REVIEW: One with You by Sylvia Day

In One with You (Crossfire #5) by Sylvia Day, Through every crisis and every secret told, Eva has never questioned her love for Gideon. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to become his wife after only knowing each other a few months. Now with their plans to move in together and get remarried in front of family and friends, their new union is put to the test in every way possible. From former lovers to business rivals to family drama, Eva will damn sure prove that Gideon can lean on her and depend upon her to be there for him. Just as he’s proven himself to her over and over.

‘Gideon Cross was as deep and as vast as the ocean, and I had feared drowning in him from the moment I first saw him. I couldn’t be afraid of that anymore. Not after realizing that what I feared more was losing him.’

Gideon has come a long way from the closed off man he was before Eva became his life. She’s opened up something inside of him, allowing him to love–and feel truly loved–for the first time ever. He wants to show the world how much his wife means to him although that would be inviting trouble into their lives. But Gideon is thrown into the spotlight anyway and must strive to keep Eva safe from the backlash. Knowing that they still have their own individual past traumas to also overcome, it will take all of Gideon’s patience and resources to make sure he and his angel make it through unscathed.

‘Vows were a promise, but what I needed was a guarantee that every day of my life would have her in it. I wanted my heart to beat in rhythm with hers and stop when hers did. Inextricably entwined, so I would never live even a moment without her.’

One With You was the official end to the Crossfire series and the much talked about fifth installment that has had fans and naysayers alike clamoring and speculating on what would ultimately happen between Gideon and Eva. What I can finally say is, what a tumultuous, enjoyable journey it’s been.

“We’re going to make it, angel.”
Love slid warmly through me like the buzz of a fine wine. “Damn straight.”

I know there’s been a bunch of chatter online about the series having been extended past its original trilogy length and that some feel it has been drawn out too much. And while I can admit that some sections of books three and four might have been slower than other parts, I was fine overall with how each novel was plotted out. Honestly, some of the slower paced passages were also some of the moments when Gideon and Eva were the most down-to-earth, and found them being exquisitely tender with each other.

I think this final book shows both Eva and Gideon having grown and changed for the better. Don’t get me wrong. Gideon was still every bit as intense (and sexy!) as ever. And Eva was just as sassy and territorial as she always was. But they were more comfortable with who they were individually and that showed in how they interacted in their marriage. Thankfully their passion didn’t fade over time and they didn’t lose that sizzling connection between them at all. Day continued to heat up the pages with the sexy-time scenes and erotic flair that has dominated this series from the start.

Of course things couldn’t be easy for our power couple, though. So there was some drama that had to be resolved and one surprising twist I didn’t see coming in the latter half of the story. Things do eventually work out, with parts of it being more poignant than joyful. I think I would categorize this as more of a HFN (happy for now) instead of a traditional HEA where we don’t have an epilogue to show where things go in the future for Eva, Gideon, Cary and the rest of their family and friends. I was okay with how it ended, but I have a feeling some readers might want just a wee bit more out of it. I would personally love to see a novella or a full-length novel about Cary, to wrap up his portion of the storyline.

Gideon has become one of my favorite contemporary heroes so leaving his and Eva’s story behind will be a little bittersweet. But it did feel good to turn that final page and sigh happily, knowing they were at a good place in their lives. I think Sylvia Day left their future wide open so fans can imagine for themselves the incredible heights Mr. and Mrs. Cross will reach in their future together.

Book Info:

Publication: April 5th 2016 | St. Martin’s Griffin | Crossfire #5

Gideon Cross. Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. It happened instantly. Completely. Irrevocably.

Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.

We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws … and all the beauty I couldn’t see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.

But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free … or break us apart.

Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire® saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.