Bared to You (Crossfire, Book 1) by Sylvia Day (2012-07-19)

Having only recently read 50 Shades of Grey and fallen madly in love with Ana and Christian's love story I was keen for something more. This is ideal. The author credits EL James at the back of the book for opening up this genre so I think it's ok to compare this to 50 shades for this review. In terms of writing this is much better- the repetition in the writing is much less (cleft licking seems to be the only one I noticed but then what else can you use for that area of a woman that isn't vulgar or too scientific?!) In terms of the storyline it's still a classic 'sexual tension which turns to undying love' like FSoG but has got lots of room to develop- we still don't know entirely why Gideon's a little bit messed up although we discover a fair amount about Eva within the first book. There is also a hint of who could play out to be the main baddy and I hope this person is used to full effect. Eva to me seems to be a survivor personality- she's been through a lot in her past, has made it through to the other side but still bears the scars and wavering self esteem issues. This helps to make her appealing to the famale audience especially when it's obvious she's meant to be a buxom stunning blonde- don't you just hate them?! Gideon is dark, smouldering and enigmatic. He's obviously been abused in his past and his hauting also comes at night. He's fiercely protective and possessive of Eva much like Christian is of Ana, but he doesn't jump in Charlie Tango when she doesn't return his calls! I like that there are a few more 'friends' in this book albeit most are gay/bisexual. Eva genuinely seems to be someone who enjoys spending time with her mates when Ana didn't always seem that way. I would like to see Eva have a stronger female friend in future books but Cary does do a good job. Although in this book Gideon is also worth mega bucks it doesn't seem as extravagent as it does in Fifty plus Eva has grown up with money so it helps to put them on a more even keel. I guess that's the one thing I really like about this book- it feels to me that Eva and Gideo are more balanced in terms of power and you don't get the impression that she's as blindly besotted with him in the same way Ana is with Christian. The sex is defnitely more vanilla with no mention so far of bondage, riding crops or blindfolds but hey, this is only the first book! The sex scenes are well written and personally far more believable and enjoyable than 50. I wouldn't mind it branching out to a little kinkyshaggery but if it stays at its current level I think I'd be happy. My one disappointment though... the second and third book are not yet available to buy through Amazon and I'll have to wait til Oct and Dec (looking at initial release dates on website) to finish the story. I guess you'll just have to twist my arm and make me re-read it before the release so I'm reminded of the storyline!

Alot of reference has been made to the Fifty Shades novels. Whilst I believe this book will appeal to fans of that series, I also feel this book will appeal to a wider audience. Eva's moves to New York, a fresh start in a exciting city, new job, new appartment which she shares with her best friend Carey. She sets out to time her journey to work, in the lobby of her building, she stops to help a passerby who has up-ended her purse, spilling it's contents. Whilst doing this she meets a disturbingly handsome man, sporting blue eyes, inky black hair, 6ft+. Instant attraction ensues, but she excuses herself and runs away. The book centres on Eva. Strong, sassy, takes no nonsense - or does she? She has some deep emotional scars, born from a past trauma that is revealed in the book but which I will not go into due to spoilers. She's haunted by this trauma, which has left her with low self esteem. Gideon actively pursues Eva and this pursuit takes on a stalker like quality. Eva shares her trauma with Gideon early on in the story. She longs for Gideon to open up to her, but he has secrets and he's keeping them. The whole story unfolds in mere weeks - their relationship develops very quickly with an almost co-dependency quality to it. Every meeting is heated, every touch ignites their passion for each other, but where most people would talk out their issues they take an intimate path to dispute resolution. Eva struggles to maintain her independance, she value's her privacy, particulary from her Mum, who can't seem to respect boundaries - even resorting to tracing her mobile phone. Her Stepfather enables Eva's mother, coddling her, leaving Eva feeling smothered. Gideon knows of these problems, yet it doesn't stop him from displaying his own controlling tendancies to invade her privacy, like having her followed and taking her mobile phone without her consent - although he did offer her his in exchange which seemed so innocent and open it was kinda sweet. Her relationship with Carey is prescious to her. She turns to him with all the small in's and out's of her day. He in return exhibits self-destructive tendancies which increase as her involvement with Gideon develops. Eva runs away from him at every given opportunity, though she states that she has had lasting relationships in the past, she does seem incapable of dealing with their connection and her reaction to it, in return he seems almost desperate in his need to please her. Gideon practically moves her into his home - even decorating a spare bedroom to match her room in her own apartment and filling his bathroom with her cosmetics (all in the right shade too) not to mention clothing. All in all this story is both equally moving and disturbing in it's quality. Yes, Gideon is domineering, possessive and stalker like, but he has no inclination to hurt or humiliate Eva. He does wish to possess her and in return she panics and runs from him whenever she perceives a problem. I do find this quality to her slightly annoying - she doesn't talk with him or even confront him, she runs away, straight to Carey with all the details. This behaviour hurts Gideon, believing that he disgusts her after a particularly upseting 'episode' one night, I won't give anymore details to avoid too many spoilers. They are both deeply troubled souls, that find comfort in one another, but will they be able to get beyond their past traumas and create a future together? I looking forward to the next book.

Having read the Fifty books and hearing so much about this i found that i really needed to read it, and as everyone know's i don't like to compare one book with another so that is the last time you will see me compare these two books. I must admit this book and Gideon had me captivated from the very first page. The story-line flowed well with well written, easy to read and with just enough description to allow the reader to picture the surrounds and what was happening. Everything about the book draws you in the characters are so well written that you find yourself falling in love, laughing, crying and living right along with them. Nothing is left out and the author has given a no holds description of all the issues that all of the main characters have to face. While i believe that every person who reads this book will have a connection with at least one of the characters and this only strengthens the whole book and hopefully the series. Gideon ~sighs~ well who after reading this book wouldn't want one of their own, although emotionally damaged and mixed up beyond repair you always get the feeling of hope and understanding. He can and will grow it will take him time to deal with his past and come to terms with it, but with Eva coming into his life, who is equally scarred from her past, can they make the turbulent and passionate relationship work? it's what they both need and what they both desire more than anything in the world. They are drawn to each other like nothing before pure primal animal instinct makes them gravitate towards one another, but will this make or break them. Lets of course not leave out Eva's ever loving, funny and always getting it wrong house mate. He is a great addition always there when she needs him, yet causing her just as many problems along the way, with his very different attitude towards life and relationships he is a refreshing change, and quite often turns a serious part of the story-line a little more light hearted and fun, yet it takes nothing away from the story as a whole. All credit to the author for managing to hold and maintain these characters throughout the book. I know i loved the book and can't wait to read more about Gideon and Eva, and i know that anyone who loves this genre is going to fall in love all over again, really go and check out these books i don't think you will regret it, i know i don't. Now i must run off and go find me a Gideon to put right next to Mr Grey.

My first Sylvia Day book...and I am in a state of "How did I not know about this author till now??!!" This book is AMAZING I can't stop thinking about it. Every time I had to put it down for one reason or another I was thinking about it. I finished it this morning and I am still thinking about it!! Seriously WOW!!!!! I have had NO sleep since I started it... well barely ...I did nod off for an hour last night and was so annoyed with myself I mean who needs sleep right?! So I have to tell you to read this book...it was an emotional journey, it was completely addictive and it was amazingly HOT!! Seriously "knicker cam'ing hot" top of the cam-o-meter HOT!!! My girls will know what I am saying here!!! LOL..... Gideon and Eva are two very damaged people who find in each other what they need to absolve and free themselves...but that does not come easy!! Like Eva asked: "Can two dysfunctional people have a functional relationship?" I loved Eva, she was strong, knew what she wanted and went for it, she is a survivor! She is probably one of my favorite book heroines, her story touched my heart and her survival was inspiring! And...Gideon...I have barely any words for how much I LOVE him! Gideon is "damaged", he is haunted, he is amazing, he is controlling, HOT, sex on legs...yeah I could go on and on...I am speculating like crazy trying to figure out by what and who he was scarred by and even though I have a sneaky feeling I CANNOT wait for book 2..I need it like right now!! Oh and I don't want to forget Cary...beautiful damaged soul...I need to know what happens next for him! The relationship between Gideon and Eva is so intense, absolutely beautiful, two tortured souls trying to make it right. The passion between them...bloody hell...it had me hooked from the start. I know this is going to be in my top reads of 2012!! Oh and fingers crossed we don't have to wait too long for book 2!!!!

I have read all three Fifty Shades book and was quite disappointed. After all of the hype, I thought that the trilogy was repetitive and shallow and there wasn't much point to the stories at all. I thought that I would give the Crossfire books a go based on reviews that they were better than the Fifty Shades books but I am now not sure what I feel about them. The characters are interesting and there is, obviously, some history that needs to be developed and explored but, this was only touched upon in book one and I was left wanting answers that never came. I felt that the story moved too fast through the book and that the end came quite abruptly. I was reading a page, reached the bottom, turned the page and there was nothing else...the end. It wasn't so much a cliffhanger but a dead end. I guess it's a ploy to get readers to buy book two but it felt like the second half of book one had just been ripped off. The writer must have written this knowing that there would have to be at least one other book and didn't complete book one properly. It is not a story in itself and relies too much on it's sequels. This book is not quite as repetitive as Fifty Shades nor are the characters quite so one dimensional but there are a lot of similarities which just frustrated me. If you haven't read either trilogy I would say the Crossfire books are preferable but neither are literary masterpieces and may be disappointing if you are expecting exceptional writing, superb plot lines and character development. If you want a little tittilation though these are a good romp and I quite enjoyed the sex scenes. The Crossfire ones are slightly less kinky than the Fifty Shades ones but still fun.

Plot 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 Opinion A friend recommended to me this Author Sylvia Day as we had both recently just finished all the fifty shades series. I have to say even though i did love the fifty shades trilogy i preferred this book as it was well written better. We meet the main characters Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross, they meet the first time in his crossfire building which is where Eva happens to work as well. They soon become involved in a whirl wind relationship but find out they both have broken pasts but yet still are attracted to each other. They soon become obsessed with each other and are never apart... I loved that it had such a flow into a love story and getting to know more about Eva and Gideon. It was a great read and I couldn't put my kindle down as i wanting to hurry to see what happened next on every page. I loved the name Eva nicknamed Gideon aka Mr Dark and Dangerous. I kept trying to picture my own Gideon Cross and this who i thought fitted perfectly. I cannot wait to follow on in the crossfire series and read more about Eva and Gideon's Life's. I don't want to spoil or give any more details away about the series just I recommend anybody to pick up this book and give it a go! You won't know what your missing. We all need our very own Gideon Cross sometimes...

I thought I'd give 'Bared To You' a whirl, because everywhere I looked, the cover cropped up next to a certain grayer novel. And I certainly wasn't disappointed. I finished Bared To You in one sitting. That should give you a sign of how enjoyable I found it. Sylvia Day has created characters with whom you bond with (no pun intended) and empathise with immediately. The plot was fun but the selling point of this book has to be the characters. Gideon Cross (swoon) is very Rochester / Darcy-esque. Seems like we can't get enough of handsome, brooding guys with a deep dark secret at the moment (I bet Mills & Boon are raking it in, with the awakened female consciousness to heroes of this ilk). Gideon Cross was delicious. And Eva was vulnerable yet kick-ass, a very 'real' heroine that you couldn't help but root for. With rich secondary characters (Cary was adorable) and the over-protective mother (we all know how Eva feels!), this book was a pleasure to read from start to finish. The sex scenes weren't repetitive as is the case of various books in this genre (cough, cough), but the romance element is the main player here. The characters MAKE this book. I cannot wait for the sequel (Reflected To You) is already on my Wish List. Highly recommended. Miss it, miss out. PS I'll be writing extensively about Bared To You on: [...], come join me there! X

I to am one of the many women who read and fell in lust with the fifty shades books, and for the life of me I can't explain why ?? Whilst this book is very similar in story the writing is a lot better and the story had me interested straight away. Eva Tramell has just moved to New York to start a new job in advertising and by chance meets dark, dangerous, handsome Gideon Cross. Its passion and lust at first sight and then were taken on the journey of them getting together. They both have troubled and traumatic pasts which makes them both high maintenance when it comes to their relationship. I overall really enjoyed this read and red it in one sitting on a lazy day off from work. It has strong comparisons to Fifty Shades of Grey, in that Gideon Cross is very similar in character to Christian Grey. Cross is a billionaire business man with a mysterious past who is also a sexual dominant and an overall control freak. The separation for me was the female lead, Eva is no Anna Steel. Eva to has a traumatic past but she has come through it strong minded and confident, she's not a shy and retiring wall flower, which I really liked. While the book focuses on Gideon being a sexual dominant it doesn't go down the BDSM route, which I liked. I think this made the sex more realistic for me, and wow the library scene was hot !! My problem with this book is that it left me with to many questions. What has happened in Gideon's past ? What's his brothers problem ? and most importantly, Where is this story going ? As I understand this is the first part in a trilogy of books, (*cough* fifty shades *cough*) and to be honest I will be reading on as it has my interest peaked !! My one major complaint and the reason it only got 4stars is the use of the 'C' word, to be honest it's the only word that makes me cringe and I don't think it has any place in a sex scene and it's a word Gideon uses a lot, very unsexy !!