Review: Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Posted November 1, 2012 by Vampbard in 4.5 stars, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Rating A Tags: , , ,

Bared to You
Author: Sylvia Day
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Crossfire Book #1
ISBN: 978-0425263907
Genre: Contemporary Romance, erotic
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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 worlds…and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart…
What VampBard’s talking about:
When I finished reading Bared to You by Sylvia Day, I felt as though I was left a bit … raw.  While it feels a bit reminiscent of the 50 Shades books, I felt it was written much better, and the characters were so realistic – they could have been someone I knew.  Eva seems like one of my friends that I knew in college.  Gideon?  Well, he’s that unattainable, terribly attractive guy that we never saw with a girl no matter when we ran across him.  Bared to You brings together realism and fantasy in a compelling, emotion-wrought read.
I had a lot of commentary for this title.  As I was reading, there were many, many times I’d simply tell myself that I needed a good friend to read the book with me so we could discuss.  THAT is how compelled I felt while reading.  
Bared to You, while a sensual and compelling title, tempers what could be difficult content with realistic humor that lightens the mood a bit:

“Sex that’s planned like a business transaction is a turnoff for me.” 

“Establishing parameters in the beginning makes it less likely that there’ll be exaggerated expectations and disappointment at the conclusion.” 

“Are you kidding?” I scowled. “Listen to yourself. Why even call it a fxxk? Why not be clear and call it a seminal emission in a preapproved orifice?” (p. 42)

We’re not reading some simple fluff fiction with this title.  Carefully crafted to respect the reader, Ms. Day breathed life into her characters, making them realistic and believable.  They’re like those close friends with which you’d attend Happy Hour every Friday.  The same friends that would be invited to all the important events in your life.  The friends that would be there for you, and you’d want to be there for them as well.
I’m going to start with Cary, Eva’s best friend and roommate.  It seems as though Cary is the one with the true demons that need to be tamed.  He’s not through sowing his wild oats, and definitely isn’t ready for an adult relationship.  We all know this guy (or gal).  What I really like about Cary is that he’s brutally honest with Eva.  About everything.  Even when she’s not ready to be honest with herself.  Cary also provides us with some no-phreakin’-way moments.  I wanted to (figuratively) slap him upside the head a couple times because that’s what I’d do to a good friend that was screwing up.  
Ms. Day started with some phenomenal description of Gideon Cross, our hero:

“As he stared back, he altered . . . as if a shield slid away from his eyes, revealing a scorching force of will that sucked the air from my lungs.  The intense magnetism he exuded grew in strength, becoming a near-tangible impression of vibrant unrelenting power. (p. 5)”

This was the most powerful part of his initial description for me. Ms. Day not only gives the reader an in-depth physical description, we are rewarded with impressions of his emotional grid. While it seems as thought Gideon is plagued with his own demons, he’s doing an awesome job of mitigating the damage from his past in his relationship with Eva.  Most of the time.  
Eva, the lucky one that gets to sleep with Gideon Cross, is totally a girl after my own heart.  She’s not afraid to call it like she sees it.  She is, however, a little hesitant to outright stake a claim on Gideon.  Initially, she is smitten with him. She’s drawn to Gideon, like a moth to a porch light left on after dark. Even though Eva has a messed up past, she seems to have come out ok on the other side, courtesy of a bunch of therapy and an over-protective mom.  She still, however, seems to have a few demons to exorcise.  
The plot of Bared to You felt complex; an intricately woven panel within a larger work.  The end of the first book of the Crossfire series did bring a smidge of resolution.  However, I’m ecstatic that next in my TBR pile is book 2 of the series, Reflected in You.  I am anxious to read about how Eva and Gideon handle the crap Cary handed them at the end of this title and how they, as a couple, grow (hopefully) together to overcome pasts that have the potential to permanently hobble even the most introspective person.
VampBard’s Rating:
Loved it – enthusiastically recommend (A)


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3 responses to “Review: Bared to You by Sylvia Day”

  1. Marq

    When I first read Bared To You (before the stupid cover change) I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. Gideon gave me the crazy stalker vibe but then Eva was just as crazy as he was. By the end, I was like, I don’t know if these two need to be together. When I read Reflected in You, I did a 180. These crazy, dysfunctional kids deserve each other! LOL!

    I am totally addicted to this series. Gideon and Eva stress me out and I love it!