Review: "At Any Price" (#1) by Brenna Aubrey (Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Nerd Romance)

	At Any Price (#1) by Brenna Aubrey Publisher: Brenna Aubrey Series: Gaming the System At Any Turn (#2)(affil.) At Any Moment (#3)    For the Win (#4)(affil.) For the One (#5)    Worth Any Cost (#6) Genre: Contemporary Romance, Nerd Romance, New Adult Publication Date: December 9, 2013 (Affiliate links)
Description from Publisher: Achievement Unlocked: Geek Virgin 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. Difficulty Level: Millionaire CEO 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. This New Adult book is intended for readers over the age of 18 due to adult language, sexual content and adult situations.
My Rating:	Sexiness Rating:
I loved this so much! I was on the hunt for "nerd romance" and this is more than I could have hoped for! I love Adam. He is a gamer nerd workaholic who is a sweetheart (not atypical for those in that industry - ask this Game Designer wife how I know ;) ). He isn't without his flaws, but I love how he handles them. His intelligence, his sweetness, his humor and wit, his strength, morality... You seriously can't help but fall in love with him! He is firmly secured on my "book boyfriend" shelf. And then you have Mia/Emilia. She is also a great gamer chick nerd, her quirkiness being very genuine. She is strong, and stubborn, and fiercely independent (to a fault). I felt her reasons for still being a virgin at 22 are realistic and heartbreaking, and helped endear me that much more to her character. The sexual tension between these two is a slow burn and just downright fantastic. They push each other and make one another better. It's a great ride. From their first meeting, the tension sizzles, and then you immediately get a sense of how powerful their connection is. I loved how Adam maneuvered around Emilia's stubborn pride, and how she, albeit begrudgingly, accepted his help. They have such a great dynamic. The nerdiness was great - not over-the-top and not making fun of nerds using tired cliches. Brenna Aubrey shows a love and respect for nerds that is refreshing and fun. If you consider yourself even a little nerdy, or love a nerd, you will enjoy the subtle celebration of nerd culture. Doctor Who, Firefly, MMORPGs, Star Wars, Star Trek... That all said, this is also a wonderful romance. You don't need to be a nerd to fall in love with Emilia and Adam. They have so many sweet, and sexy, and touching, and funny moments that there is no doubt they are OTP! Be sure to sign up for Brenna Aubrey's newsletter to get a couple of unpublished scenes from this book from Adam's point of view!