I know that I said I was reading a book that I was supposed to read in school next, but you know what... Sometimes you just gotta read what you feel like reading.
Okay, Okay. Here is
my problem. I read these books for the “Trilogy”
section in my 2015 Reading Challenge. I
read all three because it said that it was a three book installment. I get to the end of Book 3, and there is an excerpt
for Book 4. WTF? What happened to it
being a trilogy? So I read the excerpt,
and it is the story of a sub character in the previous books. The story is completed for Adam and Mia after
the first three books, and now the author moved to someone else. Am I still taking these three as my
Trilogy? Hell yes!! If you don’t agree, comment below and I can
defend myself some more. I always love a
good debate! Here it goes... (NO SPOILERS)
AT ANY PRICE by Brenna Aubrey
Book 1 in Gaming the System Trilogy
When Mia Strong, proud geek-girl and popular gaming blogger, auctions off her virginity online, she knows she'll make waves. But what she will not be making is a love connection. Her rules are set in stone: One night. No further contact. It's a desperate step, but it's the only way she can go to medical school and pay her mother's mounting hospital bills.
Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first million at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside.
She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.
Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first million at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside.
She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.
MY REVIEW
5 out of 5 *Stars*
This book felt very similar to a Fifty Shades of Grey, but
without the numerous amounts of kinky sex.
Don’t get me wrong, there were some steamy love scenes, but nothing
compared to the famous BDSM trilogy. The
story is about a young and very rich CEO of a Gaming company that gets into a
turbulent and odd relationship with a middle class, slightly younger student,
and pulls her into his world. Sound
familiar? Yeah, it did to me too. Do I think this was intended to play off of
FSOG because the plot was so successful? No, I don’t.
I think the similarities are just a coincidence, but it still worked for
this storyline.
I loved this book. It
was exactly like one of my favorite lines in the book.
“Every minute I spent with you made me want a hundred minutes
more.”
Perfectly worded. I
did not want this story to end.
I can tell you now that I am not a gamer. Ok, so I’ll play the occasional Candy Crush,
or Hay Day, but when it gets into the technical stuff like Dungeons and
Dragons, I am WAY out of my element. The
easy dialogue and comfortable banter in this book made me feel like I was immersed
in the world and understood everything that was said. The jokes were hilarious, and the author spun
the story so well, it made me go through the intense emotions right along with the
characters in the book. This book was
funny, serious, and suspenseful, all rolled into one.
I do have to point out one line that hit really close to
home. In this story, Mia’s life choices
were founded from her mother having to battle Cancer. In the book, she states,
“Cancer is a bitch that needs to get the crap smacked out of
it. I intend to stand on the front lines
with a big-ass bat.”
This was great. I’ve
personally lost what feels like a handful of people to cancer, and this line
sent thrilled chills up my spine. It was
perfect!
Originally, I downloaded this book to fill the slot “Book
written by an author I’ve never read before” in my 2015 reading challenge, but
since I quickly downloaded the second out of three books, it is now soon to
fill the Trilogy spot. If I read the
other two as quickly as I finished this one, the trilogy should get checked off
in no time.
AT ANY TURN by Brenna Aubrey
Book 2 in Gaming the System Trilogy
Millionaire CEO Adam Drake, overcame a tortured past to build his own gaming empire. He’s in complete control of his life. With his new found love for brilliant geek girl blogger, Mia Strong, the last piece of his life is in place. He's at the top of his game.
Until suddenly, she withdraws from him, leaving him in the dark. Something tells him she needs help. But she's too stubborn or scared to ask for it, and the more he tries to take control, the further he pushes her away. He can’t solve this problem by writing a check or a few lines of code.
He’ll have to dig deep and put himself at risk…or risk losing her forever.
Until suddenly, she withdraws from him, leaving him in the dark. Something tells him she needs help. But she's too stubborn or scared to ask for it, and the more he tries to take control, the further he pushes her away. He can’t solve this problem by writing a check or a few lines of code.
He’ll have to dig deep and put himself at risk…or risk losing her forever.
MY REVIEW
4 out of 5 *Stars*
This book took a completely different turn than the first
one. It was darker, more subdued. There were still funny parts, and the nerdy
dialogue that I loved so much.
“I saw him as one of those guys I used to hear about back at
the beginning of the millennium who wanted to burn all the Harry Potter
books. Clueless muggle, I wanted to
mutter under my breath.”
The storyline took a drastic turn from the first book, and
it was hard to connect the two. I still
enjoyed it, but it made me experience a whole new set of emotions. Mia starts to pull away from Adam. I guessed why right away, and I spent over
half the book frustrated to high hell that she was keeping it to herself. “Tell him already!” I kept grounding
out. The love was still hot and almost
tangible. Adam was amazing. The way he speaks could melt the panties off
any girl his word were directed too.
Before you ask, yes, I know he is a fictional character. I don’t care.
A couple of my favorite lines of his…
“I was a man on fire and the only way to smother the flames
was to dive in and drown in her.”
“We’re like magnets – try to separate us and we will tear
ourselves apart to get back to each other.
Put us together, let us spin, and we make electricity.”
Bravo, Aubrey!!
I still loved all the gaming talk, even if I did zone out a
little as they played a physical version of dungeons and Dragons. I don’t think I will ever get the pull, but
that’s okay. Overall, I still see this
trilogy holding strong. Once again, I
quickly purchased the next book which happens to be the last one as well. I guess I’ll find out shortly if it stays
that way.
AT ANY MOMENT by Brenna Aubrey
Book 3 in Gaming the System Trilogy
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Mia Strong never expected to be deciding the rest of her life at age twenty-two. Is she willing to become a human lab rat? Does she need to write a will? Does she ever want a family--and if so, with whom? She can't dodge the tough questions--not if she plans to live to see twenty-three. With her life hanging in the balance, Mia wants nothing more than to rely on Adam Drake, but he’s hurt her before.
Adam Drake knows that he's made mistakes, but when he discovers what Mia's facing, he realizes how much those mistakes could cost him. Now he has to choose between being the man who can save Mia's life or the man she can love. No matter how much it tears him apart, Adam knows he has to put Mia first...even if it means he's out of the picture entirely.
Will their love survive this epic battle or is it game over?
Adam Drake knows that he's made mistakes, but when he discovers what Mia's facing, he realizes how much those mistakes could cost him. Now he has to choose between being the man who can save Mia's life or the man she can love. No matter how much it tears him apart, Adam knows he has to put Mia first...even if it means he's out of the picture entirely.
Will their love survive this epic battle or is it game over?
MY REVIEW
3 out of 5 *Stars*
You know the saying, “You can’t beat the first”? No, I’m not
talking about THAT first. Get your head
out of the gutter. I’m talking about movies
and books that are involved in a series.
Anyways, that perfectly describes this trilogy. Don’t misunderstand me, I didn’t hate the
books, but the first one started off so carefree and fun, and by the third, the
reader was waist deep in depression and turmoil. Yes, I get it. It was a delicate situation, and I believe
Aubrey did a wonderful job of depicting the emotion and circumstances behind
what was happening. BUT… Yes, there’s a “but”. There was so much indecision and mixed
emotions that it gave me mental whiplash.
I really tried to connect with the characters, but I just couldn’t.
On a side note, and something about the series that I thoroughly
enjoyed… The banter and dialogue were
fantastic. I loved all the nerdy
comments and comparisons!
““To us.” I said, clinking my glass to hers. “No greater
love since Han and Leia.””
It was a
constant throughout the three books, and became a sort of signature for the
trilogy.
Overall, I think I would
recommend this trilogy, but I would warn the reader to not get attached to the
lightweight feeling you get after reading the first book. I believe that was where my biggest problem
was. I am a reader that gets sucked in
completely to what I am reading.
Whatever emotion the characters were feeling, I would be to. I read the first book here, and thought how
refreshing it was, unlike some of the darker stuff I had read before it. Then it went and blew that feeling away. One other thing to think about in regards to
that… It is a testament to how good an
author is, if she/he can bring in a reader like that. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the feelings I
got from the second and especially the third books, she still made me feel
something.
4 books down, 48 to go!
Happy Reading, Everyone!!
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