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sierrat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
jessanicolesingh's review
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Let me start by saying this series begins very similar to Fifty Shades of Grey, a workplace romance with a control obsessed billionaire, HEAPS of steam, and themes of surviving sexual abuse trauma. Looking at other people’s reviews, the feedback is completely split; half felt like it was an exact copy of FSOG, and a poor one at that, while the other half LOVED it because it scratched the same itch and said it was the better of the two 🤷♀️ Me personally, I gobbled it up happily!
The relationship between the main characters is quite the ride. They spend almost the entire series fighting and making up, a new miscommunication each time they see each other, giving some serious whiplash. Though they have a decidedly toxic relationship, I found myself still yearning for a HEA. Additionally, I found the scenes with their therapist most significant. Though you shouldn’t take a billionaire romance novel too seriously, there were some very insightful and valuable takeaways. It was quite an unexpected aspect that I think will stick with me the most.
The first three books were written in standard single POV, whereas the last two advanced to dual. This lent a hand to adding initial mystery and slight mistrust towards the MMC, and then evolved into well deserved understanding of his perception and devastation in the later books.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters as well as the plot, but sometimes the author’s writing style was a bit too wordy and redundant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicide
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this up in my continuation of the "Crossfire" series.
"Captivated by You" jumps directly back into the Crossfire world and Gideon's and Ava's wild, whirlwind of a romance. Gideon and Ava have returned back to the real world after having a beautiful elopement ceremony on the beach. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, they are engaged and hoping to plan some sort of lavish ceremony within the year. But Gideon and Ava both still have a lot of demons to work through to be good for one another, and some people will stop at nothing to try to keep them apart.
This book was fine. I did not love it. I did not hate it. I loved seeing growth from Gideon, and I love that he is working so hard on himself so that he can be his best version for Ava. He works hard both at running his company and at keeping Ava safe and shielded from some pretty wild things going on that would greatly upset her. Additionally, he is finally opening up in therapy and being truthful 100% to the therapist. Given his past, this is HUGE and I am so elated to see him putting in the work.
Ava, on the other hand, I am so over. She continues to come across as a whiney, immature, brat that is pushing Gideon way to hard. She is asking too much of him too quickly; why would he share everything with her, things he has not told anyone ever, so soon in this relationship? Now, I will say that they are married now, so he should open up more, but she still needs to give him time. Additionally, she does something at the end of this book that was deplorable in my opinion, especially given that they are MARRIED.
I am still committed to finishing this series, and I am very heavily invested in seeing Gideon get his happily ever after.
"Captivated by You" jumps directly back into the Crossfire world and Gideon's and Ava's wild, whirlwind of a romance. Gideon and Ava have returned back to the real world after having a beautiful elopement ceremony on the beach. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, they are engaged and hoping to plan some sort of lavish ceremony within the year. But Gideon and Ava both still have a lot of demons to work through to be good for one another, and some people will stop at nothing to try to keep them apart.
This book was fine. I did not love it. I did not hate it. I loved seeing growth from Gideon, and I love that he is working so hard on himself so that he can be his best version for Ava. He works hard both at running his company and at keeping Ava safe and shielded from some pretty wild things going on that would greatly upset her. Additionally, he is finally opening up in therapy and being truthful 100% to the therapist. Given his past, this is HUGE and I am so elated to see him putting in the work.
Ava, on the other hand, I am so over. She continues to come across as a whiney, immature, brat that is pushing Gideon way to hard. She is asking too much of him too quickly; why would he share everything with her, things he has not told anyone ever, so soon in this relationship? Now, I will say that they are married now, so he should open up more, but she still needs to give him time. Additionally, she does something at the end of this book that was deplorable in my opinion, especially given that they are MARRIED.
I am still committed to finishing this series, and I am very heavily invested in seeing Gideon get his happily ever after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Self harm