Between the covers book club

Hello, lovely ladies 😉

Sorry I’m a little late today. How are you this fine weekend? I’m finally on holiday! It’s a short one, but a break nonetheless, one for which I’m endlessly grateful. Rest. Yay! 

There’s no real news to report on regarding the movie as far as I know. I guess the next big thing will be the trailer release which I imagine would be round the September mark. I have to admit that I’m EXTREMELY curious to see what Erika’s done with her vision. 

I did, however, come across this: an Oxfam shop that received so many pre-loved copies of FSOG that they managed to build a fort…

LOL! Not sure if that’s an appropriate one for little kiddies to play in, but personally I would love to live in a house built with books 😉 

As far as my reading week is concerned, I ditched the two books I was reading (because life is too short to read cr@p) and decided to reread the Crossfire series in preparation for the final book coming out this week. Rereading is not something I easily do, but considering my deep love for this particular story, I thought I might give it a go. So, if you were waiting (breathlessly) for my review of Vi Keeland’s debut, Belong to You, book one in the Cole series, it’ll have to wait. I started it but can already tell you that she’s definitely improved with time. 

This week I read:

   

The Crossfire series by Sylvia day. I’ve never had the opportunity to review the first two offerings of this delicious range on the blog because I read it prior to starting the book club, so, here goes: initially, the first time I read book one, Bared to You, I was absolutely shocked by the overwhelming similarities between this story and FSOG. So much so that I almost felt incensed for Erika’s sake. Yet, the story kept me riveted. I was so desperate for MORE of Fifty, that I took it, any way I could get it. Book one led to book two, Reflected in You, and this was where the series REALLY came into its own. The story is gripping and poignant. Gideon is broken in ways that very few people would be able to identify with, but still, he is endlessly lovable, and my personal favorite book boyfriend. Initially Eva has a real issue dealing with their volatile love, a love that burns hotter than the sun, but the two of them grow beautifully through the dramas in their lives.

As far as I know, the series was originally meant to be three books, but before the release of the third, it was announced that the series would be a five book range instead. Naturally, I had mixed feeling: on the one hand I wanted – desperately – to see the conclusion to the story, but on the other, it offered more books in a well-loved series. I think the latter would have felt truer if the wait between the novels wasn’t so ridiculously long. As it was, you almost lost touch with the story between books which made every sequel thereafter feel slow, dragging even, rather than a natural evolution of the story. It also didn’t help that release dates kept changing on a disappointingly regular basis. However, now that I’m rereading, I have to admit that, with the pleasure of going from one book straight to the next, I’ve gained a new perspective on the flow and progression of the tale. Also, strangely, in the mean time, since I’ve read soooo many other books that’s based along the FSOG lines, this time, I could appreciate it more for the brilliant story that it is. It’s not without its faults, but to me, it is the ONLY “similar to FSOG” book that showcases the burning, indelible connection between a couple the way our beloved Shades did. For this and many more fantastic bits of beautiful writing – not least of which are some seriously smokin’ love scenes – I give the Crossfire series, book one and two especially, my Best of the Best award.

I’m halfway through book three, Entwined With You and will follow it up with book four: Captivated by You, before I read book five, One with You, coming this week on the 5th of April. Needless to say, I cannot wait!

If you love this series as much as I do, and if you’ve not already done so, you can check out my Crossfire inspired fan fiction short stories:

Crossfire Meander: Reflected in you

Gideon Meander

On my shelf I have:

Stanton Adore by T. L. Swan, book one in the Stanton series (thank you, MAC), but I’m not sure if I’ll be getting there any time soon. Another favorite author of mine will be releasing a new series this week, which I’m sure will keep me busy along with the new Crossfire. More next week.

I’ll leave you with some of the reasons I ADORE Gideon and Eva’s story…

 

 

 

Beautiful, huh?

LOL! 😉 

That’s it from me girls. I hope you have a stunning weekend and please, share your best reads with us!