by Sylvia Day
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Published: October 23rd 2012 by Berkley
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction... my every desire... mine.My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession...
I'm very disappointed with this book. I expected so much more from it because there were so many unanswered questions and issues with Bared to You that I thought would be answered here. Unfortunately this book spent more time repeating what readers already know rather than offering something new to keep the story going.
Let's start with what went down for 2/3 of the book: sex. It was hot, no doubt about it. Day knows how to write sizzling intimate scenes but it drove me crazy when all they ever did was go at it like bunnies. They celebrate their love with sex. They resolve their fights with sex (not a very healthy solution by the way). They break up (sort of) then have sex after. They get back together, then they have sex. You get the point. They basically say anything they couldn't say (or at least what Gideon couldn't) with sex. I keep repeating the word it's starting to lose it's meaning. And the same thing happened while I was reading the book. The more they did it, the more pages I skipped. I needed something more from this book, some sort of progression in their relationship. It didn't help that the book started immediately where the 1st book left off. I hated reading about the same drama and knowing that everything took place in less than a couple of months. I know they're both damaged and they needed intimacy to express their feelings each other but could we speed things along here, please?
What was interesting though were the last few chapters of the book where we're given a glimpse (it felt like just a glimpse) of the real story - what should've been the focal point of the book in the first place. I enjoyed the mystery, how everything tied together and how Gideon finally opened up. Seriously, that guy is so broken it takes a huge fight (usually one with Eva dramatically saying she's "done" and telling him to piss off) for him to open up and to share his past with Eva.
The book ends with a very weird plot twist and yet another cliffhanger. I'm honestly having a hard time coming to terms with the unexpected turn of events. Okay, it wasn't so unexpected because I had an inkling which I forced one of my blogger friends to confirm. But it wasn't something I expected out of this novel. It brought the story into a whole new level because there's so much more at stake now. I'm interested to see how the story unfolds in the next one and how Gideon and Eva's relationship develops (really develop) this time around given the circumstances. All in all, it was okay. I didn't like it as much as Bared to You but I'm still looking forward to reading Entwined with You now.
Speaking of Entwined with You. It comes out... in three days! June 4th, 2013. Mark your calendars! Prepare your moolah! The third installment's almost here!
My Rating
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About the author
Sylvia Day
Sylvia Day (aka S. J. Day and Livia Dare) is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of more than a dozen award-winning novels translated into over three dozen languages. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and her work has been honored as Amazon's Best of the Year in Romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award and been nominated for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® award twice.
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I almost clapped my hand when Eva said she's done. Almost. Gideon needs some serious fixing in the third book. I can deal with lesser action but more about the story. There should be more because of where their relationship stands as of now.
ReplyDeleteOMG. THIS! Hahaha. We almost have the same thoughts about this book. I really got bored on most parts in the book since like what you said, all they do is have sex. I actually like Fifty Shades Darker more than this book and THAT is saying something. I was really hoping to have some answers about Gideon in this book. Yes, Gideon opened up in this book, FINALLY. But there are still a lot of questions left unanswered and there are also new questions that pop up after Gideon's confession. I really hope the 3rd book won't be a disappointment. :)
ReplyDeleteThis book frustrated me to no end. Your thoughts echo mine and I was so disappointed we didn't get any answers until the last like 10%. I hope the last book is better. I'm going to have to re-read to refresh my memory though. Great review, Sab! :)
ReplyDeleteI gotta say, I pretty much ended up hating all the characters. I know, it probably isn't fair but I really hated Eva's character turn-around. And, the plot wasn't all that great. All in all, the earth will continue rotating if you skip this book.
ReplyDeleteMarlene Detierro (Austin SEO)