Guest Review: Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

Reflected in You 
(Crossfire #2)
by Sylvia Day 
Paperback, 432 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2012 by Penguin Group (USA) (first published October 2nd 2012)
ISBN 0425263916

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...

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Renee’s Thoughts:

***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***


This was a pretty difficult review to get through. I know I will have some haters when I say honestly I was annoyed with the first 1/3 of the book. Well, what was it? I think the Gideon and Eva love story was too tumultuous. I wished that they would have had a little low before they got to the big huge mountains they had to climb. For example in the beginning we knew it was trust that was the issue, right?  So, when Gideon had to go to away on business Eva suggests that he drop her and Cary off in Vegas while he does business. Why not right? Save gas and be together on a corporate jet. Well, for someone who is so controlling why would Gideon let Eva go to Vegas with Cary, who (*Bared to You Spoiler*) had an orgy in her apartment? When did they resolve that? I would be worried even if I had a personal security guard that I was letting my woman go to the SIN city with a over-sexed bi-sexual. I think that annoyed me. (*End*) But even better than that, Eva was out at the pool and a guy offers to buy her a drink, and of course three seconds later it is stopped. A hotel employee comes over and tries to escort Eva away. She gets annoyed. Serious? Eva would have freaked if Magdalene offered to get Gideon a drink in her absence, so why is it ok for some dude to ask what she was drinking?  It was a few situations like that that made me go "huh gggrrrrr" 

After that I think if they were allowed some romance, some great conversations and maybe had a committed conversation, I would have been more invested in the heartbreak. Why care when you know in the next chapter someone gives in and they are back? I think if I was so in love with Gideon, at some point; enough already, get off the ride, change the channel, switch the radio off. It seemed like both characters gave up so easily. I mean, this is supposed to be the one you crave and can't live without but a little wind blows and you go off and meet with your ex who is in a band. Rant over! 

What I loved of course was the hotness of the sex between Gideon and Eva. They were so into each other and had this chemistry that was pulling them together. So they did some crazy, sexy and daring things that made me blush a little bit. That takes a lot! 

I really loved that they were still committed to therapy. The fact that they went separate and together was a huge plus. Many people who need therapy don't go, yet these two people who were already damaged really embraced it. For that I give a big xoxoxo to Sylvia Day! 

The next thing I loved was that the family dynamic changed somewhere along the way for Eva. She seemed to be getting used to her Mother and the controlling things she did. Her mother was a little mellow compared to book one. There were a few little things that seemed odd but by in the last 1/3 of the book, they were dealt with. One thing that happened was when Eva's Dad comes from California and Eva sees them together she thinks, "they are still in love". It is explained early on that her Mother got pregnant and their relationship didn't work out. Now she sees them and thinks that her Dad was the bad boy and her Mom could have been so happy with him, but he had nothing. The passion and love really couldn't outweigh her need for cash. That was sad. I don't know if she really loved Stanton. In fact I don’t think Stanton loves her. I am not sure if he just needed someone to care for and worry about so they filled a void.  

Gideon's family is a little more there too. I think Eva tries to involve Gideon in his half-sisters life even though he is distant. The damage in his family are explained a lot more, but that happens later. It is a lot of hinting and insinuating. Gideon's brother is a character and you don't know if he is good or evil. The same goes for Magdalene. I really thought Eva should have poisoned the bitch or at least put ex-lax in her food at some point. It seems like she just shows up all involved at the worst times to throw a little gas on the fire. 

The ending was killer! This is where all the things you thought you could smack Gideon for are explained. Several issues are justified and I really want to say the truth comes out but it is a very blatant hint. So in other words read between the lines and wait for book 3. Of course the good outweighs the bad in this book and I loved it overall. I will give it …

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses