Reflected in You

This book definitely reminded me of the Fifty Shades series the whole time I read it... Can't help it, I read Fifty Shades first. Rich guy meets girl, sparks fly, definitely attracted to one another, guy has secrets, girl has insecurities, guy can have any girl he wants, girl argues, girl has a best friend, and so on. 

I'm not saying the series/book wasn't good, it was, but I don't know if Sylvia Day wrote this on her own or just copied the story from E.L. James. Anyways, both series do have their differences. 

Gideon's past is definitely a mystery when starting this book because the first book only hinted at what his past might've been but never really told the whole story. Eva has her own troubled past and she also has insecurities which causes her to doubt Gideon at times. I guess their troubled pasts are what makes them such a great couple. They argue a lot, and even if it is annoying and frustrating at times, it is part of them adapting to falling in love with someone. 

Gideon is learning to compromise with Eva and even when Eva felt as if Gideon wasn't sharing his feelings, you could tell that Gideon was trying and that he did trust Eva more than anyone else. 

This book will definitely test your patience and trust on Gideon, and he WILL test you. Actually, both Eva and him will. It's an emotional roller coaster ride all the way! 

Readers will get a chance to finally know the story behind Gideon Cross. You'll know how he became a rich man and why he has his nightmares. Cary will also still have to sort his life out but he's always there for Eva which is great.

Overall, the story was great and the characters' struggles were really believable. I mean, two troubled souls cannot just suddenly be happy together after being together for less than a month, so all those annoying arguments are part of it. Can't wait to see where Sylvia Day will take the story next!

Entwined with You is releasing on December 31, 2012!

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

This is the first book in the new Crossfire trilogy by Sylvia Day. We meet the narrator, Eva Tramell, a young lady who had recently moved from Southern California to New York. She has just gotten a job, and when she first goes to work, she sees a gorgeous man who helps her pick up coins that fell from a lady's purse.

She finds out that the gorgeous god is Gideon Cross, one of the richest men in the world. It doesn't take long for Gideon to approach Eva about his attraction to her. Both Eva and Gideon have troubled pasts, but we only find out about Eva's past in the first book. Her mother was a woman who liked her money, so she didn't marry Eva's father who was madly in love with her. Eva's mother married her husband number 3 (and maybe the right guy) who's also one of the richest men in the world. We find out that one of Eva's mother's  marriage ended because it had something to do with Eva herself.

The whole book was a roller coaster ride. I seriously was happy, sad, angry, annoyed, and confused so much throughout the book that I thought I was going crazy at one point. The book definitely reminded me of the Fifty Shades series by E.L. James. It reminded me of Fifty Shades because we have a rich, young man who has a troubled past and is a Dom. Eva is somewhat like Ana. She prefers to work her way up instead of asking for favors. I think Eva is a much stronger character than Ana, but at times, I wanted to smack Eva too because she changes her mind so fast and it's frustrating at times. Here, Gideon doesn't sleep with a friend of his mother's, but he has a close friend who Ana constantly gets jealous of and we later learn another shocking revelation about one of Gideon's exs. Gideon is definitely possessive and at times probably invades Eva's privacy (like her mother). Both characters are lost souls who are slowly realizing that they can rely on one another. 

I liked the book a lot because it was a great read and even if it was very similar read to Fifty Shades, it was a totally different world itself. I like that the ending wasn't such a cliffhanger because the next book isn't releasing until October 2, and I don't think I can last that long wondering what will happen. So, the main question in the series will be: Can these two damaged souls build a healthy relationship and learn to trust one another? I was also seeing some conflicts near the end of the book with Gideon's brother and Eva's roommate. Hopefully the whole conflict with Cary is solved in the next book! I thought he was pretty cool. 

I can't wait for the next book! Reflected in You releases on October 2 and there will be a 3rd and final book after that.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

I loved and hated the book at the same time. It was definitely a roller coaster ride all the way. I had no idea where the book was going most of the time or what was about to come next, which was both thrilling and frustrating. I found this book very similar to Fifty Shades of Grey because of the troubled but hot male character. 

Travis is a very controversial character and I definitely loved him at times but I also hated him. It was a love/hate relationship. I felt about Abby the same way I felt about Travis. I liked Abby but there were times when I felt like smacking her because I'm pretty sure even she herself doesn't know what she's doing.

Overall, I thought Beautiful Disaster was a very entertaining read. Although there were some things that I didn't like, the book as a whole itself made up for it. The characters definitely had chemistry and I can't wait to read the next book!

If you loved the Fifty Shades series, then I suggest you try this book out! If you hated the Fifty Shades series, then you might like this better. I just recommend this to fans of romance (adults).

Review by Your Book Buddy.

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Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist and professor in the University of Toronto. He barely tolerates his students, but his good looks make up for it, for his female students anyway. However, he wasn't the greatest child when he was younger, he has a troubled past that he'd rather forget. Then, Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student. He is attracted to the sweet and innocent Julia, and she also feels familiar to him... as if he was his Beatrice.

When I first saw this book on the shelves, I concluded that it was another version of Fifty Shades of Grey. They have many similar things. A hot, troubled male that instantly becomes attracted to a sweet, innocent female. However, after that, they pretty much went their own separate plots. Gabriel's Inferno does not revolve around the guy being controlling when it comes to sex, it revolves around Gabriel, a guy with a troubled past who believes he does not deserve redemption. He believes that he does not have a soul and that he will never find light. Julia is there to help him realize that he deserves to be loved and that he can find the light.

The book is also in third person POV. I liked the book and it was a quick read. Gabriel starts off as a jerk, but as the novel progresses, you'll definitely begin to like him. You'll also love Gabriel's family.

The verdict: For those who thought that this was another Fifty Shades of Grey series, stop thinking that! I thought that and when I finally read the book, I was totally surprised to find them so different. If you like Fifty Shades of Grey, then you'll love this book too. If you hated Fifty Shades of Grey, you might find this a good read.

The next book in the series is Gabriel’s Rapture and I believe it’s out now!

Fifty Shades series by E.L. James

When I first saw this series on the bestsellers section, I was shocked. I read the summaries and thought that the book would revolve sex and that’s it, but the book actually has a real and interesting story within it.

Christian Grey is this rich guy who had a horrible childhood. His birth mother is the reason why he does what he does (in bed). He became an orphan when his mother died, and luckily he was adopted by the Grey family. Christian later had an affair with Mrs. Grey’s friend who is mostly referred to as “Mrs. Robinson”. She used similar methods in bed that Christian later uses. Christian did not condem their relationship because in some ways, Mrs. Robinson helped him become successful and stopped him from destroying himself.

Anastasia Steele is a college student who decides to help her friend Kate out by interviewing Christian Greybecause Kate was sick. She never expected Christian Grey to be young and attractive, and she was surprised that Christian was attracted to her because she never thought herself to be that attractive and interesting. Then, Ana decides to accept the contract that Christian shows her, and this is where their story begins.

Fifty Shades of Grey: Ana is about to graduate college when she meets Christian Grey. She accepts the contract that will change her life forever. However, Ana wants a man who loves her and there is this one part in the book which I really love. Ana was given a blackberry and laptop by Christian and they both constantly email one another. One night, Ana emails Christian that he was never there and she doesn’t reply back to his emails and calls, and suddenly Christian comes to her and Kate’s place and stays the night just holding Ana. 

Fifty Shades Darker: The book starts off where the first one left off. Ana left Christian and she has now started her job, which she made sure had nothing to do with Christian. However, (and this part I found pathetic) Ana can’t seem to function without Christian, she can’t sleep and she has lost weight. Christian volunteers to take Ana to her friend’s art show and then they’re back together. This book shows more about Christian and his past. He needs unconditional love, but he can’t seem to accept that Ana does love him and that he deserves to be loved. 

Fifty Shades Freed: Ana and Christian adjust to married life, but they also get more surprises in this book. Someone is stalking Ana… and he wants revenge. Christian is trying to adjust to life not as Dom as before. Will Ana and Christian last? Ana has changed Christian.