damaged, needs more of an anchor so he is adrift and behaving badly.  Tatiana would drive anyone to madness.  I hope that is resolved in a way that everyone is not to hurt and I hope  Trey stays in the picture for Cary’s sake. Also, I think that Cary may feel a bit left behind by Eva, but in the end he is very loyal and protective of her, which would explain his sometimes hostile reactions to Gideon, even after all Gideon has done for him. If he sided with Gideon out of appreciation, then he would only be selling his allegiance to the highest bidder and that is not Cary’s style. He is Eva’s best friend and biggest champion and that will not change no matter what. The Anne and Cary connection had not crossed my mind, but it’s possible and very scary! Anne is obviously a master manipulator and Cary is mentally weak right now, she could certainly use him to get to Eva without Cary’s knowledge. 

 

Corinne: Grrr!!!! After attempting suicide and murdering her baby, she is after Gideon again! She probably took a cab straight from the hospital to his office. She does not even mourn her child, all she says is “ I couldn’t believe it, after trying for so longâ€. That’s it, no sadness or guilt, Just  continuing to throw herself at Gideon! Wow!! And a tell-all book will remind him of all the good times and convince him that he does really love her!! Really? Wow!! Just Wow!!!  I do believe that she knew about the baby ( how could she not)  and agree that her goal was to get Gideon compromised and pass the baby off as his. The timing would have been off, but not by as long if she had managed it as soon as she returned to NY. Obviously as time went by that seemed less likely, which is why she is not mourning the baby.  She is obviously sick!

 

Monica: Get’s on my very last nerve! Yes she did the right thing by saving Eva from Nathan and removing her from that home. She obviously loves her daughter and Cary very much, but really!!?? Beyond that, her life’s ambition is to be the perfect arm candy for a very rich and powerful man and making herself worth her price tag. I find her shallow and irritating. She and Victor will NEVER get back together. She could never be happy with him, period, whether she loves him or not.

 

Victor: I think Victor’s eyes will be open in the 5^th book relative to Monica. I think he will realize that he is in love with a beautiful memory and that the reality of Monica does not match his memory of her. I hope he is finally able to move on.

 

Chris Vidal: His reaction to Eva’s revelation about Gideon came out of nowhere. We really don’t meet Chris after the garden party in the first book and get absolutely no feel for his relationship with Gideon, beyond a fond “we can always hope†line.  I do not always agree with Eva’s methods in defending Gideon. I realize she thought Chris knew, but regardless, the subject of Gideon’s abuse is so sensitive and she just brings it up. I was not comfortable with that.  I was, however, so glad that there is someone else in Gideon’s corner willing to fight for him beside Eva. I am glad Chris left Elizabeth and unlike other’s opinions, do not believe that they will reconcile with Eva’s help. I don’t see Eva forgiving Elizabeth either, frankly, but Chris, no. Why? Because Chris tells Gideon that he has always considered him his own son. As a father it is his right and responsibility to protect and defend his children and not only did Elizabeth not protect and defend Gideon, but she did not allow Chris to do it either. She took away his right to be a real father to Gideon.  As a result, he lost his son, Gideon, without knowing why. Ultimate betrayal = no forgiveness.  I do hope that Chris and Gideon can move forward from here with a closer relationship.

 

Elizabeth Vidal: Just like the character in “Ordinary People†that Ireland compares her to, she deserves to end up alone. However, I would like an explanation as to why she took Gideon to Terrance Lucas, Hugh’s brother-in-law. How stupid and irresponsible. And then she believes him! Did she not follow up because she was embarrassed? stressed?  did not want to go through another scandal? going through a rough pregnancy with Ireland??? Whatever the reason, there is no excuse!

 

Ireland: Is a breath of fresh air. So cute and it’s so sweet to see how much she loves Gideon and Eva. I really hope that she is not collateral damage in any of the “battles†that Gideon is fighting with all of the folks trying to get him. That mysterious boyfriend who cannot publicly claim her because his grandparents lost money to Gideon’s dad, concerns me. I want her untouched!!

 

Anne and Terry Lucas: Don’t know why Terry Lucas is still with Anne after her various affairs, but he is obviously an idiot and now he is probably a very scared idiot because Eva and Chris know what he did to Gideon.  Anne is just scary and probably is manipulating and medicating Corinne. She does not seem to have any boundaries, certainly not professional ones, and is capable of anything. Using Cary to get to Eva and therefore Gideon is not out of the question for her. I see both of the Lucas’ losing their medical practices. One can hope!

 

Christopher Vidal – He is just so full of hate and jealousy towards Gideon. Not sure it is anymore than that. I am not convinced that he was molested. His behavior points more towards bitterness than damage. Just my opinion.