TITLE: Bared to You
AUTHOR: Sylvia Day
RATING: 4 STARS (3.5 STARS)
PUBLISHED: April 2012 - Syliva Day
SERIES: Yes; Series Still in Progress:
- Bared to You (April 2012)
- Deeper in You (Unknown)
"Our journey began in fire...
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—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..."
MY REVIEW:
The majority of the reviews that I've read for this novel are extremely positive. A lot of people are saying that this is the perfect book for fans of Fifty Shades by E.L. James. I'm not so sure that I agree with them.
Here's why:
You can't read this novel without comparing it to Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. I'm not in any way saying that I think Sylvia Day copied EL James. I don't think that. I just think that there are so many parallels between Bared to You and Fifty Shades of Grey that readers will take notice, and in my opinion, that's not necessarily a good thing.
Handsome, filthy rich hero who comes loaded with tons of emotional baggage. Check. Dominant, alpha male who acts like a stalker and doesn't understand personal boundaries. Check. An all consuming, dysfunctional relationship. Check. A sexually abused hero. Check. A powerful, important business man who compartmentalizes his life; a man who likes to keep his sex life completely separate from his personal life. Check. Hot sex. Check. Dominant/submissive. Check. Psychiatrist appointments. Check. The heroines intrusive best friend & roommate. Check. The female "best friend" who has slept with and still has feelings for the hero. Check.
Needless to day, I compared this novel to Fifty Shades of Grey the entire time I was reading it, and in my opinion, you can't top Fifty. Bared to You was good, but I didn't think it was on the same level as Fifty Shades. It might not seem fair to compare this novel to another novel, but it can't be helped when they are so freaking similar.
In my opinion, this novels saving grace was Eva. Thankfully, Eva was her own unique character, and she came with her own emotional baggage which really added to the storyline. Plus, her inner dialogue was hilarious. Most importantly, she didn't remind me of Ana from Fifty Shades. Don't get me wrong. I loved Ana from Fifty Shades. I just needed some contrast, and this is where I found it.
Another thing that set this novel apart from Fifty Shades was that Gideon is a little more open and honest with his feelings than Christian Grey. Gideon still has lots of secrets, but he is adjusting to love and opening up a lot faster than Christian Grey did. I really like how Gideon and Eva talk about their past scars and they share themselves with each other. It's interesting to watch them both try to work through everything together.
If you like erotic novels with dysfunctional characters, complicated relationships, and lots of hot, passionate sex then Bared to You is the perfect novel for you.
I went back and forth between 3 STARS and 4 STARS for this novel. In the end, I rounded up and gave Bared to You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I just wish it would have stood on its own a little more. That being said, I plan on reading the next novel in the series. I just really hope that Crossfire finds its own niche as the series continues!
In my opinion, this novels saving grace was Eva. Thankfully, Eva was her own unique character, and she came with her own emotional baggage which really added to the storyline. Plus, her inner dialogue was hilarious. Most importantly, she didn't remind me of Ana from Fifty Shades. Don't get me wrong. I loved Ana from Fifty Shades. I just needed some contrast, and this is where I found it.
Another thing that set this novel apart from Fifty Shades was that Gideon is a little more open and honest with his feelings than Christian Grey. Gideon still has lots of secrets, but he is adjusting to love and opening up a lot faster than Christian Grey did. I really like how Gideon and Eva talk about their past scars and they share themselves with each other. It's interesting to watch them both try to work through everything together.
If you like erotic novels with dysfunctional characters, complicated relationships, and lots of hot, passionate sex then Bared to You is the perfect novel for you.
I went back and forth between 3 STARS and 4 STARS for this novel. In the end, I rounded up and gave Bared to You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I just wish it would have stood on its own a little more. That being said, I plan on reading the next novel in the series. I just really hope that Crossfire finds its own niche as the series continues!