For the Taking

A Standalone Marriage of Convenience Romance (Gaming the System, Book 8)

By: Brenna Aubrey

Narrated by: Kirsten Leigh, Jason Clarke

Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

So, I married my nemesis.

My new life in the states and dream job as a game tester just hit a massive snag. If I don't want immediate deportation on my to-do list, I need help, stat. Quickest solution - marry Lucas Walker, my cranky and oh-so-annoying coworker. Still, this can work. We’ll have rules and have to stick to them. I won’t think about his muscled arms or how stupid handsome he is even while he pushes all my hot buttons. It’s a marriage on paper only. I need to remember that. 

Player two, press start.

When that exasperating Canadian, Katya Ellis, asked for help, I agreed because she was willing to help me in return. She doesn’t need to know it’s in my best interest for her to stay in the country. Nope, this is a business arrangement through and through. Which means I’ll set aside all those involuntary fantasies I’ve been having about her shapely body pressed to mine....

What could go wrong? Welp...as it turns out, just about everything.

©2020 Brenna Aubrey (P)2021 Brenna Aubrey

Great Story Overall

This story has been building over the previous six books and it did not disappoint exactly lol

This book was the epitome of a slowwwww burn then a flash fire and then a sloww burn and then a huge bush fire that went back to a smolder righhht under the service 😂

Lucas and Kat were sooo hung up on each other they didn’t honestly realize their true feelings until they were in the thick of things. And then he pulled an small dumb dumb move that he rectified just as fast.

I really enjoyed the healthy adult relationship discussions in this one. They are both super Frank and it works for them.

Narrators carried on from the prior books:
Jason Clarke and Kirsten Leigh. They both did amazing jobs as usual ❤️

Love Brenna Aubrey and her work!

I have read (er, listened to) every Gaming the System book since the first one. Love the series! And, I think I waited two years for this book to make it to audio! These two narrating for Brenna's books is a welcome delight to my ears too!

Marriage of Convenience Perfection!!

For the Taking by Brenna Aubrey is an enemies to lovers paired with a marriage of convenience romance at its best! Seriously, the sexual tension and the angsty push and pull Brenna creates between Lucas and Katya is simply slow burn perfection. (Totally worth the wait!) I was instantly sucked into this story right from the start, and I absolutely adored every bit of it! This is book 7 in the Gaming the System Series, but can be listened to as a stand alone.

Jason Clarke and Kirsten Leigh narrate this audio, and do such a fabulous job bringing Lucas and Katya to life. Lucas and Katya are complex characters with intricate and troublesome pasts. They know that a "fake" marriage will benefit both of them, but there is this undeniable attraction between them that they can only resist for so long. Jason Clarke conveys all of Lucas's lust and love for Katya, vulnerabilities towards his family, and his passion for his job brilliantly in his performance. Kirsten Leigh is spot on with Katya's determined, fierce, and loving personality, but also is amazing at portraying her conflicted and painful past with her family. Both are just the chef's kiss to a fantastic audiobook!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! If you love hot gamers, Dutch nobility, forbidden steamy times, a dreamy Napa Valley trip, a fake marriage that may not be fake, and a totally swoon-worthy HEA then you need this book in your life! I'm looking forward to more from Brenna Aubrey!

Brenna Aubrey hits another sexy Jackpot ! 🎰❤️‍🔥

Just finished an ALC of FOR THE TAKING by Brenna Aubrey narrated by Jason Clarke and Kirsten Leigh and I have a huge smile of contentment on my face. If you are a fan of the Gaming the system series then this exciting sexy standalone is a must. If you have not listened to the series then this will definitely wet your appetite. The enemies-to-lovers fake marriage plot is creative, the characters unpredictable, the narration is fabulous and so sexy. Its another winner by Brenna Aubrey and I cant wait for the next one. 14hours of deliciousness. Totally creditworthy !

Loved love loved!!!

I been waiting for so long for this book to come out through audible and have had my favorite book in this series but I am pretty sure this one is my new favorite!!! My only complaint is I wanted more!!! So worth the credit to listen I will be re- listening again and again

I’m in love with this series!

There hasn’t been a book yet that I haven’t been in love with from this series!

Way too long...

It seems as this series progressed the author adds more and more filler and fluff that doesn't move the story forward.
I enjoy long books if the story is moving at a steady pace, but this book is twice as long as it needed to be. Even though it's well written, the repetitive nature of the filler made it boring.
I'd still listen to more by this author as I've enjoyed the series overall. Narrators did a great job as always.

Awesome book - awesome series

Loved this story... it was a slow burn for most but eventually got hot.🔥 The whole series was a good read/listen. The narrators do a fabulous job. Stick with it, it's a great collection of stories. I plan to check out more titles by this author too. Story(s)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️heat (overall) 🔥🔥🔥

I loved it!

This is the eighth book in the Gaming the System Series, and this is my favorite story in the Series. I loved it! This is a great enemies to lovers, and fake marriage of convenience romance. Katya is smart, and supportive. Lucas is enigmatic, and handsome. I liked the push and pull relationship, the slow burn, and the sweet and flirty romance. Kirsten Leigh and Jason Clarke did an amazing job with the narration. They are perfect as Katya and Lucas. I enjoyed it!

SO good! Narration excellent and story: 💖🔥🥵

Brenna Aubrey is a new to me author, but Kristen Leigh and Jason Clarke do a fantastic job in bringing her story, FOR THE TAKING, to life. 

I love the fake relationship and marriage or convenience tropes so I was here for this and WOW! This book blew me away. Not only did it deliver the push-pull angsty goodness and steam factor I crave with these kinds of stories, but the characters were just *chef’s kiss!* And you can’t beat the narration. I’m now a fan! Can’t wait for more from this author. If you’re on the fence, this is worthy for sure!

Kat story

📚 AUDIO & BOOK REVIEW 📚

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I read this whole series and am addicted so read this as soon as I could.

I been waiting for Kat story since she shown up on for Mia.

I was not disappointed I really enjoyed her back ground story and catching up with the others. I thought Lucas was a bit too grumpy, am glad I enjoyed him more I read but didn’t love him from the get go like the other characters.

April and Jordan story still my favourite story and I hope Heath get a story.

Good

I was given this free review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Story well written and great narration.

Loved it

I really Loved this one it's a enemies to lovers/fake marriage kind of trope...Which I thoroughly enjoyed reading immensely.
Kat and Lucas are perfect together even though they don't even realise it I was totally enthralled by their Love story.
This series has been Excellent,I am so sad that it has ended and will actually miss reading about this group of friends..
Kat and Lucas was the ideal Beautiful,sexy,romance to conclude with.
Phenomenal book 5 Stars.

Gaming the System - Standalone

For the Taking is part of the Gaming the System series. I have not read or listened to any other books in this series and found that this was a great introduction for me. I found it to be a true standalone, while, at the same time, making me want to catch up with the rest of the series.
I absolutely love a hot nerd and Lucas Walker absolutely fits that description. The story itself is a bit of a slow burn but the journey is absolutely worth it. Katya is the type to run away from conflict which , in turn, causes more conflict but in the end, she does what she needs to do.

The narration was cast perfectly and adds to my desire to hear more of this series.

Excellent audiobook

My favorite of the series for sure! I’ve listened to the earlier books in this series and appreciated how For The Taking had a little less angst between the main characters and more in their relationships with others. It still incorporated serious topics to make the book feel more relevant, yet still added an element of fun for a wide range of emotions. In some ways the non-relationship relationship seemed more stable than many relationship stories. And “their song” totally makes me smile (and is now stuck in my head).

The narration is excellent and consistent with the other books in the series. I’m certain that I liked the story more because Kirsten and Jason added emotion and feeling to the words. It can be listened to as a stand alone, but if you’re a fan of angst I’d recommend starting with book one of the series. If you’re looking for lower angst, this is an excellent choice.

5 stars

This was a great love story!! I love all the geek references and the banter and heat! Really a great story with a HEA!!
Narrative was amazing as well!

Loved this!!!

Brenna Aubrey is a breath of fresh air. She writes the best handsome nerds and every book is as good as the last. I loved this story about Lucas and Katya with their slow burning chemistry. Katya has been caught. In need of some help, the quickest solution is to marry co-worker Lucas. These two just don't get along, but they do come to an agreement. They need each other to achieve their goals. Marry, do what they need to do and get out. No feelings, no living together, no one even needs to know. Will it stay that way? Give this book a listen to find out their adventure. It's got a little of everything. Crazy families, high expectations, good friends and even some exes. The story is fun, and at times humorous, and I love how Aubrey weaves in relevant issues like mental illness and drug addiction. It's subtle, yet eye opening giving us that look at reputations and perceptions. It's always fun to catch up with the Gaming the System crew too, with Adam, Jordan and Mia at the forefront. Loved this !

Kirsten Leigh and Jason Clarke are a fantastic team, and they are wonderful entertainment. Their performance flows with the best emotional tugs, perfectly timed witty banter and give an all around enjoyable listen. It is storytelling at it's best.

Brilliantly Entertaining! Awesome Story & Listen🎧

Brenna Aubrey delivers another fabulous novel in her “Gaming the System” series and I loved every minute of it. This series is one of my favorite series, despite not being much of a gamer. The characters and storylines are interesting and original and I love the world Ms. Aubrey created and the tight-knit circle of friends and coworkers. This book Katya Ellis and Lucas Walker’s story and it stands on its own. Characters from earlier books make appearances but but you do not need to know their backstory to enjoy this one. I do highly recommend those books because they are awesome and not to be missed novels. Katya is working her dream job as game tester, but it turns out she may not be in the US legally. Thinking quickly lands her in a fake marriage with her Lukas, who is not her favorite coworker. Lukas who is up for a promotion, quickly agrees to this because Katya is an asset to him at work, and he needs her expertise and input for ongoing projects. At least that is what he tells himself. The marriage is a temporary arrangement until she gets her green card and can stay in the country legally. Except the secret gets out and they have to make it look like they re really married. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, but Lukas does not want to complicate matters and stands back. But they could only deny each other for so long. I loved this two together and for each other. There was so much depth to these characters and it was great to learn more about them and why they were the way they were. This enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance is beautifully plotted and there is never a dull moment. There is plenty of drama, heartfelt and emotional moments, a touch of angst, some surprising twists and some hot romance. Breanna Aubrey, thank you for another wonderfully entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the wonderful narration, Jason Clarke and Kristen Leigh are the perfect cast to bring these characters to life. They had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, giving each a voice that is the perfect fit for their character’s persona, sounding believable in the role they play and just as I pictured the character to sound. You could hear how much heart they put into their work as they captured the character’s emotions and projected them into their performance. The perfect tone was set for the story and they handled the witty dialogue effortlessly. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen!