Bared to You
by Sylvia Day
Published by Berkley
Book 1 in the Crossfire series
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness.
He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily.
Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart
RATED: 18+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Steamy #ContemporaryRomance Hot & Disturbing
*Trigger
Trigger Warning: This book contains a story line around the trauma of rape. Please be advised.
Bared to You by Sylvia Day is the first book in her Crossfire series, and centers around Eva, a young, damaged socialite who has recently moved to NYC with her best friend to start a new life, and Gideon Cross, a very rich young business owner who suffers demons of his own. Together, they navigate the pitfalls of instant attraction and the trauma they have both endured.
Bared to You is the first book that I am reading for the backlist reader challenge, hosted by The Bookwyrm's Hoard. Bared to You has been on my TBR list since, get this, 2012. After being on so many recommendation lists. I decided, why not?
So. My thoughts. One of the things I have consistently heard, is that Bared to You is just like 50 shades of grey, but better. Sylvia Day's writing may be better, but I was left feeling ... meh. First of all, there ARE a lot of similarities to 50 shades of grey that take away any originality. There are several differences too. Let's start with the similarities.
50 Shades of Grey Bared to You
*Ana trips over her feet while walking *Eva falls on her ass when she
into Christian's office, leaves building meets Gideon, leaves building
and needs fresh air. and needs fresh air.
*Rich CEO dominant who doesn't want *Rich CEO dominant who to date doesn't want to date
*Stalking tendencies *Stalking tendencies
*Hangover cures that say "Eat me" and *Hangover cures that say "Eat
"Drink me" me" and "Drink me"
*Mrs. Robinson *Magdalene/Corinne
*Swanky parties at parents house that *Swanky parties at parents
Ana and Christian end up having sex at house that Eva and Gideon end up having sex at
*Flighty mother, single dad *Flighty mother, single dad
Now, there were some differences, and differences I liked. I liked that Eva isn't a virgin, who has barely been kissed. I liked that she is just as broken as Gideon. It made this into a more level playing field between the couple in question, and it made the story a heck of a lot more interesting. Do I love our characters? No. These are two very emotionally damaged people, that as much as they do good for one another, they do just as much bad. One thing this book does have going for it; the sex. Sylvia Day knows how to write sex, and a lot of it. I have read a lot of romance/erotica, and I think Sylvia Day writes sex scenes the best. I've seen this book in the BDSM genre, but I think thats wrong. For sure there is a dominant/submissive relationship here, but no pain, or punishments, something I find wonderful.
I hate to keep comparing a book to another by a different author, BUT I gotta say, I enjoyed Eva much more than I ever did Ana. Eva's dark past, and her efforts to change her ways and have a better life make her likable. and the way she stands up for herself with Gideon is great. And no inner-goddess! I should give it 5 stars for that alone! And as much as Gideon can be an alpha-douche, he is much better than Christian Gray. He at least is willing to compromise on his rules right from the beginning.
Bared to You was disappointing, but it had it's highlights. And the story was interesting enough that, despite being heavily disappointed in the unoriginal material, I do still plan to read the second book. I am crossing fingers that it will get better, and better yet ... DIFFERENT.
Steven: "You must've done something good in a past life to score this one."
Mark: "I think putting up with you qualifies."
Steven: "Hey. I'm housebroken. I put the toilet seat down."
Mark: "And that's helpful how?"
Eva: "I hate feeling like a vagina with legs."
Eva: "I'm not in the mood for you now, Mr. Cross."
Gideon: "I can get you in the mood."
Eva: "I'm not interested."
Gideon: "No lies, Eva. Ever."
Eva: "That's not a lie. So what if I'm attracted to you? I expect most women are. But I'm not interested in doing anything about it."
Gideon: "Attraction is too tame a word for -"
he gestured at the space between us
Gideon: " - this."
Eva: "Call me crazy, but I have to actually like someone before I get naked and sweaty with him."
Gideon: "Not crazy. But I don't have the time or the inclination to date."
Eva: "That makes two of us. Glad we got that cleared up."
Gideon: "It's time to discuss what it's going to take to get you beneath me."
Eva: "A miracle. I find your approach crude and offensive."
Gideon: "It may be blunt, but it's honest. You don't strike me as the kind of woman who wants bullshit and flattery instead of the truth."
Eva: "What I want is to be seen as having more to offer than an inflatable sex doll."
Cross's brows shot up
Gideon: "Well, then."
Eva: "Why even call it a fuck? Why not be clear and call it a seminal emission in a pre-approved orifice."
Eva: "You definitely have the voice for phone sex, but I've got to go. I have a date with my vibrator."
Gideon: "Oh, Eva. Your determined to drive me to my knees, aren't you? What will it take to talk you into a threesome with B.O.B.?"
Eva: "B.O.B. and I have a longtime understanding - when we're done with each other, we know exactly which one of us has been used, and it isn't me. Good night, Gideon."
Gideon: "Ah, something you like about me. Is that a general like of the overall package? Or just the clothes? Only the sweater? Or maybe it's the pants?"
Eva: "And if I say it's just the sweater?"
Gideon: "I'll buy a dozen and wear them every damn day."
Magdalene: "You've fucked him already."
Eva: "And you haven't."
Magdalene: "You're right. I haven't. You know why?"
Eva: "Because he doesn't want to."
Magdalene: "And I don't want to either, because he can't commit. He's young, gorgeous, rich, and he's enjoying it."
Eva: "Yes. He certainly did."
Eva: "Are you complaining?"
Gideon: "Angel, I'm salivating."
Gideon: "He couldn't keep his eyes off your tits."
Eva: "They're very nice tits."
Cary: "I want there to be happily-ever-afters for the fucked-up crowd. Show me the way, Eva honey. Make me believe."
Eva: "I ... I'm lost in you."
Gideon: "Oh, Eva. I must've wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true."
Gideon: "What you make me feel, Eva ... it hurts."
Eva: "Is that bad?"
Gideon: "It's wonderful."
Cary: "You snatched someone else's cookie, Cross."
Eva: "He better not be anywhere near someone else's cookie."
Reaching over, Gideon plucked half of mine out of my fingers.
Gideon: "Don't worry, angel. Your cookie is the only one I want."
He popped it in his mouth with a wink.
Cary: "Gag. Get a room."
Cary: "Cheers to us, the seriously fucked up. At least we have each other."
Gideon: "I've always seen you, angel. From the moment you found me, I've seen nothing but you."
Gideon: "You forget who submits, Eva. I've given up control for you. I've bent and adjusted for you. I'll do anything to keep you and make you happy. But I won't be tamed or topped. Don't mistake indulgence for weakness."
Eva: "Do you want me, Gideon?"
Gideon: "More than my next breath. I can't go long without you either, Eva. You're an addiction ... my obsession ..."
Eva: "Go home, Gideon. Please."
Gideon: "I am home. I'm with you."
Eva: "Oh, boy. Hello, Mr. Comfortable. I'm Miss Complicated."
Eva: "You don't know what you're worth."
Gideon: "Actually, I do. Twelve bill -"
Eva: "Shut up."
Check out the rest of the Crossfire series below
