REVIEW by Jena: Bared to You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day (@SylDay)

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…

Bared to You
by Sylvia Day
Series
Crossfire #1
Genre
Erotic Romance
Contemporary Romance
Publisher
Berkley (Imprint of Penguin)
Publication Date
May 24, 2012

I bought the books for this series back when before the third book came out and they sat on my shelf collecting dust. I bought them because after reading her Marked series, I knew Sylvia Day was an amazing writer. I just needed to get beyond my normal reading preferences because contemporary romance is not usually something I go out of my way to pick up.
Then I received an email a few weeks ago from Day’s publisher regarding the news of the fifth and final book in the series. The email came at the perfect time. I was on the hunt for something to read and I’m a series lover, so I wanted a world I could get a little lost in. I dusted off my copy of Bared to You and started reading.
Eight hours later, I was finished.
Although not my normal cup of tea, Bared to You hooked me by the second chapter. I admit, I made it about ¾ of the way through Chapter One and was having thoughts of abandoning what I figured was going to be a wasted read. However, based on the recommendation of my blogger buddies on Facebook, I pushed on.
There is a lot about this book I loved and a few things I was not too fond of. First thing’s first, this is not a BDSM book. I made an assumption, strictly based on the cover design, that this was just a better written Fifty Shades, which is the major reason I hadn’t read the series. This misguided assumption could not be further from correct.
Bared to You is a story of a chick just kind of trying to find her place. Instead, she finds Gideon Cross, this uberhot, ubersexual, uberloaded (in more ways than one) guy who quickly becomes infatuated with her. Fairy tale setup? Absolutely, but the writing definitely sells it well. Neither main character is anywhere near perfect. They both have annoying habits and serious flaws, but they work well together. For the most part, anyway.
As I stated, there were a few things that kind of made me roll my eyes a little bit. Nothing that would make me not want to continue the series (I’m already on book two), but enough to make me say “….and this is why I don’t normally read contemporary romance.” There are a few moments that are just way too convenient and easy. Like, moments that seemed to serve no purpose to the overall story. I’m not talking about shameless sex scenes or anything either. I’m talking about conversations that are really pushing the boundaries of beating a dead horse. The same thing being stated repeatedly for seemingly no reason.
I also was not a fan of the extremes of Eva’s reaction to Gideon and some of his behaviors. He’s a total Type A personality – everything has its order, everything has its place, everything must be just so, and fuck anyone who tries to tell him differently – and it’s mixed with never having been told ‘no’ by anyone. All of this extends to how he conducts himself concerning Eva and sometimes she fawns, other times she’s shocked by it. After the third time of freaking and running away, I just wanted to slap her. Like, how can you be surprised by it at this point?
That being said, none of this was enough to deter me from continuing the series. Overall, I loved the book. It has its hiccups but nothing major.
I would recommend Bared to You to anyone looking to escape into a world that’s not so much romantic as just hot as hell. If I had to compare Gideon to anyone, it would be like Jericho Barrons (Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series) minus the supernatural element. This book boyfriend is the shit and he knows it.

The review copy of this book was purchased by the reviewer.

Coming April 5, 2016!

FROM #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR SYLVIA DAY
The final chapter in the global blockbuster Crossfire quintet
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.

The Crossfire Series

Click on a cover image to add the books to your Goodreads shelf!

About Sylvia Day

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 international bestselling author of over 20 award-winning novels sold in more than 40 countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in 28 countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Her Crossfire series has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. Visit the author at sylviaday.com