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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Main reason for no stars given: why does every single issue they have, end up being remedied with sex? There’s a very traumatic scene with triggers, and the response to it, is sex. When one gets angry, the response is sex. When someone is sad, the response is sex. I know the book was trying to be a sex-focused read, but it was so absurd that it actually pulls you out of what you’re reading. It’s not even fantasy. It’s just beyond unrealistic. And I think it does a poor job of paining how survivors respond to trauma in their sex life, even with someone they love. And this is very clearly a toxic relationship, but provides a false narrative that they are healthy because they “identify triggers” and barely brush on the topics of their past. Just a cringe read, and would definitely not read the rest of the books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship
Didn’t like how controlling the love interest was.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
Okay writing, fairly engaging characters individually. But I don't understand the point of the story. It's a series, so I'm hoping the story actually continues and unfolds.
The characters Gideon & Eva, together, have a lot of sex, have a fight, leave each other, and repeat the the cycle. That's it. And I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to side with the folks who believe that these novels make emotional abuse seem acceptable. Both characters had abuse issues growing up. Okay, that's sad and horrible. But he's controlling, and she's incredibly immature. Not a good mix. I kept rooting for them to break up.
I don't think I'll be reading anymore of the series. And Cary was my favorite.
The characters Gideon & Eva, together, have a lot of sex, have a fight, leave each other, and repeat the the cycle. That's it. And I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to side with the folks who believe that these novels make emotional abuse seem acceptable. Both characters had abuse issues growing up. Okay, that's sad and horrible. But he's controlling, and she's incredibly immature. Not a good mix. I kept rooting for them to break up.
I don't think I'll be reading anymore of the series. And Cary was my favorite.
HOT!! READ THIS BOOK!!! Gideon and Ava absolutely SIZZLE in this love story of two people with pasts that continue to torment them and their budding relationship. Ava is more willing to use any means of therapy or talking to cope and deal with trauma and issues. Gideon has tried to bury his trauma, but it is not working. I love Christian Grey. However, Gideon Cross makes him look like an immature adolescent. Gideon is smoking HOT!!! Ava is a realistic heroine and likable. She is frustrating at times, but I can understand why she is the way that she is. This is a book that I can read and still get hot and bothered no matter how many times I read it ;) I have read it TWICE ;)
Bared To You is a romance. Gideon and Eva meet, have instant sexual chemistry and do the typical mating dance. Something you and I have, undoubtably, read many times before.
Gideon is the gorgeous, powerful, aggressive, focused, billionaire featured in plenty of romance novels. Different name, same characteristics. I think his character is underdeveloped. There are too many unknowns regarding Gideon. It's fine that he's mysterious. I just want more depth to his character.
Eva makes this the best romance. Eva is strong, college educated, smart, honest, sophisticated, beautiful, sexy, loyal, flawed, insecure, the daughter of rich parents, blonde, most every man's dream girl and the woman most females want as a best friend. She doesn't recognize just how strong and wonderful she is. Eva's past has caused scars that can hold her back. Other times, her strength is amazing. She is a star.
Cary, her roommate, is wonderful. I don't care that he's a model, gorgeous, and popular. I love the fact that he is Eva's best friend - and only her best friend. They're like brother and sister. I love their friendship. He's a gem. :)
For Gideon and Eva to be portrayed as the smartest, classiest, most sophisticated, power couple - outwardly - sets them apart from all other fictional couples. Eva, alone, makes them the couple they could be.
What almost ruins it is the crude way they treat each other. It's like reading about one night stands. I can not stand how the sexual situations are described, every single time. I know it could have been done in a much more subtle way. Yes, it is the worst I have ever read - far more demeaning than Fifty Shades - and in a lot of ways, pornographic. They both deserve better. However, some couples like this nonsense. Go figure.
4 stars given to Eva alone.
Gideon is the gorgeous, powerful, aggressive, focused, billionaire featured in plenty of romance novels. Different name, same characteristics. I think his character is underdeveloped. There are too many unknowns regarding Gideon. It's fine that he's mysterious. I just want more depth to his character.
Eva makes this the best romance. Eva is strong, college educated, smart, honest, sophisticated, beautiful, sexy, loyal, flawed, insecure, the daughter of rich parents, blonde, most every man's dream girl and the woman most females want as a best friend. She doesn't recognize just how strong and wonderful she is. Eva's past has caused scars that can hold her back. Other times, her strength is amazing. She is a star.
Cary, her roommate, is wonderful. I don't care that he's a model, gorgeous, and popular. I love the fact that he is Eva's best friend - and only her best friend. They're like brother and sister. I love their friendship. He's a gem. :)
For Gideon and Eva to be portrayed as the smartest, classiest, most sophisticated, power couple - outwardly - sets them apart from all other fictional couples. Eva, alone, makes them the couple they could be.
What almost ruins it is the crude way they treat each other. It's like reading about one night stands. I can not stand how the sexual situations are described, every single time. I know it could have been done in a much more subtle way. Yes, it is the worst I have ever read - far more demeaning than Fifty Shades - and in a lot of ways, pornographic. They both deserve better. However, some couples like this nonsense. Go figure.
4 stars given to Eva alone.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one at first. Things were progressing too fast between Eva and Gideon. But then their issues began to emerge and I couldn't put it down. I am a sucker for angst! The ending is sort of abrupt- I'm downloading #2 now!
First of all, Bared to You was written better than 50 Shades - the writing can't even be compared, to be honest. However, I still haven't fallen in love with Giddeon, like I had fallen for Christian Grey. Let's be real, the name Giddeon? Not for me. While the sex scenes were super hot, I don't think anything compares to the red room. As Giddeon and Eva learn more about each other, their relationship grows, but also has several setbacks - which annoyed me to say the least. They're both in their late 20s, so why are they acting like they're in high school? Eva seems to want Giddeon one second, and then seems to be running away from him the next. I understand that she's trying to protect herself, and that she's afraid because of her past, but I just couldn't get over the fact that it reminded me of a teenage relationship - but maybe that's what Day was trying to project. Their love is like a teenager's love - unsure, but wanting to give it your all, crying one minute, and in love the next. There were several secrets that seemed to come out during book one, and I have a feeling these secrets are going to pour out in book two.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone, 18 years or older, that was a lover of 50 Shades. It's an addicting trilogy, one that will definitely stick in your mind for awhile.
"The intense magnetism he exuded grew in strength, becoming a near tangible impression of vibrant and unrelenting power" (page 5).
I definitely recommend this book to anyone, 18 years or older, that was a lover of 50 Shades. It's an addicting trilogy, one that will definitely stick in your mind for awhile.
"The intense magnetism he exuded grew in strength, becoming a near tangible impression of vibrant and unrelenting power" (page 5).
This is everything 50 shades is not, and I enjoyed 50 shades. This isn't an inexperienced, improbable, innocent girl. She has depth and a backbone. She is an equal match to Gideon and I love this book for that. There are some horrific situations brought out in this story.
Here’s the thing. I like the characters, their building and their stories. But be prepared to face a lot of self-esteem issues, ultra possessive hero, miscommunication and trauma.Mostly what kept me going was my curiosity of seeing their character development so imma keep reading.
I guess this is a reread but since I don’t remember almost anything it was like reading it for the first time. I see why the past me stopped at the first book but I feel like now I’m ready to continue it, so stay tuned I guess.
I guess this is a reread but since I don’t remember almost anything it was like reading it for the first time. I see why the past me stopped at the first book but I feel like now I’m ready to continue it, so stay tuned I guess.