Entwined with You by Sylvia Day
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Emotional, Intensely Sensual. THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR FIRST TWO BOOKS!
Please Don’t Read This Review If You Don’t Want to Be Spoiled About the First Two Books of the Series.
“The man I loved had killed for me. A lot of things become inconsequential after a sacrifice like that.”
FINAL DECISION: I found this book deeply emotional with great movement in the relationship between Gideon and Eva. It truly feels like they have entered a new phase in their relationship. While still a work in progress, the two have a new level of closeness which makes this book feel the most optimistic of the series so far.
THE STORY: As readers of the series know, Gideon Cross and Eva Tramell have had a difficult relationship. Both are survivors of childhood sexual abuse which has damaged them and made it difficult to fully engage in their relationship. Trust and communication are problems for them both. This book begins right after the end of book 2 and the revelation that Gideon has murdered Eva’s rapist. This event ripples through Gideon and Eva’s relationship both bringing them closer together and placing additional barriers between them.
OPINION: I am constantly surprised by how engaging I find these books. The events are just crazy and the relationship between Eva and Gideon feels glacial at times. This book feels like a breakthrough. Finally, they have moved beyond some of their problems (but things are not all good yet). There is a new level of emotional maturity and connection between the characters that makes this book feel like a breath of fresh air.
As a late comer to this series, I have the advantage of knowing that there are five books in the series and that there is more drama to come. Many readers expected a trilogy and thus this book was a disappointment to them. For me, however, this book feels like an island of unexpected peace in this series. There is joy and happiness to be found and not just drama and pain and sadness.
It is the combination of all the emotions that makes this series so compelling to me. Here are two people who have so much baggage that they probably should have given up on one another long ago. Instead, they have such a deep connection to one another that it compels them to fight through all their pain and sadness to be together.
WORTH MENTIONING: I especially liked that the stories of the secondary characters are also progressing in this series. There are some big reveals in this book.
CONNECTED BOOKS: ENTWINED WITH YOU is the third book in the Crossfire series. It is intended to be read as part of the series. Following one couple, the book relies upon knowledge in the first two books and this book does not complete the story.
STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.