Saturday, February 21, 2015

[Review]: "Trade Me"

Trade Me by Courtney Milan
Publisher: Courtney Milan (January 19, 2015)
Series: Cyclone, 1
Genre: NA Contemporary

Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Technology. But when he makes an off-hand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.

To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.

But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart...but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life.



Where to Buy*:
More Info:


My Review:





And I know, despite all the constellations placed in the sky as warning, why all those Greek maidens gave it up in the end. It's because all the pain is worth it for this one moment.




Trade Me surprised me at every turn of the page. At the beginning, I wasn't sure how I felt about Tina, because I – wrongly! – assumed that she was going to be a cookie-cutter heroine. God, how wrong I was! Milan created an extremely complex heroine, and one that I soon felt a very deep connection to.


But Milan didn't just create a complex heroine – nope, she gave us a unique (and complicated) hero, too, and I found myself falling for him. Blake may seem to the world to be yet another wealthy man, but there is so much more to him than just that. Some good, some bad. I was pleasantly surprised by Blake's secret and I applaud Milan for writing about it.




"Good thing he's not your boyfriend, though, Tina. He's so skinny, I think a condom would pop right off."

Oh my God. She did not say that. My whole body flushes in a wave of heat. 

"Mom," I mutter in a low voice. "Please."

"Better make him wear two," she continues merrily. "Just in case."




Really, I can't find much about this book to complain about – I loved every minute of it. Tina's relationship with her mother, Tina's friend, Maria, and Blake's relationship with his father, all added to the overall story. Blake and his father have an interesting relationship, to say the least, and it's hard to explain, but it's unique and fun, though far from perfect (and that's okay!).


Of course, I also loved Tina and Blake together, loved that they each brought out the best in each other, helped one another when they were too afraid to admit they needed the help. These two were great together, with some sexy times, but also some sweet and emotional scenes as well.



I'm very anxious to read the next book (Maria's story) – she's a transgender heroine, and we so desperately need diversity, of all things, in our romances, so thumbs up for that alone. I'm also looking forward to book three, which will return to Blake and Tina. I'm glad; while Trade Me does not end on a cliffhanger, their story is really just beginning. I haven't had a chance yet to read Milan's historicals, but I will have to do so while I await the next release in this amazing series. 


4 1/2 STARS! 


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I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Note: The quotes used belong to Courtney Milan; TBQ's Book Palace do not claim them.

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I can't recommend this book enough -- it's a truly unique and well done NA, and Milan's writing style is simply amazing. :) 

Have you read Courtney Milan before?

Remember, since this is a Royal Pick, come back on Feb 26th for a chance to WIN an ecopy of your own!



Enjoy!


Until Next Time,


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  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

3 comments :

Anna@herding cats&burning soup said...

Ahh love when an author surprises me like that with a character. I need to give her another go I think :)

The_Book_Queen said...

I would definitely recommend it! :)

Sharonda said...

I've read only one of her books before and really enjoyed it.