Title: Bared to You
Series: Crossfire #1
Author: Sylvia Day
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Spice Level: 5/5
Published: April 3rd 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 334
Age Rating: 18+
Reread: Four Times
Tropes: Billionaire, BDSM Erotic, Possessive/Protective Alpha Hero, Strong Sassy Heroine
Synopsis
Bared to You is a story of two broken characters who are intensely attracted to one another – Gideon Cross, an alpha billionaire who is relentless in his pursuit, and Eva Tramell, an independent woman who wants to make her way in the world and will not allow anyone to break her resolve. Both suffer from past trauma, and this story is the beginning of their tumultuous love affair.
Content and Trigger Warning:
Recommended for 18+ audience due to the explicit sexual content. And, spoilers ahead: both the characters have faced sexual abuse in the past.
Bared to You Book Review:
If there’s a billionaire romance I always recommend, it’s Bared to You by Sylvia Day. Initially, I read it because it was marketed as ‘similar to Fifty Shades of Grey’ (one of my favorite books at the time). If I had to make a comparison, this one is a mature version.
Bared to You is the first novel in the Crossfire series that had me completely hooked from page one when I read it for the first… second, and fourth time. It is an apt name for this book because the characters reveal their secrets to one another steadily (more on this below).
It’s an enticing read of two intense characters, an emotional journey of them trying to beat their demons to come together, and their electric sexual chemistry. This was my first book by Sylvia Day and not the last.
Here’s my review trying to convince you to read Bared to You, sprinkled with some sexy and emotional quotes that are just making me want to re-read it again.
His smile was like lightning in the darkness, blinding and beautiful and mysterious, and I wanted him so badly it was physically painful. - Eva Tramell
Written in the first POV, the story follows Eva Tramell who along with her best friend Cary Taylor has moved to New York. Coming from a wealthy family, Eva is determined to pave her way with no help from her wealthy step-father and is about to start work at an ad agency.
While exploring New York and her office, she bumps into a dark, mysterious, charismatic guy to whom she is intensely attracted. When her boss gets a potential project in hand, she is surprised when she stumbles into the guy, the owner of that project, Gideon Cross – the guy she first met after sprawling on her ass.
And from that moment onwards, their tumultuous relationship begins.
“Romance isn’t in my repertoire, Eva. But a thousand ways to make you come are. Let me show you.” - Gideon Cross
For Gideon and Eva, it is lust at first sight from the moment they meet. Gideon pursues her, single-mindedly focused on getting her to agree to a purely sexual relationship.
Gideon Cross doesn’t mix his sexual and personal life, whereas Eva isn’t interested in being just an ‘orifice’ for him. It starts as a game of chase for Gideon, who doesn’t hear no often and Eva does not give him the time of her day despite their chemistry.
The plot focuses more on the romance between Gideon and Eva; both navigating through this new and fragile relationship with several aspects that either deter their growth or strengthen them.
“Sex that's planned like a business transaction is a turnoff for me..... Listen to yourself. Why even call it a fuck? Why not be clear and call it a seminal emission in a pre-approved orifice?" - Eva Tramell
I liked how Eva was strong enough to not give in to Gideon. She is not the typical virginal heroine – no, she knew what she wanted, and could articulate everything to Gideon – which I thought was different.
She has been through a traumatic past and is brave enough to confront her fears. She often goes toe-to-toe with Gideon, but sometimes her fear and lack of self-esteem make her run away from Gideon to avoid him, their problems, and her insecurities.
If I had to compare Eva and Ana (from Fifty Shades), Eva is a strong female lead. I’d say she is a lot more developed and less annoying. Sometimes her character feels older than 24 years – maybe because she faced darkness at a very young age.
She is strong and confident, wanting to build her career and life on merit instead of using her stepfather’s contact. I liked how real she was about herself. She knows what she has to work on.
“You forget who submits, Eva,” he said gruffly. “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 can’t be tamed or topped. Don’t mistake indulgence for weakness.” - Gideon Cross
Move over Christian Grey. There’s a new billionaire alpha male in town. Honestly, I loved Gideon Cross from the moment he was introduced. Dark, blunt, shrouded in mystery, and domineering, Gideon captured my heart. He is all of my favorite tropes I love in a hero.
Gideon is used to having strong control over his life – both business and personal. So, when he meets this vibrant girl, he needs to have her in his bed.
He wants Eva badly, and because she won’t give in to him, he tries to compromise and understand where she is coming from.
He has a dark past of his own, and often when the situation goes way too deep than he expects to, he shuts down on Eva. He controls his reactions and feelings – and is abrupt with her – which she doesn’t take lightly.
What starts off as a temporary relationship turns into more for him. He will not let Eva go, not when he craves her deeply when she accepts him – his past and all. He wants to own her mind and soul because she fulfills a broken part of him.
“I must’ve wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true.”
- Gideon Cross
Gideon shows his vulnerable side to Eva. A part of the reason I loved this book so much is they both have an amazing relationship – their individual character growth and their romantic development.
The steamy scenes are sexually and emotionally charged. They connect well with their bodies and they have sex literally all the time (not that I am complaining, haha).
They are broken by their past, both have been sexually abused, and their past is what determines their actions in the present. Eva deals with it by going through therapy, and Gideon focuses on maintaining control over everything.
One of the reasons why they are attracted to each other is because they see something broken in each other and can just be themselves. Both have a tough journey ahead if they want to make it as a couple and Bared to You is a fantastic start to their story.
“I want there to be happily-ever-afters for the f*cked up crowd. Show me the way, Eva honey. Make me believe.” - Cary Taylor
The secondary characters play a pivotal role in their lives. Each of them had a personality of their own. Eva’s family and her new boss, Gideon’s exes – they are all 3D characters.
I especially want to give a shout-out to Cary Taylor – Eva’s best friend. I loved how realistically he is portrayed. He has his own troubles and problems and I liked how Sylvia managed to capture that guy’s story.
“We’ll never be over, Eva.” - Gideon
Sylvia Day’s writing style is sophisticated but still smooth enough to make you a part of Eva’s life and incorporate you into their lives. The story is even-paced and nicely developed.
Bared to You by Sylvia Day is addictive to read. Gideon and Eva will make a place for themselves in your mind and won’t let go even after you finish the last book. It is one of my most comfortable reads and I find myself going back to them often.
I recommend this book 200%.
Bared to You is a part of my list: Books Similar to Fifty Shades of Grey.
Common FAQs around this book:
What is the Bared to You reading order?
Bared to You is a part of the Crossfire series and the reading order is:
- Bared to You
- Reflected in You.
- Entwined with You.
- Captivated by You.
- One with You.
Can Bared to You be read as a standalone?
Each book has a Happy For Now Ending. So yes, you can read this as a standalone but their story is far from over.
Will Bared to You become a movie?
According to Sylvia Day’s website, Crossfire is available to option.
Romance Novels like Bared to You –
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James and This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas.
Bared to You Blurb
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day comes the provocative masterstroke of abandon and obsession that redefined the meaning of desire and became a global phenomenon…
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
Purchase Links
About Sylvia Day:
Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over 20 award-winning novels delivered with her trademark emotional intensity, scorching sensuality, and powerful storytelling. She is a #1 bestselling author in 28 countries, with translations in 41 languages and tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Visit the author at sylviaday.com
Next in the Crossfire Series...
