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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 stars.
As much a I love Eva and Gideon, I had issues with this one.
I've read one of the reviews that said how everyone was good-looking/beautiful/a knockout in this book. I thought I would hardly notice it, but I did. In fact, it's kind of hard not to.
Case #1:
There was this part when she describes Cary, her best friend:
"No matter his expression, he was a knockout." o.O um.. Okay..
Case# 2:
And then there was her boss, and his partner: "...he was as good-looking as his partner was, just in a very different way."
Case #3:
Then there was Monica... "a gilded shining beauty who'd never lacked male attention in her life."
Case #4:
Oh gosh, there's also Daniel... "he was handsome and nicely built... with a movie star smile that showcased perfect white teeth."
Case #5:
Obviously, Gideon Cross:
"He wasn't just beautiful, he was enthralling." ( I am aware he described in more sparklies than that. Still.)
Case # n^infinity:
Cross's ex-lovers or friends. If I listed them all, I could tell you, they're all pretty.
It takes having beautiful characters to a different level.
Also although I understood Eva's jealousy in the beginning, there came a point when I thought it became kind of irrational. Gideon took the time to explain Corrine's place in his life, and later says:
"Shut up. If you care about me at all, you'll just up and go away."Wait, what? 'I love you more than words can say', and then she says 'shut up'???? Jeez.
The hero screwed up a lot of times. You'd think he'd have better sense than to bring Eva to a place where he brought his ex-lovers. I loved what Eva did after discovering that, but then he came to find her later and poof everything is okay again. To my surprise, I warmed up to him later on, because of how he never gave up on Eva, and I actually found him more likable than the heroine.
Also, as much as Eva says she wants "mutual respect" before she sleeps with someone, she basically contradicted herself with the *blush* office scene. And as much as it might annoy others, loved Eva's running away thing. It takes strength to leave a person, and it was self-preservation, and I loved it. I try to avoid books that can become too angsty, but I put up with it to the end. I don't regret it.
However, I thought the story went too smoothly until the end. I'm always wary of what big holy-crap thing would happen 80% in the story, but it happened to be another jealousy issue the heroine had, which was, of course, promptly solved by the hero saying his "I love you" near the end.
As much a I love Eva and Gideon, I had issues with this one.
I've read one of the reviews that said how everyone was good-looking/beautiful/a knockout in this book. I thought I would hardly notice it, but I did. In fact, it's kind of hard not to.
Case #1:
There was this part when she describes Cary, her best friend:
"No matter his expression, he was a knockout." o.O um.. Okay..
Case# 2:
And then there was her boss, and his partner: "...he was as good-looking as his partner was, just in a very different way."
Case #3:
Then there was Monica... "a gilded shining beauty who'd never lacked male attention in her life."
Case #4:
Oh gosh, there's also Daniel... "he was handsome and nicely built... with a movie star smile that showcased perfect white teeth."
Case #5:
Obviously, Gideon Cross:
"He wasn't just beautiful, he was enthralling." ( I am aware he described in more sparklies than that. Still.)
Case # n^infinity:
Cross's ex-lovers or friends. If I listed them all, I could tell you, they're all pretty.
It takes having beautiful characters to a different level.
Also although I understood Eva's jealousy in the beginning, there came a point when I thought it became kind of irrational. Gideon took the time to explain Corrine's place in his life, and later says:
Spoiler
"It's not the right word, Eva. That's why I haven't said it. It's not the right word for you and what I feel for you.""Shut up. If you care about me at all, you'll just up and go away."
The hero screwed up a lot of times. You'd think he'd have better sense than to bring Eva to a place where he brought his ex-lovers. I loved what Eva did after discovering that, but then he came to find her later and poof everything is okay again. To my surprise, I warmed up to him later on, because of how he never gave up on Eva, and I actually found him more likable than the heroine.
Also, as much as Eva says she wants "mutual respect" before she sleeps with someone, she basically contradicted herself with the *blush* office scene. And as much as it might annoy others, loved Eva's running away thing. It takes strength to leave a person, and it was self-preservation, and I loved it. I try to avoid books that can become too angsty, but I put up with it to the end. I don't regret it.
However, I thought the story went too smoothly until the end. I'm always wary of what big holy-crap thing would happen 80% in the story, but it happened to be another jealousy issue the heroine had, which was, of course, promptly solved by the hero saying his "I love you" near the end.
If you liked the Fifty Shades trilogy, you will LOVE Bared to You, the first in Day’s new Crossfire series! Eva and Gideon's tempestuous whirlwind romance is better than chocolate and is not to be missed. Seriously... run to the library, check out a copy, and then clear your schedule - You will want to savor this one!
-Lindsey D.-
-Lindsey D.-
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow... I'm definitely invested in these characters and the story.
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't bear to finish this book. I managed to get half way, forcing myself to read it knowing I got through 50 Shades in the end. The sex scenes made me cringe and the plot was minimal.
I'm not done reading yet, but I'm reading this as part of a book club so I may come in here and update as I go, but I just read the first chapter, and I'm already like "whut???"
The protagonist lives in an Upper West Manhattan apartment, yet is starting an entry level position at an advertising firm? She even says her monthly rent is more than people make in a year! Totally unbelievable premise.
Oh, but then we learn that her step-daddy is a billionaire, her papa is a cop, her mom's a trophy wife, and her roommate is a model.
So basically, this book is asking me to care about a rich white girl who meets a rich white man and immediately wants to bone him. Never mind the fact that every man she meets gets an incredible descriptive take, but the one female we meet in chapter one... Her descriptions pretty much begin with the color of her shirt and end with the cut of her hair. Throw in the fact that she is "mixed-race" Asian and pretty and viola! So your only female/person of color in the first chapter gets reduced to being defined by her race, haircut, and shirt?
Score one for misogyny and antisemitism...
Oh, excuse me there is a male-presenting BIPOC in the first chapter. His descriptions are pretty stereotypical: tattoos, shaved head, a coffee-colored skin tone. Nothing outright offensive, except his name is Parker Smith... If you are reading this and you are a black or brown person with the first name Parker, I apologize and please, please, please correct me, but I have never met a BIPOC with the name Parker.
The protagonist lives in an Upper West Manhattan apartment, yet is starting an entry level position at an advertising firm? She even says her monthly rent is more than people make in a year! Totally unbelievable premise.
Oh, but then we learn that her step-daddy is a billionaire, her papa is a cop, her mom's a trophy wife, and her roommate is a model.
So basically, this book is asking me to care about a rich white girl who meets a rich white man and immediately wants to bone him. Never mind the fact that every man she meets gets an incredible descriptive take, but the one female we meet in chapter one... Her descriptions pretty much begin with the color of her shirt and end with the cut of her hair. Throw in the fact that she is "mixed-race" Asian and pretty and viola! So your only female/person of color in the first chapter gets reduced to being defined by her race, haircut, and shirt?
Score one for misogyny and antisemitism...
Oh, excuse me there is a male-presenting BIPOC in the first chapter. His descriptions are pretty stereotypical: tattoos, shaved head, a coffee-colored skin tone. Nothing outright offensive, except his name is Parker Smith... If you are reading this and you are a black or brown person with the first name Parker, I apologize and please, please, please correct me, but I have never met a BIPOC with the name Parker.